You might be craving for Christmas and its comforts.
If so, you cannot be blamed.
As winter settles over Belgium and Luxembourg, the long, dark nights leave lots of us thinking of the finer things in life.
This being Belgium and Benelux, these include good food and wine and, with that in mind, Relais & Châteaux, an association of hotels and restos, can offer something a bit special this festive season.
From Bruges’ historic kitchens to Antwerp’s skyline dining, from Brussels’ refined salons to the intimate elegance of Luxembourg City, each Relais & Châteaux house honours winter with dishes shaped by exceptional produce, meticulous technique and a deep sense of place.
It is chance to savour the season through their shared values of authenticity, generosity and respect for local terroir.
There are six distinctive Relais & Châteaux destinations,all united by the art of creating meaningful culinary moment.
They are:
Le Mystique – Hotel Heritage, Bruges.
A few steps from Bruges’ shimmering Market Square, Le Mystique becomes a warm winter refuge where chef Raoul De Koning shapes a refined, ingredient-led cuisine. Flemish seasonal produce anchors his dishes, elevated with subtle Eastern accents that bring brightness to colder days.
Expect precise cuts, balanced acidity and flavours that reveal themselves in quiet layers. In the dining room preserved since 1869, the mood softens with the season, gentle light, timeless charm, and plates that honour the region’s culinary heritage with heartfelt elegance. A soulful address for winter evenings in the historic heart of Bruges.
’t Zilte – Antwerp.
Perched atop the MAS, ’t Zilte marks the winter season with a special milestone: the mid-December release of Zilte, the new and deeply personal book by three-star chef Viki Geunes. Centred on thirty ingredients that shape his cuisine, the book reveals the finesse behind his signature flavours, precise cuts, crystalline broths, delicate contrasts of acidity, sweetness and depth.
Illustrated with poetic detail and photographed with sensual clarity, it mirrors the layered, intuitive cooking that has made ’t Zilte a benchmark. A compelling winter companion, and a refined gift for true gastronomes.
Le Chalet de la Forêt – Brussels.
At the edge of the Soignes Forest, Le Chalet de la Forêt welcomes winter with glowing warmth and a cuisine that celebrates the season’s depth. Two-star chef Pascal Devalkeneer honours winter’s great classics; flame-kissed scallops, line-caught sea bass, roasted Norman sole, and delicately matured tuna paired with smoked foie gras and wild berries.
Feathered game is treated with reverence, accompanied by forest roots and rich, soulful jus. At the height of the season, black melanosporum truffle lends its intoxicating perfume. A serene refuge of crackling fires and softened light, the Chalet offers a quietly elegant setting for intimate, festive or professional winter gatherings.
Aurum, Kasteel van Ordingen – Sint-Truiden.
Amid the quiet landscapes of Haspengouw, Kasteel van Ordingen embraces winter with the gentle elegance of a countryside retreat. The castle’s salons glow warmly against the season, offering a serene setting for chef Arne Beirinckx’s expressive cuisine at Aurum; marine influences, delicate herbs and bright citrus woven through local produce with bold yet graceful precision.
Slow days invite walks through endless orchards, while lingering evenings unfold in the cosy grandeur of the chateau. For winter stays of two nights or more, a special 15% offer adds to the pleasure, and Aurum’s all-in three-course weekday lunch provides a beautifully crafted moment of seasonal indulgence.
Le Lys, Villa Pétrusse – Luxembourg City.
Hidden within a century-old park at the edge of the Pétrusse valley, Villa Pétrusse brings a quiet winter radiance to the heart of Luxembourg. In this meticulously restored 19th-century residence, chef Kim De Dood shapes the cuisine of Le Lys with a confident hand: Luxembourgish tradition reimagined through subtle Asian influences, bright citrus notes and refined marine accents.
Signature dishes, smoked local trout with caviar, yuzu-kosho monkfish, tender game with wild berries, unfold with depth and precision. Surrounded by frescoes, grand mirrors and softly glowing salons, winter meals here feel intimate, elegant and deeply rooted in place. A new culinary chapter for Luxembourg, written with sensitivity, craftsmanship and a generous sense of modern hospitality.
La Cristallerie, Le Place d’Armes – Luxembourg City.
In the historic heart of Luxembourg, Le Place d’Armes brings a winter glow to the celebrated Place d’Armes, where the elegance of an 18th-century residence meets Art Nouveau curves and contemporary finesse. Beneath sculpted ceilings, chef Milan Brée shapes the cuisine of La Cristallerie with instinctive precision: seasonal ingredients, exceptional produce and haute-couture compositions that unfold like delicate works of art.
His menus are crafted as sensory journeys rather than traditional choices, balance emotion, refinement and quiet audacity, extended in sweet harmony by pastry chef Damien Grandclaude. A luminous, intimate setting where winter evenings become culinary moments of rare elegance.
Established in 1954, the Relais & Châteaux Association unites an exceptional collection of 580 hotels and restaurants throughout the world, operated by independent owners. Embodied by men and women – most often families – they are deeply committed to sharing their local culture as well as their passion for what is good and beautiful.
