Lepelem

The story

Lepelem Brugge: Modern French Dining with Michelin Recognition

Welkom in Lepelem

In the seaside town of De Haan, just outside Brugge, Restaurant Lepelem offers a refined yet welcoming take on Modern French cuisine. Chef Christopher Gordon Somkit and host Ellen Claeys run this intimate spot, where the kitchen follows the seasons with ingredients sourced from local suppliers. The result is a menu built on classic techniques, seasonal favorites, and surprising flavor combinations.

Chef, Host, and the Dining Experience

The restaurant has grown out of a former tearoom into a cozy, gastronomic destination. Ellen sets a warm, home-like tone and curates a wine list organized by taste profile—spicy, fresh, full—alongside house-made non-alcoholic alternatives featuring smoked lime and elderflower. Christopher, the driven chef, lets noble ingredients speak through perfectly balanced textures and flavors. The dining room offers both the warmth of a fireplace and, when the weather allows, a terrace in the sun.

What the Guides Say

Lepelem’s careful approach has earned it a Michelin recommendation and two chef’s hats from Gault & Millau. The guides highlight a kitchen that moves easily between familiar and more challenging preparations: hand-peeled prawns boosted with creamy burrata, sweet-sour marinated watermelon and perfumed dashi, or succulent grilled turbot with a refined béarnaise sauce. Desserts, mignardises, and house-baked bread all show the same attention to detail. The result is a restaurant that balances technical perfection with a genuinely comfortable atmosphere—and a notable price-quality ratio.