A new wineshop venue just off the Place Sablon. A friendly welcome from the knowledgable owner,…read morePinto, who is passionate about her wines, all sourced directly from the winemakers in Italy and Spain. Tastings are a delight - try her early evening tastings Thursdays and Fridays, and make sure you sample the Tuscan charcuterie and cheeses. Prices are surprisingly affordable and certainly good value for money.

Yeah, this place is as good as it gets, because there's not many places (even in the chocolate…read moremecca of Belgium) that mix the concept of swank wine bar with artisanal chocolate haven. Alex & Alex does just this in a cosy, yet chic, cafe environment next to the sablon where the "big boys" of chocolate dominate (think: Marcolini, Godiva, Neuhaus, etc). In spite of the competition, Alex & Alex is worth checking out as it offers clientele the opportunity to pair handmade confections by chocolatier Frederic Blondeel with glasses (trust me, you'll have more than one) of champagne. If you're not into bubbles there's tea and coffee along with other cold/hot drinks. What I enjoy most about Alex & Alex is that it's less busy than the upmarket joints located across the street (mind you I adore Pierre Marcolini and think it's worth stopping in to grab a box of their macarons or 85% Madagascar dark), the environment is always inviting, and I always find something unique that I sure as hell would not have found at one of the more mainstream chocolatiers. Another big selling point is that Frederic Blondeel has several dairy/soy free options so you don't have to look on with envy as your friends snap up a handful of pralines to indulge in. For more: http://fortheintolerants.com/?p=5078

250 Beers Belgium is conveniently located in the tourist area so if you want to pick up souvenirs…read moreglasswares or beers. Price wise might not be as good as getting some of them from the supermarket but there is definitely a lot more in selection. I am out of luck as my hotel room does not have a fridge as none of the beers are chilled.

Awesome selection of beers.read more

Visiting Catherine's was a bucket list experience that I'm glad I was able to do. The best part was…read moreCatherine herself making our sandwiches! We were able to make selections from over 100 different cheeses as well as a variety of cured meats. The sandwich rivals my other fave from Alain Alain in Paris. It's a small but charming and quintessential Belgian shop. Traditional in every sense of the word. Simply put, it's a cheese lover's paradise. Catherine is extremely kind and patient as are her employees. They offer the ability to taste samples before making decisions. They're very helpful with making said decisions as well. A haven for like minded cheesemongers means the line can sometimes go out the door, especially at lunchtime. It is well worth the wait because so much love and care goes into every transaction with every customer. A most divine experience indeed.

What's not to love about Catherine...the cheese, the meat, the bread, the made to order $5 Eur…read moresandwiches and especially the owner - Catherine. Was so looking forward to our return trip to Brussels and visiting Catherine's. Over our week long stay we managed 3 visits to pick up cheese, freshly sliced deli meat, bead and made to order sandwiches. The cheeses that we selected were so very fresh and the selection to choose from was amazing. Of course my favorite was the truffle. We picked up sandwiches on two occasions and they were basically the same. The second one Catherine added a new little taste with the addition of three small roasted peppers. We had forgotten to ask for arugula and Catherine asked if we wanted it on this one...what a memory. Catherine's is a small place and always very busy. Quality shines throughout. The customers are almost all locals...another great sign. We noticed that when there were about three people inside that the patrons formed a line out of the door. Think out of respect for Catherine. Wish we had had a quality shop like Catherine's in metro Atlanta. We would drive to experience this and here in the hustle and bustle of Brussels there is a gem. Highly recommend. Prices are extremely reasonable. Can't wait to return...sooner than later. Thanks Catherine.