Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Brussels

This hidden gem of an eatery is more than it appears. A warm cozy interior with walls painted in soft soothing shades of brown, wooden floorboards, candlelight and white table linen are the formula for this snug restaurant. While Le Petit Boxeur may be on the quainter side, the cuisine here is absolutely spectacular. The food is classic and traditional Belgian cuisine, but with a touch of modern technique and presentation.

Few will be able to resist this beautiful art deco bistro, located near Place du Chatelain, Avenue Louise and Avenue Waterloo. The French cuisine features mainly regional fare from places like Basque and Landes. Names such as Chipirones A La Plancha (baby squid) and Piquillos with Cod will be music to the ears for seafood lovers. This is also a great place for business lunches or dinners, receptions and cocktails or other kinds of special events; the owners also provide outside catering.

Jazz-pianist Stan Brenners first opened this gorgeous bar in the 1940s and in the 1980s, a group of trendy young folks renovated and reopened the place, turning it into the quintessential Brussels nightspot. Hang out at L'Archiduc or take your place behind the piano if you dare. There is usually live jazz on Sundays at 5p and on Saturdays there's Le Jazz après shopping (Jazz after shopping), which you can enjoy for free. The owners offer excellent wines and fabulous cocktails.

You'll find this typical Parisian brasserie next to Bois de la Cambre. Smart waiters welcome you at the entrance right next to a wonderful display of fresh fish, shellfish, lobsters and other sea treasures. You can take out your plateau de fruits de mer for a chic picnic in the woods. The ambiance of the restaurant is cozy, relaxing and friendly and you can rub shoulders with the local beau monde.

This elegant establishment is housed in a 17th-century building overlooking the Grand Place. At one point La Maison du Cygne was a popular cafe where in 1881 the Belgian Socialist Party was founded. Now it consists of one of the finest restaurants and bars in Brussels, where elegance, class and style are standard. There are five different rooms—the most coveted seats overlooking Grand Place. The cuisine is classic French, and the wine cellar has a permanent stock of no less than 70,000 bottles.

Once an ironmonger's shop and now a trendy restaurant, this charming bistro is visited regularly by famous people from all over Europe including Helmut Kohl, Gérard Depardieu and The Gipsy Kings. It serves delicious meat dishes including seasonal game and fish. Oysters and the seafood platter are house specialties. Lunch is served from Monday to Friday, as is the so-called What The Bosses are Having Today three-course meal. The menu changes weekly according to the availability of fresh ingredients.