Brunch in Brussels Guide: the Best and Worst Cafés

Are you ready for my insights on brunch in Brussels? As a brunch enthusiast, I’ve explored various cafés across the city, from charming spots tucked away in cobblestone alleys to bustling restaurants in the heart of the city centre. However, despite its promising setting, I must admit that Brussels tends to fall short in terms of culinary quality when it comes to brunch experiences.

Over the past nine months, I’ve dedicated myself to testing and reviewing brunch cafes primarily in the Louise/Saint-Gilles area and the city centre. While Brussels boasts numerous brunch establishments, I often found the food selection to be unoriginal, expensive and lacking in flavour. Overall, my experience with brunch in Brussels has been rather average, with only a handful of cafés that I would consider revisiting.

Please Note: Prices are correct as of summer 2023/winter 2024

Brunch in Brussels Insights & Experience

• Most cafés for brunch in Brussels require bookings on weekends. However, booking is often only allowed from 2 people onwards. Solo diners can always be cheeky and book for 2 and then pretend their date didn’t turn up. Parties of more than 5 will also struggle as the main clientele are couples and families.
• Brunch in Brussels is pricey and costs (e.g. granola, pancakes) sit at 15-25€ pp. This is explained through the high average salaries in Brussels.
• Strictly no laptops are allowed on weekends & bank holidays; the core time for the laptop ban is usually between 11-2pm.
• Cafés in local neighbourhoods are just as busy as central ones.
• Tap water is often not included with your cup of coffee. The water quality in Brussels isn’t the best. Cafés and brunch spots in Brussels rarely provide a free tap with filtered water.
• WiFi is always protected with a password, and connecting successfully to it is another story. 
• Brunch cafes are open on Saturday and Sunday, therefore closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• 10 am for brunch is super early for Brussels. It gets busy around 11am.
• Every brunch café will be insanely busy, loud and cramped.
• Boring, standard ingredients, e.g. blueberries and maple syrup with pancakes.

In general, I found the experience of brunch in Brussels to be uninspiring and mediocre at best. Only a select few places left a positive impression, prompting me to return. Compared to other cities I’ve visited, the culinary offerings in Brussels seemed rather conservative and uninspiring.

The following list of brunch cafes in Brussels is based on my personal experiences and aims to give you an idea of what to expect when exploring the brunch scene in the capital. I hope these recommendations can assist you in making informed decisions about where to go for brunch in Brussels.

Best Brunch in Brussels

These were my favourite cafes for brunch in Brussels which I revisited a couple of times. All brunch cafes are within walkable distance or a short tram ride away unless otherwise stated.

Leopold Café Presse

Best for: atmosphere & quirky interior, space, reasonably priced food
Avoid: if you prefer smaller and intimate settings

With six branches across town, you will eventually come across Leopold’s Café in Brussels. My favourite is near Parc station and just a 10-minute walk from the centre. Leopold’s can get pretty busy on weekends, but so far, I’ve never been turned away and have always been given a table. I love their eclectic concept that is not just limited to a relaxed café. It can also be used as a workplace or simply serve as a cosy brunch restaurant.

Until now, I have always ordered the toasted chicken tandoori bagel. The flavour profile combines cream cheese and mango chutney with chicken marinated in a spicy tandoori sauce. The side salad provides the necessary crunch and rounds off the dish with a delicious dressing and sweet pomegranate seeds. Honestly, this is a filling and delicious meal, I’m already looking forward to my next visit.

There are, of course, other bagel options, such as goat cheese, avocado or salmon fillings.

If you’re only coming for coffee, I’m happy to report that the cappuccino is a pleasant experience. The quality of Leopold’s was consistently good on all my visits. The coffee is creamy and delicious – I have no complaints. The only thing you should resist, though, is the temptation to buy one of their overpriced pasteis. We are not in Portugal, so the risk of a curdled mess is 80-90%. You have been warned!

Price Point: juice 4.70€ | cappuccino 3.40€ | pasteis 3€ | bagel 9.60€

Frank

Best for: Australian-style breakfast, new unusual ingredients and combinations, walk-in only
Avoid: it is in a central location

Australians simply know how to make really good brunch. From the flavour combinations to the garnish, Australian granola, pancakes and Birchers are of the highest quality – a revelation that Europe has yet to discover, but luckily a few expats are introducing Australian-style brunch over here. In Brussels it’s Frank. To keep ties locally, the brunch café was named after the old coin “de frank” and is a nod to Brussels’ Monnaie financial district. They source all of their products in the region and aim for sustainability. 

