The house that beer built and other Leuven, Belgium Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Domus

Domus is a Leuven institution. The tavern with first floor and mezzanine seats over 300, yet it's cozy with an intimate atmosphere (check their web site for some interior pictures). Out on the terrace, which seats over 150 - there are frequent live shows of bands (during summer months). As for food, you can get rolls and sandwiches (Belgian or American breakfast is served from 9:00-12:00), pastas, salads, and anything from snacks like omelettes to full menus, desserts, and plentry to drink ... A good reason to visit is not just the available selection of 60 beers, but the fact Domus is known for having its own brewery (tours of the brewery available to groups of 15 or more people, call ahead to reserve), they produce ca. 1000 hl anually of the following, unique beers (alcohol percentage and beer type between brackets) :

- Leuvendige Witte (4,5%, white)
- Nostra Domus (5%, extra)
- Con Domus (5%, bitter)
- Abt Bijbier (7%, extra herb/honey/vegetable)
- Blok-bok (7%, dark "bok")
- Ochtend Kriek (7%, fruit)
- St. Adriaansbier (7%, extra)
- St. Adriaans Kerstbier (8%, double dark)
- Engel (8%, double dark)


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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average

Phone: (0032) (0)16 / 20 14 49
Address: Tiensestraat 8, B-3000 Leuven
Directions: Right near the center, walk up Tiensestraat and it's on your right.
Opening hours :
Tue/Wed/Thu and Sun: 09.00 - 01.00
Fri - Sat: 09.00 - 02.00
Closed Monday
Website: www.domusleuven.be
Other Contact: info@domusleuven.be

Restaurant Name: Kapsiki

Kapsiki offers affordable and excellent "world kitchen" and has ten or so vegetarian dishes, as well. Great food, plenty of variety and good service at moderate prices. Beautiful setting and nice ambience, as well - and it's just around the corner of the Oude Markt where you can get a drink afterwards, if you wish.

Opening hours : 12:00-23:00 daily,
closed on Monday afternoon & Sunday afternoon.


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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average

Phone: (0032) (0)16 / 20 45 87
Address: Parijsstraat 34-36, B-3000 Leuven
Directions: From the center square walk down Brusselsestraat and make a left into Parijsstraat, Kapsiki is about 150m down the street on your right side.

Restaurant Name: Brasserie De Wiering

De Wiering is a tavern/restaurant which focuses on local cuisine - for instance meat stews made with Belgian beers, and typically Belgian desserts like Brussels waffels - and they have 60 or so beer varieties to choose from. So, just like Domus (see first tip), this is a good spot to sample some typical, Belgian no-nonsense cuisine. They also serve seafood, grilled meat dishes, pastas, and so on. Prices are moderate and the setting is quite nice : the back side of the building overlooks the Dyle river (see pic). You can view the menu (including English translation) on their web site : here


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Theme: Local

Phone: (0032) (0)16 / 29 15 45
Address: Wieringstraat 2, B-3000 Leuven
Directions: From the center square, facing the town hall, go to your right and walk down Brusselsestraat. The 2nd street on the left is Wieringstraat. To see the back facade, first walk 20m down Brusselsestraat until you're at the Dyle, then look to the left.
Website: www.dewiering.be
Other Contact: E-mail : info@dewiering.be

Restaurant Name: Thomas Stapleton

Thomas Stapleton - only steps away from the Grote and Oude Markt - is widely regarded as the best Irish pub and (separate) restaurant in the area. If you'd like to enjoy a selection of whiskeys or beers like Guiness, Kilkenny etc. on draft, or would like to have a tasty, sumptuous Irish meal - this is the place to go. The interior is at the same time quite stunning, cozy and inviting. Live music on Saturdays. Recommended.


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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average

Phone: (0032) (0)16 / 29 35 27
Address: Standonckstraat 4, B-3000 Leuven
Directions: From the center, walk up Naamsestraat (the street to the right of the town hall). Within a very short distance you'll pass the Munstraat, Lakenweverstraat and Hallengang. Next one on your left is the Standonckstraat.

Restaurant Name: De Kansel (The Pulpit)


Favorite Dish: De Kansel has a few things that make it highly recommended in my book : no-nonsense food at a decent price, friendly staff and a beautiful setting.

The word "kansel" means pulpit and they actually have one in the restaurant, among other antique, neo-gothic church furniture and stained glass. There is even a vague smell of incense. If you appreciate the Leuven atmosphere and architecture, you'll love it - I think it's a wonderful, cozy little restaurant.

While the menu may seem a bit generic and uninspired ar first glance, the food is surprisingly good. For a typical regional dish, try the "Leuvens Stoofvlees", a delicious, slightly sweet and tender beef stew - great with fries.

Location is a plus, being just a two minute walk from the Oude and Grote Markt.

open mon-fri 12:00-22:30, sat 12:00-24:00
sundays only in June - July - August.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (0032) (0)16 / 22 09 23
Address: Muntstraat 15, B-3000 Leuven
Directions: From the center facing the town hall, walk to the left and past the police station into the adjacent Boekhandelstraat, then turn left into the Muntstraat - the restaurant is ca. 100m further to your left, across the intersection with the S.Meierstraat
Website: www.kansel.be
Other Contact: E-mail : info@kansel.be