The restaurants in Bruges are a great way to discover typical food in Belgium and the secrets of the local gastronomy.
During the time I lived in the country, I ate many dishes that I had never heard of and, without a doubt, you will find all of them in different restaurants in this beautiful city.
Bruges it is between 1 hour and 1 hour and a half by train from the capital Brusselss, in the province of West Flanders, of which it is the capital.
The city represents very well the cuisine of Flanders, the region in the northern half of the country, which is characterized by stews, seafood, fries and beers.
I chose some of the busiest and best restaurants in Bruges and others that are more accessible and cost-effective, so you can get to know them and plan your trip.
See what the city's typical dishes are and find out where to eat in Bruges.
Typical dishes in Bruges
- Bruges fool
- Rabbit meat
- Croquettes
- Flemish stew
- Waterzooi
- Seafood
- mussels with fries
- French fries
- Chocolate
- Waffles
*Official video produced by the Flanders region tourism website
Top restaurants in Bruges
- Arts Counter
- Cafe Cafe Vof
- At Vincent's
- The Basket of Gold
- Skin grease house
- Lizzie’s Waffles
- 't Fountain
- The Flemish Pot
- Goffin
Cheap Restaurants in Bruges
1. Counter Of Arts
Certainly the first food tip in Bruges, in Belgium, would have to include a local beer and where to find it at a fair price.
The answer is the Comptoir Des Arts, a bar in a basement where you will find, in addition to cheap beers and snacks, locals from Bruges and not just tourists.
The atmosphere is dimly lit, with several tables and a long counter. The drinks menu is quite large and the average price for a glass of beer is 2 euros. Some nights of the week they have live music, while on others it's a very quiet place.
The tip to order at the house is the Brugse Zot, produced in a brewery in the city, the flavor is light and a little citric. The alcohol content is 6% and this is one of Europe's traditional beers. A bottle or glass should cost around 3 or 4 euros.
- Address: Fleming Street, 53.
- Opening hours: Monday, Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 19 pm to 3 am; on Saturdays from 16 pm to 3 am.
2. Cafe Cafe Vof
For those staying at a hotel that does not include breakfast in the daily rate, looking for restaurants that serve the first meal of the day at a reasonable price is very important for a route in Bruges.
Cafe Cafe Vof serves dishes from around 8 euros, which include a cup of tea or coffee, bread, croissant, ham, cheese, butter and jam. They also serve lunch and pastries.
- Address: Katelijnestraat, 64.
- Opening hours: daily from 8:30 am to 18:XNUMX pm.
3. At Vincent's
It is recommended by many visitors as the restaurant in Bruges that serves the best french fries from the city. With only fresh ingredients, Chez Vincet has hamburgers, breaded products, croquettes, salads and other snacks on the menu.
A medium fries cone is around 4 euros, with the sauce of your choice. You can eat at the tables inside or on the sidewalk.
- Address: Sint-Salvatorskerkhof, 1.
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 11:30 am to 14:30 pm and from 17:30 pm to 20 pm.
Value for money restaurants in Bruges
4. The Basket of Gold
In the area surrounding the Markt (central square of Bruges) there are many restaurants that are very popular with tourists. Some have a slightly high price, precisely because it is a region frequented by people from out of town.
But specifically, Le Panier d'Or is reasonably priced, given its tourist location. check out how much does it cost to travel to Bruges (coming soon).
The specialty is typical dishes from the region, such as mussels with fries.
Normally cooked with wine or beer, the mussels are served in the same pan, accompanied by fries and a sauce. A large portion (for two people) is around 25 euros.
- Address: Markt, number 28.
- Opening hours: daily from 10 am to 23 pm, closing at 22 pm on Thursdays and Sundays.
5. Skin grease house
A good option for eat well with average price in a very nice place and with good service. This is the Huidevettershuis.
A plate of flemish stew (stew from Flanders), which is beef cooked in a sauce based on strong dark beer, accompanied by chips, fish croquettes and salad is around 25 euros (not including drinks).
- Address: Huidenvettersplein, 10 e 11.
- Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 12:14 to 30:18 and from 21:30 to 12:22; Saturday from 12:21 to 30:XNUMX and Sunday from XNUMX:XNUMX to XNUMX:XNUMX.
6. Lizzie’s Waffles
even if the waffles are more popularly associated with the Wallonia region, it is also possible to find a restaurant in Bruges to eat this typical Belgian dish.
At Lizzie's Waffles, prices are more expensive than at a street kiosk or bakery, but one waffle is enough for two people. In addition to having a different and light flavor, despite the size.
