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.

This is the go-to spot in Brussels for waffles. Annoying influencers around, so just ignore them…read more You can sit down or get take away, either way you'll have to do the line, which moved fairly fast on a mid-Sunday in spring. Lots of selections or build your own, what can go wrong with a good waffle and good toppings. Good place to get your taste of Belgian waffles, efficient service, comfortable seating both inside and out. It's in a really nice spot inside one of the glass passages, which are worth a visit just for their historical glory and beauty.

While in Belgium had to visit as many chocolate shoppes and tasted enough to determine which one to…read moretake back to the family. In the Grand Place these chocolate shoppes were lined up almost next to each other. Neuhaus was the first and ultimately the finalist. I appreciated the welcome as I came in, an overview of the history as I drooled over the well stocked cases. Of course there were too many flavors and types to pick from. Overall my taste buds did its job and the flavor combos, the snap of the chocolate and taste won me over to Neuhaus. I ended up customizing the boxes according to the choices dictated by family back home which covered pralines with caramel, yuzu, coffee, speculoos, etc. In the end buying direct avoided tariffs and what I saved went to more pralines but the tradeoff was a fuller luggage. Neuhaus had a frequent buyer program that I signed up for. Not sure how much I'll make use of it.

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

The chocolate in here was absolutely beautiful. Everything was homemade and delicious. Everything…read moretried I loved. This is where you should get your chocolate!

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...

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.

Out of all the chocolatiers in Belgium, this has to be one of my favorites. Galler stands out…read morebecause not only is the quality top notch, but also intentionally affordable. Though Galler remains modest, whether it's in their cost, branding or initiatives, they should not be overlooked as they are indeed one of the suppliers to the Court of Belgium (see crest inside store). The chocolate here is delicate and smooth, light, and delicately sweet. I've ordered a variety-- 19 to be exact, and can already promise you, each one will be savored accordingly. SERVICE: A monsieur helped me with my order, and was incredibly patient, astute, and knowledgable. He overheard me telling someone my partner was lactose intolerant and took that into account when I was interested in purchasing some chocolates. Even when I asked which chocolates would be more cost efficient (ie: pre-packaged bars, etc), he didn't try to upsell.

Galler was our favorite chocolate shop that we visited while in Belgium. We initially stopped in to…read moresample a few truffles while on a food tour and went back afterwards because we learned that this is one of the few chocolate shops that is owned by a legitimate chocolatier according to our guide. We purchased truffles, chocolate bars and advent calendars to bring back for gifts.

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!

Did I really not review my favorite (and only) Belgian souvenir?…read more On our way back to the tour bus, we stumbled across this place and was immediately welcomed by the wonderful saleswoman. She was very personable and patient, taking in our considerations for gifts to bring home. I ended up buying a small box of assorted chocolate squares to share. After sampling a few of the squares over time, I can confirm that they are delightful. Smooth, creamy, not too sweet. The flavored options (orange, earl gray) weren't overpowering. And the white chocolate square was buttery. But I also expect nothing less from a Royal Warrant chocolatier. Honestly, if you can make it to Brussels or Bruges and want to try the real deal with the Royal seal Belgian chocolates, I cannot recommend this place more!

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.

Never pass up and opportunity to snag some of Pierre Marcolini's French macarons. They could easily…read morebe the best macarons I've ever had. Perfect texture, perfect subtle flavors that shine through, and a variety of options. If macarons aren't your style they also have a wide array of handcrafted chocolates and truffles. They come in gift sets and individual like many of the shops around Brussels. The macarons as well can be purchased individually or in larger sets. This place seems like a spot you couldn't just have one of anything though. It's all really tasty. All in all, they are a bit on the pricey side, but I believe they are worth it for the quality and taste.

Friendly service and a sample to taste upon arrival. Beautiful store with much to look at. We took…read morea recommendation and purchased three small candies. Good quality and tasty!

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.

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.