Restaurant Albert
The rooftop that crowns Brussels
If Galerie Bortier is the temple of book lovers—where pages sleep and awaken in curious hands—then Albert is its lofty counterpart, the elegant cousin perched atop the Royal Library of Belgium. One nourishes minds with black ink, the other with zesty lemongrass and rabbit terrine. Two places, one mission: feeding both intellect and appetite.
A throne atop Brussels
On the fifth floor of KBR, Albert is Brussels’ most literary rooftop restaurant. A spot where you dine with the city laid out before you: the Town Hall’s spire piercing the sky, the Koekelberg Basilica standing tall, and the Atomium waving from afar. A storybook setting, a poetic view, and a fifties-inspired ambiance that Simenon himself would envy. Marble, rosewood, travertine—here, meals aren’t just eaten, they’re composed like fine poetry.
The venue’s history dates back to the 1960s, when Brussels still dreamt of a concrete future. But the era of lifeless cafeterias and limp sandwiches is over: Albert has swapped plastic trays for artfully plated dishes.
On the plate: local, raw, royal
Een goed boek moet je langzaam proeven. Een goede maaltijd ook. A good book is meant to be savored—and so is a good meal. Albert understands this well. No fuss, no gimmicks: just fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients, evolving week by week like a library refreshing its shelves.
- Beetroot salad, apple, and egg cream – Because classics never go out of style.
- Rabbit terrine with savory and citrus – For the terroir lovers, minus the dust.
- Skrei fillet, lemongrass broth, and pak choi – Because a touch of the exotic belongs on every plate.
- Chicory tarte tatin, Karditsel cream, fresh herb salad – A Belgian fable in one bite.
The buffet? Free-flowing, but never careless. Here, you fill your plate as you would browse a bookstore: with greedy curiosity and an eye for hidden treasures.
And soon… rooftop aperitifs
For now, Albert serves lunch and weekend brunch, but in spring 2025, it opens for evenings. Imagine sipping a perfectly balanced cocktail, gazing at the Brussels rooftops at sunset, a beautifully crafted dish in front of you, and feeling suspended between past and present.
Because Albert isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a pause in time. A place where meals read like chapters, and where every bite writes the next page.
Brussels, a literary city? You can taste it just as much under Bortier’s arcades as atop Albert. Two places, two atmospheres, one promise: to nourish body and mind with flair.
KBR – Royal Library of Belgium
Mont des Arts 28, 1000 Brussels