Restaurant Porto Romano is a small restaurant that serves Portugese and Belgian cuisine. It's honest, simple and delicious food.
The grilled fish is a must as is the apple pie. Very nice Portugese wine at good prices (compared to prices in Bruges.)

Sint Jacobsstraat 50, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
+32477647211
Google map: bit.ly/17gRuxh

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I went camping in Bruges recently and have to say it was definately worth it. I looked at staying in a hotel there and it was really expensive! Camping was so much cheaper. Camping all the way!

Just on the outskirts of Bruges. Its only about a 20 min walk into the beautiful town centre.
Campsites: bit.ly/h5ydUc
Google map: bit.ly/fL9Rcm

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This is a great deal if you want to see a fair number of museums and places of interest in your stay. 24 of them are free with the card and others are discounted. That's a fee boat trip, free Belfry and Dali Exhibition, free Brewery Tour (de Halve Maan), and so many free museums from the Memling (fantastic medieval hospital to the Groeninge (all flemish art) to the Choco-Story and the Friet(chips) museum. Every major museum is included so you can dip in without taking any risks. There are discounts off cycling, ballooning, buses and much more. It costs €33 for 48 hrs and €39 for 72 hrs.
We just enjoyed ourselves walking the canals, eating and drinking and seeing whatever we fancied - and somehow we saved €30 each on two days of entertainment, without really trying. The Belfy & Dali exhibition are €18 together to start with - so you can see how the savings add up quickly.
You may be given a card if you're in a grand hotel but the rest of us end up buying one - and it's great value!
You get a visitors' guide with it too.

Buy the card at the Concertgbouw Information Centre (on T-Zand) and at the Station Information Office. Details on www.bruggecitycard.be

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This is a great little brewery, the only one left in Bruges. Our tour guide was entertaining with a really dry sense of humour as she took us ever upwards demonstrating the malt and hops process as it was (historic machinery) and is now (very modern). From the roof terrace there's a panoramic view over a good section of Bruges, more interesting and detailed than that from the Belfort. The ticket (€5.50 1hr tour) includes a glass of Brugse Zot (Bruges Jester) blond beer and there are two other excellent brews to sample. We had a snack lunch in their cafe too.
Good beer and an excellent tour.

Walplein 26-8000 Bruges
+32(0)50 44 42 22
www.halvemaaan.be

Google map: bit.ly/arP56p

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I am sitting here after driving up from Paris - it has been a while since I was here last and Francoise now has her son Bram making fresh pastries and creme brûlée as well as serving fresh melted hot chocolate to die for.
I was fortunate to get a seat as the cafe was full when I arrived.
The cafe has been given a complete makeover since I was last here and the stained glass windows in the upstairs room are perfectly matched by the decor and the quality of the food (waffles!) and excellent drinks.
A perfect end to the start of the evening to come!

www.oldchocolatehouse.com
1c Mariastraat, Brugge 8000
+32 50 340 102
Google map: bit.ly/9sNmv3

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This restaurant offered a great value set 2 course lunch for EUR15: we had salmon mousse followed by rabbit and spaghetti, with local beer from the Half Moon brewery. Very friendly and good service.

Dijver 13 - 8000 Bruges
www.lechefetmoi.be
+32(0)50396011
Google map: bit.ly/cuxGMb

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This was a great family run atmospheric restaurant deliberately sited off the main square on Goezeputstraat. We had a delicious cote de boeuf together with starters, wine and port for EUR95, and the best frites of whole holiday. This was a genuine place where the owner served you, took his time and treated you like real people, not tourists on a conveyor belt. Highly recommended

Goezeputstraat 6 - 8000 Bruges www.gauthierz.com
+32 (0)50 33 13 07
Google map: bit.ly/de4Sjx

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We visited this restaurant for the competitively priced midweek dinner. We were a little afraid to have a "tourist" type meal but instead we had a wonderful meal.

The wines were chosen by the sommelier and were complementary to the served courses and a very nice addition.

I would say, go there and have yourself surprised. The quality of the food is very very good, fresh, rich, perfectly seasoned etc.

