The story
Convento is a bistro and wine shop at Mechelsestraat 87 in Leuven, listed as Michelin Recommended in 2026. It sits near the Vismarkt, and since 2023 it has been run by Tom De Praetere and Olivier Pareit, two sommeliers who also trained as musicologists.
More than 400 references make up the list, and every bottle sold in the shop can also be opened at the table. The sommeliers explain the choices and suggest food pairings. Beers, fortified wines and alcohol-free alternatives sit alongside the wine.
Le Fooding describes chef Jens Maertens as a cook who follows the seasons and leans on local producers. A lunch menu it described featured grilled lamb belly with fennel and Belgian chickpeas in broth. It also included hake ceviche in tiger's milk with avocado, and North Sea haddock with grilled asparagus, cauliflower purée and vin jaune sauce.
Belgian cheeses from Van Tricht arrive with matching beers. Dessert can be a panna cotta with dulce de leche and grapefruit. The setting is homely and relaxed, with a grapevine growing on the facade, and the team welcomes an easy chat about wine.
Recognition
Details
History
A grapevine is growing on the facade of an old building: it’s a sign! In this chic bistro / wine shop with bourgeois interiors, chef Jens Maertens takes his inspiration from the seasons and relies on local producers. On the lunch menu: a divine appetizer of grilled lamb belly, fennel and Belgian chickpeas in broth; or hake ceviche in tiger’s milk with avocado for a very balanced composition; haddock from the North Sea, grilled asparagus and cauliflower purée with vin jaune sauce; Belgian cheeses from Van Tricht and their corresponding beer pairings; and panna cotta with dulce de leche and grapefruit for dessert. // Pat Net
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