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Go ahead in most bars and restaurants in Brussels but will all be surrounded by touristy. But it is Brussels and weekends only tourists. In fact, until our European parliamentarians seem to do more tourists than anything else, but that would get into politics and we are for these cabbages and also for Brussels.

Our top recommendation for dinner is the classic Chez Leon with mussels and fries and eat the Da Piero in his quiet terrace and then give a good account of a few Belgian mojitos on the deck of the Zebra Bar

But if you want a healthy option here’s a good list. As always each and every one of them have personally tested. On the Way Away planner for Brussels route, you go indicating where to go, in what order and how to reach the site. In our Smart Route you go all these places indicating also for breakfast, lunch or dinner, everyone just at the right time so that you square with the itinerary!

For breakfast in Brussels abound coffee chains, such as well put that almost look life. You have the Paul, with good coffee and better croissant, but the best bread sandwiches (from 3.75 €). On the Boulevard Anspach with the Rue de L’Eveque Bisschops, you have a good central Paul. The other alternative is Le Pan Quotidian. In the Rue Antoine Dansaert find one, decorated as your dream kitchen, with one long wooden table from which you will not want to lift.

To drink a beer on a lively terrace, any time you can go to the Jardin des Fontaines Olives, right in the Marche au Charbon. From € 1.90 draft beer from € 2.60 or the bottled. For if it is full you have the bar right next Llanes or Au Soleil, the two also friendly and nice terraces.

Another area with good environment is the Plaza de Santa Catalina, with several bars with terraces beneath a large pine. The beer is just as cold in all but our favorite is the original Onthaal for their hammocks. Furthermore, in this square you will find a kind of bar-seafood or “tapas bar” as they call them led by Spanish. Ask for the “duos” by 13 or 15 € (tapas combining two of shrimp, octopus or squid) or “triple” with three options (21 €). I chuparéis fingers! But beware that only open for lunch and closed on Sundays.

If you eat when caught by the elevator of Louise, you can go to Point Chute, a burger with a nice terrace in the square below. The burgers are huge (from € 11.20) but you can also order a bagel for € 8.50.

For the “sweet tooth” have some bad news … The famous waffles have entered into a price war that has made € 1 but much worse than that you can take at home. Now, to prove that it is not … Next to the Manneken Pis have a couple of them, but I can not recommend one before the other because they both know like that … Of course, since you are there if you love chocolate and you carry a wallet full of banknotes, come into the Godiva chocolate shop opposite. The “strawberry cone” (€ 5.50), chocolate dipped strawberries, is not to forget. Or the “chocolixir” that will cost you not drink them in a St. Hilari …

If you have been late and you have pressed the stomach to hunger and greasy snacks, a lifeguard can be a kind of locally owned fast food on the street Fritland Henri Maus, under the big Platz. Ask in the bar and sit on a table of its banks. And since you ask of the Mitraillette atravéis (€ 4.50), a baguette with meat, onions, salad, salsa and chips …!

Restaurant Chez Leon in Brussels
Rue des Bouchers 18

Formule Leon (moules avec frites) 14,90€
Croquettes de Crevettes 13,95€
Steak tartar (americain) 17,95€

Well yes, we know. It’s the worst of the tourist streets of Brussels, that of the “butchers”. That says it all. Full of tight and maitre blowflies terraces that will persecute to the hotel with the letter of your restaurant. But if you want to try some mussels and fries, go to Chez Leon. It would be comparable to the King of the Prawns in Barcelona, famous among local restaurant for twenty years and prostituted by tourists since. But with a difference. They all eat shrimp, the tourists and we, in restaurants and at home, so there are hundreds of better places than the Rey de la Gamba to eat a good meal. But in Belgium the only ones to ask avec frites mussels in restaurants are on duty turistoides. So if you want to take them and the good, to the rue des Bouchers and sit at Chez Leon (a good recommendation to avoid the tourist hubbub is sitting on the cross street).

If you only take one of the table mussels, go to Leon formula, a kind of menu that includes classic mussels (moules speciales), fries and a beer for € 14.60. If you are more than one, ask “les Cocottes” ration of 800 grams (Leon formula are 500gr), with “frites à volonté” (All potatoes want). You’ll have more than enough. In this case, you can still opt for the classic (€ 22.55) or stop being purists thinking “what is the best or the most traditional?” And ask for more sauce you fancy because after dip it be you who potatoes and bread!Attention that sometimes the classics may surprise some of the flavor of “céleri” … a kind of pickle! Forewarned is forearmed …

For snacks, you can always try the shrimp croquettes typical super (crevettes croquettes) or tomatoes stuffed with prawns, which for some have come to a place of tourists! And if in the group have to always hating mussels, we can recommend the steak tartare (filet americain). A special little more matted than it serve for our lands, but also tasty and a good deal!

