Must-see restaurants in Northeast Belgium

  • The Jane

    Antwerp

    In a stunningly repurposed old military-hospital chapel, the Jane's sublime two-Michelin-star dining is such an overwhelmingly fabulous experience that…

  • Cachet de Cire

    Northeast Belgium

    Superb attention to detail is evident in every little touch here from the fresh market produce to the hand creams in the bathrooms. The cuisine and…

  • Life Is Art

    Antwerp

    Loose cushions on bench seats, brocante mirrors, an old piano and a dangling canoe-skeleton all conspire to create a casually quirky venue for super-fresh…

  • Graspoort

    Northeast Belgium

    Despite her restaurant's improbable location down a dead-end residential alley, traveller-turned-chef Greet has a winning combination of Asian and…

  • De Werf

    Leuven

    With an extensive tree-shaded terrace, this rambling student classic uses road signs, lanterns and very rough walls dangling with builders' tools to add…

  • Fiskebar

    Antwerp

    For years, locals have sworn that this bustling, fashionably dishevelled former fishmongers’ shop serves the best seafood in town. Finally the owners are…

  • D’Afspraak

    Northeast Belgium

    For years, great pub food has draw diners to what was – until more recently – a traditional low-key café…so much so that these days the place essentially…

  • Stassart11

    Northeast Belgium

    Hidden away in the rear of the De Borght flower and interior design shop, this indulgent lunch spot has a menu of regularly changing sharing plates:…

  • Elfde Gebod

    Antwerp

    In the heart of the tourist zone, this ivy-clad medieval masterpiece has an astounding interior decked with angels, saints, pulpits and several…

  • Het Gebaar

    Antwerp

    Celebrity TV chef Roger van Damme's Het Gebaar occupies the romantic former caretaker's house at the entrance to Antwerp's petite botanical gardens,…

  • Domestic

    Antwerp

    The Dôme's renowned Zurenborg bakery-cafe now also has an old-city address whose two upper rooms are lavished with mouldings and camp colours. Perfumed…

  • Streekgasthof Wagenhuis

    Northeast Belgium

    Facing Kasteel van Horst's drawbridge, with terrace tables surveying the moat, this popular café-restaurant is a high-roofed antique barn with giant A…

  • Tommenmolen

    Northeast Belgium

    Part of an original working watermill-complex, this popular cafe-restaurant has given its interior a gently contemporary rework and can get crowded at…

  • Il Cardinale

    Northeast Belgium

    Facing Mechelen's cathedral and a contoured green space onto which a giant, bright yellow Op-Sinjoorke appears to have fallen, this big-windowed terrace…

  • Domus

    Leuven

    Reminiscent of a big old-English country pub, this brewery-café has heavy beams and rough-plastered part-brick walls generously adorned with photos,…

  • Bistro Bis

    Northeast Belgium

    For very fine bistro food with a rock-and-roll soundtrack, cosy up with fellow diners at a long rough-wooden table and choose from the day's three…

  • Dôme sur Mer

    Antwerp

    In a classic Zurenborg building with an interior that's all white but for a mirror-topped blue stripe of an aquarium, this professional seafood outfit…

  • Little Ethiopia

    Antwerp

    Discover a veritable museum of African artefacts in a historic old Antwerp house while perusing the multilingual menu supplement that helpfully explains…

  • Zarza

    Leuven

    Interesting combinations of high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, plenty of seafood and classy vegetarian alternatives feature at Zarza, and are best…

  • Gasthof 1618

    Northeast Belgium

    At the northeast corner of the begijnhof, this antique-styled hostelry has a manorial charm with a central barbecue hearth and a lovely rear terrace area,…

  • Improvisio

    Leuven

    Hidden away within the 30cc arts complex, between the former farm buildings of an Augustinian convent, this 1735 mansard-roofed building was originally…

  • Ciro's

    Antwerp

    Ciro's is an authentically nostalgic restaurant that dates back to 1962 and sports an almost untouched mid-century interior. The well-reputed cuisine…

  • Cosma Foodhouse

    Northeast Belgium

    At first glance it's easy to mistake this restaurant for a half-closed cooking-utensil shop. But the gorgeous aromas soon prove otherwise, drawing you…

  • De Comeet

    Northeast Belgium

    Gilt cherubs hold wooden beams, and a contemporary wrought-iron chandelier sits above the grand piano in this characterful place whose summer 'garden’…

  • Infirmerie

    Northeast Belgium

    Tucked away at the base of the begijnhof, Infirmerie is a relaxed brasserie incorporating elements of historical design from a 1701 building that had been…

  • Puur Oogst

    Northeast Belgium

    With distressed walls, well-spaced seating and a street terrace, this organic grocery/salad bar is great for coffee, pancakes or especially for healthy…

  • Le John

    Antwerp

    Sit at 1960s-style school chairs in a pair of artily sparse shopfronts while the chefs perform in a glass-fronted show kitchen. The short, monthly…

  • Officina Clandestina

    Leuven

    This very original place is unusual for its great feeling of space between tables, for the big open kitchen, for its philosophical tract on good eating…

  • LOA

    Antwerp

    Overlooking St-Jansvliet square, this tiny shop-cafe and takeaway peddles an interesting selection of good-value, international street food including veg-…

  • Nieuwscafe

    Northeast Belgium

    Tucked behind Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk, Nieuwscafe has remained fresh and inviting for two decades. By day it offers a calm, modern brasserie experience with…

  • De Broers van Julienne

    Antwerp

    Serving all-vegetarian dishes apart from a couple of fish offerings, this enticing place opens with a deli section purveying huge takeaway quiche slices…

  • Fenikshof

    Northeast Belgium

    In the the courtyard of Grimbergen Abbey, this buzzing brasserie offers standard meat, fish and pasta dishes plus well-presented salads and, from 2pm to…

  • Lukemieke

    Leuven

    This friendly place has been serving vegetarian delights since 1967. Its high-ceilinged front room faces Stadspark from an otherwise residential street…

  • Mission Masala

    Antwerp

    The look, the flavours, the punning menu and even the authentic masala chai (Indian-style tea) all buzz with the colourfully spicy verve of a Kolkata…

  • Kapittelhuys

    Northeast Belgium

    This 18th-century brick house fronts the beautiful Tuinen van Hoegaarden formal gardens and has a wisteria-shaded terrace that is a delight in summer. The…

  • RAS

    Antwerp

    Whether in the upper-market glass box of a dining room or at one of the summer tables fanning out along the walkway, RAS is a superb place to be dazzled…

  • Ma Hua

    Leuven

    This bright, simple, six-stool counter cafe is named for a semisweet pastry twist (sold for €2 here), but it's the super-authentic noodles, freshly…

  • Sister Bean

    Northeast Belgium

    This beautiful old corner building hosts a female-run cafe that's a great choice for breakfasts of smoothies and blueberry pancakes, or lunches including…

  • Sava

    Northeast Belgium

    Always one of the most popular spots on the magnificent Grote Markt, Sava offers authentic, seasonal tapas to be savoured with an exclusive brand of cava…

  • Chinatown

    Antwerp

    There's a fancy Chinese-style gateway on Van Wesenbekestraat, but otherwise its numerous East Asian restaurants are mostly bland-looking box-rooms…

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