Located in the Saint-Gilles district of Brussels, Badi has steadily evolved from a focused cider bar into a fully realised restaurant shaped by a clear aesthetic vision. Founded by Victoria Merret and chef Maxime Bourdigal, the project brings together design, food and drink under a single, considered identity.
Since its opening, Badi has grown alongside its ambitions. A complete redesign in 2023 with architect Nelly Smets of François Marcq studio reorganised the restaurant around a large travertine counter that now defines the entire space. Inspired by the founders’ time in Japan, the counter — produced in collaboration with Belgian stone specialist Filiep Dascotte of Dascotte Natuursteen — establishes the pace of the room, placing cooking, service and guests within the same visual field.
Badi’s palette is deliberately muted with natural stone, timber and clean lines. Belgian design pieces, including Barbier Bouvet lamps and seating by FRAMA adorn the space, while low, indirect lighting and candlelight creates an atmosphere that allows for a natural shift from daytime café to evening restaurant.
In the kitchen, Bourdigal draws on experience gained with Bertrand Larcher in Paris and Japan, as well as at Brussels restaurant Ötap. Working alongside Paul-Antoine Bertin, he develops menus centred on seasonality and product-led cooking. Ingredients and sourcing remains the focus here.
While Badi has developed into a complete restaurant, there’s still a nod to cider. Treated with the same seriousness as wine, the selection highlights independent and lesser-known Belgian producers alongside carefully chosen international bottles. The drinks programme now extends to natural wines, champagnes, beers and non-alcoholic options, each chosen with the same eye that informs the design of the space.
Rather than separating interiors, food and drink into distinct experiences, at Badi they’re presented as a single idea. The result is a restaurant where absolutely nothing is been treated as an afterthought.
Photography, Benjamin Baltus / courtesy .
