Curated food

A Brussels institution since 1893 — the city's most famous spot for moules-frites. Touristy, sure, but portions are huge and the recipe hasn't changed in 130 years — we still recommend it.

Daily 11:30–23:00.

A no-reservations bistro in full *fin-de-siècle* dress — *carbonnade flamande* (beer-braised stew), *waterzooi* (creamy fish stew), pommes purée. Locals queue and nobody complains.

Daily 18:00–01:00 (kitchen until midnight); cash only.

Two Michelin stars in an Art Nouveau dining room — Pierre Wynants and his successors since 1926. Classic Belgian *haute cuisine*: lobster, fish medallions, the real-deal soufflé.

Tue–Sat 12:00–13:30 and 19:00–21:30; closed Sun and Mon.

A standing-only fish counter in the Sainte-Catherine quarter — you stand with a glass of white wine and eat fresh oysters, squid, and grilled fish. A Brussels classic for lunch on your feet.

Wed–Mon 11:00–18:00; closed Tue.

Brussels' most famous *frituur* since 1948 — frites in a paper cone with the classic sauces (samurai, andalouse, americain). Eat standing up, or sit at one of the neighbouring cafes that lets you bring them in.

Mon–Thu 11:30–01:00; Fri–Sat until 02:00; Sun until midnight.

A small bistro paired with a list of 100+ Belgian beers — Flemish classics (*stoofvlees*, *vol-au-vent*) cooked with beer instead of wine. Dim lighting, wooden benches, locals.

Daily 12:00–01:00; reservations recommended for dinner.

A bakery dating to 1829 — the oldest in Brussels — with the best speculaas, waffles (both *bruxellois* and *liège*), and proper Belgian hot chocolate. The main shop is on Rue au Beurre, a few steps from the Grand-Place.

Daily 10:00–19:00; until 20:00 on weekends.

A casual concept built around chef-y meatballs (*gehaktbal*) stuffed with cheese or mushrooms, served on mashed potatoes. A Belgian twist on comfort food, fair prices, not a tourist trap.

Mon–Fri 12:00–14:30 and 18:00–22:00; Sat 12:00–22:00; closed Sun.