The changing, seasonal menu uses regional products whose quality leaves you wanting more. Frank is by far the best brunch café in Brussels. The pancake summer edition combined rhubarb with mascarpone cream and a delightful speculoos crunch. Honestly, these were the best I’ve eaten in Brussels. Fluffy, filling and delicious. I struggled to finish it all. The pancakes impressed me so much that I returned for two more visits and tried other dishes.  

Their granola is pretty good too. I opted for Fromage Blanc instead of the vegan soy yoghurt. The fromage had the right creamy consistency and a slight acidity. Topped with roasted almonds, chia and sunflower seeds, rhubarb and berries and a generous dollop of peanut butter. What’s not to like here?

Frank is popular and often busy. They don’t take reservations and operate on walk-ins only, which is refreshing if you want to keep your options and plans open for the day. So far I’ve always had a table and eating solo wasn’t a problem.

Price Point: granola 12€ | cappuccino 4€ | pancakes 16€

Average Brunch in Brussels

These cafés were good but they didn’t appeal to me enough to come back another time or weren’t satisfactory in other areas, e.g. inattentive staff, quality of food, ambient of the interior.

Hinterland Urban Refuge

Best for: hipster atmosphere, local vibes, speciality coffee
Avoid: small space, potential for queuing, requires a 10-15 tram ride from central

Located in the Saint Gilles area, Hinterland Urban Refuge is a laid-back specialty coffee shop that serves all-day breakfast. If you fancy you can also take some coffee blends home with you. The uncomplicated place features regularly in fashion mags Elle and Marie Claire. Like Frank, they rely on walk-ins and the café is always well-visited when I walk past. Come here early and try the Hinterland pancakes.

The red berry and pistachio pancakes serving includes 3x fluffy pannies which aren’t too sweet. The low-key taste profile is complemented by a dollop of silky smooth soy cream, pistachios and a lake of syrup – swim or drown in it. There you have it, pancakes straight out of a brunch fairy tale book. 

Add some coffee to this and you have a decent, if not slightly overpriced, brunch in Brussels. There are milk alternatives available if preferred. The pannies needed a bit longer than usual but all was good since my cappuccino stayed warm until they arrived. My first sip of the coffee felt unpleasant but once I stirred the frothy top in, it developed a creamy consistency. The milk and coffee married well together and the dark chocolate aftermath left a much softer impression. 

Price Point: cappuccino 3.60€ | pancakes 15.90€

The Bank

Best for: authentic Belgian setting, local restaurant & bar
Avoid: bookings required, deep in the Baili neighbourhood and requires some effort when coming from central

Once a former bank, this relaxed bar and restaurant combination is fully committed to its past. There are some cool props that you can use and play with for your Instagram pictures. The cosy spot retains all of its original features, including a wall made entirely of safety deposit boxes and vaults on the way to the bathroom. True to the motto “invest time instead of money”, you can spend an extensive brunch session here on a rainy Saturday.

My cappuccino lasted for a long time, and I loved its taste. Smooth, creamy and an aesthetically pleasing presentation. Each sip felt like a warm, comforting hug gently waking me up on a miserable fall day.

In typical Brussels brunch style, the menu included pancakes, vegan options and all kinds of eggs. For my visit, I chose the vegan pancakes. These were made from bananas and topped with berries, maple syrup and walnuts. The pancakes had a fluffy and light texture and a sweet flavour profile when combined with the fruit. I enjoyed the dish but its whole composition was nothing special and can also be easily recreated at home.

Price Point: pancakes 11€ | cappuccino 4.20€

Woodpecker

Best for: seasonal dishes with interesting ingredients, popular with locals and visitors
Avoid: quality of dishes can be hit and miss, small spaces

This popular brunch café, found across various locations in the city, operates on a walk-in basis and scores with a laid-back ambiance. However, due to its popularity, it’s advisable to arrive early to secure a table.

The menu aims to incorporate seasonal ingredients in their dishes of the season. The rest of the menu, however, is fairly standard and includes safe options such as pancakes, French toast, avocado on toast, and the classic Eggs Benedict.

During my first visit, I opted for the autumn pancakes, which were served with homemade gianduja, buckwheat-infused Chantilly cream, and roasted almonds. On a second visit, I tried the Eggs Benedict (in the header picture), but found the dish and its presentation underwhelming. While the eggs were perfectly cooked, the portion was small and the hollandaise sauce lacked a signature flavour profile. Overall, it was a forgettable meal and nothing special.

