Brussels, Belgium — Food and Dining
Restaurants in Brussels, Belgium
Restaurants
Expensive
Comme Chez Soi
The fame of this intimate little restaurant, decorated in Belle Epoque style, extends worldwide. Chef Lionel Rigolet serves exceptional French cuisine to justify its two Michelin stars. Specialties include fillets of sole with a mousseline of Riesling, or prawn and apricot soufflé with crunchy pistachios and red fruits. Advanced booking is strongly recommended.
Place Rouppe 23
Tel: 02 512 2921.
Website: www.commechezsoi.be
La Truffe Noire
Italian chef Luigi Ciciriello is passionate about his truffles, used in just about every dish at this one-Michelin-starred (but friendly) restaurant with an extensive wine cellar. Specialties include Carpaccio truffles with olive oil and parmesan, lobster risotto with truffles, and, for dessert, black chocolate truffle with spun sugar and raspberry sauce. Those with a passion for truffles but with less time to linger should head for the sister establishment, the cheaper L'Atelier de la Truffe Noire on Avenue Louise.
Boulevard de la Cambre 12
Tel: 02 640 4422.
Website: www.truffenoire.com
La Villa Lorraine
This very smart restaurant, with impeccable, white tablecloths, has large windows overlooking a lovely garden where you can dine alfresco in summer. The cuisine, created by chef Freddy Vandecasserie, is classical French and specialties include sole Lorraine, broccoli terrine with wild asparagus, or lobster with turmeric and coconut milk accompanied by an excellent wine selection. The gracious private rooms are ideal for business lunches and special occasions.
Avenue du Vivier d'Oie 75
Tel: 02 374 3163.
Website: www.villalorraine.be
Restaurant Bruneau
Chef Jean-Pierre Bruneau, one of Brussels's finest and most innovative chefs, boasts a Michelin star for his classic French cuisine with a contemporary, designer twist. This is a temple of fine food - offering a choice of seafood, meat and game dishes. Dishes include lobster with black truffles, duckling with acacia honey or grilled goat's cheese with thyme.
Avenue Broustin 73-75
Tel: 02 421 7070.
Website: www.bruneau.be
Moderate
Aux Armes de Bruxelles
While many of the restaurants in the winding streets surrounding the Grand-Place are tourist traps, this place is always a safe bet for traditional Belgian cuisine such as waterzooi (fish or chicken in a creamy soup with vegetables), oysters or mussels with chips and mayonnaise. The surroundings are crisp and unfussy and the service friendly and efficient.
Rue des Bouchers 13
Tel: 02 511 5550.
Website: www.armebrux.be
In't Spinnekopke
With a name that translates as 'In the Spider's Web', this is an extremely popular tavern-style restaurant, with a wide selection of local beers. Tempting menu items are available at very reasonable prices, including Flemish specialties such as waterzooi (a cross between a soup and a stew), poached kabeljau (cod) and mussels in a variety of sauces. Old beer posters and wooden benches add to the relaxed atmosphere.
Place du Jardin aux Fleurs 1
Tel: 02 511 8695.
Website: www.spinnekopke.be
La Quincaillerie
La Quincaillerie, one of the most renowned of the many restaurants clustered around the place du Châtelain in Brussels's Ixelles district, is always busy. Housed in a former ironmonger's shop (hence the name), the interior retains much of the original décor, including a wrought-iron staircase, designed by students of Victor Horta (Brussels's renowned art nouveau architect) in 1903. Specialties include shellfish, oysters and lobsters.
Rue du Page 45
Tel: 02 533 9833.
Website: www.quincaillerie.be
La Tour D'y Voir
Located in the antiques quarter, this is the ideal restaurant for a romantic tête-a-tête or relaxed business lunch. Exposed-brick walls, low lighting and high windows create a gothic air of mystery. Guests can dine à la carte or opt for the Surprise or Prestige menus, choosing a fish, meat or vegetarian theme and leaving it up to the chef to improvise a mouth-watering and inventive dish.
Place du Grand Sablon 8/9
Tel: 02 511 4043.
Website: www.restaurant-tourdyvoir.com
Cheap
Chez Léon
The Brussels branch of this popular Belgian chain is best known for its generous and authentic portions of moules frites (mussels and chips), although it also serves other traditional brasserie fare. It's a bustling place - the tablecloths are paper and everyone (staff and diners included) seems to be in a bit of a rush. It's a stone's throw from the Grand' Place, with outdoor seating in summer.
Rue des Bouchers 18
Tel: 02 511 1415.
