Food Scene
Best coffee in town! The owner (Jens) is the coffee guru of Leuven and will tell you everything about the special blend you chose.
7 locals recommend
MOK Specialty Coffee Roastery & Bar
165 DiestsestraatBest coffee in town! The owner (Jens) is the coffee guru of Leuven and will tell you everything about the special blend you chose.
Very vibrant restaurant/bar with nice music. Perfect for a quick, decent meal or a couple of drinks to kick off the night.
10 locals recommend
Kaminsky
1 Léon SchreursvestVery vibrant restaurant/bar with nice music. Perfect for a quick, decent meal or a couple of drinks to kick off the night.
Very cosy coffee bar with specialty coffees and delicious cakes. Perfect for a rainy afternoon or a caffeine boost to start your day.
6 locals recommend
Noir Coffeebar
49 NaamsestraatVery cosy coffee bar with specialty coffees and delicious cakes. Perfect for a rainy afternoon or a caffeine boost to start your day.
Trendiest restaurant in town. They serve excellent breakfast, brunch and dinner in a very hipster setting.
26 locals recommend
bar Stan
2 Constantin MeunierstraatTrendiest restaurant in town. They serve excellent breakfast, brunch and dinner in a very hipster setting.
A bit more expensive but definitely worth a visit if you like quality, refined Sicilian food. The owners are a very friendly Italian couple that run their restaurant with their whole heart. Excellent wine too. Our personal favourite!
Etna Trattoria
123 TiensestraatA bit more expensive but definitely worth a visit if you like quality, refined Sicilian food. The owners are a very friendly Italian couple that run their restaurant with their whole heart. Excellent wine too. Our personal favourite!
Not the best restaurant to have a long, cosy dinner, but the food is delicious and not too expensive.
Taste of Asia
42/B BrusselsestraatNot the best restaurant to have a long, cosy dinner, but the food is delicious and not too expensive.
No doubt that La Vecchia Napoli serves the best pizza in town. They don't accept reservations and sometimes don't have any free tables, but if you're eager for pizza you should definitely give it a shot.
6 locals recommend
La Veccia Napoli
No doubt that La Vecchia Napoli serves the best pizza in town. They don't accept reservations and sometimes don't have any free tables, but if you're eager for pizza you should definitely give it a shot.
Only take-away, but the pasta is the best you will find in Leuven. Absolutely delicious and pure. It usually takes around 30min to prepare your pasta, so you can either call them in advance or have a drink in a bar nearby while you wait.
Www.linizio.be
39 ParijsstraatOnly take-away, but the pasta is the best you will find in Leuven. Absolutely delicious and pure. It usually takes around 30min to prepare your pasta, so you can either call them in advance or have a drink in a bar nearby while you wait.
Wabi Sabi Sushi Bar
10 MuntstraatOur go-to sushi place. You can either eat there or do take-out.
Brand-new tapas restaurant with great food. Be sure to make a reservation because they are very popular and always busy.
15 locals recommend
Baracca
34 TiensestraatBrand-new tapas restaurant with great food. Be sure to make a reservation because they are very popular and always busy.
Huis Der Burgers
26 TiensestraatAffordable, high quality burgers.
Perfect for an affordable quick meal or drink in the trendy and upcoming Vaartkom area of Leuven. They have a big outdoor seating area close to the water as well.
8 locals recommend
Openbaar Entrepot voor de Kunsten
4 VaartkomPerfect for an affordable quick meal or drink in the trendy and upcoming Vaartkom area of Leuven. They have a big outdoor seating area close to the water as well.
La Filosofia
2 ParkstraatExcellent Italian cuisine!
Drinks & Nightlife
Café Apero
52 Oude MarktHippest bar in town with a wide selection of drinks and the best DJ's.
Leuven's cultural center with a good, alternative selection of concerts, drinks and food.
27 locals recommend
STUK Arts Center vzw
96 NaamsestraatLeuven's cultural center with a good, alternative selection of concerts, drinks and food.
Leuven's most authentic bar with the best Stella Artois on tap! They also serve a very nice spaghetti and a good selection of Belgian beers.
Café Commerce
16 Herbert HooverpleinLeuven's most authentic bar with the best Stella Artois on tap! They also serve a very nice spaghetti and a good selection of Belgian beers.
Oude Markt
Oude MarktLeuven's epicentrum of nightlife with tons of bars and small clubs.
Very cosy bar/restaurant with often live jazz performances. Be sure to check their website for the food menu and agenda. The food is delicious here! A hidden gem.
