Frans Restaurant (Bruges, Belgium)

I emerged from the serene Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde, the only preserved beguinage (a complex where nuns and religious lay women lived and worshipped for centuries) in Bruges. Just as I was about to search for lunch in the crowded restaurants to my left, my plans altered dramatically. As I crossed the bridge next to the historic lock house that used to control water flow into the canal into the city, I looked to my right and spied Minnewater Castle on the other side. This fairy-tale brick castle from the 1890s, with its towers, gables, spires, and steeply pitched roofs, instantly drew my attention, and the outdoor tables with umbrellas suggested an eatery. I made my way there and scored one of the tables at the castle’s Frans Restaurant along the Lake of Love, relishing the view of the lake and the tower and arched stone bridge at the far end. Hungry swans and geese glided right up to me, hoping to sponge a little bit of my lunch, but I was selfish and didn’t share my meal at this impossibly romantic locale.

Try This: The two female septuagenarians who were running the place didn’t speak English, and my Flemish/Dutch/French was non-existent. Nevertheless, I successfully placed my order at the indoor bar and made my way to a table on the outdoor terrace. I soon received my Brugse Zot beer, a balanced blond brew with hints of fruity and spicy aromas. It paired perfectly alongside a hot croque monsieur, with ham and deliciously gooey cheese between two perfectly toasted slices of bread, and a generous helping of pomme frites, served with mayonnaise on the side.