Dining on a Budget in Bruges

Written by Katie

Bruges, Belgium, is a town of charming streets lined with beautiful old

buildings, scenic waterways, and sprawling town squares. And while

many people come to soak up all this old-world ambiance,  others

come to eat all the delicious food Bruges has to offer.

As Bruges popularity has grown in recent years, more tourist trap

restaurants have sprung up, especially around the town’s square. Try

to avoid these as they are generally overpriced and not up to the

standards as the rest of the city’s restaurants.  There are several

restaurants located on the streets around the Hoogstraaten and, on

the other side of the city center, Zuidzandstraat. Definitely try ‘Moules

et frites’  – mussels and fries – a signature Belgian dish that can be

found in nearly any restaurant.

If you’re on a smaller budget, you’ll find that street food in Bruges is

quite delicious and very cheap. Try some Belgian waffles (which can be

had for under 2 euros), of course, sausage in a bun, some more frites

from a street vendor.  ‘Eetcafés’ –gastropubs – are also often a

cheaper option. For a few pints of good Belgian beer, try Cafe

Vlissinghe, the oldest bar in Bruges, which dates back to 1515.

For a cheap breakfast, try the morning market held in the town

square. Grab some pastries and coffee and stay your day with an

inexpensive but filling meal.