Viki Geunes is one of Belgium’s leading chefs, the chef-owner of Zilte, the three-Michelin-star restaurant on the top floor of the MAS museum in Antwerp. Largely self-taught, he built a razor-sharp culinary intuition and a distinctive style defined by seasonality and a deep respect for the finest produce.
A family affair run alongside his wife and children, Zilte has held three Michelin stars for years, and Geunes has become one of the most respected chefs in Flanders.
TL;DR
- Belgian chef, chef-owner of the three-Michelin-star Zilte
- Located on the top floor of the MAS museum in Antwerp
- Largely self-taught, with a razor-sharp culinary intuition
- Zilte has held three Michelin stars for several years
- A family-run restaurant with his wife and children
Viki Geunes key facts
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Restaurant | Zilte, Antwerp (3 Michelin stars) |
| Location | Top floor of the MAS museum |
| Background | Largely self-taught |
| Known for | Seasonal, produce-driven cuisine |
An unlikely path
Viki Geunes’s hospitality career began in an unlikely place – a college for industrial engineering. Gifted in the sciences, he had planned a career in engineering, but working as a waiter to support his studies drew him into the world of restaurants. He taught himself to cook, devouring every cookbook he could find, and, aided by a photographic memory, developed a sharp culinary intuition that still guides him.
Zilte
Geunes is chef-owner of Zilte, spectacularly located on the top floor of the MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) in Antwerp, overlooking the city and the river. The restaurant has held three Michelin stars for several years, placing it among the elite of Belgian and European gastronomy.
A family affair
Above all, Zilte is a family business. Geunes and his wife Viviane have worked side by side on their dream since day one, and today their daughter Gitte is restaurant manager and their son-in-law Aaron head sommelier. The restaurant is the product of the family’s shared vision, which gives it a warmth to match its technical excellence.
Signature style
Geunes’s cuisine is not defined by geographical boundaries; each dish is shaped first by seasonality and by his signature treatment of ingredients, built on a value system of honouring and elevating the flavours of the finest produce. It is precise, refined and personal – a style forged through curiosity and self-teaching rather than a conventional training.
Viki Geunes in context
Geunes is one of Belgium’s three-star chefs featured on Pickup Table 4, alongside Peter Goossens and fellow Antwerp chef Nick Bril.
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Viki Geunes FAQ
Who is Viki Geunes?
A Belgian chef, chef-owner of the three-Michelin-star Zilte in Antwerp.
Where is Zilte?
On the top floor of the MAS museum in Antwerp.
How many Michelin stars does it have?
Three.
How did he learn to cook?
He is largely self-taught, learning from cookbooks and experience.
What is his style?
Seasonal cooking built on honouring the flavours of the finest produce.