Price Point: pancakes 9.50€ or eggs benedict 16€ | juice 6€ | cappuccino 4€

La Fabrique en Ville

Best for: popular café in Brussels, friendly and light interior, summer terrace and dog-friendly
Avoid: pre booking required, Instagram place, small portions

Set in a charming corner of a small park near Louise station, La Fabrique en Ville is one of the top addresses for brunch in Brussels. The interior is inviting and the café is dog-friendly which is always a big plus for me. 

I chose the French toast topped with goji berries, caramelised walnuts, maple syrup, and fresh fruits—a dish that excited me with its simple yet appealing presentation. Nice, but the serving was way too small to fill me up for the day. Again a brunch cafe in Brussels that is very style over substance.

Unfortunately, the orange juice wasn’t freshly squeezed, but the cappuccino made up for it. Its rich, dark coffee notes shone through, harmonising smoothly with the milk for a very pleasant drink.

Price Point: French Toast 11€ | cappuccino 4.30€ | orange juice 5€

Poor Brunch in Brussels

To provide 360° feedback and transparency on brunch in Brussels, I have decided to include the cafés that didn’t live up to their high reputation. A place may have a well-known name, but that doesn’t automatically make it a “quality place”. I feel it is vital to not only show you the best cafes for brunch in Brussels but also save you from any disappointment, so you can enjoy a real & authentic brunch experience elsewhere.

POZ

Best for: Instagram look, walk in, local neighbourhood of Defacqz
Avoid: the girly atmosphere, payment by card only, lack of care for the café

This is every Instagrammer’s dream café. POZ’s main brunch clientele are, you guessed it, young women dressed in their finest brunch couture, ready to pose in front of the plastic flowers and vintage rose backdrop while eating picture-perfect pancakes. It caught my attention while walking around the Defacqz area, and a place as busy as POZ usually means it’s good, right?

I couldn’t get on board with the plastic flowers and the familiar, unkempt Brussels shabby chic interior. There were a few areas that desperately needed some TLC. Otherwise, the staff was friendly and accommodating. You can only pay by card.

I chose their signature dish, the pancakes. These came quickly and steaming hot. The stack consisted of four pancakes that had a slightly doughy consistency. The generous amount of thick and sticky caramel sauce felt too sweet for me. The apple pieces were cooked in cinnamon giving the composition additional sweetness. Overall, this meal was filling but I was oversaturated by its taste.

My cappuccino was of average quality. The foam barely held up and the consistency felt thin rather than creamy. It was already cold by the time I received my pancake stack. The chipped coaster was a no-go for me. 

Price Point: pancakes 12.50€ | cappuccino 3.50€ 

Kafei (Dansaert)

Best for: hipster & minimalistic atmosphere, the fluffy pancakes are their signature dish
Avoid: dismissive service, food quality, pre bookings and couples preferred

Big respect to all the young husbands and partners that get dragged in here by their ladies and forced to order the fluffy pancakes (and pretend that they are having a good time for Instagram). Best to have a second breakfast and elevenses before you actually come here. Stay strong gentlemen!

Kafei is an Asian café with several branches across town and a very strong social media presence. I first tried to brunch at their Louise branch but was turned away as I didn’t have a reservation and they only accepted card payments – oh, I was pretty pissed.

I went home and prepared for another time. I reserved a table for the Dansaert branch for the following weekend. *deep sigh* Why do I always do this to myself? The first try was an indicator of what was to come, yet I insisted on giving Kafei a second chance. Guys, honestly don’t do it. But anyway, here I was. My visit was fine, but I doubt I’ll be rushing back.

The interior of the café was not well maintained. I spotted several snags, scratches on the floor or peeling plaster from the walls. It was clean, but there is a fine line between looking dated and just plain unkempt areas. There is potential as the rear features a beautiful Art Nouveau-style skylight.

The menu displayed outside was out of date and the WiFi inside didn’t work. When I pointed it out to the staff, the waitress just shrugged her shoulders instead of resetting it.

I ordered their “fluffy” pancakes as these are their signature dish and are plastered all over Social Media. These pancakes are made with whipped egg whites to create a fluffy, cloud-like consistency. What might look impressive turned out to be more style than substance. I was still hungry after the meal.

