5 Best Restaurants in Antwerp and the Northeast, Belgium

Burrowed deep in the heart of old Antwerp, there is something likeably stubborn about the defiantly traditional t' Fornuis, a place where stock Flemish surroundings with heavy oak chairs and beamed ceilings are the setting for some of the best (and priciest) food in the city. Charismatic Michelin-starred chef-owner Johan Segers likes to change his French-accented menu regularly; however, roasted sweetbreads with a wild-truffle sauce are a permanent fixture and worth trying. He also tends to stop by for a quick chat with just about every diner, if only to explain what it is you're eating. While you're waiting for your visit, take a chance to look at the restaurant's wonderful collection of miniature stoves.

Tradition gets a modern infusion here, where a resolutely old-school atmosphere is enlivened by a smattering of contemporary art, while the kitchen turns out seasonal classic dishes presented with an artist's eye for flair. From fillet of lamb surrounded by a forest of green and wild garlic, to a deliciously gamey pigeon en croute, the choices are seasonal and big on flavor. The outdoor terrace at the back is also a pleasant spot in summer.

Simplicity is the buzzword---both in the contemporary Belgian cooking, and in the decor---in this elegant but cozy parquet-floored bistro with minimal decorations on the walls to distract you from the food. Lunch is à la carte, but the three- to five-course prix-fixe dinner menus are also pared down and kept simple, with no more than two or sometimes three choices per course---but simplicity doesn't prevent each dish being a masterpiece.

This fine-dining restaurant has long been a fixture on Antwerp's dining scene, dishing up exquisite cooking in the interior courtyard of its elegant dining room since 1975. Longtime chef and local legend Marc Paesbrugghe, who once gave away his two Michelin stars because he was tired of the red tape, has long-since hung up his apron, but the torch has been passed on in the kitchen with no drop in standards, and a prix-fixe menu that delicately picks its way through a host of big flavors.

You probably think beer when you think Belgium, but this tiny French-influenced restaurant is all about the wine; each month focuses on a different wine region. Early 20th-century decor, vibrant jewel-tone colors, and jazzy music set the scene for an ambitious but small menu with a strong focus on fresh fish and well-aged beef. For the best deal, try the three-course menu, offered at both lunch (€43) and dinner (from €69)—although be sure to splurge on the sommelier's suggested wine pairings. If all that food makes you sleepy, stay in one of the three adjoining Glorious Fashion Inn Suites after a nightcap of homemade jenever (Dutch gin).