Where to buy bread cakes chocolates ice cream Bruxelles - Brussel

Lovers of artisanal breads will be delighted not to see all their wheat go into insipid industrial breads. Because there are trendy bakeries and then there are those we like to call "neighbourhood bakeries". Renard is one of these, and has been in the heart of this popular district of Ixelles for over a quarter of a century. The philosophy of respect for quality has not changed! The range of sourdough breads is impressive (with a special mention for the special weekend breads) and the range of individual pastries is most tempting!

One of the oldest and best bakers in the city since 1935. Three outlets, a workshop in Koekelberg and a huge choice of breads, pastries and cakes. As well as homemade ice creams and lots of sweets such as chocolate, macaroons, speculoos, etc. And then there are surprise breads that open the ball to a high quality catering service. These pastries are proof that sweet and salty go hand in hand. The queue is often long and it is well worth it... Two other shops in Jette and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.

Entering Giovanni's is a bluffing experience, because suddenly you're transported to Italy. It's all there: the marble counter where you grab your espresso in a hurry, the cornetti, the candy display where you're tempted to pay with Bacci chocolates. Giovanni Lepanto and his family run this lounge, where Sicilian specialties(cassata, cannolo) and Neapolitan ones(sfogliatella, pastiera...) are in the spotlight, along with fruit in marzipan. Caffè is a little expensive, but less than a plane ticket.

A little ice cream is always a pleasure and here they are made with quality products (pistachio from Iran, strawberries from Wépion, hazelnuts from Piedmont, good cream from the Ardennes and fresh fruit for the sorbets). All this can be found at Gaston, the baby of Turan and Lucy Ucar. The long queue as soon as the sun is shining is proof of this: the ice creams are delicious. Alongside the classic flavours, there are more daring creations (pineapple-Sichuan pepper, berriolette - a mix of blueberry, raspberry and violet). Milk shakes and pastries are also available.

Papabubble takes you back to childhood! This small, artisanal confectionery literally plunges you into a world filled with sweetness and color, with its candies, lollipops and gummies (gelatin-free, to the delight of vegans). In addition to classic flavors like strawberry, orange, cherry or lemon, there are lots of much more original flavors (starfruit, coconut cream, orange blossom, geranium, aniseed or muscat grape, among others). As well as tasting good, they're very pretty to look at and are made on the spot in front of the customer.

This unique tasting room is located in the center of Ixelles. Here you can sample a wide range of teas, as well as coffee served in stylish teapots and cups. Enjoy a hot drink accompanied by their famous fruit tarts. The old-fashioned setting takes you back to the beginning of the last century and makes you feel like you're in an episode of Downton Abbey. You can also buy teas, infusions and accessories. This downtown address celebrated its 120th anniversary!

In his workshop, Frédéric Blondeel pushes the boundaries of chocolate. More discreet than most, he is one of Brussels' finest chocolatiers. A roaster himself, he makes sure his cocoa is of the highest quality, thanks in particular to the machine he inherited from his grandfather. His trademark? The herbs and spices that enhance his creations. In the boutique, you'll find his chocolates and champagnes from small producers. In the tea room: pralines, cookies and pastries, hot chocolate and ice creams made by Frédéric himself.

It is the art of gelato à la florentine that is celebrated at Bargello. In fact, it was in the great Tuscan city that ice cream was born at the court of the Medicis. Here, only noble ingredients (pistachio of Bronte AOC, vanilla of Madagascar, hazelnuts of Piedmont IGP, wine Santo... The list already makes you salivate. In addition to the classics, we recommend the crema, a mixture of tasty ingredients: crema toscana with pistachio and almonds, crema fiorentina with eggs and lemon or crema bargello with mascarpone and coffee. Be patient, the line is long in summer!

Grey, white, baguette, brioche, olive, walnut, onion, sesame... the list goes on. In the boutique, a host of gourmet products await you: honeys, fruit syrups, Dandoy cookies, olive oils, tapenades... As for the breakfast option, it's perfect for those who love pastries, scrambled eggs or fresh orange juice. A bakery, a boutique and a tasting room all in one: the Tout Bon Espace Gourmand concept has been flawless for a quarter of a century!

Artisanal chocolate factory located in the heart of Schaerbeek, founded in 1972! As Easter, St. Nicholas' Day or Valentine's Day approaches, the shop window and display are adorned with classic shimmering attractions that literally grab the passer-by inside the store. Hollows, pralines, decorated or undecorated casts... everything here is a happy reminder of the carefree hours of a childhood not always as far away as one might think. Marzipan and jelly, among other things, are other colourful "madeleines". A classic to be absolutely preserved!

There are countless French- and German-style bakeries in Brussels, but it's a Franco-English couple, Robert Hiller and Marianne Rousson, who are behind the city's only English-style bakery. Mind you, Robert and Marianne are not exclusive: alongside buns (both sweet and savoury), there are baguettes and rye breads. But it's obviously the buns that will catch the eye (and the taste buds): Cinnamon bun with cinnamon, Chelsea bun with redcurrants, Hot Cross with raisins... Plenty of variety.

Son of a baker, Romain Fiume and his wife Weronika came to settle in a small shopping street of Woluwé-Saint-Pierre and this brand new bakery has already seduced many inhabitants of the district with its breads made of organic flour, with slow growth and natural leaven. Opened on the eve of the Epiphany, La Petite Grange has also launched itself directly into the world of puff pastries and the reputation of the house is already well established in this field. The croissants and pains au chocolat are marvelous and the pastries are not to be outdone.

