There’s always someone who doesn’t want Asian food, someone who already had a burger yesterday, and someone who’s been vegetarian since Tuesday. That’s precisely the problem that food halls—or gourmet markets—solve , and Brussels now has a fine selection of them, housed in buildings that are sometimes worth a visit in their own right. Here are six spots, and what each one does better than the rest.
Gare Maritime Food Market, the largest in Europe
It’s the heavyweight of the category, and its setting plays a big part in that: the former Tour & Taxis ferry terminal, a huge 19th-century glass-roofed market hall at 7 Rue Picard. It features ten street food concepts created by ten different chefs—including several well-known names in Belgian gastronomy—and a clear commitment to supporting local producers. The Victoria Bar is at the heart of it all—it’s the place to go when you haven’t decided what to eat yet. Counters are open on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Wednesday from noon to 9:30 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday from noon to 10:30 p.m. The bar stays open later, until midnight on weekends.
Fox Food Market, in a modernist landmark
Undoubtedlythe most beautiful building on the list. Fox is located at 25 Boulevard du Souverain in Watermael-Boitsfort, in the Mix building— the former headquarters of the Royale Belge, a gem of modernist architecture nestled between the waterfront and lush greenery. On the food front, there are a good half-dozen food stalls: Roca for tacos, Coast for seafood, Moza for Neapolitan pizza, Loulou for Argentine asado, Sababa for Middle Eastern cuisine, and Roru for rolls. The terrace, with its views and greenery, makes you forget you’re in Brussels. Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Wolf, the pioneer of downtown dining
It was this market that pioneered the concept in Brussels in December 2019, at 50 Rue du Fossé aux Loups—just a stone’s throw from La Monnaie. With about 3,000 m² and a dozen food stalls, you can travel around the world in just a few meters! Poutine from Les Super Filles du Tram, bò bún from Hanoi Station, and pizza from La Piola. It’s the most central spot on this list, making it the most convenient for a group coming from all over.
Foodmet, the Abattoirs covered market
A complete change of atmosphere. Foodmet, located inside the Anderlecht Slaughterhouses at 24 Rue Ropsy Chaudron, isn’t a trendy food court but a genuine market hall: more than fifty stalls selling meat, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, olives, bread, and herbs. It’s noisy, it’s down-to-earth, and it’s one of the liveliest places in Brussels. Keep an eye on the schedule, which is its only drawback: it’s open only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., including holidays. Take the metro to Clémenceau or Delacroix.
KAY 36, six kiosks along the canal
The newest— and most unexpected — addition to the scene: KAY 36 was launched at the Quai des Péniches by Jane Arkell, a lawyer at the Brussels Bar for twenty-three years before leaving it all behind to enter the restaurant business. Six food stalls share the space —Italian, Mexican, poke and sushi, Afro-Indian, burgers, and an entirely vegan pastry shop— along with a full-service bar and a terrace facing Tour & Taxis. Open Thursday through Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Great Market, the Mediterranean hybrid
This one breaks the mold, and that’s precisely what makes it so interesting. Great Market, located at 650–652 Chaussée de Louvain near Place Meiser, is as much a Mediterranean supermarket as it is a market hall where you can eat: a butcher shop, bakery, pastry shop, and deli all coexist, offeringSyrian-Lebanese, Spanish-Moroccan, and Neapolitan specialties. You go there for lunch, but you leave with your arms full. It’s also the only one on the list that’s open every day, including holidays—from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and until 7 p.m. on Sundays—with free parking.
