A culinary landmark of Brussels dating back to 1892, La Paix was originally where the local butchers came for a bite to eat at the end of their working day. Chef David Martin has traded in the traditional brasserie score for a neoteric menu that is as impressive as the interior is lavish. La Paix now blends Brussels’ heritage with contemporary works of art and Japanese minimalism, embodied by a shimmering flock of origami birds dangling from the ceiling and soft lighting, setting an almost reverential vibe as Martin and his team add the final touch to their creations on the “altar”. You can choose between three set menus, named after the chef’s father and the parents of Nathalie, the lady of the house. The menus blend purebred Gallicism and Japanese purity with a very personal creative twist, often enhanced by Norwegian seafood. Chef Martin is on a permanent quest for perfection and the flavours are bold, often contrasting. Right from the lineup of appetisers, you are caught up in a whirlwind of fascinating recipes, illustrated by sweetbread paired with shrimp and jazzed up with sweet-sour notes of lemon and paprika, or a slipper lobster bisque that packs a punch that will knock your socks off! David Martin is a larger-than-life chef who embodies Belgium’s fine dining microcosm as he pursues his journey to chart new culinary territories.