EssenCiel
Fine dining restaurant · Leuven ·

EssenCiel

Fine dining restaurant · Leuven ·

Vegetable-focused cuisine with artistic plating and elegant casual vibe

EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null
EssenCiel by null

Information

Bondgenotenlaan 114, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Get directions

€100+

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See Menu
reservations required

Information

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Bondgenotenlaan 114, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Get directions

+32 474 26 18 64
essenciel.be
@restaurant_essenciel

€100+ · Menu

Reserve a table

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reservations
reservations required

Last updated

Dec 2, 2025

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@michelinguide
47,966 Postcards · 8,013 Cities

"Established in a grand town house, EssenCiel is the lovingly created brainchild of a young couple, Niels Brants and Romina Charels. A smart contemporary style, mingling purity and elegance without losing sight of their signature casual vibe, sets the scene. A seat on the patio near the vegetable garden is heavenly in fine weather. Chef Brants deploys the full gamut of his culinary know-how combined with a flair for unearthing fantastic ingredients. He avows a passion for vegetables and the intricate craftsmanship of his unorthodox recipes is part of his hallmark. Our inspectors were most impressed by the culinary experience he created with three versions of gambero rosso. A stunningly fresh tartare, served with chilled, sweet and acidic sides, a mild chawanmushi of prawn in a Bellota ham aspic and a savoury emulsion of prawn heads with soy seeds macerated in Japanese herbs. The extensive choice of bread rolls means that you won’t have to miss the tiniest drop of the chef’s delicious sauces. Seasoned sommelier Luc Roelandt adds the final flourish with insightful wine tips. Today, more than ever, subtlety is the quintessence of EssenCiel." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/vlaams-brabant/leuven/restaurant/essenciel
EssenCiel
@michelinguide
47,966 Postcards · 8,013 Cities

MICHELIN Guide Belgium & Luxembourg 2020 Selection

"This type of vegetable-oriented work is also an asset of Niels Brants's EssenCiel in Louvain." - The MICHELIN Guide

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/news-and-views/michelin-guide-belgium-luxembourg-2020-results
EssenCiel
@michelinguide
47,966 Postcards · 8,013 Cities

MICHELIN Guide Belgium & Luxembourg 2020 Selection

"New to the one MICHELIN star selection in 2020, this Louvain restaurant showcases vegetable‑oriented cooking as a defining asset under Niels Brants." - The MICHELIN Guide

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/news-and-views/michelin-guide-belgium-luxembourg-2020-results
EssenCiel

Sara R.

Google
Very nice lunch in the garden. Food is from fresh ingredients, very tasty and very beautifully composed on the dish. You eat with your eyes also. We had a wonderful time there. Highly recommended.

Nanita

Google
EssenCiel is truly exquisite! Had the lunch menu and understand why this restaurant received a Michelin star. It’s all about the food - the quality of the ingredients, the attention paid to the combinations and the details down to the plating. The team working were very knowledgeable and explained each course. They even left sauce for the dishes on the table that I gladly poured onto my plate to eat with the three types of homemade bread. One feels welcome even in such a large open space, especially when offered an amuse bouche that increases your anticipation for the rest of the meal and finished with a homemade madeleine served with the coffee. A must for anyone who appreciates food and even better when you can take your time to savor the experience.

Thibaut Van der B.

Google
I might not do this kind of restaurent every day, but we both shed a tear on how good the food was. Thanks for the excellent service. And even more important: we felt at home!

Kasia P.

Google
A beautiful place! I spent a lovely evening there in wonderful company. The food was like little works of art on a plate. Most of the dishes were delicious, sublime and beautiful. Only the dessert was a bit disappointing. I expected much more from the dessert as well, but maybe it wasn't the strongest point that day. Service at the highest level, friendly, smiling, always present.

Ramses V.

Google
We had an excellent diner. The food was delicious, very friendly staff and excellent wine pairings. We will definitely be coming back!

Kenneth V.

Google
An amazing experience overall! Because of COVID-19, we were seated all alone in the private dining room downstairs, which was very nice with a small wine cellar . We went for the 5 course dinner menu with adjusted wines for each course. Every single course was pure joy. Personnel was very welcoming and friendly; the sommelier added some nice stories to each wine, which was a nice touch, and we were served by one of the owners. Very impressive for such a young couple, I would definitely recommend it.

Filip De B.

Google
Classic and classy restaurant with a wonderful 3, 4 or 5 dish menu. Good service and great tastes. Peaceful backyard terrace.

Yangyang Y.

Google
the current number one restaurant in Leuven. Besides the fabulous food you can have here, Unlike normal Michelin restaurants that make you feel distanced and serious, Essenciel makes me feel at home and at ease. I will definitely revisit .🙏