Humus x Hortense
Belgium
Humus x hortense gives vegetables, herbs and their growing seasons the authority to shape a meal. Chef Nicolas Decloedt and host-sommelier Caroline Baerten have built an experience around that principle in Ixelles, where an ornate corner dining room provides a richly decorative setting for contemporary vegan cooking. Painted angels and gilded details lend the space a character quite different from the austerity sometimes associated with vegetable-led gastronomy. The kitchen's close relationship with growers, including botanist-farmer Dries Delanote, allows small changes in the harvest to influence the menu. Fermentation and an effort to use ingredients fully extend the possibilities of those crops. Drinks receive corresponding attention, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic pairings intended to contribute to the progression of the meal. The restaurant holds one Michelin star in the 2026 Belgium and Luxembourg selection. Its place among Brussels's best rests on the coherence of the whole proposition: food, drink, sourcing and room all have a recognisable identity. For curious diners, whether vegan or not, it offers a persuasive opportunity to make plants the subject of an entire evening.