Of course, where you will be nailed in beer. Make them the idea and forget to look at the price, so not what you say. But forget about sophistication and do not go out of Maes beer, the cheapest of the letter.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Brussels

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Belgium

In Brussels costs a little separated from so many tourists, so much as seek all end up with touristy restaurants everywhere. But at least you can feel that there are places where you mix with local people. And that’s what happens in every bar in the Place Saint Gery. In the upper crossing Rue Van Praet, the terraces are mixed together. We recommend taking a spectacular “Belgian mojito” at the Zebra, first-facing terrace and sun bursting on weekends. As sure to fall more than one, before you fill you recommend good belly and a fantastic option is the Da Piero.

In the bottom of the square, around the market that fills the middle, you will find this Italian from outside does not look great, but its inner terrace is to forget for a while that you are in the capital of Europe. We recommend the spaghetti bolognese, adopted as a national dish by the Belgians, and parmigiana pizza.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Brussels

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Belgium

From breakfast to dinner:

1. To make a breakfast or brunch: Le Pain Quotidien in Kalandeberg street. According to a franchise but in this case have a front terrace in a pleasant square. Or if you hand is more Appelbrug street, you can go to Brooderie also a nice terrace but a little more expensive (brunch with champagne € 22)

2. To make a waffle “on the go”, the Australian Ice-Cream in Velostrat street near the Cathedral. Street turistoide like nothing but waffles and ice cream are the most famous in the city (1.8 € a scoop of ice cream, two scoops € 3, € 4 three balls).

3. To take an afternoon beer on the terrace overlooking the river or in the evening on the terrace of the street, the bar Koeiaert in Pensmarkt 3. Come inside to the end to reach the terrace overlooking the canal. Glass of wine by 3.5 € or 4.5 € cava.

4. For coffee or tea in the afternoon or after dinner: Mr Beanzz. The waterside terrace is enough reason to go, but if you enter and sit at one of the tables next to the windows, will cost rise up! His “special coffees around the world” are a bit expensive (7 €) but encourage anyone (irish coffee, baileys coffee, coffee with russian vodka, etc …).

5. If you are a glutton and I like ribs (ribs) to die, do not fail to spot on the street Amadeus in Plotersgracht street (15.95 € all you can eat spareribs). And if not hungry, nothing happens. Just walk across the bridge and back Krommewal down Plotersgracht and worthwhile.

6. If you prefer is that you see with the beautiful people of Brussels who comes to spend the day, assail one deluxe burger BBQ at the Belga Queen. Famous Chef, to look decor and terrace next to the canal. Who gives more? But prepare ye the Visa. From 15 € of the “croquettes crevettes” (fried shrimp) to 52 € the steak to share, you have everything, including lobster, oysters and caviar. Graslei Street 10.

7. If you want fine dining but without that I see so many people, the brasserie De Tempelier. Only open at night, you have to book because they have few tables and is always filled. For 15 € the main course eat more than fine. On the street Meerseniersstraat 9.

8. And if you want fine dining but without all heck, nonsense and go away leaving you to Marco Polo, right next to Pink’s Flamingo on the cross street, Serpentstraat no.11. A trattoria with wood oven that says it all.

9. If you are tired of the Belgian food, which will notbe very strange if you are here more than a week, on the street Sleepstrat and Oudburg you will find ethnic restaurants of all colors and continents. The most famous is the Tibetan (do not miss the Yak meat!).

10. For if there is hunger and too late: Orient Pita in Groeten Market. Beware of shawerma regalima oil! However, first it will seem (from 4.5 € to 6 €).

11. If going well dressed and have dinner despuéss forward to a drink by the Belgian socialite, in the same street Oudburg at No. 16 have one of the “secrets” of the city: the Jigger’s. Cocktail bar reserved for famous people. If you have no shame to ring the bell and put famous face, enter into “the noblest drugstore” Ghent.

12. If you are curious about the cuisine and dishes prepared, do not miss Toog in Voldersstraat 24. Just being able to look your shelves and refrigerators and worth it!

