We love Bruges so much that we try to visit at least once a year. Oftentimes, when we tell people we’re headed to Belgium they look confused as it isn’t on their radar. Frankly, I’d like to keep it that way. So many destinations get spoiled by over tourism, but I can’t help but tell you about this magical place.
Entering the city center is like stepping back in time. Well, if you can overlook a few fast food chains. The streets are all cobblestone and the Markt Square always has a line of horse drawn carriages for hire. On Wednesdays a lovely farmers market takes over the square. An even larger market is held every Saturday at ‘t Zand Square. I’ve never seen so many rotisserie chickens in my life. Literally hundreds at multiple stands. When we visit, we like to stay in a particular cottage with a kitchen, so the markets are a big draw for us.
Bruges has no shortage of fantastic restaurants, but here are a few that are absolute musts, in my opinion. Reservations are a necessity, by the way.
- De Gastro – Great atmosphere, great food and run by a very nice family. I get the sole meunière every time. And don’t pass up the Creme brûlée. It arrives at your table flaming.
- Restaurant Diligence – Another restaurant that gets an A+ for atmosphere. Order Vol Au Vent or mussels! If you happen to be familiar with the Colin Farrell movie, In Bruges, some scenes were shot here. Sometimes we stop in for a drink at the bar if we are eating in.
- Bij Keon & Marijke is an experience like no other. A husband and wife do all of the work. He is the chef and she is the hostess. The chef grills the steaks and fried potatoes on a large fireplace in the main room and he also spends time engaging with you. Order the chef’s menu!
- Mozart More than Just Ribs – I avoid all-you-can-eat restaurants like the plague, so we did not eat here until our most recent visit. I thought it was a tiny little restaurant, but when they ushered us in, it opened up into a huge multilevel area decorated like an old rail station. We liked it so much, we returned multiple times.
- Amuni – Slow Food Pizza – As frequent travelers to Italy, we call ourselves pizza snobs and are oftentimes disappointed when people recommend pizza places. We happened upon this restaurant and took a chance. They have some seriously authentic and delicious pizza. Don’t miss it!
- Narai Thai – A short walk beyond the city center, but worth the trip for delicious Thai food. Be sure to check out the koi pond inside and have at least one Mai Tai!
How we spend our days in Bruges…
We start most mornings at Les Coquettes for an amazing cappuccino and maybe a sweet. Don’t get thrown off by the fact that it’s also a hair salon. I’ve actually had my hair done there, and both the coffee shop/cafe and the hair salon are top notch. We’ve also stopped at Les Coquettes for soup and sandwiches.
We typically pick something up from Freyne -Slagerij Traiteur, a specialty food market. They have a plethora of meats, cheeses and ready made dishes. If you get there early, they usually have baguettes. If you forgot to buy wine at the grocery, they also have a nice small selection.
The rest of the day we spend exploring Bruges. Popular things to do include:
- Visits to the Frite Museum, De Halve Brewery (Zot beer!), Historium, Belfort and/or De Burg, where we sit in the small park and people watch.
- A stroll through Minnewater Park.
- A canal boat tour (which goes right passed our cottage, so by the end of our stay I can typically recite portions of the tour).
- A beer sampling and large pretzel with horseradish mustard at Brewery Bourgogne des Flanders (be sure to sit outside along the canal).
- A stop for (more) beers and a few games of cards at our favorite local pub, De Hollandse Vismijn, just off the Fish Market. We’ve enjoyed getting to know the people who work here and the regulars. If you’re lucky, you’ll be there when the mustache club is meeting. Catch a football game (soccer) and cheer along with your new friends. The clientele is generally a bit older, but that’s the way we like it.
For the most amazing and memorable high quality stay, I cannot recommend Barabas B&B enough. Bert, the owner, is fabulous and he continues to make beautiful and authentic improvements to the B&B, which happens to be located on the Groenerei canal. The terrace alone is worth the stay! It’s magical. We’ve also stayed at Dukes Palace and Hotel Navarre. Both are great. Stop in the bar at Hotel Navarre to say hello to Franke! He’s delightful!
If you’re a scotch fan (or hard liquor, in general), be sure to stop at Missault. They have a wonderful selection and the people who run it are both knowledgeable and friendly. It’s one of our first stops when we arrive.
Please try not to tell too many people about our beloved Bruges!
Best, Lisa