Restaurants in Bruges
The foodie choices in Bruges range from Michelin-starred to mobile stands in the Markt selling fries in paper cones, with just about everything between. There’s no need to be snobbish by eschewing the “tourist” restaurants in the central squares; service is (almost) universally slick and charming, prices can be reasonable if you follow the “menu du jour,” and all menus feature local specialties, which are, after all, what you certainly came to sample.
Before you commit to sitting down in a restaurant, check the prices on the menus that must—by law—be displayed outside. This will put a stop to any nasty surprises over the cost of the dishes on offer, but drinks are often a bone of contention in Bruges too; the prices often appear ramped up but unfortunately it’s simply an expensive city. Beer and wine are better options than cocktails pricewise.
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19 Results
- Creperie
‘t Minnewater
The perfect family respite from the surging crowds in Bruges’s swarming museum district, this is an easygoing bistro that won’t break the bank. Bribe fractious youngsters with a chocolate-smothered crepe or tuck into mussels and pasta arrabiata on the exceptionally reasonable…$Around Town - Belgian
Belgian Pigeon House
All manner of carrier pigeon-related memorabilia graces this tiny restaurant, which occupies the ground floor and medieval brick-vaulted cellar of an old mansion in the city center. Pigeon statues, pigeon drawings, homing pigeon bands—even the menu and placemats are imprinted with…$$$Center - French, Belgian
Bij Lieven
Bij Lieven quickly became a Bruges institution after opening a few years ago. It's inside a former house a few steps away from Markt. With old beamed ceilings and elegant fireplaces still intact, the interior strikes the right contemporary note. There are pale wood floors and…$$Center, just north of Markt - Belgian
Bistro Christophe
Two spacious dining rooms with white-washed brick walls dotted with contemporary art, including a cool mural of Picasso, form this stylish bistro on the Garenmarkt. The open kitchen turns out a raft of hearty meat-and-potato dishes—filet mignon, Chateaubriand, lambchops—as well as…On the Garenmarkt - French, Belgian
Bistro Kok au Vin
Kok au Vin started out serving only chicken. Good though it may have been, this limited its appeal. Now run by a young team, the bistro has a chic interior—a smart open-plan space with pale wood floors, banquettes, smallish tables and gray chairs, bold pictures on the walls, and an…$$West Bruges, over the canal - Belgian, Café
Books and Brunch
The welcoming two-story interior and shelves full of secondhand books in French and English, as well as the magazines, tables, and chairs scattered around, lift your spirits as soon as you walk into this restaurant. As the locals have discovered, it’s great for breakfasts and…$$Center, South of Burg, toward Gentpoort - Fish, Seafood
Breydel De Coninc
The best seafood restaurant in Bruges, De Coninc is just off the Markt, with a surprisingly pared-down interior, simple wooden tables, and stripped pine floors. A blackboard running round the wall lists specials, but your eye is likely to be held by the large fish tank, where your…$$Center, between Markt and Burg - French, Belgian
De Florentijinen
Housed in a former merchant’s house, de Floreintijinen is a special occassion restaurant. The two-story restaurant has huge windows that let light flood into the dining room, where smart and savvy locals sit at tables covered with crisp white linen. It could all seem stuffy, but the…$$$Center - French, Belgian
De Mangerie
This bright and pretty restaurant is near the center but off the main street, just south of Markt. The main dining room has plain wood floors and large windows with a view to the street; another section has comfortable bench seating and tables in front of the open kitchen. Kristof…$$Center, near Markt, off Simon Stevinplein - French, Belgian
De Refter
Food-lovers in Bruges breathed a sigh of relief when top chef Geert Van Hecke opened De Refter. The "refectory" is very different from Van Hecke's posh and expensive De Karmeliet, but it does share a garden (and some of the dishes) with that Michelin-starred neighbor. This more…$$Center, north of Langestraat beyond the canal - International
De Republiek
If you’re wondering where Bruges’s hipsters hang out, it’s here in this cultural complex, which houses a cinema, artisan workshop, and a bright, airy, industrial-style cafe/bar. The latter buzzes from noon until the wee hours, thanks to its well-priced lunchtime sandwich menu,…$Around town - Flemish
De Vier Winden
With a stellar location right at the foot of the Belfort, this casual brasserie serves up solid Belgian fare but also offers a nice selection of Italian pastas and pizza. Order a liter of rosé wine, tuck into Flemish stew, mussels, or the meaty lasagna, and finish off your feast with…$$Around Town - Seafood, Belgian
De Visscherie
De Visscherie is located, appropriately, on Vismarkt, the once-bustling fish market that still has seafood stands on Tuesday through Saturday mornings. Start what will be a serious meal in the cozy bar, near the crackling fireplace, before moving into the two-level restaurant proper.…$$$Center, south of Burg - Belgian
De Vlaamsche Pot
Tucked down a side alley, this redbrick building with window boxes overflowing with bright-red geraniums looks pretty touristy, but inside you’ll find that it's mostly locals tucking into the traditional dishes that have been served here for over 30 years. Go with an appetite for…$$Center - Belgian
La Civière d’Or
One of four family-owned restaurants set side-by-side and opposite the Belfort, La Civière d’Or is the best options in the row of restaurants on the Markt, in terms of price, ambience, and waitstaff charm. Grab a table outside, order a bucket full of mussels, a plate of frites, a…$Around Town - Belgian
Le Chef et Moi
This classic little gem is creeping up the foodie destination charts in Bruges and is definitely one for booking ahead of time, partly due to the high quality of the cuisine and partly due to the fact that it’s tiny. Oil paintings cover the walls, chandeliers drip crystal, and the…$$$Around Town - Thai
Narai Thai
Always busy with tourists escaping the ubiquitous mussels and Flemish stew in favor of fragrant plates of crab cakes and grilled prawns with chili, this Thai place is a little way out of the city center, just west of ‘Zand and the Concertgebouw. Proceedings kick off with a sharp,…$$Around Town - Bistro
Nomad Kitchen + Bar
A welcome break from the usual mussels-laden menus, Nomad (which stands for No Ordinary Meals And Drinks) is heavy on fresh, organic produce, with an array of meal-sized salads and vegetarian options, including a terrifically zesty eggplant lasagna. The décor, too, is a departure…$Center - French, Belgian
Tom’s Diner
In a residential neighborhood just a few minutes' walk north from the Adornes Hotel you'll find the kind of local restaurant that just about everybody would want to have in their neighborhood. Tom and his kitchen have been in this old house since 1999; today it’s an open-plan…$$St Gillis, North Bruges
