Mechelen is an enchanting city located between Brussels and Antwerp, in the heart of Belgium. It has plenty of historic buildings, great museums and a strong spirit of entrepreneurship. The latter resulted in new restaurants in Mechelen popping up like mushrooms.
The city of Mechelen in Belgium is the place I called home for many years. Intimately knowing the little streets, the local bars and where to find the best coffee are part and parcel of living there.
My favorite part is the authenticity that veils the city, it almost feels like a village. People greet each other in the street, and artisanal stores that have been around for hundreds rub shoulders with new ventures opened by adventurous entrepreneurs.
In short, there is plenty to explore in the city of Mechelen including a prolific restaurant scene. For the adventurous vegetarian /vegan souls traveling around Belgium, you might want to consider adding Leuven to your foodie itinerary!
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9 Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Mechelen
Traditionally Belgian cuisine consisted of meat, potatoes and a side of vegetables. Growing up, I often found there was one single vegetarian choice on the menu: Spaghetti with an odd mishmash of vegetables for topping, drenched in a tomato sauce.
Thankfully, Belgian cuisine has evolved significantly and most restaurants now have plenty of vegetarian and even a few vegan options. Mechelen is rapidly catching up to Brussels and Antwerp when it comes to plant-based restaurants (yay!).
2 Mainly plant-based restaurants in Mechelen
Cosma
Tucked away from the bustling shopping streets, Cosma is one of my personal favorite restaurants in Mechelen. The interior is warm and inviting, with comfortable couches and a sunny patio for those long summer evenings.
The cuisine is based upon the principles of Ottolenghi – plenty of fresh ingredients with vegetables playing a key role in Mediterranean-style cooking. The concept is simple: One main (usually fish/meat) and three side dishes of choice (vegetarian), alternatively as a vegetarian you can stick to three of four side dishes.
– Vegetarian & vegan options available
– Lunch & Dinner
– $$
Address: Befferstraat 24, 2800 Mechelen
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
Funky Jungle
The first completely vegan restaurant in Mechelen. Located opposite the impressive Saint Rumbolds cathedral, Funky Jungle is a medium-sized restaurant that works with fresh and local ingredients to create a fully plant-based menu, at an affordable price.
Great if you are looking for a restaurant that is budget-friendly, located in the center of town and has great service.
– Vegan Restaurant
– Lunch & Dinner
– $
Address: Onder-Den-Toren 7, 2800 Mechelen
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
3 Restaurants in Mechelen with an awesome terrace
The city of Mechelen has a few places that combine good food with excellent people watching, most of them are located on the fish market (Vismarkt) or the main square (Grote Markt).
These are the restaurants in Mechelen I like to frequent on days that are sunny and not desperately cold and I urge you to do the same to get a real feel for local life. Do be warned, you will not be alone in your quest for a good restaurant with an awesome terrace so be sure to book in advance or go early.
Ronda
Located on one of the most popular and lively squares of the city, the fish market. If you are not in a rush and want a leisurely summer dinner by the water surrounded by the chatter of locals, then this is your restaurant in Mechelen!
Ronda offers traditional Moroccan food (think Tajine and Couscous), served with a big smile! In the winter you can enjoy dinner underneath the lights of hundreds of Moroccan lamps that adorn the ceiling of the restaurant’s ground floor.
Tip: Make sure to get a traditional mint tea after your meal.
– Vegetarian options are available
– Lunch & Dinner
– $
Address: Vismarkt 10, 2800 Mechelen
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
Merad
This Turkish restaurant in Mechelen has been around for 10 years, starting off in the neighborhood of the station. In 2020 the restaurant moved to its current location on the lively fish market.
It took over an iconic bar in the city and turned it into a very swanky-looking restaurant on one of the most popular terraces – locals flock to this terrace in droves when there is the slightest hint of sunshine so be sure to book in advance.
– Vegetarian options are available
– Lunch & Dinner
– $
Address: Vismarkt 11, 2800 Mechelen
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
SAVA
Located in a historic 15th-century building smack on the Main Square (Grote Markt) of Mechelen lies the Spanish tapas restaurant SAVA. The interior is cozy, the team is friendly and the cava flows freely (at a democratic price too).
Truth be told, I come here for the location and the atmosphere. Personally, I am not a great fan of the food – a bit too greasy – but somehow have ended up many a Friday night here regardless as drinks inadvertently turned into dinner, and tapas with a side of cava do wonders to soothe the soul.
– Vegetarian options are available
– Lunch & Dinner
– $
Address: Grote Markt 13, 2800 Mechelen
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
3 Romantic Restaurants in Mechelen
Though small in size, Mechelen has its fair share of romantic spots. The below selection of restaurants and bars have romance oozing out of every lightbulb, cushion, and a delicious mouthful of food.
