Where to eat in Brussels
Brussels eats Belgian: frites from a hut, mussels in a pot, stews cooked in beer, waffles and chocolate, with a long list of beers to match. The best meals are in plain brasseries and cafes, not on the lanes by the Grand Place. Eat a late lunch in a brasserie, queue for frites, and book dinner on Friday and Saturday.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- Sainte-Catherine for fish and bistros, the Sablon for a quieter lunch, and Ixelles for neighborhood restaurants.
- Order this
- Moules-frites, carbonnade flamande, waterzooi and a paper cone of frites with mayonnaise.
- When to eat
- Lunch from about 12, dinner from 7pm. Kitchens in brasseries often close by 10pm.
- Book or walk in
- Book Friday and Saturday dinner. Frietkots, beer cafes and bakeries take walk-ins.
- Tipping
- Service is included. Round up or leave a few euros for good service.
What to eat in Brussels
- Moules-fritesMussels steamed in white wine and celery or in cream, served with fries. A pot is meant for one person.
- FritesTwice-fried chips in a paper cone, eaten with mayonnaise or a sauce. The best come from a frietkot, a fry hut.
- Carbonnade flamandeBeef stewed slowly in dark beer with onions, usually served with fries or stoemp.
- StoempMashed potato mixed with carrots or other vegetables, served with a sausage.
- WaterzooiA creamy stew of chicken or fish with vegetables, from Ghent but common in Brussels brasseries.
- Brussels waffleA light rectangular waffle with deep pockets, eaten with sugar or cream. The Liège waffle is denser and sweeter.
- SpeculoosA spiced shortcrust biscuit, sold in bakeries and with coffee.
- Gueuze and lambicBrussels' own sour beers, brewed by spontaneous fermentation, served in old cafes.
Where to eat in Brussels, by neighborhood
Sainte-Catherine and Dansaert
Fish restaurants, wine bars and bistros around the old fish market. The best area for a sit-down dinner within walking distance of the Grand Place.
Grand Place and the Lower Town
Old beer cafes and a few good brasseries, but the lanes beside the square are tourist traps. Walk a few streets away.
Sablon and the Marolles
Chocolate shops, cafes and quiet restaurants around the Sablon, and plain, cheaper places in the Marolles.
Ixelles and Saint-Gilles
Neighborhood restaurants, cafes and bakeries around Châtelain, Flagey and the Parvis de Saint-Gilles. Busy with locals at weekends.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Maison Antoine
€Frietkot · Place Jourdan, Etterbeek
OrderFrites with a sauce
A fry hut on Place Jourdan, open since 1948 and run by the third generation of the same family. The queue is part of it.
- Book
- Walk in, expect a queue
Confirmed open: thedailymeal.com
-
A la Mort Subite
€€Beer cafe · Lower Town
OrderGueuze and a cheese plate
A beer cafe in the same rooms since 1928, with mirrors, wood paneling and lambic on draught.
- Book
- Walk in
- Closed
- 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January
Confirmed open: bruxellessecrete.com
-
De Noordzee, Mer du Nord
€€Fish bar · Sainte-Catherine
OrderFish soup or a plate of shellfish
A fish shop with a standing bar on Rue Sainte-Catherine. You eat at high tables, and reservations are not accepted.
- Book
- Walk in, no reservations
- Closed
- Monday
Confirmed open: noordzeemerdunord.be
-
Maison Dandoy
€€Biscuit shop and tea room · Lower Town
OrderA Brussels waffle and speculoos
A biscuit maker since 1829. The tea room on Rue Charles Buls serves waffles, and the shop sells speculoos.
- Book
- Walk in
Confirmed open: tablejourney.com
-
Fin de Siècle
€€Brasserie · Lower Town
OrderCarbonnade flamande or stoemp with sausage
A long-running brasserie on Rue des Chartreux known for big plates of Belgian stews and sausage with stoemp.
- Book
- Arrive early or book ahead
Confirmed open: findesiecle.be
Food markets in Brussels
- Marché du MidiA large Sunday market by the Gare du Midi, with produce, cheese, olives, meat and fish, and stalls selling hot food.Sunday 6am to 2pmSource: en.insidebrussels.be
How Brussels eats
- Meal timesLunch around 12 to 2, dinner from 7pm. Brasserie kitchens often stop by 10pm.
- TippingService is included in the bill. Round up or leave a few euros for good service.
- BeerMost cafes list dozens of beers. Ask the staff to choose, and match the glass to the beer.
- FritesA frietkot serves a cone with a sauce on top. Mayonnaise is the default.
- ReservationsBook Friday and Saturday dinner. Frietkots, cafes and bakeries are walk-in.
Signs of a place to walk past
A touting waiter on the Rue des Bouchers handing out menus.
A menu with photographs of every dish, in six languages.
A waffle stand piled with cream, fruit and chocolate sauce.
Mussels offered out of season at a bargain price.
Eating in Brussels: questions people ask
What food is Brussels known for?
Frites, moules-frites, waffles, chocolate, carbonnade flamande and beer, especially the local gueuze and lambic.
Where should I eat in Brussels?
Sainte-Catherine for fish and bistros, the Sablon for a quiet lunch and Ixelles for neighborhood restaurants. Avoid the lanes right beside the Grand Place.
What is a frietkot?
A fry hut or stand that sells frites in a paper cone with a sauce. The best ones have a queue and fry twice.
What is the difference between a Brussels and a Liège waffle?
A Brussels waffle is light and rectangular with deep pockets. A Liège waffle is denser, sweeter and caramelized, and often eaten warm from a street stand.
Do I need to book in Brussels?
For Friday and Saturday dinner, yes. Frietkots, beer cafes and bakeries take walk-ins.
When is mussel season in Brussels?
Mussels are at their best from September to April, and many restaurants take them off the menu in summer.