30 bakeries worth the trip across Belgium, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Belgium guides.
The Chocolate Line ★ 4.7 · Bruges
markt · Simon Stevinplein 19, 8000 Brugge
The Chocolate Line on Simon Stevinplein in Bruges is Dominique Persoone's lab, where pralines run from caramelised shrimp-head to tree-to-bar Criollo cacao.
Tip: Watch the workshop through the back glass. Gault&Millau voted it Belgium's best chocolaterie in 2023.
Joost Arijs Patisserie and Chocolaterie ★ 4.7 · Ghent
zuidstationstraat · Vlaanderenstraat 24, 9000 Gent
Joost Arijs won best patisserie in Belgium from Gault and Millau: the showcase holds intricate tarts, entremets and seasonal pralines year-round.
Tip: A few doors down from The Bakery, both run by Arijs. Do both in one visit on a Tuesday morning.
DelRey ★ 4.6 · Antwerp
diamantwijk · Appelmansstraat 5, 2018 Antwerp
DelRey in Antwerp on Appelmansstraat is a family-owned chocolatier and patisserie since before World War II. The case runs across handmade pralines and pastries.
Tip: The chocolate-shell Antwerpse handjes box is the canonical Antwerp souvenir.
Bakkerij Goossens ★ 4.6 · Antwerp
theaterbuurt · Korte Gasthuisstraat 31, 2000 Antwerp
Bakkerij Goossens in Antwerp has worked the same Renaissance house with stepped gable since 1884. The roggeverdommeke rye-raisin loaf is the canonical bake.
Tip: Lines start before 09:00 on Saturday. Arrive early for first pick of the brioches.
Maison Dandoy ★ 4.6 · Brussels
Rue Charles Buls 14, 1000 Brussels
Maison Dandoy in Brussels has been baking speculoos since Jean-Baptiste Dandoy opened in 1829. The Rue Charles Buls tea room serves Brussels and Liège waffles from the upstairs counter.
The Bakery by Joost Arijs ★ 4.6 · Ghent
zuidstationstraat · Vlaanderenstraat 28, 9000 Gent
Pastry chef and chocolatier Joost Arijs opened this specialist sourdough bakery in 2022, with slow-fermented wheat, rye and multigrain loaves.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday 08:00 to 18:00; the croissants are best in the first two hours of opening.
Philip's Biscuits ★ 4.5 · Antwerp
theaterbuurt · Korte Gasthuisstraat 39, 2000 Antwerp
Philip's Biscuits in Antwerp bakes the city's official biscuit on Korte Gasthuisstraat. The recipe traces to Jos Hakker's 1934 tribute to the Brabo legend.
Tip: The chocolate-coated version is the better gift for travel; the plain butter cookies are best eaten the day of purchase.
Dumon Chocolatier ★ 4.5 · Bruges
markt · Eiermarkt 6, 8000 Brugge
Dumon on the Eiermarkt in Bruges is a family chocolatier making fresh pralines daily from old family recipes. Small shop, short queues, serious chocolate.
Tip: Buy a small box fresh rather than a sealed tin; the pralines are best within days. Several Dumon shops exist; this is the flagship.
Maison Dandoy Rue au Beurre ★ 4.5 · Brussels
Rue au Beurre 31, 1000 Brussels
Maison Dandoy on Rue au Beurre in Brussels is the family's 1858 flagship beside the Grand Place. Philippe Dandoy moved the bakery here from Marche aux Herbes; the shop counter still sells the original speculoos.
Boulangerie Charli ★ 4.5 · Brussels
Rue Sainte-Catherine 34, 1000 Brussels
Boulangerie Charli in Brussels' Sainte-Catherine has run since 2009 under Charles Reboulet. Organic flour, no additives, long-fermented sourdough; the glass partition lets you watch the bakers shape loaves.
Boulengier ★ 4.5 · Brussels
Avenue Jean Volders 11, 1060 Saint-Gilles
Boulengier in Brussels' Saint-Gilles has been baking 24-hour-fermented sourdough on Avenue Jean Volders since 2018, founded by Marc Paeps and Christopher Moloughney. Long-rise organic breads, viennoiseries and pastries; closed Monday.
Wittamer ★ 4.5 · Brussels
Place du Grand Sablon 12, 1000 Brussels
Wittamer in Brussels has held the Sablon corner since 1910. The family patisserie supplies the Belgian royal house, with a tea room at number 6 and the original counter at number 12.
Frederic Blondeel ★ 4.5 · Brussels
Quai aux Briques 24, 1000 Brussels
Frederic Blondeel in Brussels' Sainte-Catherine roasts single-origin cocoa in his Quai aux Briques workshop. The patisserie counter runs alongside the chocolate; coffee is roasted in the same shop.
Marijn Coertjens Chocolatier and Patissier ★ 4.5 · Ghent
patershol · Burgstraat 151, 9000 Gent
Marijn Coertjens opened his patisserie at the foot of the Gravensteen in 2016. The pralines are built on unusual flavour combinations; the seasonal pastry.
Tip: Near the Gravensteen; pair a shop visit with a castle tour and a Patershol dinner.
The Bakery ★ 4.4 · Antwerp
het-zuid · Boomgaardstraat 1, 2018 Antwerp
The Bakery in Antwerp sits inside the De Koninck brewery complex on Boomgaardstraat. Chef-baker Kenney Van Hoorick runs the kitchen in an 1833 classified building.
Tip: Bread sells out by midday on weekends. Pair a coffee with a fresh croissant in the brewery courtyard.
