Chocolatier Guide of Brussels
For most people, idea of Belgium brings in mind some delicious chocolate. I was no exception to this. During the twenty-four hours I spent in Brussels, I found myself hopping from one chocolate shop to another. As a result, I managed to consume what would probably be a normal person's monthly supply of chocolate in a single day. No regrets by the way.
So, I decided to sit down and share my experiences with Brussels' chocolatiers, along with my recommendations on which ones are worth visiting. (And yes, my stomach is growling even as I'm writing this.)
La Belgique Gourmande (€€)
I'd like to start with my favorite chocolate shop. Its interior reminded me a little of Şekerci Cafer Erol in Kadıköy. What I loved most about this place was that, much like the self-serve Haribo candy stands, you get to fill your own box of chocolates. The staff were incredibly friendly as well—they kept offering us chocolates to taste, making the whole experience even more enjoyable.
Pierre Marcolini (€€)
The Waffle Company (€€)
Although this place looks incredibly luxurious from the outside, it is actually a small chocolate shop with fairly average prices. Everything on display looked absolutely delicious. One of their signature desserts is called Kumo, so I decided to give it a try. It was very good, although I wouldn't say it was anything particularly extraordinary. It consisted of a macaron filled with hazelnut cream on top of a chocolate base. If you've travelled all the way to Brussels, I don't think you should leave without trying it.
We've been talking about Belgium and chocolate throughout this essay, so it would be a shame to finish without mentioning waffles as well. This place has reasonably priced waffles, and I can confidently say that their quality is well worth the cost. I tried their floral, spring-themed waffle, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Leonidas (€)
Neuhaus (€€€)
This shop was considerably more affordable than the other chocolatiers I visited throughout the day. It also offers a wide variety of gluten-free chocolates, all of which were absolutely delicious. That said, I don't think it's actually a Belgian brand. Its name is Greek, and I'm almost certain I came across one of its branches in the Netherlands as well.
Finally, this was the most expensive chocolatier I have visited. Being there almost made me feel as if I had crossed the French border. Half of the display counters were filled with triangular chocolates featuring a variety of flavoured fillings. I tried a few of them; they were certainly delicious, but I'm still not entirely convinced they were worth the price.