The best places to buy chocolate in Brussels

Jean Neuhaus was the inventor of what he called the "praline". In 1912, this Swiss pharmacist of Italian origin had the original idea of replacing medicines with filled chocolates. In 1915, his wife Louise Agostini invented the ballotin, a specialist package to protect chocolates and present them attractively. Today, Neuhaus offers chocolates made with natural ingredients and Ecuadorian cocoa beans from a UTZ-certified, sustainable agriculture programme. Fall in love with the sweet treats of this authentic chocolate shop, which has been located in the Galerie de la Reine since it opened as a pharmacy in 1857.

Galerie de la Reine 25, 1000 Brussels & various locations across the city

Laurent Gerbaud, an artisan chocolatier and ice-cream maker, invites you to a journey of new and unexpected flavours, combining chocolate with sweet and sour, exotic fruits and spices: curry, Jamaican pepper, chai tea, Taggiasche black olive or Persian red berry. He also offers vegan chocolates as well as ice creams and sorbets, which also include vegan options. Observe the confectionary creation process in his workshop, which is open to the public, and to taste it in his tasting room by the Mont des Arts. He also has a shop near the Grand-Place.

Rue Ravenstein 2d, 1000 Brussels & various locations across the city

Pierre Marcolini offers his fine handmade chocolates on the Place du Grand Sablon. Every year, this Belgian artisan chocolate maker of Italian origin, travels the globe in search of the best cocoa beans. He masters every stage of chocolate production, from the bean to the bar and all in a sustainable way. He also uses top-quality ingredients like pink berries from Morocco, pistachios from Iran, Sichuan pepper and Sicilian lemon.

Rue des Minimes 1, 1000 Brussels & various locations across the city

A patisserie created in 1910, Wittamer has been offering chocolates in its shop on place du Grand Sablon since 1985. Their Sumo ganache, Tarragona praline, Pavés de Bruxelles, Dent du midi, Corn on the cob and sugar-free Pleine Santé chocolates will all have you melting with delight…

Place du Grand Sablon 12, 1000 Brussels & various locations across the city

Frederic Blondeel is a coffee roaster-cum-chocolatier, descended from a family of coffee roasters. To make his delicacies, he uses ingredients such as Belgian speculoos, vanilla from Tahiti, almonds and hazelnuts from Sicily and organic tea from Japan... You can meet him in his chocolate factory in Koekelberg, which is a shop, a roastery and an open workshop where you can watch him making his delicious creations. It is also a coffee and ice cream bar. Enjoy his chocolate squares, shells, florentines, orangettes, biscuits, chocolate pearls... Why not go for the no-added-sugar or vegan chocolate? Everything is homemade, as is his coffee and his ice cream.

Rue de Ganshoren 39, 1081 Koekelberg

Looking to cut down on sugar? It's not easy when you're out and about in Brussels. How can you possibly resist the phenomenal selection of chocolate in our capital? Fortunately, chocoholics wanting to limit their sugar intake are in for a treat at Arthur Amblard. This talented chocolatier loves to showcase his pralines and bars made with no added sugar. He also sets himself apart by offering products made with ethically sourced ingredients. 

Rue Lebeau 61, 1000 Brussels

MIKE&BECKY is run by a pair of chocolatiers from Germany and Russia who work exclusively with authentic cocoa and reduce the amount of (beet) sugar in their treats as much as possible. They also make sure not to use ingredients such as vanillin, soya lecithin or palm oil. What's more, they choose cocoa beans from direct trade and opt for organic products whenever possible. The two artisans select the precious beans and are masters of every step of chocolate making. Watch them creating their chocolate bars in their workshop in Uccle and take a break in their café and enjoy a delicious hot chocolate. Why not visit their other production site in Anderlecht?

Rue des Grives 25, 1070 Anderlecht

French artisan chocolatier Jérôme Grimonpon offers "high-end delicacies" with no excess sugar, in his shop in Uccle. He roasts and refines the cocoa beans and offers his own collection of chocolates. He develops an ephemeral praline every month, as well as a pastry of the day and an ice cream of the month. He also creates fine, delicate chocolate sculptures: a fried egg for Easter, a handbag or high heels for Mother's Day, a bicycle... You won't be able to resist his works of art, chocolates, choux pastries, eclairs and other chocolaty pastries. Watch him create his irresistible treats in his open studio.

Avenue Coghen 2, 1180 Uccle