Bruges: Where to Stay, What to Eat & What to Do

Bruges, or if ya nasty and write it like the locals: Brugge, is an astonishingly beautiful medieval town in Belgium. Quaint cobble streets, stone-built houses and shops and, at the time of my visit, in late June, streets in bloom with an array of flowers. Spoiler alert: Bruges is a romantic city. My reason for visiting was a work trip, but thanks to a little ingenuity and bargain flights, I was able to turn it into a romantic getaway with my partner. Here's a quick snapshot of Bruges, Belgium: Where to Stay, What to Eat and What to Do.

Sleep Somewhere Lovely

Perks of a fully-comp'd work trip? Luxurious and indulgent hotel stay without the pricey hotel bill! We stayed in the stunning Hotel Dukes' Palace. On arrival, as our Uber rolled us over the cobbled streets and up to the courtyard, I noticed the hotel's spire and immediately felt like Belle checking out her new digs. This slice of luxury is like living in a Disney fairy tale, complete with champagne breakfast and an entirely unique treat: slabs of Belgian milk, white and dark chocolate that you could carve yourself to have alongside your croissants and pastries. Or in lieu of, with your breakfast mimosa. Height. Of. Decadence. When I wasn't gorging myself on the posh breakfast, I spent some time in the hotel garden, reading my book, sipping rosé and eating those delicious croquettes. 

Eat with a View

Bruges is a secret foodie town! Okay, maybe it's not a secret, but I wasn't expecting it! Along with its picturesque cobble streets, the food scene produces truly stunning platescapes, so eating with a view is a delicious double entendre. When I find something I like — restaurant, dish, cute little cafe — I make a point of visiting again in the space of a trip. Even on a short trip, I don't consider it a waste: if something is good enough to send me back for seconds, I think it's worth it! The place I just couldn't get enough of on this trip was Restaurant Julien, in my hotel! On the left we have a beef carpaccio with truffle (which I had on two separate occasions!) and on the right a luscious crème brûlée. Our dinner bill came to €318 for two, although €118 of that was drinks, including a €110 bottle of Whispering Angel.

It's not all rich, indulgent dinners in Bruges. We had a lovely bit of brunch at super popular That's Toast, a brunch restaurant specialising in all-day breakfast bread-based dishes. It's walk-ins only, which means you might end up queuing on the weekend or a particularly busy day, but it's worth the wait. Also, try the drinks! I had a delicious lemonade! 

Go Underground for a Beer

First thing to note? How ridiculously happy my love is with a flight of beers! Beer isn't usually my thing, but a visit to Le Trappiste was top of this one's list and there was no way I could disappoint him by refusing! So off we went, descending the stone steps into the vaulted cathedral of hops. Le Trappiste is a specialist beer bar in an 800-year-old medieval cellar. Hands down, the coolest (temperature-wise and The Fonz-wise) place I've ever choked down a beer! The cellar originally stored barrels made by the coopers who worked in this part of medieval Bruges; it was later sealed and forgotten before being rediscovered during demolition work in 1973. Pretty nifty, yes? And that little snifter I'm holding in the title photo of this post? That's a taster of Cherry Chouffe, an 8% cherry beer that made the whole foray into the depths of the cellar worthwhile for me.

Wander Without an Itinerary

While I spent my days in a conference centre, my love ventured about, taking in the sights and getting to know Bruges much better than I was able to. He made it to the top of the Belfry of Bruges, climbing all 366 steps to visit one of the iconic locations from In Bruges. He loved it; we'll have to take his word for it. My city exploration was a bit more relaxed. As the sun set, we wandered the twisty streets, peering in shops, snaffling cones of fries with mushroom sauce and ending each night with a decadent Belgian waffle. If independent shops are your thing: come to Bruges. The place is rampant with independent fashion boutiques! 

Would I Go Back?

Yes! Bruges was my first visit to Belgium and I am itching to visit again! On a repeat trip, I'd like to spend more time in the square (check out this Instagram carousel for a video of the square) and maybe visit a gallery or a museum and make my way back to the Dukes' for that crazily indulgent breakfast and these stunning views.

Oh, before you go, I should say: the reviews and places visited on this trip were 100% organically what we decided to do. At no point was I invited to visit, offered anything in exchange for name-dropping locations or paid to promote any establishment or place mentioned. 

Bruges Nibbles

When: June 2025
Where: Historic Centre, Bruges
Stayed: Hotel Dukes' Palace
Best meal: Restaurant Julien - Beef Carpaccio with Truffle
Don't miss: Ending every night with a Belgian waffle à la mode from Oyya
Perfect for: A city break or a boujee work trip