Waffles, beer, frites and chocolate was basically the itinerary (: we started with waffles on our…read morefirst morning in Brussels and I can't think of a better place to begin than at Maison Dandoy. The ambience of this location really makes it special. I was really looking for a Hallmark movie themed experience and starting here was perfect. My waffle was scrumptious and a great start to the day. Highly recommend.

The reviews of Maison Dandoy are mixed and while I wanted to like it, I thought it was just okay…read more I enjoyed their front room the most where they sold cookies, crackers, chocolate, totes, and gifts. There's an option to pick a box or tin and fill it the cookies of your choice. The waffles themselves are something I can make at home and save the €15. I ordered the basic powdered sugar waffle, liege style. My husband ordered the Belgian style waffle which was topped with macerated strawberries and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Again, the waffle and strawberries weren't warm so it was like eating a dry stale cold waffle with cold strawberries and a scoop of ice cream. Disappointing to say the least. I'd pass on this place and stick with the street vendors where you can watch them make it in front of your eyes and served warm.

After the chocolates I brought back from my earlier Brussels trip was so well received, I made sure…read moreto introduce Neuhaus to my SO during our June trip. This store was one of the smaller ones we visited but its proximity to the Grand Place made it the obvious choice to duck into and escape the heatwave and indulge. I liked this store in particular since the staff were always warm and outgoing. They also were very generous in the sampling ;) Our newest favorite flavor was the calamansi Sensation. It was dark chocolate wrapped around dark chocolate ganache but with a very distinctive calamansi citrus flavor. We love calamansi and never imagined tasting it as part of a praline. If you really want to try it then go now since it will only be available during the summer! Lastly as part of their frequent buyer program, the store includes free samples to go. Staff just need to scan your Neuhaus Insider QR code and that's it. SO's taste buds agreed Neuhaus was the Belgian chocolatier on this trip and we'll be back.

Their triangle shaped chocolate makes them stand apart from other shops. The salted caramel was my…read morefavorite.

Being a chocolate connoisseur with an affinity for odd and unique flavors, I surprisingly did not…read morelike the basil- or thyme-flavored chocolates here. Both tasted medicinal (2 stars off). The other flavors were as you would expect. Why not even lower stars? Well, they were still chocolates...

Super great place to get chocolates here! The service is wonderful and they let me try samples of…read morethe flavors I wanted to try. I got a bag of a make your own chocolates and it was around 11 euros. Not bad price for delicious chocolates. They have several locations around Belgium. I went to the one near the Grand Palace in Brussels. Highly recommend for some yummy Belgium chocolates.

While on a walking tour of Bruges,our guide suggested we try Leonidas for their Belgian Chocolate…read more They only use 100pct pure cocoa butter and have been in business since 1913. Known for their Master Chocolatiers,they have over 1200 stores in 40 countries. The staff was super friendly and even offered us a few samples including GF chocolates. Definitely stop in the next time you see a Leonidas Chocolate Shoppe.

Leonidas was founded in 1913 and has been a leading chocolatier ever since…read more I must admit I was losing control with the free samples lol. But alas, I made purchases for myself as well as for friends and family. They are a certified supplier to the Belgian Royal Household. They use 100% pure cocoa butter and all fresh ingredients. Known for their pralines, I absolutely needed to have some. And did I! The orangettes are divine. My other favorites include: Napolitains White Manons Salted Caramel Bar Hot Chocolate They also have gluten-free options. Walking into the store you're immediately greeted with the unmistakable scent of the finest chocolates. It's mesmerizing. The store is immaculate and so very Belgian.

We visited this chocolate shop just down the street from another store…read more We found a lower cost of chocolate but we learned that that's because they use more sugar in their chocolate than some of the higher end chocolate houses. Don't get me wrong it's good chocolate but not a rich and has less cocoa in it. For gift giving get this chocolate and save the higher end for yourself but it's still Belgian chocolate and can't go wrong with that.

I visited La Belgique Gourmande on a Wednesday early evening & there weren't too many people in the…read morestore. The interior was beautifully decorated. The store has a self-serve structure where everything is priced by the pound. The workers were very friendly--one even greeted me with a free sample & we had a lovely conversation about traveling. The rumors are true: Belgian chocolates are absolutely delicious. I enjoyed the treats so much that I even made a second trip to bring one of my friends back to try some for themselves. I would definitely visit again the next time I'm in Brussels!

