Tasty food and drink, that's what you do at one of the nicest bars and restaurants in Leuven! In the beating heart of the city in Belgium: you will find cozy cafes where you can have a hearty breakfast, hip places for tasty sandwiches and cool restaurants where you can dine for hours. And then there are also many cozy bars where you can try the local beer Stella Artois. In short, there are plenty of delicious hotspots to be found in Leuven. Are you looking for a nice place to go? These are the nicest bars and restaurants in Leuven.
1. Coffee and Steel
At the hot spot Coffee and Steel you can not only enjoy a good cup of coffee, the menu here is also full of blissful dishes. From yogurt with homemade granola and seasonal fruit to a full plate of tasty dips and pieces of bread. Whether your preference is sweet or savory, the counter is full of them. All products used at Koffie en Staal are local and organic as much as possible, and that sustainability extends to the interior of this hot spot as well. A top-notch place, in other words!
2. Madmum Coffee
Drinking coffee, having breakfast and brunch among the people of Leuven, you can do so at one of the Madmum Coffee hotspots. Five branches can be found in the beating heart of the city, therefore one will always be within walking distance. A fun fact to share is that Madmum was founded by Pieter Claes. Over the years, he received several awards for his coffee skills, for example, he was named Belgium's Best Coffee Roaster in 2014. So you can drink very high quality coffee here.
3. Florida Food Bar
Just off the beaten path of Leuven, along the waterfront you will find a very cool hotspot. Housed in a former warehouse, now a listed building, you will find Florida Food Bar. An art deco hot spot with striking architecture from the 1930s. On sunny days you can sit on the terrace, but actually sitting inside is much more fun here. The specialty of the house is the homemade pita, and we can definitely recommend that too. They have pitas with gyros, lamb, chicken and there is also a veggie option. We opted for the chicken pita and to go with it a serving of wedges with parmesan to share. We enjoyed!
4. Nine Bar
One of Leuven's most beautiful sights is the Old Market Square, also known as the longest bar in the world. With more than 30 cafes and restaurants around this square, it is difficult to choose where to sit for a bite to eat and a drink. A great tip is Nine Bar, a stylish cocktail bar. But they also serve delicious beers, including Karmeliet and Stella Artois!
5. Baracca
When we return to Leuven for a weekend getaway, we will, without a doubt, eat out again at Baracca. The restaurant is hip and trendy, but also definitely sleek and attractively decorated. The cuisine here is Italian-inspired, but with a modern twist. The concept is food sharing, which means you can enjoy several small bites here with your partner or friends. We were advised to opt for two to three dishes of the so-called social bites along with a sourdough pizza. This was absolutely sufficient for two people!
6. The Optimist
On the Vismarkt, an attractive historical square in Leuven, you will find the restaurant The Optimist. It is a somewhat alternative hotspot when it comes to eating out, in a positive sense. The restaurant has a Scandinavian industrial decor with a number of tables cozily placed together. At the Optimist, you are not handed a menu. To decide what you want to eat, take a look at the large chalkboard hanging above the bar. On it are several dishes that you can order in three different sizes. Ideal for those who are not very hungry, but also top who love the concept of shared-dining.
