10 Best Restaurants in Brussels, Belgium

The city isn't short of good street food markets, not since Wolf opened in the center, but out in Laeken, where the options are not nearly as interesting, this new addition was a godsend when it opened in the Tour & Taxis center in 2021. The choice here is a mix of slightly more upmarket and downright crowd-pleasing, ranging from the frites of "140" (the perfect temperature for cooking fries) to the Ayurvedic veggies of Xgreen. The space is huge and you're not short of options. 

This cozy café is the epitome of Brussels decor: bicycles hang from the ceiling, there are Tintin statues everywhere, and shelves overflow with books. It's sculpted chaos and part of a chain of cafés that is slowly taking over the city. This was the first branch, and is still the best. The bagels and ready-made sandwiches are always tasty, plus it stays open until 8 every day, by which time it's filled with busy students. 

With its all-day brunch ricocheting between healthier options (acai and Buddha bowls) and more indulgent offerings, including a guacamole, bacon, and cheddar toast, this is a good spot to bag a late-morning or early-afternoon pick-me-up (until 3 weekdays; 3:30 on weekends). 

Spring rolls are the specialty at this über-popular fast-food café beloved by local office workers, though the fillings are hardly traditional: meat loaf, crispy bacon and avocado, caramelized tofu. There are a few locations in the city now (the original opened in Saint-Gilles), but this is the perfect snack stop for shoppers on rue Antoine Dansaert. 

Salads packed with flavor, great hunks of quiches, and homemade lemonades are what keeps locals healthy at this popular lunch spot. 

It's a little touristy, but worth it if you've got a sweet tooth. Set within the beautiful old Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, this rather distinguished tearoom is a fine spot to indulge in waffles and this famous old brand's speculoos cookies. It has another location on rue Charles Buls.

This organic Neapolitan-style pizzeria has a couple of branches now: two (one pizzeria, one pasta joint) in St-Catherine and another opposite the eastern entrance to Cinquantenaire. In summer, it's not unusual to see locals queuing for a takeaway to sit and eat their wood-fired pizzas on the grass of the park, and it's not a bad option. But it's no hardship to sit inside, either, and the quality is always good.

This popular spot among health-conscious office workers lets you fill your bowl with healthy veggies, grains, meats, and berries (or just take one of the standard blends). Everything is tasty, good for you, and the word "superfood" crops up endlessly.

Power food, in all its acai glory. Wild Lab is the kind of place you get chia jam on your chocolate-banana pancakes or can find a "Goodness Bowl" brimming with lentils, roasted parsnip, and za'atar. It's a great spot for brunch, and the juices and smoothies leave you glowing.