The chef has a personal interest and commitment which is demonstrated as he makes a round past the tables at evening's end to ask if everything was OK.

Wonderful place. We would go here again if we visit Bruges.

Groeninge 25, Bruges
tel + 32 50 33 76 37
www.goudenharynck.be
Google map: tinyurl.com/34p464x

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Small restaurant in a quiet corner at the St Saviours cathedral. Fabulous lunch menu at €50 all-in! Amazing!

St Salvatorskerkhof 14, Bruges
tel + 32 50 34 16 91
www.kardinaalshof.be
Google map: bit.ly/coZ53z

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Just spent a lovely weekend in Bruges, you just must take make the canal boat trip. All the restuarants we ate in were great but I would especially recommend the Maximillian which faces towards the Lake of Love.

The horse drawn carriage ride sounds a bit tacky but its great fun, about €35 for a 30-minute ride, the Bruges people are very forward about asking for tips! Look for special offers in the museums.

We stayed at the Boat hotel de Barge, great quirky place, the bedrooms were surprisingly spacious, and very clean and airy with views over the canal. Bird watchers delight, with Barnacle Geese tapping on the windows as you breakfast, from the canal they can see what you are eating! Great fun and good value all round.

I was most impressed by the hotel booking information provided by the online booking agent and easy navigation of the whole site. We booked with Just one hotel who have a website dedicated to Bruges.

www.brugeshotels.co.uk
0141 270 2170
Google map: tinyurl.com/2utqxj8

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A former palace turned into a small atmospheric bar with weird art and live music. Rum a speciality. When we went we had to ring a doorbell and we were let in by a very scary looking butler.

Twijnstraat 6-8

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This small B&B is only a few minutes’ walk from the heart of UNESCO World Heritage town of Bruges. It has three simple but stylishly decorated rooms with ensuite bathrooms on the second floor of a character town house complete with mosaic flooring. The host is friendly and helpful with numerous insider tips on where to eat and drink, and the breakfast - served in the separate breakfast room - is everything you would expect from a continental breakfast and more! Clean crisp bed linen, fresh pastries at breakfast, a warm host and cosy rooms - it’s everything you’d want from a city B&B so we keep going back to romantic Bruges to stay at this lovely place. Prices very reasonable too from £55 (single) - £105 (family room) - recommended for anyone looking for bags of chocolate box charm in Belgium’s self proclaimed ‘chocolate city’!

Cars can be left at the conveniently located long-term car park served by frequent free buses into the town centre, or if you’re brave enough just get the Eurostar into Bruges.

BED AND BREAKFAST
LUT EN BRUNO SETOLA
SINT-WALBURGASTRAAT 12
8000 BRUGGE
BELGIUM
TEL. +32 50 33 49 77
FAX +32 50 33 25 51
E-MAIL SETOLA@BEDANDBREAKFAST-BRUGES.COM
www.bedandbreakfast-bruges.com/index.html

Google map: tinyurl.com/y9ggxup

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Last month I visited Bruges. A rather small yet romantic city in the Flemish region of Belgium. While the restaurant we visited turned out to be a disappointment (microwaved food, rude people, unreasonable prices) I really enjoyed the place where we stayed.

In Bruges we stayed in a small cosy hotel called Prinsenhof, it’s actually an example of old 13th century Flemish housing. It had a clean, comfy luxurious room, a welcoming atmosphere, and the breakfast (while not really cheap) proved to be unforgettable!

Make sure you park your car in the city as the hotel charges for parking.

Ontvangersstraat 9, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
www.prinsenhof.co.uk
0032 50 342 690

Google map: tinyurl.com/yazxdlj

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I recommend that you avoid this cafe at all costs. The cafe lured us in with a budget meal that was not available. Drink costs weren't in the menu - the reason being that they were extortionate. A steak at the price of 24 euros had additional costs of sauce (5 euros) and chips (4.50 euros).

When speaking to the staff about my displeasure they were rude and I can only describe them to be vultures. The meal was substandard and expensive. If the food and service was good then they wouldn't have to lower themselves to sneaky tricks like this to get customers. Very poor - spoiled our trip to Bruges.

