Top Chocolate Shops in Brussels

After spending 11 years in Brussels, the “where do we start?” question came up every time friends visited. The answer was always the same. Skip the convenient spots and head for the shops that get the classics right, surprise you with a few modern flavours, and pack gifts that travel well, from family-run favourites to the most famous chocolate shops in the city. This list is that walk, distilled into ten stops worth making time for. It is also one of the easiest Brussels experiences to fold into any day in the city.

At-a-Glance Picks

1. Best classic pralines: Wittamer, Neuhaus
2. Best modern gift boxes: Pierre Marcolini, Van Dender
3. Best bold flavour combos: Laurent Gerbaud
4. Best bean-to-bar, roastery feel: Frederic Blondeel
5. Best chocolate experience: Belgian Chocolate Village, Planète Chocolat
6. Quick route: Le Sablon first, then Mont des Arts and the Royal Galleries, finishing around Grand Place.

Note: Prices are approximate and may change.

While you’re here, try the pralines first. If you like a proper Brussels classic, the Pavé de Bruxelles is a great place to start. You must also try their Bulle truffles; they are always a crowd-pleaser. There are also pineapple and passionfruit pralines with traditional Belgian cream inside if you like a twist on the classics.

Laurent Gerbaud: Unexpected Flavours and Less-Sweet Chocolate

Find it: Rue Ravenstein 2D, by Mont des Arts

Recommended to try: Curry ganache, black olive ganache, and Beijing tea ganache

Price range: Small boxes start around €12

Laurent Gerbaud is the shop I head to when someone wants chocolate that feels properly Brussels, but not predictable. The flavours lean bold and travel-led, with combinations you do not see everywhere. Think curry, ginger, and olive oil done in a way that still tastes balanced rather than strange for the sake of it.

If you like to taste and compare, this is an easy place to linger with a coffee, then leave with a box that makes a great gift. The first time I tried the curry one, I expected a gimmick, but it won me over. That is the point of Gerbaud. It surprises you, then sends you back for one more, just to check.

This is the stop I use when friends want a gift that feels special without being over-the-top. Pierre Marcolini’s bean-to-bar approach leans into cocoa character, so it’s worth choosing a small selection rather than sticking to one flavour. If you want a simple starting point, the Mini Malline Découverte is an easy way in, and the Malline Découverte works well when you want more variety in one box.

This is the shop I use when the aim is a gift that looks beautiful and stays classic. If you are unsure what to choose, Rosine is a safe starting point because it is built for variety. And if you are walking at Grand Place, it is worth knowing that Mary has a boutique there too, so you can pick something up without detouring.

Frederic Blondeel: Bean-to-Bar Chocolate in Koekelberg

Find it: Rue de Ganshoren 39

Recommended to try: Single-origin chocolate bars, pralines, truffles

Price range: Small boxes start around €12 to €15. Single-origin bars start around €7

Frederic Blondeel is the stop for anyone who cares about what happens before the chocolate is boxed. The whole thing is bean-to-bar, with cocoa beans roasted to bring out different tasting notes, so the chocolate has a real sense of origin rather than just “sweet.” It is a little out of the centre, but it is worth it when you want something more modern than the classic gallery shops.

This is where I bring friends who think they have already “done” Belgian chocolate, because it proves there is still plenty to discover in Brussels. If you are choosing gifts, go for a mixed praline box. If you are in the mood to linger, the shop also works as a coffee and ice cream bar, which makes it an easy mid-walk reset.

This is the place I take friends when the weather turns or when someone wants more than just buying pralines. Watch the chocolatiers at work, then finish with a tasting and something warm to drink before you head back into the city.

Neuhaus Chocolates: The Original Belgian Praline in the Royal Galleries

Find it: Galerie de la Reine 25–27, Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

Recommended to try: Classic pralines, the History Collection gift box, dark chocolate bars

Price range: Chocolate bars start around €5. Small discovery boxes start around €16

Opened in 1857, Neuhaus is where the Belgian praline story really begins. The origin is part of the charm here: a Swiss pharmacist coating medicines in chocolate, then the lightbulb moment that made Brussels famous, filling chocolate with flavour and turning it into the praline we all chase today. Whenever someone wants a gift that feels Brussels instantly, this is the box I reach for because it is classic, reliable, and easy to carry through the galleries.

If you want that “I am definitely in Brussels” feeling, this is the shop. The Galerie de la Reine boutique is a pleasure to browse, and it is an easy stop to add to a chocolate tasting loop through the city centre. It is also a reliable place to buy gifts when you want something classic that travels well.

If you are doing a one-day hit of Brussels chocolate shops, this is an easy win near Grand Place. You get the story, you get the tasting, and you get to watch the work happening in front of you.

If chocolate fatigue starts to creep in, this is also where I switch it up, one bar, one truffle, then back into the city.

Van Dender: Award-Winning Chocolate at Grand Sablon

Find it: Rue des Minimes 8, Grand Sablon

Recommended to try: Mixed praline selection, darker chocolate bars

Price range: 9 pralines from about €12, or 16 pralines from about €19

If the big gallery names are the classics, Van Dender is the stop that feels a little more “in the know.” It was named Chocolatier of the Year for Brussels (2023) by Gault and Millau, and the chocolate leans into cocoa character rather than pure sweetness. This is my Sablon pick when I want something excellent that feels a bit less obvious than the big gallery names.

This is a great pick when you want to bring home something that feels personal, not generic. Go for a small mixed box if you are tasting as you walk, or grab a couple of bars for the train ride back.