If there’s one city that can sweeten any trip, it’s the capital of Belgium (and Europe). A feast of crispy waffles, irresistible chocolates, and other delicacies awaits you here, which will make your cravings grow just by thinking about it. Ready for a sweet journey indeed? Bring it on!
First Stop: the Perfect Waffle
In Brussels, gaufres (or in Flemish, wafels) aren´t just a treat, they´re a veritable institution. There are two main types – the caramelised and denser Liège style, and the light and crunchy Brussels style – the most important question is: what are you going to top it with? Melted chocolate? Fresh fruit? A little whipped cream perhaps? Or how about one of each?
And where to try them? A surefire, 196-year-old classic is the Maison Dandoy bakery and tearoom, located just next to the Grand Palais. But street stalls also have their charm and are often less pricey.
Belgian Chocolate: A Game Changer
You´ve no doubt been eating chocolate all your life. But delectating it in Brussels will change how you look at this iconic sweet. From filled pralines to fine chocolate bars (some with exotic spices), every mouthful is a revelation and a work of gustatory art.
And the city is full of chocolatiers, with some of the more iconic names including Mary (purveyor to the Belgian royal court), Neuhaus (the 168-year-old inventor of the filled praline, in 1912); the much newer (est. 1995), innovative Pierre Marcolini; and the ubiquitous, somewhat less exclusive Leonidas. And if you´re also interested in the history (including interactive exhibits) and live chocolate-making demonstrations, check out Choco-Story near Dandoy and the Grand´ Place.
Biscuits and Spice and Everything Nice
Other outstanding Brussels sweets include speculoos, a spiced shortcut biscuit with a very distinctive flavour and perfect for dipping in coffee (and in fact often served alongside coffee in cafés and restaurants); tarte au riz (rice tartes), with a yeast crust and rice-pudding filling; and cuberdons, little cone-shaped confections of raspberry-flavored filling surrounded by a gum crust.
You´ll find these tasty treats at Dandoy and other traditional bakeries, plus the cuberdons sold at the market in the Place du Gran Sablon are next-level.
And After All That Sugar…
After all this indulgence, walk it off with a stroll around the Grand´ Place or the Mont des Arts, and maybe make a stop at a friterie for some Belgian fries with mayonnaise.
So rev up your appetite (and your sweet tooth) and book a trip to Brussels on Iberia – your taste buds and your tummy will thank you most profusely!