What to eat Namur? culinary specialties and gastronomy

At lunchtime, restaurants are generally open from noon to 2pm (sometimes 3pm). There are few restaurants that offer continuous service during the day except for snack bars. Don't hang out at night if you don't want to be hungry all night. Most restaurants close earlier than in France but not necessarily earlier than in Brussels! In the evening, the kitchens open around 6:30 or 7 pm and close around 10 pm. Of course, you can find kebabs (here, we say pittas), fast-food or brasseries open until midnight.

You can get away with eating in a chip shop for less than €10. In restaurants or brasseries, the main courses à la carte will generally cost you between €15 and €25, or even more in gourmet restaurants. As for drinks, you will pay a little more for wine than in France, but you can make up for it with beer (price and variety).

Unlike in France, carafes of tap water are not served for free. Water is always paid for.

In some (rare) cases, the toilets of cafés or restaurants are paid for by the users of passage. The service remains free for the customers.

Restaurants usually offer children's menus. If not, it is often possible to ask for smaller portions.

Contrary to French habits, not all terraces accept smokers. In this case, you will have to go further away!

Namur is not very open to mass tourism, so there are relatively few tourist traps. There are some "bad addresses" but it is more often a question of carelessness than of structural reasons. In any case, it is better to follow the advice of the Petit Futé!

The Covid-19 pandemic has sometimes imposed strict measures in terms of bar closing times: 1am. Since the situation has returned to normal, closing times have returned to pre-pandemic levels. The closing time depends on the type of establishment, its clientele and its geographical location. Some close early, others at 2 a.m., while others stay open late into the night. It is best to ask around to avoid finding a closed door or to find out where to end the evening.

A special beer will still be quite expensive (usually €3 to €6, depending on the location) but there is always a selected beer of the month that may be on special offer. Or a happy hour at certain times of the week. Keep your eyes open and track down the right places!

All alcohol is prohibited for persons under 18 years of age, except for beer or wine, which is permitted from the age of 16. There are no age restrictions for entering bars.

Want to indulge in chocolate without breaking your budget? You don't have to buy a whole box of chocolates from a chocolate shop. You can buy chocolates, truffles, etc., by the piece. Ask for a mix in a bag, choose the ones you like and enjoy them at a low price!

A special Belgian feature is that children are welcome in bars and cafés (especially as smoking is not allowed). It is not uncommon to see groups of parents and friends enjoying a good bistro with the baby in the stroller or the children playing while enjoying their soda.