At The Bebop
82 TiensestraatVery cosy bar/restaurant with often live jazz performances. Be sure to check their website for the food menu and agenda. The food is delicious here! A hidden gem.
Smallest bar in town! This old lady (Germaine) runs the place and it's basically in her living room. She opens pretty late at night (around 11PM), but it's definitely worth a visit if you happen to be around. Free cheese with specialty beers.
Inn 't Joor 1
34 RavenstraatSmallest bar in town! This old lady (Germaine) runs the place and it's basically in her living room. She opens pretty late at night (around 11PM), but it's definitely worth a visit if you happen to be around. Free cheese with specialty beers.
If you want to try Belgian beers in a non-touristic place this is the way to go. They offer over 1.000 kinds of specialty beers in a cosy, warm setting.
The Fiere Margriet
11 MargarethapleinIf you want to try Belgian beers in a non-touristic place this is the way to go. They offer over 1.000 kinds of specialty beers in a cosy, warm setting.
This is the place to go if you order take-out food and want to eat it someplace outdoor. There's also a nightshop across the street which makes this the perfect place to have a beer or some wine and dive into the nightlife. But beware, because you will get fined if you have an open alcoholic beverage after midnight!
Dijleterrassen
Dirk BoutslaanThis is the place to go if you order take-out food and want to eat it someplace outdoor. There's also a nightshop across the street which makes this the perfect place to have a beer or some wine and dive into the nightlife. But beware, because you will get fined if you have an open alcoholic beverage after midnight!
Arts & Culture
One of Belgium's finest concert halls. Be sure to check their agenda on the website. They program all kinds of bands: rock, hiphop, jazz, reggae, pop, experimental, comedy,...
9 locals recommend
Het Depot
12 MartelarenpleinOne of Belgium's finest concert halls. Be sure to check their agenda on the website. They program all kinds of bands: rock, hiphop, jazz, reggae, pop, experimental, comedy,...
Modern museum with lovely modern and classical expositions. Check their website for current events. During the summer you can have a drink on the beautiful rooftop at night.
61 locals recommend
M - Museum Leuven
28 Leopold VanderkelenstraatModern museum with lovely modern and classical expositions. Check their website for current events. During the summer you can have a drink on the beautiful rooftop at night.
Sightseeing
Groot Begijnhof Leuven
7 Groot BegijnhofCosy area with lovely small streets.
Leuven Town Hall
9 Grote MarktThe world famous City Hall.
Shopping
Decent shopping street with lots of small and bigger stores. Clothing, coffee, food, electronics,...
15 locals recommend
Diestsestraat
DiestsestraatDecent shopping street with lots of small and bigger stores. Clothing, coffee, food, electronics,...
Leuven's main shopping street with a ton of (mainly clothing) stores. Leads straight into the big market and old market.
14 locals recommend
Bondgenotenlaan
BondgenotenlaanLeuven's main shopping street with a ton of (mainly clothing) stores. Leads straight into the big market and old market.
Very cool urban shop with lots of sneakers, clothes, accessories and a good alternative vinyl selection (mostly hiphop, beats, reggae, soul, funk, drum 'n' bass).
Giraffe Leuven
128 BondgenotenlaanVery cool urban shop with lots of sneakers, clothes, accessories and a good alternative vinyl selection (mostly hiphop, beats, reggae, soul, funk, drum 'n' bass).
Wear
131 P.J. Van BenedenstraatTrendy clothing store (a bit more expensive) for both men and women.
Bilbo Records
2 Monseigneur LadeuzepleinLargest vinyl/CD selection in town, but mostly commercial music.
Most authentic skate/snowboard shop in town. The owner (Jones) is a really nice guy who's always in the mood to chat about the local music/skate/snowboard scene. Even if you're not planning on buying anything this is a nice place to hang and socialize with the locals.
Twits
52 ParijsstraatMost authentic skate/snowboard shop in town. The owner (Jones) is a really nice guy who's always in the mood to chat about the local music/skate/snowboard scene. Even if you're not planning on buying anything this is a nice place to hang and socialize with the locals.
Essentials
Colruyt Kessel-Lo
237 TiensesteenwegVery trendy concept store where you can get your hair done (both men and women) while having a drink at the bar.
De Kapbar
83 NaamsestraatVery trendy concept store where you can get your hair done (both men and women) while having a drink at the bar.
Getting Around
The main train/bus station. Connections to all major cities in Belgium. 5min bus ride to the big market and old market.
22 locals recommend
Leuven station
16 MartelarenpleinThe main train/bus station. Connections to all major cities in Belgium. 5min bus ride to the big market and old market.