Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
For generations, Brussels has been the place to indulge a taste for some of the finer things in life: chocolate, beer, lace, and lead crystal. Brussels is also heaven for comic-book collectors, and there are lots of offbeat shops to tempt magpies. While the city may not be bursting with bargains, there are inexpensive items to be found in the markets. Value-added tax (TVA) inflates prices, but visitors from outside the EU can obtain refunds. Sales take place in January and July.
The Saturday market sees stalls filled with antiques, secondhand goods, food, flowers, and plants scatter the streets of Brusselsestraat, Parijsstraat, Pensstraat, Mathieu de Layensplein, and Mechelsestraat between 9 am and 6 pm.
An inspired local chocolaterie whose flavors range from out-there breakfast (yogurt, praline, and maple syrup) and robotski (a little robot-shape chocolate filled with ginger) chocolates to the rather heavenly gin and cardamom.
This excellent cheese shop specializes in raw milk, small-scale, and traditional cheeses from Belgium and France. The €12 platters are a great way to taste something new, such a raw blue cheese from Ghent's Het Hinkelspel or a creamy berbizou from Bergerie de Lisbelle in Rendeux. On most days you can see the queues stretching down Mechelsestraat.
Thursdays (1–6) on Brusselsestraat erupt in stalls brimming over with floral delights and bouquets.
Boulevard de Waterloo's Kure is a firm fixture on the fashionista front, with a mix of French, Belgian, and Scandinavian designers all touting everyday wear with a dash of flair.
A wonderful café and chocolate shop perfect for resting your feet between museums. Sit down with a hot chocolate and a cake, or sample one of its confections. It's a bit unusual by Belgian chocolatier standards, as the quirky creations here are not only low sugar but have no alcohol or additives. Fillings include everything from curry masala and olive ganache to more conventional offerings, while chocolate-making workshops are run every Saturday (11:30–1; booking essential).
Marcolini's talents have long since outgrown his flagship chocolate shop in Sablon. He has stores stretching all the way to Japan these days, but his chocolate is still traceable back to a single origin. Other branches are found in Louise and Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.
Each weekend morning, a lively antiques market (Saturday 9–5, Sunday 9–3) takes over the upper end of the square. It isn't for bargain hunters, though. It's been running since the 1960s, and sellers drive a pretty hard bargain.
{{ item.review }}
Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:
There are no results for {{ strDestName }} Shopping in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
