't Brugs Beertje is an iconic cafe and beer pub that has been serving great beers since 1983. Both the knowledge of the staff and the beer list are so extensive, it could be considered a tasting house. Beer is served in the traditional way; after a bottle is poured, it will be left at your table presented in a wooden basket.

Within a former 15th-century townhouse, this quirky beer bar and bottle shop offers a wide selection of the best Belgian beers—and you can also peruse the "wall of beer," displaying hundreds of brands (and their corresponding glassware). There is also a boutique selling typical Belgian souvenirs, and a nice patio with canal views. Due to the bar's central location and popularity, it draws a tourist crowd—but it's still worth a visit.

Bar Ran is a small, intimate cocktail bar with floor to ceiling windows that evoke the sense that you are right on the street. It’s a lovely place to enjoy a drink and watch city life in Bruges pass by.

Chef Koen and his wife, Marijke, run ‘t Nieuw Museum in Bruges, one of the best and most special dining experiences in West Flanders (really, in all of Belgium). Marijke is responsible for front of house and sourcing the beer selection, while Koen cooks on the woodfire grill in the open kitchen, which is literally in the dining room. Upon entering the restaurant, travelers will feel like they are in the owners’ living room, and Koen and Marijke make excellent hosts. The steak is the star on the menu; Koen is known for his ribey, and be sure to take Marijke’s recommendation for beer pairings (though wine is available). The Camembert starter is a highlight—it arrives sizzling at the table and will literally melt in your mouth. Koen and Marijke only work with small farmers.

Chef Bruno Timperman brings Flemish tradition and terroir together in his contemporary dishes at Bruut. The restaurant is in a historic building with graffiti art covering the walls inside. Diners should be prepared to be surprised as Chef Bruno creatively plays with taste buds and works with unconventional pairings while using only local ingredients. Bruut is the best gastronomic restaurant in Bruges, and it offers only a tasting menu.

Run by a husband and wife duo, this small, cozy bistro is in Bruges’s historic center, right off the city’s main square. Chef Ann Vissers helms the open kitchen, preparing traditional Belgian food with a focus on vegetables, as well as Asian-style dishes. The menu has a section for wok-prepared food and spring rolls. The chef’s husband, Arnout, manages the front.

This bistro-style restaurant serves traditional Flemish-French cuisine with a contemporary twist, created by acclaimed chef Geert Van Hecke (who studied under Alain Ducasse and owned the three-Michelin-starred Bruges restaurant De Karmelit until it closed in 2016). Plates are elegant, with high-quality ingredients, and the atmosphere is relaxed but elevated, with stylish design touches like a colorful mosaic-tiled wall and a white-and-black marble bar. There is a lovely outdoor patio for seating in nice weather.

A French and Belgian menu at Brasserie Raymond gives diners plenty to choose from. Shrimp and lobster croquettes, Burgundian-style snails, tapas with Iberico ham and duck liver, oysters, cod, steak tartare, lamb and more fill the menu. A lengthy wine list adds to your meal, as does a crispy fried waffle with fresh fruit or ice cream for dessert.

This brewery lines one of Bruges’s main canals, and its excellent location and terrace makes it worth it just to enjoy the scenery—though the beers are quite good as well. Tours and tastings are also offered.

Rose Red is a lovely and atmospheric café with a ceiling of wooden rafters hung with roses. Old geuzes (a type of lambic Belgian beer) are served the traditional way here and they also serve good small bites.

In the heart of Bruges (around the corner from the Grote Markt), this "bierbrasserie" is a great place to sample Belgian beer and cuisine—with over 400 different beers on offer. Named for the Belgian "King of Beer," Cambrinus is located within a historic building dating back to 1699—and the dark-wood paneling and tables create a cozy, tavern-like atmosphere.

This popular waffle chain has several takeaway locations around the city and often has long lines.

For some of the best Belgian-style french fries, check out Chez Vincent, which serves them with numerous types of sauces, including mayonnaise, spicy ketchup, barbecue sauce, curry sauce, peanut sauce and pepper sauce. Chez Vincent uses a special variety of potato to make their fries, working with elite potato growers to ensure quality. They also serve sausages, burgers and Belgian dishes like croquettes and beef stew.

While many chocolate shops in Belgium are large chains, the family-run Spegelaere in Bruges is one of the city’s best. The old-fashioned chocolatierdates back to 1954, and though it is a short walk from the city center, it’s worth it for some of the best chocolate truffles in Belgium.

