Brussels Travel Guide

Belgium  #4 in Best Family Vacations in Europe
Credit

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 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 662 reviewsTripAdvisor (662)
    $$ | Belgian, European, French, Seafood, Diner
    23 Rue de Rollebeek, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #2
    Tonton Garby
    #2 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1503 reviewsTripAdvisor (1503)
    $ | French, Belgian, European
    Rue Duquesnoy 6, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #3
    Le Rossini
    #3 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 68 reviewsTripAdvisor (68)
    $$ | French, Belgian, European, Contemporary
    Boulevard Adolphe Max 7 Debrouckere, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #4
    Berlaymont Cafe
    #4 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 148 reviewsTripAdvisor (148)
    $ - $$ | French, Belgian, European, Pub, Gastropub
    Rue Archimede 8, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #5
    Pasta Divina
    #5 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 2890 reviewsTripAdvisor (2890)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean, European
    Rue de la Montagne 16, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #6
    Vinomania
    #6 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 250 reviewsTripAdvisor (250)
    $ - $$ | Latin, Mediterranean, Spanish, Wine Bar, Catalan
    Place Fernand Cocq 22, Brussels 1050 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #7
    Le Wine Bar des Marolles
    #7 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 973 reviewsTripAdvisor (973)
    $ - $$ | French, Belgian, European, Gastropub
    Rue Haute 198, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #8
    Kaffabar
    #8 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 217 reviewsTripAdvisor (217)
    $ - $$ | Belgian, Cafe, European
    Place Rouppe 1, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #9
    Aux Merveilleux de Fred
    #9 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 439 reviewsTripAdvisor (439)
    $ - $$ | Belgian
    Rue du Marche aux Herbes 7, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #1
    Au Cor de Chasse
    #1 of 77 Places to Eat in Etterbeek
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 628 reviewsTripAdvisor (628)
    $ - $$ | Brazilian, Seafood, European, Portuguese
    Avenue des Casernes 21, Etterbeek, Brussels 1040 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #11
    Le Bistro
    #11 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 2451 reviewsTripAdvisor (2451)
    $ - $$ | French, Belgian, Bar, Seafood, European, Central European
    Boulevard de Waterloo 138, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #12
    Mozart More Than Just Ribs
    #12 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 362 reviewsTripAdvisor (362)
    $ - $$ | Steakhouse
    Petite rue des Bouchers 18, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #13
    Midtown Grill
    #13 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 544 reviewsTripAdvisor (544)
    $ - $$ | American, Steakhouse, European, Grill
    Rue Paul Devaux 4 Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #14
    The Lobster House
    #14 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 3200 reviewsTripAdvisor (3200)
    $ - $$ | Belgian, Seafood, European
    Rue des Bouchers 39, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #15
    L'atelier de willy
    #15 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 249 reviewsTripAdvisor (249)
    $ - $$ | French, Belgian, European
    Boulevard Emile Jacqmain 118, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #16
    Horia - Oriental Natural Eatery
    #16 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 166 reviewsTripAdvisor (166)
    $ | Lebanese, Moroccan, Healthy, Middle Eastern
    Borgval 7 Croisement avec le Bd. Anspach, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #1
    Greenway
    #1 of 117 Places to Eat in Saint-Gilles
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 203 reviewsTripAdvisor (203)
    $ - $$ | Fast Food, European
    Parvis Saint-Gilles 1060 hall parallel to Square Victor Horta, Saint-Gilles, Brussels 1060 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #18
    Menthe & Safran
    #18 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 232 reviewsTripAdvisor (232)
    $ - $$ | Moroccan, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
    Rue de l'Enseignement 49, Brussels 1000 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #19
    Bon Bon
    #19 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 580 reviewsTripAdvisor (580)
    $$ | French, Belgian, European
    Avenue de Tervueren 453 1150 Brussels, Brussels 1150 Belgium
    Read More »
  • #20
    Coimbra
    #20 of 4,323 Places to Eat in Brussels
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 160 reviewsTripAdvisor (160)
    $ - $$ | Mediterranean, European, Portuguese
    Avenue Jean Volders 54, Brussels 1060 Belgium
    Read More »

Explore More of Brussels

You might also like

Zurich

Zurich

#5 in Best Places to Visit in Switzerland

Paris

Paris

#1 in Best Places to Visit in June

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

#3 in Best Winter Vacations in Europe

Explore more vacations »

When purchasing from our site, we may earn commissions. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

Recommended

The Cheapest Ways to Travel: 15 Tips to Save Money on Your Next Vacation

These cheap travel tips can help you save big on your next getaway.

Holly JohnsonJuly 18, 2019

The 9 Best San Francisco Wine Tours

Taste some of America's finest wines on one of these daytrips.

John RodwanJuly 18, 2019

The 6 Best Sedona Jeep Tours

Take a rollicking ride through Sedona's natural beauty in a rugged SUV.

Holly JohnsonJuly 16, 2019

The 12 Top Florida Keys Beaches

Relax on the sandy shorelines from Key West to Key Largo.

Gwen PratesiJuly 15, 2019

The 15 Best New Orleans Walking Tours

Take on the Big Easy with a stroll through its streets.

Lyn MettlerJuly 15, 2019

The 8 Best Charleston Ghost Tours

Experience the Holy City's history and haunts on one of these excursions.

Holly JohnsonJuly 12, 2019

The 5 Best Oahu Helicopter Tours

Tour this picturesque island from the air on one of these excursions.

John RodwanJuly 11, 2019

The 15 Best Los Angeles Tours

Maximize your time in Los Angeles with the insider tips and historical context provided by the best local tours.

Kyle McCarthyJuly 3, 2019

The 15 Best Las Vegas Tours

See a different side of Sin City – its attractions go beyond gambling.

John RodwanJuly 2, 2019

The 10 Best San Diego Boat Tours

Explore this coastal city's sights with a relaxing boat excursion.

John RodwanJuly 1, 2019