The topping consisted of a load of chocolate drizzle and miso-coated peanuts and cream. For me, this was all a bit too heavy and unpleasant in contrast to the light pancakes which didn’t add much texture to the whole meal. The peanuts were salty and I’ve never been a fan of combining sweet things with salty elements.

The coffee was ok. It stayed warm for a long time, but there wasn’t much foam. My first sip felt a little too strong and acidic, but as I stirred in the foam the coffee married again with the milk and the taste improved slightly. 

Price Point: pancakes 13.90€ | cappuccino 3.70€

Pops Pancakes

Best for: local café, small, intimate space but best to come here during the week
Avoid: on the weekend busy with families and couples, the space is too cramped, food quality is average and pricey

Nestled in a discreet corner near Flagey, this petite café attracted quite a crowd, resulting in a 40-minute wait for a table. Once inside, the small locality felt cramped leaving little space to manoeuvre around and to actually sit down. Despite my usual go-to choice for pancakes (priced at 10 Euros with additional charges for toppings), I opted for the Turkish Eggs on this occasion – an instant regrettable choice.

I’m aware that this is the way this dish is prepared and executed, but it simply didn’t work for me in practice. The presentation left much to be desired, lacking both appeal and functionality. The warm poached eggs drenched atop a bed of cold Carrefour Greek yoghurt infused with a subtle hint of garlic and spicy sauce, failed to enhance the dish’s flavour. In fact, I felt pretty sick from its taste afterwards. The crispy, warm bread was served extra and overall, it was a bit of an awkward dining experience. 

The white hot chocolate with matcha was disappointing, too, resembling more of hot milk with white chocolate powder and a sprinkle of matcha. While it provided some warmth after the chilly wait outside, it failed to impress overall, leaving me underwhelmed.

Price Point: Turkish Eggs 16€ | white chocolate matcha 4€ 

La Table Rustic

Best for: the interior is nice and spacious, well-known restaurant in Brussels
Avoid: slow service, pre booking, very expensive, far from the centre

Brands itself as “the best brunch cafe in Brussels” and it was conveniently located in my street, so naturally I gave it a go. I found the fixed brunch menu offered on weekends, priced at 30€, to be exorbitantly expensive and the food quality disappointing. The limited selection only includes eggs, and my poached Eggs Benedict were unfortunately hard and well overcooked. While the interior and atmosphere were pleasant, the service left much to be desired. Staff members took an excessive amount of time to take orders, yet were swift in informing guests when they had exceeded their stay. Considering the lengthy journey from central, the subpar service and low quality of the food makes it not worth the effort.

Price Point: fixed weekend brunch menu at 30€ (includes one main dish, egg-based only, small orange juice, croissants, small yoghurt with berries, coffee to be paid extra)

Making of “Brunch in Brussels”

• Researched popular and best cafés in Brussels online and considered local recommendations
• Lived in Brussels for six months and revisited restaurants
• Paid brunch on my own expenses

FAQs about Brunch in Brussels

I understand that this is quite a long post and you may have a few quick questions about brunch in Brussels. Of course, you can always consult any section of my post and read in more detail about what you need for your trip. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact me. I’m happy to help.

Are brunch cafes in Brussels solo-friendly?

Keep in mind that most brunch cafes require reservations on weekends. Often, a reservation is only possible for two parties or more. I have had mixed reactions from café staff when I turned up as a solo-diner, just to give you a heads up. There are also many young families and couples in Brussels which are the preferred target audience. 

Is Brunch in Brussels “a thing”? 

Yes, brunch is widely celebrated in the city. Menus across town feature granola, avocado on toast, Eggs Benedict and, of course, pancakes. There is even an Australian brunch café in Brussels, overall there is plenty of choice. There are just as many brunch cafes in the Brussels neighbourhoods as there are in central. But to be honest, the neighbourhood cafes are just as busy and expensive as they are in central, so I didn’t really see much of a difference here to justify long tram journeys to some small café in the furthest corner of a neighbourhood.

Is Brunch in Brussels expensive? 

A brunch in Brussels will cost approximately 15-25€ pp, depending on your dish and additional drinks. Pancakes, as well as, granolas or bagels range between 9-13€, egg dishes are easily around the 16€ mark and the average cost for a cappuccino is 4€. The quality of cafés serving brunch in Brussels is average and not very original. But maybe I haven’t found the right place just yet. If you know of a good one, let me know in the comments!

Thanks so much for reading. If you’ve enjoyed my Brunch in Brussels guide and would like to support my blog & research, you can do so via Buy Me a Coffee.

Till next time,

Carolin

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