Brussels Airport

Brussels Airport may be an international hub, but it takes its food seriously — and that's very Belgian of it. The main terminal, spread across the departures hall, offers a solid range of options that go well beyond soggy sandwiches and overpriced coffee. Maison Antoine, the legendary Brussels friterie, has an outpost airside, serving proper golden frites with a parade of Belgian sauces. It's the kind of thing that makes a delayed flight feel almost acceptable.

For something more substantial, Le Pain Quotidien brings its signature rustic charm to the airport with open-faced tartines, organic soups, and excellent coffee — a reliable choice whether you're catching an early morning departure or killing time between connections. Beer lovers will want to find their way to one of the Brussels Beer Project bars, where a rotating tap list features genuinely interesting Belgian craft brews. Pair a saison or a gueuze with a platter of local cheeses and cured meats, and you've essentially had a small Belgian education.

The food court near the central atrium caters to the full range of traveller appetites, with options spanning sushi, burgers, and quick bites. But honestly, the smart move is to seek out the Belgian specialties — a waffle dusted with pearl sugar from a dedicated counter, a box of Neuhaus pralines for the road, or a bowl of waterzooi if you spot it on a specials board. Brussels Airport rewards the curious eater who resists the familiar chains and leans into what makes Belgian food culture quietly extraordinary.