Small alleyways, fairylike canals alongside willow trees and cozy eating spots everywhere make Bruge, Belgium a magical place. Here, we explore the best places to start your day with an amazing brunch.
As the name suggests, this place is perfect for brunch. English breakfast, original salads and sandwiches as well as cupcakes for dessert fill the menu. During your meal, you can start to read through their enormous library, or buy secondhand books by the dozen. Children’s stories, romantic pocketbooks, literary novels and encyclopedias on gardening and other peculiar topics all line the shelves. The atmosphere at Books & Brunch is ‘nice and easy’, and this is reflected in their books and food.
Brunching in style is what you do in the Carpe Diem tearoom. This venue’s interior is the archetype of Flemish decor, with dark wooden paneling, stained glass windows and a lot of copper ornaments. The courtyard is incredibly cozy and the entire place has the feel of an old tavern which fits the medieval charm of Bruges. Brunch with champagne, luscious pancakes and waffles, salads and pasta, Carpe Diem has it all.
In the middle of a lush green scenery, surrounded by nature and a beautiful garden, you will find Tudor Castle, a preserved monumental castle built in the 20th century. Only a 10-minute drive from the city center, this castle offers a fancy brunch in a luxurious style every Sunday. The brunch is complete with amuses-bouche, a buffet of entrées, a selection of soups, fish and meat dishes and a buffet of desserts. Romance at its best.
The Gulliver Tree tea- and coffeehouse serves delicious desserts as well as lunch, brunch and breakfast, and is a hidden gem in Bruges’ winding alleyways. The healthy scones, creamy pies and soup are the best to be found. The soup is served with bread from a local baker who makes it fresh and on demand everyday. If you have an intolerance or allergy, be sure to advise The Gulliver Tree ahead of time and they will provide alternatives, such as spelt bread. The creamy white walls, comfy sofas and carpets on the wooden floors create an instant Scandinavian ambience, making visitors feel at home. Make sure to try the red curry soup and watch out for cheesecakes every weekend.
Bagels, bagels, bagels; Sanseveria is heaven for lovers of circle-formed dough with a hole in the middle, cream cheese and extra little toppings. This bagel salon creates the most original of bagels in a vintage living room interior. Definitely try the one with crayfish, avocado, leek and cream cheese.
Li O Lait is all about coffee. It is a perfect place to spend a rainy morning with a good book and a bagel, to warm your kids’ freezing hands after snowball fights with a hot cocoa or to gossip and chatter with your friends over delicate croissants or a homemade quiche. In summer, Li O Lait’s iced coffees are a delight as well. Nice little extra: the paintings on the walls are those of painter Roger Gobron, who lived and worked in that same house from 1899-1985. Nostalgia and melancholy are never far away, but above all this coffee bar is a feel-good place.
The simple but hearty breakfasts, brunch and lunches at GingerBread are famous in Bruges. Served on antique china, the hot cocoa made from white chocolate, the airy cakes, and enormous waffles with strawberry and cream are a dream. Sample GingerBread’s brunch of crackling fresh bread with homemade jam, real Bruges cheese and eggs. The decor is gorgeous, warm and family-like, and vintage all over.
The art nouveau façade behind which Sorbetière de Medici serves the best coffees and homemade sorbets is a real treat for the eyes. Their salads, pastas and focaccia brunches are a pleasure for the taste buds; however, it is its patisserie which is where it really excels. Beautifully sculpted pastries and cream cakes are filled with delicious flavors and the table decorations are made of chocolate.
Close to Bruges’ Grand Place and with a view onto the city’s romantic canals, the terrace of Jus et Tartine is a blissful spot for brunch. With an incredibly wide array of sandwiches and smoothies, paninis and wraps, you will not leave this place on an empty stomach. One tip: order some sandwiches to go and venture off to explore the beautiful surroundings of Bruges. You will not be disappointed.
Another great brunch spot on the Jan van Eyckplein is Blackbird. Just a tad fancier in both decor and food, this one is unmissable. According to many, Blackbird serves the best croissants in Bruges, the tapas breakfast/brunch is extraordinary, their pain perdu is heavenly and the pannacotta divine. A must-taste, to say the least.
