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Restaurants in Oude markt in Leuven, Belgium. Photo by kevin liebens via unsplash

Food and drink

Our local organisers have curated a small selection of restaurant suggestions for you below, but please also visit this website which provides many more options.

Top tip: Muntstraat is a very nice area to go out for dinner. This is a long, narrow street in the city centre filled with restaurants. Parijsstraat is another great street for dining. The dominant flavour here is world cuisine. Not to forget the unique and creative boutiques, of course.

If you plan to dine as a larger group, it might be wise to reserve as Belgians like to go out for dinner and restaurants may fill up quickly. This can often be done online.

Belgians love coffee – there are plenty of options as going to coffee bars has become the latest to do.

Top tip: Sometimes the local interpretation of ‘cappuccino’ could actually be ‘lungo with whipped cream’. To be sure to get an Italian-style cappuccino in Belgium, ask for an Italian cappuccino.

Noir, Naamsestraat 49
This one is very popular with students because, if you ask politely, they will let you bring your own lunch and eat there if you order a coffee.

Onan, Parijsstraat 28
This place brews its own brands of coffee. They also sell it by bag and have a huge collection of teas.

Punto Caffè, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 17a
This coffee place has an impressive menu and sweets.

Belgium is quite vegetarian-friendly; it's rare to find a restaurant that offers no vegetarian options.

Greenway, Parijsstraat 12

Lukemieke, Vlamingenstraat 55
An all-vegetarian restaurant very close to the faculty.

Noord-Oever, Vaartkom 17a
Vegetarian and vegan place.

Etna Trattoria, Tiensestraat 123
This place specialises in authentic Sicilian food. Small menu with various fish and pasta dishes.

Mamma Mia, Parkstraat 107
Pizzas and very close to the faculty!

Bar Stan, Constantin Meunierstraat 2
This informal place is the ‘neighbourhood bar’ and does everything: lunch, dinner, drinks, Sunday brunch, take out, and picnic baskets. Closed on Saturdays.

Kaminsky, Léon Schreursvest 1
Simple bistro at the Leuven city border (just in adjacent Heverlee, in fact) with a mix of Belgian and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Also a café, open till after midnight.

Nirvana Kitchen, MGR. Ladeuzeplein 32

Royal Indian Food, Naamsestraat 30
Popular, cheap and well-regarded Indian.

Susuru Ramen, Margarethaplein 6

Tokio Sushi Bar, Ravenstraat 19
Sushi eat in & take away located right next to the Faculty of Arts.

Belgians, as said, love food and if you'd like to take the opportunity to enjoy an upscale dinner, Leuven offers some good options. Below are some suggestions. For more ideas, particularly in Heverlee, see this website.

Baracca, Tiensestraat 34
Italian food fuel. Popular place, so best to reserve online (website also in English).

D’Artagnan, Naamsestraat 72
Classic menu, with garden.

EssenCiel, Muntstraat 23
Seasonal food presented as little artworks, on Leuven’s main restaurant street. Popular place, so best to reserve online (website also in English).

Gloria, A. Nobelstraat 50
Belgian-French classics, fingerfood and great pasta.

Trente, Muntstraat 36
Again on Leuven’s main restaurant street, fine cuisine French-Belgian with a lot of attention to wine pairings. Again, best reserve (website in Dutch).

Zarza, Bondgenotenlaan 92
Artfully presented innovative cuisine. Serves homemade beers and has a separate whiskey menu. Orangery and garden.

Donki, Oude Markt 48
A Mexican eatery and take away popular with students. €9 for a burrito meal.

‘t Fonduehuisje, St Maartenstraat 12c
Fondues of all kinds (cheese; meat; fish and choco¬late). If fondues are your thing, this is your opportunity in town.