The best places to eat and drink in Belgium

13.06.2024 - 15:31 / lonelyplanet.com / Pierre Marcolini

Jun 12, 2024 • 7 min read

With waffles, fries, chocolate and beer as its staples, Belgian cuisine is among the most beloved around the world — even if its origins are not particularly well-known. 

Here are some foods and drinks you should sample on a visit to Belgium and the best places to try them.

Belgium produces some of the world’s best chocolate. And with over 2000 chocolate shops across the country, you’ll find something you like wherever you go.

Top Belgian chocolate brands include Neuhaus, Godiva, Guylian, Leonidas and Pierre Marcolini. And if you’re interested in the story behind the irresistible sweets, head to Chocolate Nation in Antwerp – which calls itself “the world’s largest Belgian chocolate museum” – or Choco-Story, a museum open seven days a week, with locations in Bruges and Brussels.

While you could simply buy a bar of chocolate, you’d be remiss if you didn’t treat yourself to a box of pralines. They were invented in 1857 in Brussels and have been perfected all over the country ever since.

Where to try it: In cities like Brussels and Bruges, you’ll find chocolate everywhere you look. Some of the best chocolatiers across the country are Van Dender in Brussels (known for its hot chocolate), Pierre Plas in Bastogne (known for its unique praline designs) and the Chocolate Line in Bruges and Antwerp (known for collaborating with big-name restaurants like the Fat Duck and Noma).

Ready to plan your trip to Belgium? Here's our guide to the best places to visit

Mussels are common in the Belgian stretch of the North Sea. They’re so popular that moules-frites — mussels prepared in a rich sauce of white wine, shallots, parsley and butter, served with fries — are often named Belgium’s national dish.

Every restaurant in major inland cities claims they have the best moules-frites, but to find the freshest and tastiest mussels, head to seaside resort Ostend, where restaurant owners buy their mussels straight from the fishers. 

Where to try it: Apero Fish Palace makes a mean moules-frites alongside other delicious seafood dishes. And if you’re looking for something special, La Moulinière has over 40 mussel dishes on the menu — try the mussels à l’Ostendaise, served with gray shrimp, wine and bisque.

Fries come in many shapes and forms around the world. But no country does fries quite like Belgium. As any local will tell you, the only place to get real Belgian fries is a frituur. 

Roughly translated to "fry shop," frituurs range from simple mobile food trucks to small restaurants with full kitchens and a well-stocked counter with meaty and cheesy snacks, such as the popular frikandel: a deep-fried skinless sausage.

The most beautiful part of the frituur is that they’re for everyone. You might queue up