Le Pain Quotidien
Price guide: Budget
Rue des Sablons 11, Brussels, 1000
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#13 of 30
expert-rated restaurants in Brussels- Recommended for:
- Backpackers / Students, Couples, Families with teenagers, Families with younger children, Singles, No fuss, People watching
Expert review of Le Pain Quotidien
Rustic bakery chain famous for its communal tables.
Founder Alain Coumont opened the first Le Pain Quotidien in 1990 because he was dissatisfied by the bread offered by other Brussels’s bakeries; he now owns 151 cafés worldwide. The success of the chain hasn’t diminished the quality of its product and I head here for Sunday breakfast whenever I can. .
Food and drink:
You can pop in just to buy a round of the organic stone-ground-flour bread, or take a seat at one of the rustic wooden tables and choose from a selection of freshly made soups, quiches and pastries and made-to-order salads and tartines (open sandwiches). There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options to choose from. Don’t leave without trying the bombe au chocolat for desert — words fail me!
Ambience:
The bakeries are famous for their table commune — a communal table designed to encourage you to natter with your neighbours.
Coumount’s original store is located on Rue Dansaert (see below). However, I listed the Sablon café because it has a light-and-airy glass-house terrace out the back. It's particularly lovely in summer when they open the roof panels.
Service:
It gets incredibly busy at lunchtimes and on the weekends and, as a result, the waiters can be a bit unsmiling and blunt. You’ll need to grab their attention to let them know you’re ready to order etc.
Location:
On the fashionable Grand Sablon square, across the street from L'Ecailler du Palais Royal.
Price advice:
Soup costs 3 euros, sandwiches 7—9 euros and desserts 5 euros.
Other useful branches:
Coumout’s first store at Rue Antoine Dansaert 16A is still open. Other can be found at: Avenue Louise 124, Rue des Tongres 71-73, Chaussée de Boondael 479, Chaussée de Waterloo 515 and Chaussée de Waterloo 1480.
More information on Le Pain Quotidien:
- Price guide:
- Type:
- Café, Takeaway, Tearoom
- Food:
- Snacks, Vegetarian
- Address:
- Rue des Sablons 11, Brussels, 1000
- Telephone:
- +32 2 513 51 54
- Website:
- http://www.lepainquotidien.com
- Serves:
- Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch
- Opening times:
- Mon—Fri 7.30am—7pm, Sat—Sun 8am—7pm.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Reservations:
- Not possible
- Free tags / Keywords:
- bakery
