Comme chez Soi

The Verdict

If you are comparing Comme chez Soi against La Villa Lorraine by Yves Mattagne for a formal Brussels splurge, the choice comes down to what you want the evening to feel like. La Villa Lorraine offers contemporary French technique in a modern setting. Comme chez Soi offers something rarer: a working Art Nouveau interior from 1926 that has never been stripped out, paired with classical French-Belgian cooking that has been refined across four family generations. For food-and-wine explorers who want depth and institutional character alongside their meal, Comme chez Soi is the stronger booking. For diners who prioritise a more contemporary dining idiom, La Villa Lorraine is the better fit.

Book this if: you want a serious, classically grounded dinner in Brussels with genuine historical weight behind it. Do not book this if: you are looking for a relaxed drop-in meal or a modern tasting menu experience.

The Portrait

Comme chez Soi opened at Place Rouppe 23 in 1926, the room has not forgotten it. The interior was designed in the Art Nouveau style associated with Victor Horta, Brussels' most celebrated architect of that period, the stained glass and architectural detailing remain intact. Walking into the dining room is a calibration exercise: this is what a century of continuity looks like when a family has chosen preservation over reinvention.

The current generation running the kitchen is the fourth. Chef Lionel Rigolet and his partner Laurence, along with their son Loïc, are the current custodians of a repertoire that includes long-standing signature dishes, among them mousse of Ardennes ham and sole fillets in a Riesling and shrimp sauce. These are not museum pieces. Rigolet's kitchen is technically demanding and the sauces, a hallmark of classical French-Belgian cooking, are a genuine point of strength here. The approach is traditional in foundation but not frozen: contemporary techniques and less expected flavour pairings appear without disrupting the essential character of the menu.

For wine-focused visitors, the venue operates a separate private dining space called Riwyne within its wine cellar. The contrast is deliberate: the main dining room is all period grandeur, while Riwyne offers a more contained, contemporary atmosphere for groups or guests who want a different register. If you are booking for a special occasion and want the cellar experience specifically, confirm availability when reserving, as the two spaces serve different functions.

On the drinks side, Comme chez Soi's programme is weighted toward wine rather than cocktails, as you would expect from a formal French-Belgian classical kitchen operating since 1926. The cellar is a serious one, the Riwyne private dining space makes it a physical presence in the experience rather than just a list on the table. For a venue at this price tier and formality level, the wine programme is the drinks story here. Guests who want a cocktail-forward experience before or after dinner will find more dedicated bar programming elsewhere in Brussels; the Brussels bars guide covers that territory. What Comme chez Soi does offer is depth of cellar and the kind of sommelier knowledge that comes with a kitchen of this age and reputation.

The venue holds a Michelin star (2025), a Les Grandes Tables du Monde award (2025), and appears on the La Liste leading restaurants ranking, scoring 89.5 points in 2025. On Opinionated About Dining's Classical in Europe list, it ranked 104th in 2025, consistent with its 105th place the year before. It is not competing with the three-Michelin-star kitchens you would find at Hof van Cleve or Zilte in Antwerp, but it is doing something those restaurants are not: offering a fully intact historical dining room alongside food that earns its own credibility independently of the setting.

For context on how Comme chez Soi sits within Belgium's wider fine dining picture, Boury in Roeselare and Willem Hiele in Oudenburg represent the more progressive end of the Belgian spectrum. Bartholomeus in Heist and Castor in Beveren offer strong regional alternatives for those travelling beyond the capital. In Brussels itself, Bozar Restaurant and Eliane are worth knowing about for different occasions. For creative contemporary cooking in the city, La Villa in the Sky and Barge represent a different direction entirely.

For international reference points, Comme chez Soi occupies a similar cultural position to Le Bernardin in New York City: a long-running institution with strong technical foundations that continues to earn its credentials rather than coasting on history. It is not chasing the same kind of cross-cultural experimentation you find at Atomix in New York City, and it is not trying to.

Practical Details

Comme chez Soi is open Wednesday through Saturday for both lunch (service window: 12 to 1 pm) and dinner (service window: 7 to 8:30 pm). It is closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. The tight service windows, particularly at lunch, mean you need to book well in advance: this is a hard booking, last-minute availability is not something to rely on. The price range is €€€€, placing it at the formal splurge end of the Brussels dining market. The address is Place Rouppe 23, 1000 Brussels. For full Brussels dining context, see our full Brussels restaurants guide. For accommodation pairing, our Brussels hotels guide covers the city's leading options. Further Brussels exploration: wineries and experiences.

Quick reference: Wed–Sat lunch and dinner only; closed Sun–Tue; €€€€; Place Rouppe 23, Brussels; book well in advance.

Ratings at a Glance

• Michelin: 1 Star (2025)
• Les Grandes Tables du Monde: Yes (2025)
• La Liste: 89.5 pts (2025) / 76 pts (2026)
• Opinionated About Dining Classical in Europe: #104 (2025)