5 Best Restaurants in Kortrijk, Ghent and the Leie

The only downside to Rebelle is that it's not exactly convenient. It lies a few miles outside the city center, in the small village of Marke, but it's more than worth the effort to get there. A minimalist makeover of the interior makes room for its inventive three-, six- and seven-course menus, which bring all the color. Save room for the pandan rice pudding.

This place is well hidden from the street, as you enter what is seemingly a mall. But that quickly gives way to a whimsical open-air terrace and a rather cozily lit bar-restaurant. The food decidedly leans towards Italian, though the menu is flecked with the odd Flemish specialty. A small but polished selection of local beers accompanies big portions and a good atmosphere.

A beautiful old mansion house is the home of this charming organic bakery and café. Its courtyard terrace is a pleasant spot on a sunny day, though the menu is typically geared towards cold weather: think heavy pastas and Flemish staples alongside a few salads. Its stoempe (veggie mash) and sausage is hearty in all the right ways.

When art historian-turned-chef Matthieu Beudaert handed in Kortrijk's only Michelin star by closing his restaurant, he decided to go back to basics: gastronomic food at a decent price. Table d'Amis has recently reopened and is no less inspired, with dishes such as breaded veal sweetbreads smoked on a tobacco leaf hinting at the daring below the surface.

Chef Matthias Speybrouck got his start working under mercurial Belgian chef Kobe Desramaults, and he learned well. His modern riverside restaurant has a rather industrial vibe, but it fits the "rough and refined" ethos of the menu, where he digs deep into local produce to create some surprising combinations.