A Novel Food Hall is Coming to Brussels
Brussels is set to welcome a new culinary hotspot next week with the opening of Ratz, a food hall boasting fourteen different vendors. The new venture, from the team behind popular spots Wolf and Fox, will officially open to the public on February 19th, following a Wednesday, February 11th inauguration, Le Soir reports.
Located on Rue Saint Boniface in the trendy Ixelles district near Matonge, Ratz aims to be a unique “food bazar” with a focus on the flavors of Asia and the Middle East. This latest project from Thierry Goor and Pascal van Hamme continues their trend of transforming unconventional spaces into thriving dining destinations. The pair previously found success with Wolf, housed in a former CGER headquarters, and Fox, located in the old Royale Belge building.
The space itself is a renovated 3,000 square meter garage, secured with a 27-year lease from investors Laurent Hanseuw and David Sierzant. According to La Libre.be, Goor, who comes from a background in publishing and advertising, shared, “I’ve always liked diving into the trends of tomorrow.”
Van Hamme, a prominent figure in the Belgian restaurant industry and founder of Choux de Bruxelles (which employs around 250 people and is currently expanding its workshops), has partnered with Goor to create another anticipated dining experience. The duo previously sold Wolf to the Haeltermann brothers, owners of a beverage distribution company, for a profit of 1.5 million euros in 2024.
Ratz’s concept, as highlighted on its website, Ratz Food Market, embraces a playful contrast – the rat symbolizing ambition and luck in the East, but often viewed negatively in the West – promising an “immersive journey” and a space that will exit visitors “unchanged.” The opening of Ratz adds to the growing trend of immersive food hall experiences gaining popularity across Europe.
