Brussels punches above its weight on the European dining scene. The Belgian capital’s restaurants range from 100-year-old institutions (Comme Chez Soi opened in 1926) to two-Michelin-star modernists such as Bozar Restaurant and La Paix, busy brasseries serving carbonnade flamande and moules-frites, and humus x hortense, a vegan kitchen with a Michelin star. The best restaurants in Brussels reward both first-time visitors looking for traditional Belgian cuisine and serious food travellers chasing world-class fine dining. This guide covers the 17 best restaurants in Brussels for 2026 across every budget and style.
Brussels’ Dining Scene at a Glance
Brussels has 14 Michelin-starred restaurants in the 2026 guide, and none of them holds three stars; Bozar Restaurant, Le Chalet de la Forêt and La Paix hold two. Beyond the stars, the city has dozens of excellent neighbourhood bistros, beer-paired Belgian classics, and thoughtful brasseries serving everything from Sablon antique-quarter lunches to late-night Saint-Géry feasts.
The cuisine itself draws on French tradition (Brussels was historically French-speaking), Belgian terroir (North Sea fish, Wallonian beef, Ardennes game), and increasingly global influence — the Brussels expat scene is one of Europe’s most international, supporting strong Italian, Japanese, and Middle Eastern restaurants.
Best Restaurants in Brussels by Tier
Two Michelin Stars
Bozar Restaurant. Inside Victor Horta’s Centre for Fine Arts (Bozar), the restaurant offers traditional Belgian cuisine with modern technique. Chef Karen Torosyan’s kitchen won its second Michelin star in 2023 and keeps both in the 2026 guide.
La Paix. A two-Michelin-star modern Belgian restaurant, now at the Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria. Chef David Martin’s cooking blends Belgian heritage with French technique and Japanese precision, and it is anything but traditional.
One Michelin Star
Comme Chez Soi. The 1926 Brussels institution, with an Art Nouveau-style dining room. It lost its second star in 2022 and holds one in the 2026 guide, under chef Lionel Rigolet (great-grandson of founder Georges Cuvelier). The window into the kitchen is a Brussels rite — diners watch the brigade work the meal. Reserve weeks ahead.
La Villa in the Sky. Located on the 25th floor of the IT Tower with panoramic Brussels views. Chef Alexandre Dionisio’s cuisine emphasises seasonal Belgian ingredients in modern French preparations.
humus x hortense. A vegan Michelin-starred restaurant in Ixelles. Chef Nicolas Decloedt’s cooking proves vegetable cuisine can compete at the highest level.
Menssa. Christophe Hardiquest’s one-star restaurant in Saint-Gilles. The 5-course menu runs €110.
Formerly Starred
Le Pigeon Noir. A small terroir-focused restaurant in Uccle that lost its Michelin star in the 2026 guide. Unpretentious dining room, ambitious cooking, no tasting menu — pick à la carte.
Best Brasseries and Belgian Classics
Brasserie Bozar (sister to Bozar Restaurant)
Lower-priced, more accessible sibling of the Michelin-starred main restaurant. Check the current menu on bozarrestaurant.be before you go.
Le Cirio
A traditional Belgian brasserie in the Bourse district, dating from 1886 and dressed in Art Nouveau style. Famous for its half-and-half (sparkling white wine + Vermouth) and classic Belgian dishes. Closer to a dining experience than fine cuisine, but a Brussels rite.
Nüetnigenough
A Saint-Géry restaurant serving modern Belgian cooking with a beer selection to match. The carbonnade is the dish to order.
Aux Armes de Bruxelles
A Rue des Bouchers institution since 1921. Touristy location but the food is genuinely good — try the eel in green sauce, a Brussels speciality.
Chez Léon
The Mussels-and-frites restaurant of Brussels. Operating since 1893 on Rue des Bouchers. Crowded, fast, fun, and the moules-frites is among the city’s most reliable.
Grand Lounge (at The Dominican)
Modern Belgian seasonal cooking inside the atmospheric Dominican hotel. Three-course lunch around €38; à la carte at fair prices for the quality.
Bocconi (at Hotel Amigo)
Hotel Amigo’s Italian restaurant draws Brussels’ political class for lunch. The pasta course is exceptional.
Best Modern and International Restaurants
Wine Bar des Marolles
A small, unpretentious wine bar in the Marolles flea market district. Excellent natural-wine list and seasonal small plates. No reservations; arrive early.
Crab Club
A modern seafood restaurant focused on North Sea sustainable seafood and natural wine. After ten years in Saint-Gilles it moved in 2026 to the former Bistrot Marie near Place Flagey in Ixelles, with chef Yoth Ondara still in charge. Casual atmosphere, serious cooking.
Toukoul
An Ethiopian restaurant on Rue de Laeken, in the City of Brussels, with a distinctive way of eating — sharing platters with injera bread, hands only.
Best Restaurants in Brussels by Neighbourhood
Pentagon (Inner Centre): Comme Chez Soi, Le Cirio, Aux Armes de Bruxelles, Chez Léon, Brasserie Bozar, Bozar Restaurant, Bocconi, Wine Bar des Marolles. Most concentrated dining district.
Avenue Louise: La Villa in the Sky, several Italian and French bistros. Higher-end average.
Saint-Géry / Sainte-Catherine: Nüetnigenough, dozens of small bistros. Best for evening dining and a younger crowd.
Saint-Gilles / Ixelles: Menssa, humus x hortense, Crab Club. The trendy modern dining belt.
Marolles / Sablon: Wine Bar des Marolles, several Sablon bistros, Grand Lounge (The Dominican). Antique-quarter charm.