Website: www.chezleon.be
Le Grain de Sel
Grégory Yarm's stylish but unpretentious restaurant beside the Ixelles lake is a top budget option. As well as classic French dishes, Yarm also serves his favorite family recipes, such as his Portuguese grandmother's recipe for sole with Elvira banana. The décor is gentle, with pretty Venetian chandeliers and simple wooden tables, and there is a lovely rose garden for alfresco dining in summer.
Chaussée de Vleurgat 9
Tel: 02 648 1858.
Website: www.legraindesel.net
Raconte-Moi des Salades
Salad lovers will enjoy the many options offered at this friendly Brussels restaurant. Meat dishes include a salad of grilled beef, rocket, tomato and parmesan, while vegetarian options range from five vegetables with vinaigrette to pasta dishes. The atmosphere is relaxed and prices, bearing in mind the chic location in Ixelles, are very reasonable. Popular with a trendy young crowd; it is wise to book in advance.
Place du Châtelain 19
Tel: 02 534 2727.
Website: www.racontemoidessalades.com
Touch and Go
Resolutely good-humored staff serve tasty pitta bread stuffed with a wide variety of salads and sauces at this popular Brussels restaurant chain. There are several branches of Touch and Go situated across the city - the rue Saint Boniface branch has colorfully painted walls and large paintings.
Rue Saint Boniface 12
Tel: 02 513 8502.
Nightlife
Brussels's location at the heart of Europe encourages top artists and budding stars to tour here. However, the city has a thriving home-grown scene of its own. Jazz has been strong since the 1920s and there is year-round live jazz in a cluster of venues.
The club scene in Brussels is relatively new, drawing crowds of locals, expats and tourists after much lingering in the city's many bars and Irish pubs. The best clubs send out their sounds into the night around Place de St-Géry, Manneken-Pis and in the Marolles district, while the Matonge district is the place to track down African nightspots.
Listings and information on nightlife events in Brussels can be found online (www.noctis.com), while Tels Quels magazine (in French) has the most comprehensive gay nightlife listings. Fnac, in the City 2 complex on Rue Neuve (www.fnac.be), is the best place for club and concert tickets, although the tourist office on Grand-Place may also be of help.
Bars
A La Mort Subite
Belgium is justly famous for its superb selection of beers, not least those created by Trappist monks at various monasteries around the country. Brussels, furthermore, has its own idiosyncratic varieties, notably the spontaneously fermented Gueuze and the fruit flavored Kriek varieties. Centrally located beer havens include A La Mort Subite.
Rue Montagne-aux-Herbes Potagères 7
Tel: 02 513 1318.
Website: www.alamortsubite.com
Au Soleil
Au Soleil is a pleasant little bar with an art deco interior and plenty of beers on offer.
Rue du Marché-au-Charbon 86
Tel: 02 512 3430.
L'Ultime Atome
L'Ultime Atome is a long-running favorite bar in Brussels.
Rue Saint Boniface 14
Tel: 02 511 1367.
Website: www.ultime-atome.com
Théâtre de Toone VII
A quieter evening is on offer at the Théâtre de Toone VII, where puppets form a backdrop to the drinking.
Impasse Sainte Petronille, Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes 66
Te: 02 511 7137.
Website: www.toone.be
Clubs
Bazaar
Bazaar is a large and popular restaurant/nightclub complex in Les Marolles.
Rue des Capucins 63
Tel: 02 511 2600.
Website: www.bazaarresto.be
Le Fuse
Top international DJs play techno, house and jungle at Le Fuse.
Rue Blaes 208
Tel: 02 511 9789.
Website: www.fuse.be
Le You
Le You is a prime House, Funk and R'n'B venue with a gay night every Sunday.
Rue Duquesnoy 18
Tel: 02 639 1400.
Website: www.leyou.be
Les Jeux d'Hiver
Hip Bruxellois go to the newly revamped Les Jeux d'Hiver, south of the center in the Bois de la Cambre.
Chemin du Croquet 1
Tel: 02 649 0864.
Website: www.jeuxdhiver.be
Live Music
Ancienne Belgique
Mainstream rock acts regularly appear at Ancienne Belgique.
Boulevard Anspach 110
Tel: 02 548 2484 or 2424 for tickets.
Website: www.abconcerts.be
L'Archiduc
Jazz dominates the live music scene in Brussels. There is jazz on Saturday and most Sundays at L'Archiduc.
Rue Antoine Dansaert 6
Tel: 02 512 0652.
Website: www.archiduc.net
Beursschouwburg
Everything from electro to jazz can be experienced at Beursschouwburg.
Rue Orts 20
Tel: 02 550 0350.
Website: www.beursschouwburg.be
Sounds Jazz Club
Sounds Jazz Club hosts jazz bands and singers most nights of the week.
Rue de la Tulipe 28
Tel: 02 512 9250.
Website: www.soundsjazzclub.be
