5 good lunch spots in the European Quarter in Brussels

A relaxed Mediterranean restaurant on the lively Place de Londres near the European Parliament. You serve yourself at the buffet and pay by weight at the end. They offer a big selection of tasty Turkish and Greek specialities like grilled meats, cold meze and octopus.

This Italian restaurant is located in a beautiful art nouveau interior on the edge of the European Quarter. It opened as a bakery in 1906 and was later transformed into a fishmonger. The striking art nouveau window frames have been perfectly restored along with a tile picture showing a fishing boat in a stormy sea. The young team produce sophisticated Italian cooking in this relaxed, cosmopolitan setting.

Overlooking Place Jean Rey, the two-level Living Room adds to the life of the European district with its bright industrial interior and spacious pavement terrace. As well as serving coffee and food, they stock design books, stationery and even furniture, so if you think the Danish lamp above your head would fit perfectly in your apartment, you can buy it on the way out.

Simona El Harar does the cooking at Kitchen 151 while her partner Tim runs an art gallery next door. The restaurant is a relaxed, artistic spot where a cosmopolitan crowd gather to enjoy Simona’s Middle Eastern tapas dishes, along with a glass of organic wine or a Belgian beer.

Located on Place Jean Rey, Kokuban gets its inspiration from traditional Japanese ramen bars. Seated at pale wood tables,in a sober interior, customers can eat delicious specialities such as gyoza (Japanese ravioli filled with chicken and vegetables) followed by ramen (large bowls of noodles and vegetables in a thin broth). Good for a quick lunch but not a place to linger.