Cosy & Creative Restaurants in Brussels

Some of our favourite meals happen in places that feel instantly comfortable, warm lighting, friendly service, and a chef who clearly loves to surprise you. These Brussels addresses bring creativity without fuss, serving beautiful plates with character and heart. They are the kind of restaurants where you can relax, laugh, and still leave amazed by what just came out of the kitchen.

Toucan sur Mer won us over with its refined seafood, warm service and relaxed brasserie charm, a true Brussels favourite.

There are different cuisines and styles but all are amazing. I will be adding to this list on a regular basis, because if you don’t know it already Belgium has some of the best restaurants in the world and I’m a sucker for good food.

List of cozy & creative restaurants in Brussels that we have enjoyed:

65 degrés
Toucan sur Mer
Coquum
Colonel
Crab Club
Loading Pop-Up by Pénar (new since Flane, I will be going there very soon)

65 degrés

65 degrés is a gourmet restaurant that serves fine cuisine on the avenue Louise near the rue du Bailli. In the summer, it has a great terrace at the back of the restaurant. The food is refined and tasty and the service is excellent.

What differentiates them from other restaurants is their commitment to integration and professional training for people with mental disabilities. Thank you!

The average price at 65 degrés restaurant is €65.

65 degrés, 173 Avenue Louise, 1000 Bruxelles

Toucan sur Mer

I’ve probably mentioned it before, I’m a sucker for seafood and this corner restaurant in Ixelles, on the avenue Louis Lepoutre is just perfect. Their ‘plateau de fruits de mer’ is absolutely grand and I must also mention their skate wing with capers.

You can also order take away or pick up and impress your guests with a feast of seafood.

The price for a seafood platter varies from 70€ to 140€ for 2 people, and main courses average price is 25€.

Toucan sur Mer, Avenue Louis Lepoutre 17, 1050 Ixelles

Coquum

I went there in March 2024 for a 4 services ‘Gault&Milau’ lunch organised by Diningcity with my besties. The price was 47 euros and it was so worth it.

To be honest, I had driven by this restaurant a bunch of times but had never noticed it, it’s so discreet. However, the food is elaborate, daring and refined, with natural wines to accompany every dish.

Coquum restaurant has a price range of around €50 for lunch and €90 for dinner.

Coquum, rue au Bois 226, 1150 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre

Colonel

Colonel is a one of Brussel’s restaurant that specialises in matured meat. After receiving recommendations according to your preference, you get to select your desire of steak.

If you go there at lunchtime, get their menu, you will not be disappointed. It’s creative and scrumptious.

Colonel has also opened a restaurant in Fort-Jaco, Uccle just in case you don’t fancy going all the way into town. This one has a great terrace but once again you need to book beforehand.

Expect to pay between €24 and €40 for main courses, with side dishes like vegetables priced at around €10.

Colonel, Rue Jean Stas 24, 1060 Saint-Gilles

Colonel, Chau. de Waterloo 1405, 1180 Uccle

Crab club

A great fish restaurant is Crab club, with really original dishes and the staff are so friendly.

I have been there a few times and have never been disappointed, the fish is so fresh it fells like you are by the sea.

You should book if you want a table especially on weekends and if they suggest eating at the bar, go for it, you get to chat to the staff while they serve you and recommend their favourite dishes.

It’s near the Porte de Halle, so you are better off taking an uber or public transport, because it’s a pain to find a parking.

The restaurant has a menu with dishes ranging from €17-37, with desserts around €10. They also offer a lunch menu for €29 and Cadoret oysters for €19 for six.

Crab club, Chau. de Waterloo 7, 1060 Saint-Gilles

Loading Pop-Up by Pénar (new: Opening of Flane, still need to try it out)

This is the restaurant I go to with my ex-colleagues for a very long catch up lunch.

We invariably choose the lunch menu and a bottle of wine plus an extra glass… I know it’s lunchtime but there are 3 of us.

Their chef is amazing, the menu varies according to the seasons. The food is delicious and the presentation is on fleek, no wonder we keep going back there.

The 2-course lunch for Loading Pop-Up by Pénar is 26€, the 3-course for 32€ and the 4-course for 40€. The evening menu varies from 55€ to 75€.

Loading Pop-Up by Pénar, Rue des Trois Tilleuls 1, 1170 Watermael-Boitsfort