The little soft cake with a tasty frosting is a real institution. The delights that Lilicup offers us are a variety made in Belgium. Every day, depending on their mood and the season, the pastry chefs offer more than fifteen different flavours. The menu also contains other surprises: brownies, cheesecakes, cookies, muffins... All this can be accompanied by a tea or a cappuccino with milk foam, the only one that should exist... Lilicup has a^second address in Uccle, Chaussée de Saint-Job.

Behind Xocolate is Xavier Declercq who launched his chocolate factory in 2019. All ingredients are organic and fair trade. No wonder this is important to him since Xavier worked for 33 years at OXFAM. In his Schaerbeek store, everything is handmade and you can see the workshop at the back. As for the chocolates, there are the classics: ganache, speculoos, Liège syrup, rum and grapes and other more daring creations with herbs and spices (lemongrass, coriander, cardamom...). His chocolates are powerful but not bitter. A delight!

As a branch of the French parent company, the company delights both lovers of good pastries and gluten intolerant people. Chambelland has made this digestive speciality its own: all its products are guaranteed 100% organic and gluten-free! And there is no question of making concessions to quality, taste or visual pleasure, which are all important parameters when it comes to bread or sweet treats. The breads are made from buckwheat or rice flour (from the Po Valley, optimally processed in the Chambelland mills).

The Lanni ice cream parlour is well known in Brussels, with its pink and blue coloured truck. Now he has also set up shop in Uccle, right next to the town hall. He offers a wide range of home-made ice creams and sorbets and a large assortment of ice cream cakes and pastries. The ice-cream maker gets up at dawn to select his fruit at the morning market (Charentais melon, kiwi, mango, lemon, banana, pear, apple, pineapple or fresh mint and basil). For other hungers, Lanni also offers milkshakes, sandwiches and pasta cones.

Bakers in Poland, the Ciszkowski family has been developing the business in Brussels for about fifteen years now. In total, there are four shops (Ixelles, Anderlecht, Jette, Forest) where local specialities with unpronounceable names for our French-speaking mouths take pride of place. But our taste buds appreciate the caraway or pumpkin bread, the swidry (doughnuts), the rolled cakes or the poppy strudels. Another advantage of these gourmet haunts is that the shops also sell groceries... local products, of course.

A little different from the usual assortment of Belgian chocolatiers, the Planète Chocolat assortment offers many personalized products, traditional in manufacture and unusual in design. For example, there are a multitude of themed boxes suitable for all ages and occasions. Don't miss the guided tours of the workshop organised at the weekend (info on the website). It is also possible to book workshops to become a budding chocolatier (also see website).

What makes one bakery better than another? At Saint-Aulaye, we have been finding the answer to this question for over thirty years: respect for tradition. The best ingredients, the time needed for a good preparation, the refusal to favour the quick and dirty. This philosophy gives rise to melting croissants like you won't find anywhere else, breads and cakes of all kinds. Two other addresses, in the Châtelain district and in Fort Jaco (Uccle).

L'Atelier de Pacitti Al reflects the respect of traditions in a wonderful way. The assortment revolves around 250 flavours, including eighteen ice creams offered daily. The recipes are authentic and artisanal, the products are fresh and creative, and the setting is 100% family friendly! In short, a reference! That of a true craftsman who does not hesitate to offer flavours off the beaten track. Examples, among the craziest: foie gras, olive oil (or argan oil and toasted pine nuts!), balsamic vinegar or wasabi... Yes, yes, this is an ice cream parlour!

Since 2018, Nicolas Kouleipis has been baking to the delight of the residents of the Châtelain neighborhood, and others. Fine French pastries (saint-honoré, chocolate-coffee pie, a killer...) but also Greek. Nicolas pays tribute to his origins with melomakarona (cinnamon and clove cookies), portokalopita (phyllo and orange cake) or ekmek tsoureki (brioche soaked in spices with nuts, cream, whipped cream, almonds or pistachio). Beautiful discoveries in perspective! His savory creations are at n° 62.

On the way between Place Royale and Porte de Namur, you can easily find Jat'Café. After two hours of shopping, we happily settle into one of these comfortable, vintage(and harmoniously out of tune) armchairs. We enjoy this moment of serenity after ordering a small coffee with a mascarpone-sanded apple-cinnamon. At lunchtime, the soft, well-stuffed bagel or the chicken and peach salad with tabbouleh and pine nuts will help to satisfy your hunger. Other address: 116, ch. de Charleroi in Saint-Gilles.

It's quite a unique concept. After returning from Asia, Gwen decided to combine Eastern flavors with Western techniques in her tea/pastry shop. The result is Ka Bao, essentially a soufflé sponge cake with cream (speculoos-raspberry, mango-coconut) of incomparable lightness. But alongside this, you'll find Japanese-style cheesecakes, savory baos and the famous mochi. To complete the escape, various Vietnamese-style coffees and milk teas are available. Daily brunch on reservation.

A Frenchman who has lived in Belgium for a quarter of a century, Laurent Richard has made a name for himself by delivering his bread to such prestigious establishments as the Villa Lorraine and Rob's grocery stores. Using additive-free flours, he produces a range of particularly tasty breads. From the Ganshoren workshop (80 people work there), a thousand loaves, ten thousand rolls and six thousand pastries are produced every day to supply the five shops and the "professional" customers. The Court of Belgium would even be part of this clientele...