Bürr Bakehouse ★ 4.4 · Antwerp
het-zuid · Brederodestraat 33, 2018 Antwerp
Bürr Bakehouse in Antwerp on Brederodestraat ferments sourdough for 72 hours and runs a small cafe counter. The Het Zuid bakery sources flour from local mills.
Tip: Bread goes by midday on weekends. The pastries fill in second.
Domestic Bakkerij ★ 4.4 · Antwerp
zurenborg · Steenbokstraat 37, 2018 Antwerp
Domestic Bakkerij in Antwerp on Steenbokstraat is the bakery sibling to restaurants Dôme and Dôme sur Mer. Long-fermented sourdough, viennoiserie and rare grain bread.
Tip: Three locations across Antwerp; the Steenbokstraat original is the largest. Closed Monday.
Bakker Aldo ★ 4.4 · Antwerp
berchem · Lange Leemstraat 388, 2018 Antwerp
Bakker Aldo in Antwerp bakes slow-fermented sourdough on Lange Leemstraat near Berchem station. Aldo Neri learned the craft at Domestic, sister to Dôme.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. The Geefstraat city-centre branch keeps the same recipes.
Chocolaterie Sukerbuyc ★ 4.4 · Bruges
minnewater · Katelijnestraat 5, 8000 Brugge
Sukerbuyc on Katelijnestraat in Bruges makes its chocolates in the workshop behind the shop, so you watch the pralines finished, with a tearoom alongside.
Tip: The attached tearoom serves a proper hot chocolate. The workshop is visible from the counter.
Renard Bakery ★ 4.4 · Brussels
Place Fernand Cocq 3, 1050 Ixelles
Renard Bakery in Brussels' Ixelles has been running on Place Fernand Cocq since 2015 under Laurent and Sophie. Sourdough breads, viennoiseries, cakes and seasonal tarts; the counter opens at 07:00 on weekdays.
Yasushi Sasaki Patisserie ★ 4.4 · Brussels
Avenue des Franciscains 10, 1150 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
Yasushi Sasaki in Brussels' Woluwe-Saint-Pierre runs Japanese-French patisserie in the Chant d'Oiseau quarter since 2007. Yuzu, matcha and grapefruit work into a French canon of millefeuille and entremets.
Himschoot ★ 4.4 · Ghent
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt 1, 9000 Gent
Himschoot has been baking at the Groentenmarkt since 1880, making it the oldest bakery in Ghent. The original stone-oven recipes produce koeken, sugar bread.
Tip: Arrive by 08:00 for the warmest bread and the shortest queue. The Dok Noord branch opens later.
Kleinblatt ★ 4.3 · Antwerp
diamantwijk · Provinciestraat 206, 2018 Antwerp
Kleinblatt in Antwerp is the city's largest kosher bakery, in the diamond district on Provinciestraat. The Hasidic-community staple bakes challah, bagels, sesame bread.
Tip: Closed Saturday for Shabbat. Friday afternoon is the busiest sitting for pre-Shabbat challah pickup.
Chocolatier Pol Depla ★ 4.3 · Bruges
minnewater · Mariastraat 20, 8000 Brugge
Pol Depla on Mariastraat in Bruges has made chocolate since 1958 and produces the Brugs Swaentje, a praline tied to the Gruuthuse history of the city.
Tip: Ask for the Brugs Swaentje, the praline the shop is known for. Near the Church of Our Lady.
BbyB Chocolates ★ 4.3 · Bruges
markt · Sint-Amandsstraat 39, 8000 Brugge
BbyB on Sint-Amandsstraat in Bruges is a modern praline house from chef Bart Desmidt and chocolatier Jan Verleye, with flavour-led pralines in plain boxes.
Tip: The five-praline tasting box is the way in. The design-forward packaging travels well as a gift.
Patisserie Schaeverbeke ★ 4.3 · Bruges
sint-gillis · Schaarstraat 2, 8000 Brugge
Patisserie Schaeverbeke on Schaarstraat in Bruges is a neighbourhood patissier rated among the city's best, with laminated pastries, cakes and viennoiserie.
Tip: It sits east of the centre toward Sint-Gillis. Get there in the morning for the full pastry case.
Baba Jacquet ★ 4.3 · Ghent
zuidstationstraat · Vlaanderenstraat 118, 9000 Gent
Baba Jacquet is a 30-year-old family bakery reinvented as a brunch bar: the gentse bolus (caramel spiral bun) is the best version in the city today.
Tip: Closed Tuesdays; open all weekend from 08:00 with a sunny terrace that fills fast.
Pain Perdu Bakery ★ 4.3 · Ghent
zuidstationstraat · Walpoortstraat 9, 9000 Gent
Pain Perdu bakes wood-fired sourdough daily and serves it as tartines, sandwiches and toast across its full breakfast and lunch menu. The large rear garden.
Tip: The garden fills fast on sunny weekend mornings; the bread sells out by early afternoon. Arrive before 10:00.
Bakkerij FUNK ★ 4.2 · Antwerp
het-zuid · Kronenburgstraat 41A, 2000 Antwerp
Bakkerij FUNK in Antwerp on Kronenburgstraat is a vegan bakery and natural-wine shop in Het Zuid. Sourdough loaves, vegan croissants and cinnamon buns.
Tip: The natural-wine counter at the back rotates Belgian and Loire growers.
Maison La Confiance ★ 4.2 · Bruges
markt · Wollestraat 31a, 8000 Brugge
Maison La Confiance on Wollestraat in Bruges is a speculoos specialist, baking the spiced biscuit in eight variations alongside shortbread and butter cakes.
Tip: The plain speculoos is the classic; the variations make easy gifts. A short walk from the Belfry.