Where to eat in Brussels: a foodie guide
Tuck into cheap eats, special treats and something sweet
The best restaurants in Brussels
There’s much more to Brussels than moules-frites and mayonnaise (though that’s a delicious place to start).
And the great news is, whatever your budget, style and appetite, you’ll find something that hits the spot.
From grab-and-go goodies like freshly baked pistolet rolls to a locally sourced brunch that packs a seasonal punch, Michelin-starred magic to waffles on wheels, here’s our pick of the best restaurants Brussels has to offer.
Cheap eats: budget restaurants in Brussels
Brunch, lunch or dinner at a Brussels restaurant needn’t break the bank. Tuck into freshly baked rolls bursting with fillings, sample simple yet delicious dishes in quirky workshop surroundings, or take a locally sourced set menu for a spin.
Pistolet Original
Rue Joseph Stevens 24-26, 1000
A classic, crusty pistolet roll is a must-eat in Brussels. Pick up a couple for a picnic on the go, or settle in at this cheery café and work your way through its incredibly moreish menu.
From humble ham and gherkin to indulgent duck rillette with fig confit, via sausages, fresh crab, cheeses and even curry, there are fillings galore to keep you coming back for weeks.
For the true Belgian experience though, tuck into a tasty cream cheese, radish and spring onion pistolet. Heaven.
Garage à Manger
Rue Washington 185, 1050
When food truck El Camion decided to park up in an old mechanic’s workshop, Garage à Manger was born.
Kids and adults alike will find something to dive into, whether that’s the comic book collection housed in a cosy caravan or the simple, tasty dishes served from late morning to early evening.
Simple doesn’t mean soulless though. The menu might be small but it’s mighty, with everything from an oozy ham and Comté croque-monsieur to lip-smacking mackerel fillets in white wine – served with bread and butter to mop your plate clean.
Le Local
Rue de la Longue Haie 51, 1000
Created by Ottolenghi alumnus Laura and business partner Aubane, Le Local offers beautifully presented seasonal dishes at a snip of the price you’d expect.
A three-course lunch will set you back just over €20, while you can mix and match the equally affordable dinner menu to suit your appetite.
As the name suggests, 80% of the produce comes from local farms, while the team’s zero-waste philosophy is part of their ambition to ‘save the world with a fork’.
Special treats: Brussels Michelin-starred restaurants
Looking to push the boat out? There are more Michelin-starred restaurants in Brussels than you can shake a seven-course tasting menu at. Take to the skies, try an elegant take on homely classics, or explore the posh side of pies.
La Villa in the Sky
IT Tower, 25th floor, Avenue Louise 480, 1050
If you’re out to impress, La Villa in the Sky is hard to beat. Perched over 100m above Brussels, this glass-clad restaurant wows with the best vistas in town. And it’s all topped off with a Michelin star.
Chef Alexandre Dionisio shakes up his Spanish-inspired tasting menu every day, but you’re sure to see incredible fish dishes accompanied by the freshest veg – all presented with his signature precision.
Stop by for lunch, or, for the full twinkly cityscape treatment, opt for the seven-course dinner menu as night falls over Brussels.
Bozar Restaurant
Rue Baron Horta 3, 1000
Housed in the grand Palais des Beaux-Arts (from where it takes its name), Michelin-starred Bozar is a love letter to all things pastry-encased.
There’s nothing chef Karen Torosyan won’t en croute. From his stunning salmon koulibiak and beef Wellington, to duck pithiviers and veal pie, every dish is itself a work of art.
If pastry’s not your thing, there are plenty of other brasserie classics to choose from. And the Victor Horta-designed space sets everything off to perfection.
Comme Chez Soi
Place Rouppe 23, 1000
‘Just like home’ doesn’t really do justice to this Michelin-starred stalwart of the Brussels restaurantscene.
Opened in 1926, Comme Chez Soi is today run by the fifth generation of the family who still serve up delicious dishes in the charming, Horta-inspired dining room.
For the ultimate experience, book well ahead and reserve the chef’s table. A favourite with celebrities (whose autographs adorn the walls), it offers a prime view of the kitchen for you and up to 25 of your closest friends.
Something sweet: the best waffles in Brussels
Looking for the best waffles in Brussels? Check out a quaint tearoom with nearly a century of expertise, stagger under the weight of toppings, opt for unconventional ice cream or catch a three-wheeled waffle bike on the hop.
Maison Dandoy
Rue Charles Buls 14, 1000
Founded in 1829, Maison Dandoy has been whipping up sweet, buttery bakes since before Belgium even existed. So it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about waffle-making.
But will you go for a light, fluffy Brussels waffle or its caramelised, sugar-crusted cousin from Liège? At Dandoy, you can take your pick, and slather either in chocolate, cream, fruit or a simple sprinkling of brown sugar.
You’ll spot Dandoy shops across the city, but head to Rue Charles Buls to cosy up in their quaint tearoom.
Le Funambule
Rue de l’Etuve 42, 1000
It’s easy to spot this wildly popular takeaway counter: just look for the giant, waffle-toting Manneken Pis outside.
If understated is your style, step away. The toppings here aren’t for the faint-hearted.
Think vertiginously heaped fresh strawberries or bananas, doused in chocolate sauce and swirled with whipped cream.
There’s a good reason the shop’s smiling diners hover nearby – walking while eating one of these waffles would require superhuman balance and dexterity.
Glacier Zizi
Rue de la Mutualité 57a, 1180
Okay, so this one’s technically an ice cream parlour. But what glacier in Brussels could deny the world a scoop or two atop a waffle?
Zizi’s ice creams and sorbets are all 100% natural and homemade, using seasonal fruit and unexpected flavours.
For the most Belgian treat you’ll ever taste, opt for a freshly griddled waffle topped with a generous dollop of speculoos-flavoured ice cream.
Le Petit Nuage
Parc Léopold, 1040
One major incentive for a stroll around Brussels’ pretty Parc Léopold is the chance you’ll bump into Le Petit Nuage.
This sky blue, three-wheeled bike wafts around in a dreamy cloud of waffly deliciousness, serving up ‘stick waffles’ filled to bursting with everything from chorizo and ricotta to classic chocolate and banana.
Picture-perfect, picnic-perfect and downright delicious. Yum.
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