Table for two eating and drinking in Bruges
Food is one of the reasons people come back to Bruges, and it is also where visitors most often end up in the wrong place at the wrong hour. We are not going to hand you a list of restaurant names, because tastes and kitchens change. What we can give you is the way the city eats, so you can choose well wherever you sit down.
Fries, done properly
Belgian fries are a snack, not a side dish, and they are eaten standing at a frituur or sitting on a bench with the paper cone in your hands. Look for a place where a queue of locals forms around lunchtime and in the early evening, that is usually the sign you want.
Order them with one sauce rather than three and eat them straight away, while they are still hot. Fries that have travelled across town in a bag are never as good.
Chocolate without the tourist trap
There are a lot of chocolate shops in the centre and they are not all the same. The ones worth your money make their own pralines on the premises, often with the workshop visible from the shop floor, and they will happily tell you what is in each one.
Buy a small mixed box rather than a large pre packed gift tin. You get fresher chocolate and you get to taste more of it.
Beer and a brewery visit
Belgian beer is a serious business and Bruges takes it seriously too. Cafés in the centre will hand you a menu with dozens of beers on it, and the staff are used to being asked for a recommendation, so tell them whether you like something light, sour or heavy.
There is also a brewery in the centre that runs guided visits, which is a good hour out of the rain and ends where you would expect. Book ahead in busy periods and check the current times on their own website.
Terraces and squares
The Market Square terraces are lovely for the view and you pay for that view. That is a fair trade for one drink, less so for a full meal every day.
Walk a few streets further and the smaller squares and canal sides get quieter and cheaper. Sit down, order something and let the crowd drift past somewhere else.
Markets and cooking in
Bruges has weekly markets where you can pick up bread, cheese, fruit and charcuterie. With a kitchen in the apartment, that turns into a very good evening meal for a fraction of restaurant prices.
There are also supermarkets and bakeries within easy reach of us, so stocking up on the first day is straightforward.
Booking a table
Weekends fill up fast, especially Friday and Saturday evening in the centre. If there is somewhere you have your heart set on, reserve a day or two ahead rather than turning up and hoping.
Belgians eat earlier than in southern Europe, and many kitchens close well before the café does. Aim for the earlier part of the evening if you want a full menu.
Breakfast in your own kitchen
Every apartment has its own kitchen with a coffee machine, kettle and a selection of basic products. If you would rather not go out first thing, simply have breakfast at your own table. Pick up something good in town the evening before and your first morning starts relaxed.
Practical, from the apartment
- The restaurants and cafés of the centre are 1.9 km away, roughly 20 to 25 minutes on foot
- By bicycle you are in town in a few minutes, which is handy for an evening booking
- Free parking is a two minute walk away, so you can leave the car for the whole stay
- Every apartment has a private kitchen, handy for breakfast at your own pace
- Our digital guest guide has further tips, updated as places open and close