20 Best Places to Shop in Brussels, Belgium

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 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. Owing to its owner's Japanese roots, it also makes excellent mochi (Japanese rice cake) and daifuku (stuffed mochi).

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.  

A window packed with artisanal marshmallow cakes and meringues tempts visitors into this boutique sweets 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.

This excellent cheese shop specializes in raw milk, small-scale, and traditional cheeses from Belgium and France. The €11 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.

One of the oldest shopping malls in Europe, this elegant neo-Renaissance gallery first opened in 1847, and its towering columns and iron-and-glass roof make it worth a visit any time.

Brussels used to be famous for its gloves, and the old tanneries on the Rue des Tanneurs once produced the finest of leather. This glove maker has been operating in the city since 1890, and its shop in Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert has been run by three generations. A real institution.

Wild avant-garde fashions and timeless pieces—Dansaert's beloved store is appropriately named and rarely disappoints those willing to adopt a bold new look thanks to a choice of up-and-coming Belgian brands.

Jeu de Bulles is a cult gem, home to some rare first-edition comic books, toys, collectibles, and original prints drawing on Tintin, Blake and Mortimer, Lucky Luke, and other Belgian icons inspired by the early Spirou comics.

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).

Stylish concept store and fashion boutique offering clothes, accessories, and a few small furniture pieces from selected designers.

Something of an old stager, this traditional umbrella shop and milliners has a wide choice of caps and hats. It has also been going for generations (since 1847) and was one of the original shops in the Galeries Royales St-Hubert.

Long established on the Châtelain scene, Mook's has a slick range of women's clothes and accessories but offers an infamously frosty welcome (be warned). It also has a sister store, Chouke (Rue du Bailli 25) that skews a bit younger and focuses on Parisian brands.

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, Rue de Bouchers, and Galeries Royales.

As well as selling delicious handmade chocolates, this store also does demonstrations in French and English (€10) and runs courses (€100) for those who want to learn how to make their own treats.

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.

Often credited with kick-starting the boutique rush on Rue Antoine Dansaert, Stijl has been knocking around since the 1980s yet still retains its couture chops, championing a wide range of Belgian avant-garde designers for women. It also has a men's branch on place du Nouveau Marche aux Grains.