European Quarter: Mostly business-lunch territory, but a few solid options including Tour & Taxis area newcomers.
How to Reserve at the Best Restaurants in Brussels
Michelin-starred restaurants: Book as early as you can, ideally through the restaurant’s own website, or via TheFork.
Mid-range and brasseries: Book a few days ahead. TheFork (which is widely used in Brussels) often shows last-minute availability the website doesn’t.
Casual bistros: Same-day usually works for lunch; reserve for dinner especially Friday-Saturday.
Touristy Rue des Bouchers restaurants: Walk-in usually works. Choose carefully — the lane has both classic restaurants (Aux Armes de Bruxelles, Chez Léon) and tourist traps with industrial food.
Tasting menus: Most Michelin-starred Brussels restaurants prefer or require advance ordering of their tasting menus. Confirm dietary restrictions at booking, not arrival.
What to Eat: Brussels Restaurant Classics
Moules-frites. Belgian mussels with frites. Best from September to April when North Sea mussels are in season. Chez Léon is the institution.
Carbonnade flamande. Beef stewed in dark Belgian beer with bread and mustard. Rich, beer-deep, perfect winter dish. Nüetnigenough is the place to try it.
Stoofvlees. The Flemish version of carbonnade — slightly different beer base, same comfort.
Waterzooi. Chicken or fish stew with cream and root vegetables. Belgian comfort food.
Vol-au-vent. Puff pastry case filled with creamy chicken-and-mushroom ragout. A Belgian Sunday lunch staple, and a dish worth ordering at a traditional brasserie.
Eel in green sauce (anguilles au vert). Eel in a herb-and-spinach sauce. Deeply traditional Brussels dish; not for everyone but worth trying once.
Steak tartare and mitraillette. Casual fast-food Belgian classics, served at brasseries and friteries.
Best Restaurants in Brussels: Quick Reference
| Restaurant | Tier | Cuisine |
|---|---|---|
| Bozar Restaurant | 2 Michelin | Modern Belgian |
| La Paix | 2 Michelin | Modern Belgian |
| Comme Chez Soi | 1 Michelin | Classic Belgian-French |
| La Villa in the Sky | 1 Michelin | French-Belgian |
| humus x hortense | 1 Michelin | Vegan |
| Menssa | 1 Michelin | Tasting menu |
| Le Pigeon Noir | Lost its star in 2026 | Belgian terroir |
| Brasserie Bozar | Brasserie | Bozar’s lower-priced sibling |
| Le Cirio | Brasserie | Belgian classics |
| Nüetnigenough | Beer list | Belgian |
| Chez Léon | Casual | Moules-frites |
| Bocconi (Hotel Amigo) | Hotel | Italian |
| Grand Lounge (The Dominican) | Hotel | Seasonal dishes |
Useful Resources for Brussels Diners
For travellers exploring the best restaurants in Brussels:
- Michelin Guide Brussels — official Michelin coverage of Brussels restaurants.
- visit.brussels Gastronomic Restaurants — official tourism office curated list.
- TheFork Brussels — most widely used reservation platform.
- Belgian Wikifood — Belgian food culture and dish history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best restaurant in Brussels?
Brussels has no three-star restaurant, so for fine dining look to its two-star tables: Bozar Restaurant, La Paix and Le Chalet de la Forêt in Uccle. For traditional Belgian classics, Comme Chez Soi (one star, 1926) is the historic gold standard. For modern affordable Belgian, Grand Lounge at The Dominican and Nüetnigenough lead.
How many Michelin stars does Brussels have?
The 2026 Michelin Guide gives stars to 14 Brussels restaurants, none of them with three. Two stars go to Bozar Restaurant, Le Chalet de la Forêt and La Paix; the one-star list includes Comme Chez Soi, humus x hortense, Menssa and La Villa in the Sky. The selection is renewed each year with the Michelin Guide Belgium & Luxembourg, whose 2026 edition was presented on 4 May 2026.
How much does a Michelin meal cost in Brussels?
One-Michelin-star tasting menus run €110-€175. Two-star: €175-€225. Wine pairings add €70-€140. Lunch and dinner menus can differ in courses and price, so compare both on the restaurant’s own site.
What is Belgium’s national dish?
There’s no single national dish, but moules-frites, carbonnade flamande, and waterzooi are the closest contenders. Frites are also genuinely Belgian (despite the “French fries” name).
Where do locals eat in Brussels?
Locals favour Saint-Gilles (Menssa), Ixelles (humus x hortense), Saint-Géry (Nüetnigenough), and the small bistros around Place Flagey, where Crab Club now cooks. Tourist-leaning Rue des Bouchers is generally avoided by Brussels residents — Aux Armes de Bruxelles being one of the few exceptions.
Are Brussels restaurants vegetarian-friendly?
Yes, increasingly so. humus x hortense holds a Michelin star for vegan cooking. Most modern Brussels restaurants offer at least one solid vegetarian option, and some (including Wine Bar des Marolles) cater seriously to plant-based diners.
Final Thoughts
The best restaurants in Brussels offer one of Europe’s most underrated dining destinations — two-Michelin-star kitchens at the top, dozens of brasseries serving century-old recipes, and a modern scene that runs to a vegan Michelin-starred kitchen. Whether you book a two-star table at Bozar Restaurant or grab moules-frites at Chez Léon, you’ll find Brussels rewards every level of food curiosity. For more on planning your trip, see our complete Brussels food guide, best chocolate shops in Brussels, and Belgian beer guide Brussels resources.
Photo Credits
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Restaurant terraces on the Grand-Place: 2005-09-05 La Brouette Grand-Place Brussels by Gildemax, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
