Le Phare du Kanaal

Hoist the sails! A famous three-master ship acts as the facade of this café that Hannah Bonnier moored along the kanaal in 2014, before being taken over by Stephan De Brabandere and Lauranne Lahaye, the bosses behind the co-working network known as The Mug. The concept? Shared work spaces on deck and a canteen in the beautiful hold (exposed beams, vintage furniture, large portholes), now riding the waves with chefs Sara Million and François Barry at the helm, plus Mona Lucas manning the deck. That lunchtime: pan-fried Brussels mushrooms from Eclo nestled in a celeriac purée, with new potatoes and roasted leeks, Parmesan and herby croutons; or a Spek & Boonen beef kefta tagine (amazing) with bulgur wheat, winter vegetables, olives and chickpeas – cut out for barracuda-sized appetites; before a fabulous cheesecake painted with a red berry coulis. At apéro hour, the menu has you walking the plank or fishing for sardines in oil. // Jessica Fletcher

FEELING THIRSTY? OR Coffee (€2.50 to €4), homemade bissap juice (€3.50), beers from the Brasserie de la Senne and En Stoemelings (€3.50 to €4.50 for 250 ml) and a small selection from Cave Coop wine shop – Pas Vu Pas Pris, a Chardonnay from Jeff Carrell (€5.50 a glass), or Ponzichter, an organic Austrian red (€29 a bottle).

PRICE: Breakfast €2-5, sandwiches €9-10, soup €7, dish of the day €14-16, platters €14-20, sweet €3.50 to €5, brunch €23 (Saturday and Sunday).