Harbachs. In Bruges.
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WARNING: everything is in Flemish. Be prepared to use Google Translate a lot!
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Hotel Acacia: Looks nice, serves breakfast but does not appear to have a restaurant.
Does have a garden terrace …
And a bar
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Belgium = beer, chocolate, waffles, and fries (and mussels)
Beer:
De Halve Maan: brewery with taproom and restaurant. Highly recommended.
‘t Poatersgat: cozy underground beer bar with large selection.
Chocolate:
ONLY go to places with a little oval sign that has an orange cocoa pod and "Guild of Bruges Chocolatiers." It means the chocolates are actually made in Bruges instead of imported in bulk.Waffles:
They're everywhere, just pick one. But, you should know...Liege Waffle – small slightly dense waffles filled with chunks of pearl sugar which give it crunch.
Bruxelles Waffle – a more traditional rectangular waffle that’s soft and fluffy.
Fries:
't Brugsch Friethuys. Get the "Flemish Fries" (they also have burgers and real meals).
AND FINALLY MUSSELS: On a menu they might be “moules” or “mosselen”
De Gastro: family-run bistro with a bar and traditional mussels and more.
Poules Moules: a very old classic, very highly recommended. Pricier due to location.
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Your hotel is at the heart of the old quarter; go for a walk. If in doubt, head toward water. It's a medieval city with lots of churches, canals, and cobbled streets.
Please don't pay for a private tour. This group is locals who do small group tours (6-8 people) and you decide at the end what you want to pay.
There's also a boat tour that looks fun: no reservations required. Runs from 10-5, departures every 15 mins.
If you have half a day and want to see the beach, ask at the hotel for a recommendation for an e-bike rental shop at one of the nearby beach towns. They have long paved bike paths and great views as you ride.
click the sections below for details:
UNLESS NOTED, all locations are within the city’s very walkable historic core.
A WORD TO THE WISE: as usual in heavily touristed cities, if the menu or signage is in English first, it’s probably not very good AND very expensive. Steer clear of the Market Square tourist traps.