The old fish market quarter: standing-room seafood at Noordzee, oyster bars on Place Sainte-Catherine, and the Quai aux Briques lined with brown brasseries and quiet wine counters.
Comme Chez Soi opened in 1926 under Georges Cuvelier and moved to the Place Rouppe Art Nouveau dining room in the 1930s. Located in Sainte Catherine.
Signature: Filets de sole Prince Albert, Classical French-Belgian tasting menu
Order: The filets de sole Prince Albert, the kitchen's signature since the 1970s, with a glass of Mosel Riesling.
Tip: Closed Monday, Tuesday and Sunday. Book three weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner; the chef's table seats six.
Chez Leon in Brussels has run on Rue des Bouchers since 1893, when Leon Vanlancker opened five tables. Located in Sainte Catherine. Priced at €€.
Signature: Moules-frites, Carbonnade flamande
Order: Moules marinieres with frites, and a glass of gueuze from the beer list.
Tip: Open every day from noon to 23:00. Ask for the original 1893 dining room over the recent expansions on either side.
Aux Armes de Bruxelles on Rue des Bouchers has been running since 1921, with Calixte Veulemans opening as a brasserie. Located in Sainte Catherine.
Signature: Waterzooi de poulet, Moules-frites
Order: Chicken waterzooi in the broth, with a Trappist beer or a glass of Sancerre.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Sunday from noon to 22:30, closed Monday. The salon at the back is quieter than the front dining room.
Restaurant Vincent in Brussels has run on Rue des Dominicains since 1905, with Maurice Grimme's 1912 ceramic murals still on the walls. Priced at €€€.
Signature: Chateaubriand, Flambeed steak
Order: Chateaubriand flambeed at the table, with a side of pommes pailles.
Tip: Open seven days. The narrow row of side tables along the open grill is the seat to ask for at dinner service.
Noordzee Mer du Nord on Rue Sainte-Catherine in Brussels is the standing-only seafood counter the city is built around. The kitchen runs fish soup.
Signature: Shrimp croquettes, Fish soup
Order: A bowl of fish soup, croquettes aux crevettes, and a glass of muscadet from the wine fridge.
Tip: No tables. Order at the counter, listen for your name, then carry the plate to a high-top across the street.
Le Selecto on Rue de Flandre runs a bistronomie carte in the Sainte-Catherine quarter. Bib Gourmand listed, modern Belgian cooking off a short seasonal card.
Signature: Belgian beef tartare, Seasonal market plate
Order: The lunchtime two-course set; the kitchen leans on Belgian sourcing and the daily ardoise.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Friday and Saturday dinner runs through to 23:00; book a week ahead for weekend service.
Humphrey in Brussels' city centre runs a Filipino-inspired sharing-plates kitchen blending Belgian produce with Asian flavours. Located in Sainte Catherine.
Signature: Sharing plates with Filipino flavours, Adobo-influenced mains
Order: The tasting menu in full; the open kitchen leans on sharing plates with Filipino seasoning.
Tip: Closed Saturday and Sunday. Counter seats face the kitchen; the back table is the spot for groups of four.
Chez Leon in Brussels has run on Rue des Bouchers since 1893. Located in Sainte Catherine. Kitchen leans belgian brasserie. At Rue des Bouchers 18.
Signature: Moules-frites, Carbonnade flamande
Order: Moules marinieres with frites and a glass of Cuvee Rene gueuze on the house list.
Tip: Open seven days. Ask for the original 1893 dining room; the side rooms feel like a tourist trap.
Aux Armes de Bruxelles in Brussels has run on Rue des Bouchers since 1921. Located in Sainte Catherine. Priced at €€€. Kitchen leans belgian brasserie.
Signature: Waterzooi de poulet, Moules-frites
Order: Chicken waterzooi in cream broth, with a Westmalle Tripel from the bottle list.
Tip: Closed Monday. The back salon is the quietest seat; the front spills onto the busy restaurant row.
Noordzee Mer du Nord in Brussels' Sainte-Catherine is the standing-only seafood counter. Priced at €€. At Rue Sainte-Catherine 45. Booking recommended.
Signature: Shrimp croquettes, Fish soup
Order: A bowl of fish soup, croquettes aux crevettes, and a glass of muscadet from the wine fridge.
Tip: No tables. Order at the counter, listen for your name, then carry the plate to a high-top across the street.
Humphrey in Brussels' Sainte-Catherine is a Yannick Van Aeken concept where chef Glen runs Filipino-inspired sharing plates. The room is small.
Signature: Sharing-plate tasting menu, Filipino-Belgian small plates
Order: The sharing-plate tasting; let the kitchen send what they're cooking that week.
Tip: Closed Saturday and Sunday. Counter seats face the kitchen; the back table is the spot for groups of four.
58 Rooftop above the Brucity building in Brussels' centre is one of Europe's largest rooftop terraces. Cocktails on the 9th floor with restaurant on the 8th.
Tip: Walk-in only, no reservations. Open Monday to Friday from 16:00, weekends from 12:00. The terrace runs to 01:00 on Thursday to Saturday.
Kafka in Brussels' Sainte-Catherine is the literary bar with vinyl sessions on Rue de la Vierge Noire. Belgian craft beer, vodka selection, low-lit booths.
Tip: Quiet weeknights for conversation; the vinyl programming runs Wednesday and Thursday.
Billie in Brussels' Sainte-Catherine reopened the former Monk space in 2024 under Dries Heyman, Leentje Bruyninckx and Steven De Visscher. Brown-cafe layout.
Tip: Cash and card accepted. Westmalle and Chimay both on tap; the cellar holds bottles deep.