12 Best Shopping in Belgium

Also known as Jitsk, this chocolaterie on rue au Buerre, which is packed with chocolate shops, is home to arguably the best macarons—soft yet flavorsome—in the city, ranging in flavor from passion fruit to crème brûlée. 

A chocolatier to the royal family. The original owner, Mary Delluc, founded her shop in 1919 on rue Royale, where you'll still find a branch today along with others dotting the city. The pralines are the specialty here, and worth the indulgent prices when wrapped in their trademark elegant presentation boxes—a work of art in themselves.  

Famed for its charming "chocolate grapes" (marzipan- or praline-filled chocolate balls wired to look like a bunch of grapes), Spegelaere is something of an institution. Despite this, few tourists make it out to the shop, which lies in the edge of the historic center, so grab yourself a "chocolate cobblestone" and congratulate yourself on finding a gem.

This old-timer has been in the historic center since the late 1950s and remains Bruges's oldest artisanal chocolatier to make its chocolate on the premises. It's especially famed for its chocolate swans, filled with a mix of praline and gruut (herbs more common in brewing beer), and lacy traditional kletskoppen biscuits.

A window packed with artisanal marshmallow cakes and meringues tempts visitors into this boutique sweet and chocolate shop, which also conjures traditional Flemish biscuits and heavenly truffles. There are also a pair of branches on rue de Buerre, next to the Grand Place.

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.

As well as selling delicious handmade chocolates, this store also does demonstrations in French and English (€7) and runs lessons (€100) for those who want to learn how to make their own treats.

For chocolate filled with unusual flavors like Japanese wasabi, Coca-Cola, or crisp fried onion, head to this self-proclaimed "shock-o-latier." Although you'll undoubtedly have to queue for your chocolates, you should use the time to admire your surroundings: the gilded ceilings and crystal chandelier of the opulent Paleis op de Meir (Palace on the Meir).

For chocolate filled with unusual flavors like Japanese wasabi or crisp beetroot, head to this self-proclaimed "shock-o-latier," which first opened in Bruges. Try the chocolate lipstick or "chocolate shooter"—a bizarre device created to catapult a cocoa-herb mixture up your nostrils, essentially having you inhale it. The shop here also recently expanded to include a "from tree to bar" exhibition, letting you see the chocolate-making process from start to finish, by gazing over into the open kitchen.

Created by archaeologist-turned-chocolatier Nicolas Vanaise, Yuzu reflects its owner's obsession with all things Japanese. Hence, even in the land of chocolate, it stands out for its strange combinations of ingredients and stark minimalist interior. The selection is constantly changing, but flavors such as wasabi, sake, and Cuban tobacco have been featured in the past.