Top Flanders Dining Experiences

Taste your way around the UNESCO-listed center of Bruges on this history-packed food crawl. Enjoy five sweet and savory gastronomy stops, from Belgian waffles and fries to traditional Bitterballen meatballs—plus two locally brewed beers. You’ll also stop at popular landmarks along the way, including the Market Square (“The Markt”) and the Church of Our Lady in Bruges.

Learn how to make waffles in their birthplace and sample local beer while you're at it with this tasting workshop. You'll start with a Belgian beer tasting in which you'll get to sample three types of Belgian beer, one of which you'll use for your waffle batter. You'll then learn how to make waffles yourself, which you'll get to eat...with more beer!

Get the star treatment with a meal at the Hard Rock Cafe Antwerp, boasting the chain’s legendary atmosphere and stellar views of Antwerp’s city center. Skip the line for quick seating in one of three dining areas, and choose from a 2- or 3-course menu of all-American classics like burgers, chicken wings, mac’n’cheese, and hot fudge brownie sundaes. Visit anytime during opening hours for a mouthwatering meal surrounded by music memorabilia like Lady Gaga's Belgian-designed dress and Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ gloves.

This is an excellent choice for beer lovers visiting Antwerp. Get clued up on the different styles of Belgian beer in the best way possible—by taking part in a guided tasting session. Conveniently, alcoholic drinks and snacks are included, so you won’t have to stop and pay after each round. During the experience, learn about the history of beer, ingredients used in beer-making, and plenty of great beer-related facts too.

Embrace the flavors of Belgium with this private cooking class led by a local chef known as Suzy. Classes are taught from her childhood home filled with historic Flemish art and a large blooming garden. Learn about Suzy's heritage and upbringing while trying out cooking techniques. Sample dishes such as Ghent Waterzooi or homemade ice cream for a delicious and immersive experience.

Create your own Belgian chocolate during a Belgian chocolate-making workshop that’s ideal for families and those with a sweet tooth. Rather than just dipping items in chocolate, you’ll learn to make three difference types of chocolate from scratch—including pralines, mendiants chocolate and hot chocolate—and end up with more than 35 pieces per person, so plenty to share with family and friends.

Experience the best of Bruges on this 3-in-1 walking tour. Meet your guide at a central location in the morning, and head first to a top-rated chocolatier, where you’ll learn about Belgian chocolate-making traditions and will do some sampling. Then, continue on a history-themed walking tour of the city’s UNESCO-listed, medieval center. Finally, venture to the esteemed Bourgogne de Flandres brewery for a tour and beer tasting.

When your cruise ship docks in Bruges' port, you can easily travel to the historic city center with this round-trip shuttle service from Zeebrugge. Hop on the shuttle for the 20-minute (approximately) ride to Bruges, then take the shuttle back when you’re ready to return to your ship in the afternoon. Shuttles run every 30 minutes between 8:30 a.m. and 12 a.m., so there is no delay in getting back and forth to Bruges city center from your cruise ship.

Immerse yourself in the beautiful history of Bruges, the city where the Middle Ages lie on the street. Bruges owes its power to trade and activity, but the beauty was also preserved by poverty. You get an overview of the history, the intrigues, the power struggle between noblemen and clergy. Was Bruges Catholic or Protestant? How is it possible that a cathedral went under the hammer in 1800? What about the position of the powerful Burgundians and why did they love Bruges so much? What about Kant's history? These and many other questions are answered in your tour.

Sulzbachers is the only gluten-free ginger beer brewery in continental Europe producing alcoholic beverages combining ginger and hops