Markt 24, B-8000 Brugge.
Located on the market square opposite the Belfry.

Google map: tinyurl.com/ktqgd7

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I love modern art so was stunned to find this amazing artist studio gallery in a side street just off the main shopping street. This artist's work is abstract - very contemporary. Svein made time to show us his extensive range of work and his studio. He also exhibits local sculplture artist Kristof Donkels and ceramic artist Jan Duytschaever. The visit to the studio was a highlight of my time in this amazing town. If you're into contemporary art, a visit to the 'Studio Gallery' is a must.

www.koningen.net
Korte Vuldersstraat 17 Brugge. +32 50 33 09 88
station is only 10 minute walk and the Cathedral is around the corner - well almost in the same street.

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I’m British through and through but nothing says Christmas more passionately than Brugge does each December. The Belgians of course have two celebrations with the Feast of Sint Niklaas coming early in the month!

The city streets are beautifully decked out with twinkling lights and window displays and the main and smaller squares like Market Square and Simon Stevinplein have their stalls selling all kinds of gift, food and drink specialties. It’s a picture book / chocolate box place that you may wander and wonder around in the warmth of their hospitality and friendliness - and in safety.

My ideal 24 hours? I set off on a Friday afternoon straight down the M20 from London and directly into the Eurotunnel terminal from the motorway. Go to the toilet, buy a drink, drive onto the train – 25 minutes of rest – drive off the train, to the end of the tunnel road, turn right and just keep on straight for 55 minutes and there is the Bruges turn-off – 10 minutes later I am parked in the centre. Nothing could be easier and hardly needs a map or GPS!

If I just kept walking around the main central triangle of the city it would only take me some 15 minutes to do so – but there is so much to see that is worthwhile. Ice Skating in Markt, climb the Belfry, eat Flemish beer stew and photograph the canals and picturesque buildings as the sun sets and the sky glows. You are never far away from where your hotel is and it is so easy to take a small break to recuperate and re-energise!

Saturday is market day at Tzand (square next to bus station) – buy wonderful cheeses to take home; visit The Church of our Lady to see the Michelangelo Madonna with Child statue and take a canal boat trip, a museum visit or a romantic Horse and Carriage ride around the cobbled streets. Too much to do – so little time!

Now don’t forget those chocolates, those fresh cream pralines. Much much cheaper than the UK and guaranteed to produce sounds of delight (and quiet munching noises). I also buy ginger bread, chocolate figures and honey waffle biscuits.

Driving home; quickly visit a supermarket in Belgium for very good beer at low prices. Try a jar of Advocaat as this goes great on ice cream or Christmas pudding! Wine is also reasonable in price here.

… and it’s back to Coquilles to catch the train back home. Mission accomplished… Tired and very Happy!
Here’s a link to learn more oldchocolatehouse.com/links.html

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Unlike many galleries that concentrate on one period of history, the Groeninge Museum in Bruges has a collection that spans six centuries of Flemish tradition and is a truly fascinating insight into artistic development in the region.

Dijver 12

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A great café chock-full of some of the best cakes and sweets in Bruges according to the locals who go there – and in a city famed for its deserts, that’s saying something!

The hot chocolate was literally hot milk with pieces of chocolate for you to melt in yourself. Sickly, maybe, but definitely delicious – you’ll find it hard to go back to instant stuff when you return…

Geldmunstraat

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Pretty much the only time when food and drink around the Markt square is affordable is every Wednesday morning when it’s taken over by market stalls.

With a range of cheap, fresh and tasty offerings like rotisserie chickens, olives, cheese and international dishes, it’s the perfect place to bag a picnic or stock up on self-catering ingredients.

Centrum, Markt

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Instead of ketchup, the Belgians eat their chips (or fries for the Americans) with lashings of mayonnaise. Slightly odd perhaps – but a trip to Bruges has converted me!

‘Frites’ stalls around the city centre do them cheap, along with meatballs and sausages for a good snack.

Across the road, waffle stands and bakeries sell dessert dripping with chocolate and cream. What more to say except 'yum'.

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