The best restaurants Leuven

Pasta, salads, sandwiches and other snacks make up the unpretentious menu of this little eatery, all prepared with ultra-fresh, well-matched ingredients in generous quantities. The decor is authentic, as is the name "de werf", which means "the building site". Even the waiters wear work belts like builders! The terrace is more than pleasant, even in winter when it's colder, thanks to the heat lamps and small blankets. There's also a good selection of local craft beers to wash down your meal.

Here's one of the city's most renowned restaurants, where prices are truly reasonable for the high-flying dishes served. And with good reason: here, ingredients are emulsified, fried, grilled and transformed to deliver a fine molecular cuisine that sublimates tastes through daring techniques. All in a simple wooden setting where you'll feel right at home. Take a look at this crispy tonkatsu pig with pumpkin, yellow curry and puffed rice. It looks like a work of art! Don't forget to make a reservation, as the table is in great demand.

The perfect place for a coffee break away from the hustle and bustle of the city center, where a trendy crowd gathers for a coffee or to eat different types of bagels at lunchtime, as well as delicious cakes for a gourmet break. In summer, you can enjoy their delicious smoothies and fresh fruit juices on the terrace. The interior is cosy, with leather sofas. The staff are very friendly and speak English (even to locals). You have to order at the counter.

Here's one of the city's best-known restaurants for a good steak, a house specialty served sliced on a grill plate with vegetables and fries, but also a steak tartare minute au couteau and beer specialties like ragoût à la Bertinchamps Brune. The special feature of the meats served is that they are Belgian and, wherever possible, come from the restaurant's own organic farm, as do the vegetables. Vegetarians, on the other hand, beware!