Le Bassin

Le Bassin is a brasserie, wine bar and small hotel at the town end of the Visserskaai. The Vanhaecke family took over the former Strandhotel in 2008; chefs Tom Vanhaecke and Christine Degroote run the kitchen, and Tom is a member of the North Sea Chefs and a champion of dishes à l’Ostendaise. Fish comes from local fishermen.

The brasserie is open every day. Start with grey shrimp croquettes or North Sea fish soup, then choose the catch of the day, skate wing, eel, Dover sole or a bouillabaisse à l’Ostendaise. There is a good-value weekday lunch of starter and main, vegetarian dishes, a children’s menu and an allergen list on request. In the same building, Le Bar du Bassin serves wine and tapas from the late afternoon.

It is a relaxed choice before or after a walk along the harbour, and dogs are welcome in the brasserie and the bar. Le Bassin entered the Gault&Millau guide in 2026 (12/20).

Le Bassin took part in the 2026 edition of Ostendaise: North Sea Food Fest, the free summer food festival on the Zeeheldenplein, with its festival dish, a North Sea fish taco.