De Jonkman

Bruges, Belgium

Set within the former hunting lodge of Male Castle, De Jonkman's verdant garden suggests a rural idyll, despite it being just a five-minute drive from central Bruges. The restaurant has a modern, monochromatic dining room filled with organic shapes and textures – chairs are beautifully curved and wood panelling lines the walls, where huge black-and-white photos of wild landscapes draw the eye. On sunnier days, there's a large terrace to sit out on. Filip Claeys, who trained under Sergio Herman at renowned Dutch restaurant Oud Sluis, runs the show. He is something of a trailblazer, having founded the NorthSeaChefs collective in 2011, a movement to tackle the problem of overfishing and to give lesser-known fish species culinary kudos. As you'd expect, hyper-local, seasonal produce is key: Flemish fish and shellfish – some you'll recognise, other catches are lesser-known – arrives direct from the fishers. In a similar vein, beef comes from a nearby cattle farmer, and dairy, fruit and veg from small-scale working farms. Artfully presented dishes include the likes of cuttlefish with asparagus and lovage, and langoustine Ostend with cauliflower, mousseline and white beer.

Key Information

• Average price per person $125
• Tasting menu from $256
• Lunch and dinner: Wed – Sat
• +32 50 36 07 67
• Visit De Jonkman's Website

Location

Maalse Steenweg 438, Sint-Kruis, Bruges, 8310 Brugge