Top 5 trendy restaurants in Brussels, Belgium

Gus is a restaurant born from the fusion of beer and gastronomy. Nestled in the very center of the city, it is an ideal place to explore the concept of “brassonomie” – where home brewing intersects with food science. Gus is the brainchild of three gifted people in Brussels – beer architect Aurelien Grodent, who is responsible for the creation of varied choices of tasteful barley beer, and duo chefs, Pierre Baeyens and Jonathan Delhiere, whose exquisite dishes are crafted to perfectly complement the freshly brewed beverages.

The cellar of the establishment is where craft beers like Imperial IPA Santana are made. Besides the a la carte menu, the kitchen offers an innovative 3 and 4-course tasting selection built around beer and its ingredients. Some of the highlights of the menu are deer filet with tamarind served with a poached pear, salmon trout tartare with bread tuile, spiced juicy tenderloin alongside button mushrooms and black radish, butternut ravioli with almond milk served in edamame emulsion, and meat pate with parsnip crisps. The interiors of the restaurant are cozy and inviting, with minimalistic decor made up of cushion seating, wooden furnishings, and wall-mounted warm lights.

Car Bon is a small neighborhood eatery in the Ixelles district of Brussels. The place is very basic in nature: plain leather chairs and wooden tables that have just 24 seats, including a few at the bar area. But don't be fooled by its appearance, this mini establishment packs a punch when it comes to strong flavors, taking you to Beijing with every bite.

The food served at Car Bon is authentic Sichuan cuisine that is renowned for its use of spices, peppers, and dried chilies. Diners can relish flavorful and comforting Asian dishes made up of specialty items such as lemongrass fried chicken, marinated beef and tripe in chili oil, crispy quail with garlic cucumber salad, grilled eel with teriyaki sauce, shredded pork with fermented bean sauce, and fried pork strips with chili sauce. Their delectable desserts – coconut pearls, mochis, and matcha tea ice cream – will help you douse the fire from the spicy food. For a truly authentic Chinese dining experience, do visit Car Bon in Brussels.

Barge is a trendy street corner establishment near the fish market, devoted to sustainable gastronomy. It is one of the most interesting restaurants in the city that was opened by Chef Gregoire Gillard, whose creativity is inspired by nature. The tasting menus at Barge are made up of the best produce of Brussels and the surrounding region with an underlying commitment to respect the seasons. For a fine-dining restaurant, Barge’s interiors are simple and designed like a cafeteria in an open space. The ambiance is relaxed and welcoming, with brick-lined walls, hanging light fixtures, and steel-wood tables.

The tasting menu features an intense and insightful combination of dishes like slow-cooked trout with hints of wasabi and crunchy black radish, Belgian buffalo ricotta with truffles, langoustine tartare enhanced with coriander oil, asparagus with pomade egg, and lamb served with miso sabayon. Each ingredient used in the dishes has a role to play and is designed to complement the others. They also have an enticing wine list that has been curated to pair well with the signature menu.

In the lively neighborhood around Place Jourdan, Origine is a modern restaurant with a unique menu that will surprise the most novice and refined palates. It is a lively place run by Chef Xavier Lizen. After exploring the most hidden kitchens of Australia and South East Asia, he decided to set up a base in Brussels. Origine offers a tasting menu that gives the diners the possibility to choose their own dishes made up of meat, fish, or plant based ingredients.

The eatery has a whimsical decor made up of plants, hanging bulbs, and a giant painting with pop colors on the wall that gives the space its uniqueness. Some signature dishes at Origine are shrimp croquettes with a gel of yuzu, wasabi marinated beef tataki served with pickled vegetables, roasted cod with risotto and candied lemon, eggplant caviar with butternut hummus, and halloumi croquettes with mackerel tartare. The menu at Origine is changed and renewed every month to illustrate the chef’s international and original approach.

Thaiburi is an authentic Thai restaurant in the heart of Brussels. It is a small quaint establishment with only 8 tables. The interiors of the eatery have a zen-like atmosphere made up of dark color tones and indirect lighting, which gives it a calming and inviting atmosphere. The Thaiburi restaurant specializes in the street food of Thailand made with respect to traditional recipes.

Visitors can enjoy authentic dishes that cannot be found anywhere else in Brussels. Some of the unique specialty items here are chicken green curry with jasmine rice, shrimp pad thai noodles with cucumber salad, chicken satay with peanut dip, whole cod fish curry with steamed rice, and flank steak with sesame dipping sauce. Thaiburi is an eatery that must be visited on your vacation in Brussels for a remarkable dining experience.

Brussels is a fabulous travel destination that has a catchy atmosphere with beer, waffles, chocolate, and music all around. It might not have the quaint charm of other Belgian cities but is a great place for exploring historic architecture and visiting museums. There is also excellent shopping to be done in Brussels, whether you are looking for avant-garde designer wear or something vintage and antique. From leafy parks to chic restaurants and bars, Brussels is a foodie destination that can satisfy every kind of palate.

What would be your ideal vacation in Belgium? Share your thoughts with our community in the comment section below. And for more inspiration, check out our latest articles.