Bruges Hotels Guide: Restaurants

Belgium has a fine tradition of cuisine (it actually has more Michelin rated restaurants per capita than France) and Bruges is a great place to find good food at prices to suit every pocket.

For a typical dish try karbonaden which is made from cubes of beef marinated in beer and cooked with herbs and onions or waterzooi a traditional fish (or chicken) soup like stew cooked with cream and vegetables.

Of course you can't visit Bruges not not try mussels served in a big pot with a side order of chips (freitjes) and mayonnaise. Belgian chips are like no other and if you don't want a full meal but just want some chips to keep you going you cany find a frituur van on any street in Bruges and order a cone of chips with a helping of mayonnaise.

For someting sweet afterwards Speculoos are hard and spicy and are a speciality of Flanders . Brugge Kletskoppen (lace cookies) are made to look like the local lace and are a speciality of Bruges .

For breakfast (or for any time of the day for that matter) you should try a freshly cooked wafel from one of the many street cafes serving directly on to the street.

Some of the best restaurants are listed below (we at Bruges Hotels Guide have not eaten at all of them so we are basing this list on local reputation):

Den Gouden Cop
On the corner of Markt Square, a great place to eat Flemish dishes, bouillabaisse and Norman pancakes.

Steenstraat 1
Tel: (050) 338 384.
Website: www.dengoudencop.be

De Karmeliet
It doesn’t come better than award-winning chef Geert Van Hecke’s three-star restaurant.

Langestraat 19
Tel: (050) 33 82 59
Website: www.dekarmeliet.be

De Verbeelding
Cheap and cheerful pastas, salads and tapas in pleasant historic surroundings close to Markt Square.

Oude Burg 26
Tel: (050) 338 294.
Website: www.deverbeeldingbrugge.be

Mosselkelder
One can't leave Bruges without sampling a pot of steamed mussels and fries. Mosselkelder (Mussel Cellar) is an inexpensive and a good place to try these and other Flemish specialities.

Huidenvettersplein 5
Tel: (050) 342 320.
Website: www.mosselkelder.be

Saint-Amour (’t Voermanshuys)
An award winning chef with an interesting menu - one for the gourmand.

Oude Burg 14
Tel: (050) 337 172.
Website: www.saint-amour.be

’t Zwaantje
Traditional Belgian French cuisine with a wide choice of seafood and seasonal specialities.

Gentpoortvest 70
Tel: (050) 343 885.
Website: www.hetzwaantje.be