Choosing a restaurant is often all about the food. But sometimes, the setting is almost as spectacular as what’s on your plate. From old train stations to Art Nouveau buildings and centuries-old farms, all across Belgium, certain establishments have breathed new life into exceptional venues. Discover these 5 unique restaurants where people come as much to enjoy a delicious meal as to admire a beautifully reinvented piece of heritage.
Heide Statie
How does dining in a train station over a century old sound? In Kalmthout, Heide Statie has taken up residence in the former Heide train station, built in 1897 and carefully restored. Behind its historic facade, this welcoming spot offers refined brasserie cuisine, with the added bonus of a terrace overlooking the platforms, where trains continue to pass by just as they did in the past. A charming setting that will appeal to heritage enthusiasts and food lovers alike.
La Quincaillerie
It’s hard to imagine that before becoming one of Brussels’ most beautiful brasseries, La Quincaillerie was… a hardware store. Housed in a stunning Art Nouveau building from 1903, designed by a student of Victor Horta, the restaurant has preserved much of its original decor: the massive wooden drawers, the counters, the antique tiles, and the spectacular glass roof immerse visitors in the atmosphere of a shop from another era. An exceptional setting that’s almost as worth the visit as its cuisine, which is particularly renowned for its seafood platters and classic brasserie dishes.
L’Air du Temps
In the heart of the Namur countryside, L’Air du Temps has made its home in a beautifully restored former farmhouse, where rural heritage and exceptional cuisine come together. Surrounded by several hectares of vegetable gardens, orchards, and gardens cultivated using permaculture, Chef Sang Hoon Degeimbre’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant sources a large portion of its ingredients directly from the property. A peaceful setting where nature is an integral part of the experience, long before the dishes are served.
Le Moulin du Val-Dieu
It’s hard to find a more historic spot than this one , nestled in the heart of the Val-Dieu Abbey estate. The restaurant is housed in a former Cistercian mill, whose origins date back to 1216, the year the abbey was founded. For nearly eight centuries, the monks and later their successors ground grain there before the building was converted into a restaurant in 1993. Even today, the large waterwheel and some of the original mechanisms are still in place! This place is definitely one of the finest examples of industrial heritage conversion in Belgium.
Belga Queen
Behind its imposing 18th-century façade lies a building that has had many lives. First a private mansion, then the Hôtel de la Poste in the 19th century, the building was later converted into the headquarters of Crédit du Nord Belge in the early 20th century. All of this happened before it became the Belga Queen. Even today, the former ticket hall—topped by a spectacular glass roof— the Empire-style staircases, and even the old vault room are reminders of its banking past. It’s a place where you can savor both the decor and the reimagined Belgian cuisine.
