Explore
Most people get one day in Bruges. Stay a few nights and you get the other one: the workshops behind ordinary front doors, the museum without the queue, the bar where nobody’s holding a map. And within half an hour of here, the polders, Damme and the sea.
Our favourite addresses
Breakfast & lunch
- Kaffee Kamiel: Trendy spot for bowls, pancakes, toasts and good coffee.
- Nomad: Fresh, seasonal brunch in a bright, contemporary setting.
- Blackbird: A favourite for vegetarian breakfasts, smoothies and healthy bowls.
- Coffeebar Adriaan: Quality coffee, homemade pastries and a relaxed local atmosphere.
- Boho Brunch: Healthy, creative bowls, pancakes and toasts in a relaxed boho setting.
- Benedict Café: Eggs Benedict, pancakes and classic brunch dishes.
- Hide: A stylish, quiet spot for refined brunch dishes.
- Balthasar: A large breakfast and lunch menu, ideal for families and groups.
- That’s Toast: Casual and budget-friendly, famous for its creative toasts.
- Books & Brunch: Brunch in a cosy second-hand bookshop.
Dining
- Rose Red: Cosy restaurant with sharing dishes and an impressive beer selection. Cordoeaniersstraat 16, Bruges
- Gran Kaffee de Passage: Belgian classics in a charming, timeless bistro. Dweersstraat 26, Bruges
- De Stoepa: World cuisine with Asian influences in a lively, informal setting. Oostmeers 124, Bruges
- Kaffee Roger: Stylish neighbourhood bistro with a beautiful courtyard terrace. Baliestraat 6, Bruges
- Amunì: Authentic Sicilian cooking and sourdough pizzas on the Burg. Burg 9, Bruges
- Cuvée: Natural wines and seasonal sharing plates in an intimate room. Philipstockstraat 41, Bruges
Coffee
- DEES Specialty Coffee: Thoughtfully sourced coffee in a contemporary setting.
- Kaffee Kamiel: Also good just for coffee, hidden from the crowds in its courtyard.
- Postbar: A neighbourhood café with the everyday rhythm of Bruges.
Wine & beer
- Cuvée: Worth it for the wine list alone, even if you are not eating.
- Bie Jimmy: A stylish, welcoming spot for an aperitif and small bites.
- ’t Hof van Beroep: Craft beers, natural wines and a lively local crowd.
- Rose Red: Hundreds of Belgian beers, and you do not have to eat to drink them.
Bookshops
- De Raaklijn: Independent bookshop loved for literature, art, architecture and design.
- De Reyghere: The iconic family-run bookshop of Bruges, with an extensive collection.
Art & design
- Handmade in Brugge: Local makers and contemporary craftsmanship.
- Galerie Pinsart: Contemporary art in an intimate gallery setting.
- Bruges Triennial: Art and architecture in dialogue with the historic city.
- BRUSK: The new museum and exhibition venue for contemporary art in Bruges.
Explore the region
Bruges
A city that only really works on foot. Give it more than a day and it opens up: workshops behind ordinary front doors, museums you can have half to yourself, streets that are simply streets. It gives itself away slowly, which is why the people who live here never tire of it.
Around Bruges (Brugse Ommeland)
The clock ticks a little slower in the Brugse Ommeland. Starred chefs and small, passionate producers, atmospheric canals, flat polders made for cycling and walking, and castles dotted across the countryside, all a stone’s throw from the sea, with Bruges as its beating heart.
Damme
A picturesque village near Bruges, known for its historic charm, peaceful canals and windmill, perfect for a relaxing walk or bike ride with views over the polders. You can even take the Lamme Goedzak canal boat to and from Bruges.
The Coast
Beach and dunes all the way from De Panne to Knokke-Heist, with the coast tram running the length of it. Good in July. Better in November, when it is empty and the wind does the talking.
The Westhoek
Flat fields giving way to gentle hills, in a landscape that has not forgotten its history. In the Westhoek you learn to take your time, from a picon in a village café to a table with a star. People will talk to you either way.
Zeeland (the Netherlands)
Just over the border: wide beaches, dunes, small harbour villages, and the best mussels and oysters you will eat all trip. About an hour by car.