When it comes to restaurants, there’s no shortage in Brussels. If you’re looking for something to eat, you’ll be able to find a place on every street corner, on every square, every avenue. And the diversity is astounding. Belgian, Lebanese, Italian, Chinese, Ethiopian, Indian… No matter which cuisine you’re craving, Brussels has got your back. Even if there’s something missing, it usually doesn’t take long for that gap to be filled. But what about vegan food? With ever more people opting to go plant-based, the choice of vegan restaurants is getting bigger as well but you still have to know where to go looking.
To say vegan cuisine is having a moment, is an understatement. Only recently, Brussels based restaurant Humus x Hortense received its first Michelin star and it’s far from being the only plant based restaurant to have received that honor. However, of course vegan cuisine doesn’t have to be Michelin-expensive. And in Brussels, it’s pretty easy to enjoy a great plant based dinner amongst friends. Some places have a menu with something for every diet on it, while others prefer to go full-on vegan. Today, we’ll focus on that last group. These 5 restaurants are definitely worth a visit If you’re vegan (or just open to the idea of eating vegan) and looking for a bite to eat in the Belgian capital.
1. Humus x Hortense
Of course, we couldn’t mention them without going into a bit of detail. Nicolas Decloedt and Caroline Baerten are the founders behind Humus x Hortense, a restaurant which definitely knows how to stand out from the crowd. With menus centered around botanicals and foraged greens, this isn’t just any vegan restaurant and the Michelin star is just one piece of proof. They’re not afraid to experiment with out-of-the ordinary processes and while you’re dining, you’re surrounded by beautiful interior design thanks to Baerten’s experience as art historian. One to save for special occasions.
2. Lucifer Lives
Vegan food can be rebellious too, as Lucifer Lives shows to all those who are interested. This gem is open only from 10 AM to 5 PM and therefore the ideal spot to enjoy brunch, lunch or an afternoon snack. Everything on the menu, from their soup to their cake, is entirely vegan and served in an original setting. Thanks to the location it’s the perfect stop to combine with a visit to the brocante on a nice Sunday morning. And for the dog persons amongst us: yes, your furry friend is more than welcome to join.
3. Liu Lin
Yes, most Asian restaurants have at least one thing on the menu that’s completely vegan-friendly. Yet sisters Liu and Lin go much further than that and created their whole Taiwanese street food bar around plant based food. From noodle soup to dumplings and everything in between, vegans can order anything they want from the menu without having to analyze each and every ingredient. And honestly, even meat lovers wouldn’t notice anything missing while eating here.
4. Alchimiste
If you’re craving for a filling breakfast or brunch, look no further, L’Alchimiste is the place to go when you’re in Saint-Gilles. From coffees to sandwiches and granolas, we could honestly order everything from their menu. Their vegan milkshakes and smoothies are a very rare good and especially appreciated on hot summer days (which aren’t that far ahead of us anymore). Compliments also to the person who thought of putting (free) tap water on the menu: a very welcome sight in Brussels!
5. Buddy Buddy
They recently opened a second location in Paris, which kind of proves our point: Buddy Buddy is yummy yummy. Some of us know them mainly because of their plant-based coffees, while others spontaneously start to drool when thinking about their nut butters which give Nutella a run for their money. The interior of the shop is well worth a visit as well and tends to do pretty great on Instagram (in case you’re one of those influencer people). So whether you’re in Brussels or in Paris, don’t miss out!