Cuvee Winebar is a hybrid wine bar, wine shop and restaurant. Cuvee focuses on natural wines and also serves delicious cheese and meat platters, making it a good option either for pre-dinner drinks or for a light-bite style dinner.

A historic bar in Bruges, many come specifically to try the De Garre house beer, which is only served here. A few cheese chunks are served with the beers, but there is no food menu.

As one of the founders of NorthSeaChefs, which works with fish from the North Sea caught by Flemish fishermen, chef Filip Claeys has created a menu at De Jonkman that puts the freshest and most local seafood first. The menu changes based on the daily supply, but typically includes a starter, scallop, catch of the day, dessert and other varying courses. Lunch and dinner are served Wednesday through Saturday.

Bruges’s top cocktail bar, Groot Vlaenderen is home to an incredibly friendly and lavish interior. The bartenders are passionate about their craft, and the menu itself is highly creative; you’ll want to take time reading its pages.

House of Waffles is one of Bruges’s most famous waffle houses. Travelers can take it to go or sit at a table. It’s a must to indulge in a waffle when in Belgium, and this is a great spot to take that moment.

One of the only working breweries left in central Bruges, De Halve Maan (The Half Moon) was founded in 1856 (but sits within a medieval building) and has been family-owned for six generations, providing a personal look at the history of Bruges itself as well as its beer. (Standout family members include the first female Belgian brewer and the creator of the world's first beer pipeline, which has run under the streets of Bruges since 2016.) De Halve Maan is famous for its Straffe Hendrik tripel and Brugse Zot blond beers (the latter is inspired by the nickname for Bruges residents—"the fools of Bruges"). To visit the brewery, you can join one of the guided group tours hosted throughout the day (45 minutes), or you can book a private tour or private beer tasting (90 minutes). There is also a bar and brasserie (serving traditional Belgian cuisine and light fare like salads and cheese boards, open for lunch and dinner), located within the old fermenting room, which opens out onto a leafy courtyard with picnic tables. A highlight of the guided tour is the chance to climb up to the brewery roof, where you have beautiful 360-degree views over central Bruges (note that the staircase to get there is narrow and steep).

Kaffee Kamiel is a nice, casual place for coffee, breakfast or lunch in Central Bruges, set in a spacious, modern interior with black and white tiled floors and contemporary light fixtures.

L.E.S.S. Eatery is part of the Hertzog Jan Restaurant Group and is recommended on the World’s 50 Best Restaurant List. The cuisine is mostly Asian and a little quirky; alongside dumplings and crispy sushi, diners will find a few more Flemish style dishes, such as croquettes. The best seats are at the chef’s table. L.E.S.S. Eatery is best for those seeking a cuisine alternative while in Bruges, but it will likely not compare to top Asian restaurants in other major cities.

In a cozy, intimate space, this tiny restaurant is owned and run by the chef Stefaan Cardinael. The romantic atmosphere is accentuated by an abundance of art, candles and decorative objects like crystal chandeliers. The menu is edited and frequently changes, reflecting the seasonal, local bounty of the week—as well as chef's inclinations. The cuisine is very high-quality and is French-Belgian focused. It's best to make a reservation in advance, as seating is limited; there is also patio seating available.

This restaurant was recommended by an Indagare member.

Inside an 800-year-old cellar, Le Trappiste has an extensive beer list (not only Trappiste beers as the name might suggest), including 17 beers on tap and over 80 bottles on offer. Those seeking a classic bar stop on a day trip to Bruges should stop here.

Park Restaurant prides itself on traditional menu items that go back to the basics of cooking. The four-course choice menu includes things like shrimp croquettes with aioli, butternut pumpkin and tomato “cappuccino,” dover sole in lemon butter sauce, ravioli with seasonal vegetables, chocolate mousse and crème brûlée.

Widely recognized as the best bakery in Bruges, Schaeverbeke Bakery makes both pastries and breads. Be sure to try the signature mattentaart, an almond-flavored curd puff pastry. Though not in the city center, this bakery makes for a nice morning stroll given Bruges’s small size.

At Réliva, Chef Lien Vandeputte focuses on food inspired by what’s currently available from local farmers, fishermen and hunters, with the number-one priority being animal wellbeing and organic agriculture. Seasonal and vegetarian menus are available, and diners can choose from three to five courses. Biodynamic and natural wines accompany dishes, too, with Lien and her team selecting wines that best accompany each dish. Pro tip: Dine in the garden space with views of the cathedral when the weather is nice.