On average, a large waffle costs 10 euros, plus the topping, which is extra.
- Address: Sint-Jakobsstraat, number 16.
- Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, from 11 am to 17 pm.
Best restaurants in Bruges
7. 't Fountain
An excellent restaurant in Bruges for you to try the dishes with rabbit meat, very popular in the region.
't Fonteintje's rabbit medallions are served with sauce and accompanied by vegetables. With starter and dessert, without drinks, each person spends around 30 euros.
- Address: Simon Stevinplein, 6.
- Opening hours: daily from 11 am to 22 pm.
8. The Flemish Pot
De Vlaamsche Pot is nominated by many food critics as the best waterzooi in town. Despite being a dish originally from Gent, this freshwater fish soup with creamy vegetable broth has already been reinvented a few times.
At first with fish, later switching to chicken (due to the decrease in the fish population in rivers) and later with saltwater fish, as it is prepared in Bruges.
The main course, with starter and dessert, without drinks, is around 40 euros and is well served. Products are always fresh and prepared to order.
- Address: Helmstraat, number 3.
- Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday, from 17:30 pm to 22:12 pm; Saturday and Sunday, from 22:XNUMX to XNUMX:XNUMX.
9. Goffin
This restaurant is quite small and expensive. Sophisticated and starred place, managed by the chef and owner, it has already appeared in international lists of “traditional Belgian food in Bruges” and “best restaurants in Bruges”, “traditional Belgian food in Bruges” and “best restaurants in Bruges, respectively.
If you are willing to spend a little money on a nice dinner or lunch, Goffin is one of the restaurants in Bruges that you must try. AND typical and high standard gastronomy in the Venice of the North.
A meal with starter, main course and dessert costs 50 euros on average; plus drinks. There are seafood options on the menu, like sea bass, for example. And also sweets with Belgian chocolate for dessert.
- Address: Maalse Steenweg, number 2.
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from noon to 13:30 pm; and from 19 to 20:30.
What to do at night in Bruges
Belgians have a very active nightlife. Unlike what we see in Brazil, where the night starts late and goes on until dawn, in most places in Belgium, nightlife usually starts at happy hour (late afternoon/early evening) and ends at the beginning of the morning.
So people go home early, use public transport late at night and, as a result, end up going out more times a week.
I'll give you some tips outside the restaurant scene in Bruges, so you can enjoy the night on the town like the Belgians usually do. How about a belgian beer traditional in a pub or some live music at a summer festival?
The Garre
De Garre is a pub that has the peculiarity of pour your own beer with 11% alcohol content. that you can only find in the pub itself: Tripel De Garre! Es local also has other brands from its vast menu and some snacks.
Located in a dead-end street close to the Markt (main square in Bruges). Some tourists say it's hard to find, but it's totally worth it once you arrive.
- Address: Garret, 1.
- Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, from 1 am to midnight; on Saturdays from 11 am until midnight.
't Bruges Bear
Founded in 1983, this pub in Bruges is very traditional. O 't Bruges Bear it is frequented not only by tourists but also by local clientele of all ages.
This pub has all categories of Belgian beer represented in more than 300 types, 5 of which are on tap. It's the perfect place to spend the end of the day; there are no tables on the street and the service is very good.
The Brugs Beertje (Bruges Little Bear) is right in the center, very close to the city's central square.
- Address: Kemelstraat, number 5.
- Opening hours: Thursday to Monday, 16 pm to midnight, closing at 1 am on Saturdays and Sundays.
Cactusfestival
Another way to enjoy the nightlife in Belgium is to go to one of the country's numerous summer festivals. Practically every medium and large city has a festival. The one in Bruges is the Cactusfestival that happens in the summer, in early July more or less.
If you're passing through the city during the hot months, don't miss the festival. Artists from all over the world, from the rock, pop, jazz, reggae and hip hop genres, perform at Minnewater Park.
Best restaurants in Bruges
The restaurants in Bruges that I featured on this list are just some of a huge list that I researched, that I was able to discover when I was in the city and were recommended to me by friends in the city.
I sought to cover places for low budget travelers, who need to save a little here and there; those who like to know more traditional and historic places, with their typical dishes and can spend a little more; even culinary experts, who follow the guides on the subject and want haute cuisine, with traditional foods from the region.
Bruges is a beautiful city with great options for all tastes and budgets. In tourist regions, the tendency is always to be a little more expensive to eat, but sometimes the best alternative is to find something affordable in the vicinity of the places we want to visit.
Finally, I recommend the article bruges or brussels, where I draw a comparison between the main cities in Belgium, to help you decide which one to spend more time in during your trip.
