Brussels Travel Guide

Belgium  #4 in Best Family Vacations in Europe
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Courtesy of Westend61/Getty Images/Westend61

What to Eat in Brussels

Brussels offers an abundance of Michelin-rated restaurants, serving meals inspired by both French and Dutch cuisine. And a trip to Brussels is not complete without steamed mussels and a side of fries (moules-frites). If you're not hungry enough for a full meal, grab yourself a snack (such as a paper cone of extra-crispy frites served with a mayonnaise-based dipping sauce) from one of the city's many streetside snack shops.

Restaurants can be found in clusters around tourist areas like Grand-Place and Schuman. Unfortunately, meal prices are generally high. To save money, order off the prix-fixe menus, which offer choices for two or three courses for a set price, or walk to Boulevard Anspach for affordable Belgian cuisine.

If there are two things for which Belgium is known for, it's chocolate and beer. Brussels was once home to the famous Côte d'Or chocolate factory. Although the factory closed in the 1970s, You can learn about the production of chocolate at the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate, where you can also pick up a few samples to savor. Brussels is also famous for its mouth-watering waffles.

If you're not one to indulge your sweet tooth, succumb to your love of hops instead. Belgium is home to approximately 600 different types of beer, most of which you can find at the city's many cafés and pubs. Travelers say a great way to experience a good number of Belgian brews is to tag along on a Belgium Beer Tour. For those looking to grab some Belgian beer, or any beer really, head over to Delirium Cafe, which has more than 3,000 beers to choose from. Delirium Cafe is less than a mile north of the Grand-Place. Visitors can also find an abundance of waffle places near and around Grand-Place.

Find the Best Restaurants in Brussels

  • #1
    Le Rabassier
    #1 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 648 reviewsTripAdvisor (648)
    $$ | Belgian, European, French
    23 Rue de Rollebeek, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #2
    Tonton Garby
    #2 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1459 reviewsTripAdvisor (1459)
    $ | French, Belgian, European
    Rue Duquesnoy 6, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #3
    Vinomania
    #3 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 231 reviewsTripAdvisor (231)
    $ - $$ | Latin, Mediterranean, Spanish, Wine Bar
    Place Fernand Cocq 22, Brussels 1050 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #4
    Aux Merveilleux de Fred
    #4 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 428 reviewsTripAdvisor (428)
    $ - $$ | Belgian
    Rue du Marche aux Herbes 7, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #5
    Pasta Divina
    #5 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 2801 reviewsTripAdvisor (2801)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean, European, Asian
    Rue de la Montagne 16, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #6
    Le Wine Bar des Marolles
    #6 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 962 reviewsTripAdvisor (962)
    $ - $$ | French, Belgian, European, Gastropub
    Rue Haute 198, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #7
    Kaffabar
    #7 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 208 reviewsTripAdvisor (208)
    $ - $$ | Belgian, Cafe, European
    Place Rouppe 1, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #8
    Le Bistro
    #8 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 2381 reviewsTripAdvisor (2381)
    $ - $$ | French, Belgian, Bar, Seafood, European, Central European
    Boulevard de Waterloo 138, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #9
    Berlaymont Cafe
    #9 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 123 reviewsTripAdvisor (123)
    $ - $$ | French, Belgian, European, Pub, Gastropub
    Rue Archimede 8, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #1
    Au Cor de Chasse
    #1 of 74 Places to Eat in Etterbeek
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 611 reviewsTripAdvisor (611)
    $ - $$ | Brazilian, Seafood, European, Portuguese
    Avenue des Casernes 21, Etterbeek, Brussels 1040 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #11
    Mozart More Than Just Ribs
    #11 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 320 reviewsTripAdvisor (320)
    $ - $$ | Steakhouse
    Petite rue des Bouchers 18, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #12
    The Lobster House
    #12 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 2974 reviewsTripAdvisor (2974)
    $ - $$ | Belgian, Seafood, European
    Rue des Bouchers 39, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #13
    L'atelier de willy
    #13 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 225 reviewsTripAdvisor (225)
    $ - $$ | French, Belgian, European
    Boulevard Emile Jacqmain 118, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #1
    Greenway
    #1 of 117 Places to Eat in Saint-Gilles
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 197 reviewsTripAdvisor (197)
    $ - $$ | Fast Food, European
    Parvis Saint-Gilles 1060 hall parallel to Square Victor Horta, Saint-Gilles, Brussels 1060 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #15
    Midtown Grill
    #15 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 502 reviewsTripAdvisor (502)
    $ - $$ | American, Steakhouse, European, Grill
    Rue Paul Devaux 4 Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #16
    Horia - Oriental Natural Eatery
    #16 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 147 reviewsTripAdvisor (147)
    $ | Lebanese, Moroccan, Healthy, Middle Eastern
    Borgval 7 Croisement avec le Bd. Anspach, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #1
    Osteria Bolognese
    #1 of 251 Places to Eat in Ixelles
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 308 reviewsTripAdvisor (308)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Deli
    Rue de la Paix 49, Ixelles, Brussels 1050 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #18
    Bon Bon
    #18 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 573 reviewsTripAdvisor (573)
    $$ | French, Belgian, European
    Avenue de Tervueren 453 1150 Brussels, Brussels 1150 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #19
    Sea Grill
    #19 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 607 reviewsTripAdvisor (607)
    $$ | French, Seafood, European
    Rue du Fosse aux Loups 47, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #20
    Comme chez Soi
    #20 of 4,259 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 955 reviewsTripAdvisor (955)
    $$ | European
    Place Rouppe 23, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »

Explore More of Brussels

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