Looks like this Summer is going to be a Belgian one for many of us. Luckily I still had to share my 24h Kortrijk city guide with you! Read along for my best city trip tips!
I’ve traveled to so many cool places in the world, but in reality I haven’t properly visited most cities in my own country yet! So when the city of Kortrijk invited me to come over & discover what they have to offer back in December, I didn’t think twice. And now that our traveling is limited over Summer, why not take a weekend trip in our own little kingdom? I’ve gathered my hotspots for you!
Kortrijk is quite a small city, so you can easily get around in one or two days on foot! Saturday and Sunday are perfect, but keep in mind that usually shops are closed on Sundays. No worries though — plenty of things to see and do instead.
I’ll be keeping this city guide quick & easy, so let’s kick off right away!
Lunch/coffee
DeDingen / brunch, coffee & bar / seemingly one of the best brunch spots in town but a reservation is recommended during weekends: we left the place with take-out coffee only, but it was yummm! and they also open up at night for drinks apparently.
Kuro Neko / coffee & pie / say hello to the first cat café of Kortrijk! the super kind owner, passionate about cats of course, adopted lots of abandoned cats and opened up a lovely cafe where you can watch them, pet them, love them. we ADORED this experience — so heartwarming!
La Cantine / breakfast, lunch & coffee / located inside of cool concept store Byttebier, they serve all kinds of sandwiches and salads but we really loved the sharing bites such as camembert in the oven and grilled aubergine.
Tarterie / quiche & pie / spotted this hotspot over at Nanja’s, and according to her you can find delicious artisan pies and quiches at this place! I noticed that you can order custommade pies to, which is a great idea if for example you’re celebrating a birthday in Kortrijk.
Shopping
Art-Coco / vintage design & interior / this eclectic shop immediately caught our attention when walking by, and the offer didn’t disappoint. great vintage furniture, fun and weird accessories and some good pieces for gifting too!
Byttebier / gifts & interior / here’s the concept store I mentioned when talking about La Cantine. a great space with lots of small fun gifts, cards and even plants! plus, on top of the concept store you can find some real good vintage…
Cara Rosa / shoes / we met the incredibly sweet designer of this new Belgian shoe brand who uses sneaker sole technology to keep her flats and heels super comfy. I got a pair of black sock boots and I couldn’t be happier with the quality and design!
Ensemble / gifts, interior & clothing / a fun all-in-one store with handpicked objects by the owners! the first thing that drew us inside was the YSL-blue wall: anyone who uses this fab Marrakech hue proves their sophisticated taste, am I right?
Garderobe / vintage & secondhand clothing / so, the vintage I referred to 😉 find a great selection of both secondhand and vintage pieces, both designer and unknown! I bought a super cute pink party bag for €8 and spotted a wool camel MaxMara coat for only €32 for example…
Malmo / brunch & coffee / oh, and another concept store! wander around to find the perfect little gift for yourself or your loved ones and have a coffee or delicious lunch afterwards. this place got highy recommended by lots of different people!
Obin / clothing & accessories / this store has a very laid-back, French vibe to it! the brands do match the interior: Etoile by Isabel Marant, Ba&sh and Les Coyotes de Paris. Belgian brands represent? Bellerose, Ame and Collectors Club!
Tangram / jewelry, gifts & clothing / just the location and set-up of this store is worth a visit! discover plenty of cool jewelry brands (they have SOKO for example!) in little corners in front of the store, find fun gifts in the middle and try on your fave looks in the back.
Dinner/drinks
Balthazar / brunch, coffee, bar & dancing / I unfortunately didn’t make it here myself but as so many people kept recommending this place to me, I had to share! this is apparently the very best dance café in town! go dance!
Beudaert / lunch & dinner / we had dinner at this stylish, classic and relaxed restaurant and loved their vibe! for Summer, they are currently turned into an Italian trattoria with fresh ingredients and a sunny outdoor terrace. on their rooftop terrace you can enjoy electronic beats, fingerfood and summer drinks.
Damier / lunch & dinner / the hotel we stayed in houses a pretty amazing restaurant too. serving pure and natural dishes that look great as well, it’s a great spot for a night out. the impressive setting does help too: think XL paintings, dramatic chandeliers and gracious velvet sofas.
Nude / food & cocktails / another place I wish we could have visited! so many cool spots, so little time… Nude is all about Middle Eastern nibbles (bring on the labneh, y’all) and delicious cocktails. oh, and if you’re looking for the most Instagrammable place of Kortrijk, I’d suggest you stop by here for your #happyfriyay shot 😉
Sprezza / cocktails / or wait, Sprezza is actually quite Instagrammble too! the high-end cocktail bar of hotel Damier is small but impressive, with its enormeous dried flower decorations and velvet-like wallpaper. try whatever signature cocktail because we literally loved every single one we tasted. oh, and during the weekends there’s a DJ spinning some tunes!
Va et Vient / lunch & dinner / I spotted this one over at Nanja — thanks girl! Va et Vient is rough and refined at once, which definitely translates in its cool industrial location and very pure, almost fragile dishes. there’s lots of seafood and local vegetables to enjoy, to be served in a small or big menu.
To see
Beguinage / the Kortrijk beguinage dating back to 1238 but still looks absolutely amazing. it’s been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998 and offers a few interesting places to visit, such as the Sint-Annaroom and the Artillery Tower. the Sint-Annaroom is an experience centre where you can discover all about the original beguinage life, while the Artillery Tower is one of the few remains of the city’s 14th century fortress.
Broel Towers / these towers are the only remains of the medival city walls, so they’re not just very picturesque but also an interesting piece of history. there’s a museum nearby that you can visit too. near the towers people often gather to enjoy the water and the views, which is just super cozy! the Broel towers are also the entrance to the Buda island; here you can find lots of culture, art and entertainment.
City centre / actually, the entire inner city is just very lovely to see. by taking only a short walk, you can enjoy all kinds of historic architecture and the scenic views of the River Leie strolling through the city.
Creative City Walk / the city of Kortrijk developed a walking route that takes you through 6 creative inner-city districts, which have distinctive landmarks, unique shops, restaurants and creative events. you can find the free walking guide at Toerisme Kortrijk or online here.
Design / Kortrijk is a city of design, which you’ll notice when you’ll bump into one of the many vintage design stores. Every 2 years you can visit the Biënnale Interieur, a world-renowned fair for the latest design trends and avant-garde furniture.
Landscapes 2.0 / this art tour was organised during Winter of 2019, but keep an eye on their page if perhaps they relaunch the concept during Summer! on different places in the city you could (for free) visit interactive environments and installations based on important art pieces from Kortrijk painters.
Stay
Damier / we stayed at the luxurious Hotel Damier, which turns out to be the oldest hotel in Belgium. its history goes back to a whopping 1398 and important guests such as emperor Joseph II, president George Bush, Margaret Thatcher and Lance Armstrong have stayed here before. the hotel has been renovated beautifully, mixing precious old elements with new, equally luxurious pieces. its central location is a huge plus if you’re looking to visit the city!
Wu Wei / another hotspot I saw over at Nanja’s! with only 13 rooms this 4 star modern wellness hotel feels very intimate and cozy. the outside pool and beautfiful garden are definitely the eye-catchers that help you dream away in the midst of the city buzz. on my wishlist!
And that’s it, guys! With these tips you’ll DEFINITELY manage to fill in your weekend in Kortrijk 🙂 If you have other recommendations, feel free to drop them in the comments for other travelers to read! ♥
Hope you enjoyed this pooooostttt x