I wanted to support Mary, a woman-owned chocolatier. Mary's chocolates were pretty good, but I…read morenoticed their shapes were slightly inconsistent. For a chocolatier that prides itself on serving its chocolates to royalty, it seems like care is not taken for precision. I did enjoy some of the interesting flavors like Earl Grey or orange liqueur. I suppose the taste trumps shape.

I visited Mary Chocolatier on a Wednesday early evening. When I first passed by, it was very…read morecrowded so I came back later when there was no one else in the store. One of the workers, Sebastian, was very friendly--we had a lovely conversation about the chocolates & traveling. This was the second chocolaterie I visited that evening, but I'm excited to report that it's now my new favorite. I got a variety of chocolates--I even brought a friend for a second trip later on so they can try it for themselves & I picked up more treats to try for myself as well. I came back one more time to buy some of their products to bring home for my friends in California. I wish they had a location closer to home, but this is definitely a chocolaterie I'll keep returning to whenever I'm in Brussels.

We chose a few pieces of chocolate to try, including Earl Grey, coffee, pistachio, ginger, honey,…read moreand lemon, along with a box of truffles. The staff provided excellent customer service and was very helpful throughout our visit. The ambiance is fancy, clean, and organized. The chocolates were silky smooth, and each flavor had its own distinct taste. You can immediately identify the different flavors, and each piece has its own unique flavor profile. I also love that the chocolates are not overly sweet. They have just the right amount of sweetness, allowing the chocolate flavors to stand out. The truffles were also delicious, with a nice balance of slight sweetness and bitterness. The box comes with several different flavors, which makes it fun to try a variety of their creations. :)

AI gave me a list of chocolatiers to try in Belgium and Pierre Marcolini came out on top. I was in…read morethe Galleria area and found one there (turns out there's a second one a few doors further down!). I had great customer service with a super nice sales associate who was patient with me.She even gave me a transportable bag with ice for keeping my purchases just right. I bought a couple of assorted chocolates that she recommended a picked up a bar at the counter as well. I highly recommend this chocolatier. Beautiful chocolates and quite the variety.

Elegant chocolate shop that came highly recommended by the info place at the Grand Place. They…read moresupposedly sell chocolates from multiple chocolatiers. Came on a weekday morning, so there is no other customers in the shop. We got a combination of dark chocolates/tryffles in a plastic baggie as the smallest "box" contains 25 chocolates. Chocolates are delicious and seemed very high end by price and by taste (per my partner as I could not tell).

I wish they had online store as well…read more The best chocolate experience and real Belgium waffle! We got couple of their popular mix chocolate collection for souvenir and everybody loved it. I cant lie, the waffles didn't make it home, I finished them before our flight :D The dark chocolate on Orange peels is very recommended.

In the grand place.. I'm not a chocolate or candy…read moreperson..but a friend suggested I go for a hot chocolate while there.. I'm glad I did..dark chocolate not too sweet...it was great. I recommend

Ok so while on the Eurostar from London, I received my first lesson in chocolate. I was told that…read moreit's not pronounced "gah-dive-ah" like Americans say but rather "gah-dee-vah." So now I know! Nevertheless, I think I died and went to hot chocolate heaven. We ordered two salted caramel hot chocolates which were served on trays with a side of whipped cream, a side of chocolate and a cup filled with chocalety goodness complete with a chocolate Santa plopped right on top. The store was inviting and filled with many chocolate delights. We ordered two additional pieces to go along with our order.i ordered the chocolate with caramel and pecan shavings and Aidan ordered the lemon chocolate. Despite the hefty price of $20usd for 2 cups of hot chocolate and 2 add on chocolates it was well worth it.

My boyfriend says this is the best Mediterranean patisserie in Brussels! It has a variety of…read morePastries inspired by the Mediterranean and Northern Africa. If you've never had these types of pastries, I would highly reccomended you try. They are often very petit, with intricate twisty shapes. Very different from something like a French pastry. We stopped in on a weekend trip. It is right near the Grand Place, so mark this spot on your itinerary around the palace. The shop is like a scene in Harry Potter. The pastries look magical, glittering with different colors. Sits perfectly in with the surrounding architecture. The shop keeper was very nice and efficient. She spoke to my boyfriend in French and me in English. I bought two pastries. I round pastry with pistachios, and a pastry similar to a fig newton, but with dates. Both were amazing!

If you've had enough chocolate in Belgium, make a stop here for Turkish delights and other sweets…read more I thought it was reasonably priced, and I enjoyed all the samples that the generous owner gave me, when I was deciding what to get. Make a stop here. It's a beautiful little shop with friendly service. I liked taking these treats home with me.