And do not forget to try the Westmalle Trappist beer! A little stronger than we are used but I love it! Besides subiros a bit, of course … 😉

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Ghent

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Belgium

Bar Pink’s Flamingo, c / Onderstraat 55 in Ghent

I look like a street in anyone’s territory, but it is an area right next to the center and very nice to walk around, especially if you get closer to the river and have just crossing the bridge Krommewal. If you cross and you should turn right in Oudburg by Sleepstraat, there you will have a good sample of ethnic restaurants worldwide. But the beer I recommend doing at Pink’s Flamingo. Good atmosphere, locals and cold beer. And if you are hungry, for a few euros (thinking that you are in Belgium), I can take a plate of spaghetti bolognese, of those with Knorr pot flavored sauce and cheese on but end hooking. Not that they are not home, is that the sauces around here have this flavor, and the most famous companies are Dutch ready meals and just make copy …

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Ghent

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Belgium

Restaurant Bridge, c / Sint Baafsplein 21, Ghent

In Ghent options abound for lunch, dinner or just a beer. But if you are in the middle, no bones about it. The Bridge Restaurant with its terrace is a highly recommended site. To take a break with a beer in hand, or to try a dish of their own. They are scrumptious deli but not every day is jauja. The typical Stoverij (16 €) for two will kill hunger, a kind of beef stew in beer sauce that though they may be a bit strong at first, almost like wild game, at the end you’ll end up dipping bread. O chips which will bring you apart. The salads and pastas are worth 10 to 12 € and 14 meat dishes up.

It’s right next to the Cathedral. You see one stuck three restaurants side by side, the Bridge is just the middle.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Ghent

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Belgium

Terraijse, Genthof street, Bruges

Out of all the hubbub of foreigners, next to one of the channels, with a simple but nice terrace, overlooking the river and surrounded by worthwhile streets, or that it’s for a moment what it must be Bruges before tourists smash it, find the restaurant Terraijse.

With more than 45 different beers for choosing not be. While dining, we recommend one of their dishes: the Waterzool. A sort of soup with cream base that can be with chicken or fish. I know that sounds horrible and man is the best Iberian ham but atreveros more than one dip bread. I will go for 16 € (if there are two ask you just one dish, cutting more and more that you will have leftovers). And if not, have it all: lasagna with meat or fish, shrimp croquettes, omelets, …

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Bruges

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Belgium

One day in Bruges is more than enough. Train from Brussels (the Way Away trip planner will tell you where and how to take it) or even from Ghent and, then return to Brussels (our trip planner will also tell you where to leave your luggage while walking around Bruges).

Therefore, no need to give you an endless list of bars and restaurants … To start and if you are hungry, on the way from the station to the center of Bruges you will pass by an outdoors flea market. There you can take a hot dog (€ 3) or a cheeseburger (4 €), the latter scrumptious … Coming from the station and entering the market, try the first stall you find.

For lunch, I definitely recommend the Terrasjte (see post), outside the “touristic circuit” and with a terrace overlooking the canal. If you do not fancy walking there or prefer to fill your belly with a pasta dish, we give you two good options:

– La Cantina, in Philipstock-Straat with Wapenmakers Straat, Italian restaurant for tourists but somehow disguised, with pasta and risottos of all types from 9 € and 32-inch pizzas from 8-14 €. Very central and close to Mark.

– And better than La Cantina but placed a little further in a very “cute” street (Academiestraat with Spanjaard Straat), the Attrium. It is frequented by locals and they serve homemade pasta dishes for 8,90 €.

And if you don’t feel like Belgian food but also want something less traditional than a pasta dish, go to Opus Latino Café. It’s hard to recommend Moroccan food in Belgium but at least their terrace is well worth it.

After lunch, if you feel like something sweet, you can try the waffles with chocolate (3.5€) in a small place just between the two central squares, at Breidel street. Or even better, go to Noordznds Straat. There you will find an ice cream parlor and very close by, the quite  Muntplein square, where you can eat your wafles quietly on a bench. Another alternative is to go to the most famous pastry at Bruges, Servaas Van Mullen, with a more than pleasant terrace.

If it is raining and need shelter, we give two cafeterias:

– De Republiek, in Sint-Jakobsstraat street, with a lovely sunroom

– Or the Rose Reed at Cordoeaniers-Straat, the cafeteria of a hostel, with those tables and antique parquet floors that still creak.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Bruges

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Belgium