In Brussels, people know Matonge, the Chinatown, and the Turkish spots in Schaerbeek. Much less is said about the Portuguese neighborhood in Saint-Gilles —and yet, it only takes a few blocks to get a good sense of it. Restaurants, a Portuguese grocery store, and a pastelaria: here’s a little gourmet walking tour you can take without ever really leaving Brussels.
Grilled meats and cod just a short walk away
First stop: Churrasqueira Portugalia, at 30 Chaussée de Waterloo. Founded in 2015, the spot became a full-fledged restaurant after Joaquim and Leonel Teixeira took it over in 2022. Today, people come here for charcoal-grilled meats, Bairrada-style suckling pig, grilled cod, octopus à lagareiro, and roast lamb. The restaurant seats about 80 and also features an upstairs dining room.
Just a few steps away, at 53, Casa Peixoto lets you extend your getaway at home. This grocery store offers cod, octopus, cured meats, wines, Portuguese beers, and other products from Portugal. It’s a great spot to pick up something to make the afternoon last just a little longer.
A spot that dates back to 1977
We continue toward Avenue Jean Volders, where the Coimbra restaurant has been a local landmark for nearly half a century. Located at No. 54 , it has been a Portuguese restaurant since 1977—a longevity rare enough to earn its place on this tour.
And to finish up, head to Chaussée de Charleroi and Forcado, at number 196. This Portuguese pastelaria offers pastel de nata in several flavors—coffee, lemon, chocolate, or ginger—in addition to the classic version. The shop also doubles as a small grocery store, featuring regional products, sardines, and vinho verde.
You can easily explore all of this on foot around the Parvis de Saint-Gilles. It’s enough to turn a simple lunch outing into a real little Portuguese adventure.
