From breakfast to dinner in Europe’s capitals

Thanks to fabulous seafood and cuisine from all over Europe, Brussels is an underrated foodie destination. The smell of waffles and frites wafting through the streets may be impossible to resist, but healthy, wholesome fare has really taken off here, too. Take this cosy café in St Gilles: the fluffy buttermilk pancakes are to die for and the açaí bowl’s the colourful, energy-packed start you’ll need for the day.

A 20-minute walk from St Pancras, Exmouth Market comes alive at lunchtime, when Clerkenwell creatives come down from their studios to sample the street food stalls. If you’re after a proper sit-down meal, grab a booth at Quality Chop House – a three-course lunch at this Victorian-era temple to modern British cuisine is just £25.

Just around the corner from where Paris’s central food market once stood, this address has to be one of the prettiest in town. This sassy lady (Poulette means ‘chick’ in French) has a zinc bar for classic cocktails with a Gallic twist, like a whisky sour with a splash of red wine. The menu changes according to what’s in season, but the classic steak frites is always tempting.