The Cellar
Although technically more a wine bar than a restaurant, the cellar is one of the most romantic spots in Mechelen to spend a cozy evening. The wine bar is located in…a cellar (surprise surprise). Ring the doorbell and head downstairs to begin your evening.
Snacks come in the form of a cheese board, with cheeses from a famous local cheesemaker who has been around for over 100 years. Ask your sommelier which one of the 150 bottles of wine (!) will go best with your selection of cheeses.
– Vegetarian options are available
– Snack
– $$
Address: Sint-Romboutskerkhof 2, 2800 Mechelen
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
La Vigna
La Vigna is another one of those well-established restaurants in Mechelen. This Italian restaurant has been in Mechelen since I can remember and continues to attract loyal customers.
They are no-frills in terms of presentation, in true Italian style the focus is on the quality of the ingredients and the beautiful wine to accompany your freshly cooked meal.
The restaurant is very small, and popular with the locals perfect for a romantic tête à tête. Book well in advance (at least 2 weeks) to ensure a table is free.
– Vegetarian options are available
– Lunch & Dinner
– $$
Address: Hendrik Consciencestraat 22, 2800 Mechelen
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
De Vleeshalle
De Vleeshalle is an indoor food court with 13 stalls containing a variety of different cuisines ranging from Italian to Vietnamese.
The lighting is moody, the wine selection is excellent and the choice of food is enough to satisfy even the pickiest eater. The perfect restaurant in Mechelen for a first date if you ask me.
If you are visiting Mechelen on a day trip from Brussels be sure to squeeze in de Vleeshalle, even if it is just to have a glass of wine.
– Vegetarian options available, select vegan options available
– Lunch & Dinner
– $($)
Address: Huidevettersstraat 7, 2800 Mechelen
Latest opening hours & event page: Website
Upscale Restaurant in Mechelen
There are a lot of medium-range restaurants in Mechelen that offer good dining experiences. But sometimes you want that something extra special. These upscale restaurants are up to the challenge.
Tinèlle
Located in the former military hospital and cloister of Mechelen, Tinèlle is the only restaurant in Mechelen with a Michelin star. Expect a refined French-Belgian fine dining experience with attentive service in a truly exceptionally well-decorated setting. A 3-course menu ranges from €75 and upwards.
The restaurant is very popular amongst locals and tends to fill up quickly on the weekends. Be sure to make a reservation in advance. Next door – in the public library (also part of the former cloister) – the team behind Tinèlle took their expertise and created a small bar (Bar Bib) where you can grab nibbles and some of the city’s best coffee.
– Vegetarian options are available
– Lunch & Dinner
-$$$ (Received 1 star Michelin in 2022)
Address: Goswin De Stadsartstraat 90, 2800 Mechelen
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
Where to Stay in Mechelen
Find the restaurants in Mechelen near your accommodation, work, or
according to your Mechelen itinerary on the map.
All hotels recommended have a focus on sustainability and minimizing their ecological impact by using locally sourced ingredients and supporting the local economy.
Most romantic hotel in town – ($$) Martin’s Patershof
There is nothing like a hotel with a story to tell and Martin’s Patershof has plenty of them! Housed in a former church, the hotel was converted into a comfortable oasis for travelers. Grab breakfast under the watchful eye of original stained glass in what used to be the old native of the church. It’s quirky, the service is good and the breakfast alone is worth booking for.
Location: 5 min walk from the main square
Parking: Available (subject to additional charges)
Coolest Hotel in town – ($$) Brouwerij het Anker
Talk about the cool kid on the block. Het Anker is the award-winning Brewery of Mechelen. Part of this very brewery was rebuilt and now contains the first brewery hotel in the country. Wake up with a view over the brewery in a plush bed, treat yourself to a delicious breakfast made with local ingredients before heading out into town. Just around the corner, you will find the most scenic part of Mechelen (the beguinage).
Location: 15 min walk from the main square & the main train station of Mechelen
Parking: Available on-site
Locally run B&B – ($$) Porta Superia
A local charming B&B run by friendly and knowledgeable locals. Inside you will be treated to wonderful service, an impeccably designed interior, and a soft bed! Nestled in the heart of the city, close to the main train station!
Location: 6 min walk from the main square
Parking: Available (subject to additional charges)
MORE TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR BELGIUM
Mechelen: Best places for lunch in Mechelen
Mechelen: Your guide to an awesome city trip in Mechelen
Belgium: 24 Beautiful places in Belgium for your bucket list
Belgium: 16 Romantic castle hotels in Belgium
Antwerp: Spend a weekend in Antwerp like the locals
Brussels: Get to know Brussels through these hidden gems
Other: Vegetarian guide to Bruges
The best restaurants in Mechelen: Pin it
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