The Verdict
Les Brigittines sits at the foot of the Chapelle church, on the line between the antique-dealer Sablon and the working-class Marolles. The dining room is a preserved art-nouveau interior — etched glass, dark wood, globe lamps — in a building that was once a post office. Chef Dirk Myny has run it for more than 25 years, cooking Belgian terroir rather than chasing trends: vol-au-vent, game in season, eel, and his own creations. It is in the MICHELIN Guide's Brussels selection. Mains run roughly €32–52, with a four-course menu around €68.75.
The Kitchen
Dirk Myny has been at the stove of Les Brigittines for more than twenty-five years, and the cooking is unapologetically Belgian. The vol-au-vent — puff pastry, chicken and veal quenelles, mushrooms in a cream sauce — is the dish to order and the one regulars return for; in autumn the menu turns to game, and eel and grey shrimp appear in season. Myny's own "Zenne" creations nod to the river that gives Brussels its name. Mains sit around €32 to €52, and a four-course set runs about €68.75, which keeps a belle-époque dinner in reach. The kitchen holds a place in the MICHELIN Guide's Brussels selection without chasing a star, and the cellar leans to Belgian and French bottles chosen to drink with the food rather than to impress.
The Room
The room is the reason to come as much as the plate: a near-untouched art-nouveau interior of carved wood, etched mirrors and warm globe lighting, in a former post office on the Place de la Chapelle. Sound is conversational, tables are generously spaced, and the mood is grown-up and unhurried — closer to a grand café than a modern dining room. Dress is smart but not formal; no jacket required.
Best for an Anniversary
Book Les Brigittines for an anniversary or a special dinner where the setting carries the evening: the belle-époque room, the unhurried service, and a vol-au-vent that tastes of old Brussels. It suits two people who want atmosphere and a classic over spectacle, and it is central enough — between the Sablon and the Marolles — to fold into a slow evening of antiques and the Chapelle quarter.
Not For
Not for diners after minimalist, modern tasting-menu cooking or a buzzy scene — this is a classic Belgian brasserie, heavy on tradition and rich sauces. Strict vegetarians and anyone avoiding game or cream will find the menu narrow.
Reservations
Reserve by phone or through the restaurant's site; the room fills on weekend evenings and around Sablon events. Closed on its usual rest days — check before travelling, as the family runs occasional seasonal closures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the signature dish at Les Brigittines?
The vol-au-vent is the order to make — puff pastry filled with chicken and veal quenelles and mushrooms in a cream sauce, a Brussels classic that chef Dirk Myny has served for years. In autumn the kitchen turns to game, and eel and grey shrimp appear in season alongside Myny's own Belgian-terroir creations.
Does Les Brigittines have a Michelin star?
No. Les Brigittines is part of the MICHELIN Guide's Brussels selection but is not starred. Its draw is the preserved belle-époque room in a former art-nouveau post office and chef Dirk Myny's traditional Belgian cooking, rather than a starred tasting menu. It is recognised for atmosphere and craft, not stars.
How much does dinner cost at Les Brigittines?
Mains run roughly €32 to €52, and a four-course set menu is around €68.75, before wine. That puts a full belle-époque dinner with a bottle in the mid-range for central Brussels — expensive for a brasserie but reasonable given the room and the cooking. It sits in the $$$ band.
Where is Les Brigittines in Brussels?
It is at Place de la Chapelle 5, at the foot of the Chapelle church between the antique-dealer Sablon and the Marolles flea-market quarter. The building was once a post office; the dining room is a preserved art-nouveau interior. It is an easy walk from the Sablon and the city centre.
Is Les Brigittines good for vegetarians?
Not especially. The menu is built around Belgian classics — vol-au-vent, game in season, eel, rich cream and butter sauces — so strict vegetarians and anyone avoiding game or dairy will find the choices narrow. Call ahead to ask what the kitchen can prepare on the day if you have dietary limits.
Also in Brussels
For more of classic Brussels, compare Comme Chez Soi and Aux Armes de Bruxelles, or stay in the Sablon at Au Vieux Saint-Martin.