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What to Eat in Brussels
Brussels offers an abundance of Michelin-starred 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 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 sidewalk food carts. Visitors to Cafe La Brocante, located about a mile south of the Grand-Place, enjoy its beer selection, baguettes and traditional dishes like stoemp, a potato dish with Brussels sprouts.
Brussels is also famous for its mouth-watering waffles, and visitors can find an abundance of waffle places around Grand-Place. Travelers love the waffles at Mokafe, which you can accompany with a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or tea.
Restaurants overall can be found in clusters around tourist areas like Grand-Place and Rue des Bouchers. Unfortunately, meal prices are generally high. To save money, order the prix-fixe menus, which offer choices for two or three courses for a set price. Or, venture beyond these tourist hot spots when it's time to eat and seek out eateries frequented by locals and travelers alike, such as La Quincaillerie (for a contemporary take on Belgian classics), Noordzee Mer du Nord (a popular seafood spot) and Comptoir des Galeries (for a splurge-worthy French meal).
If there are two things for which Belgium is known for, it's chocolate and beer. When you're craving a sweet treat, you can easily find Godiva. Though it's now a worldwide brand, Godiva had humble beginnings in Brussels where it was a family-run business beginning in 1926. You can visit the company's first shop, which opened in 1937, on the Grand-Place. If you're on the hunt for chocolate you wouldn't necessarily be able to source easily at home, consider shops like Mary or Elisabeth.
If you're not one to indulge your sweet tooth, succumb to your love of hops instead. Belgium is home to a dizzying array of beer types, most of which you can find at the city's many cafes and pubs. For those looking to grab some Belgian beer, or any beer really, head over to Delirium Cafe, which boasts more than 2,000 beers from around the world. Plus, Delirium Cafe sits less than a half-mile north of the Grand-Place, making it an easy stop for tourists.
Find the Best Restaurants in Brussels
- #1Le Rabassier#1 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (746)$$ | Belgian, European, French, Healthy23 Rue de Rollebeek, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #265 degres#2 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (197)$ - $$ | French, European, Healthy, GastropubAvenue Louise 173, Brussels 1050 BelgiumRead More » - #3Le Pecheur#3 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (149)$ - $$ | Belgian, Seafood, European, French, Mediterranean, Healthy, DinerRue de la Fourche 35, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #4Gus#4 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (96)$$ | French, Belgian, European, GastropubRue des Cultes 36, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #5Le Rossini#5 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (164)$$ | French, Belgian, European, Healthy, ContemporaryBoulevard Adolphe Max 7 Debrouckere, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #6Tonton Garby#6 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (1665)$ | French, Belgian, European, HealthyRue Duquesnoy 6, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #7Pasta Divina#7 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (3301)$ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean, European, HealthyRue de la Montagne 16, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #1Au Cor de Chasse#1 of 74 Places to Eat in Etterbeek
Tripadvisor (794)$ - $$ | Brazilian, Seafood, European, Healthy, PortugueseAvenue des Casernes 21, Etterbeek, Brussels 1040 BelgiumRead More » - #1La Verveine#1 of 269 Places to Eat in Ixelles
Tripadvisor (177)$ - $$ | French, Moroccan, Mediterranean, Fusion, Middle EasternAvenue de la Couronne 375, Ixelles, Brussels 1050 BelgiumRead More » - #10Pois Chiche#10 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (123)$ - $$ | Lebanese, Mediterranean, Healthy, Middle Eastern, Street FoodKapellemarkt, 15, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #11Yummy Bowl#11 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (172)$ | Korean, Fusion, Soups, InternationalRue des Eperonniers 49, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #12The Lobster House#12 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (4027)$ - $$ | Belgian, Seafood, EuropeanRue des Bouchers 39, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #13Kaffabar#13 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (258)$ - $$ | Belgian, Cafe, EuropeanPlace Rouppe 1, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #14Berlaymont Cafe#14 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (259)$ - $$ | Belgian, European, Bar, GastropubRue Archimede 8, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #15Le Bistro#15 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (2840)$ - $$ | French, Belgian, Seafood, EuropeanBoulevard de Waterloo 138, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #16Midtown Grill#16 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (817)$ - $$ | American, Steakhouse, European, GrillRue Paul Devaux 4 Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #17Vinomania#17 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (305)$ - $$ | Mediterranean, Spanish, Wine BarPlace Fernand Cocq 22, Brussels 1050 BelgiumRead More » - #18Aux Merveilleux de Fred#18 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (483)$ - $$ | BelgianRue du Marche aux Herbes 7, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More » - #19Shahrazad Restaurant#19 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (302)$ - $$ | Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, ArabicRue Jourdan 28, Brussels 1060 BelgiumRead More » - #20Menthe & Safran#20 of 3,889 Places to Eat in Brussels
Tripadvisor (253)$ - $$ | Moroccan, Mediterranean, Middle EasternRue de l'Enseignement 49, Brussels 1000 BelgiumRead More »
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