Bakery counters in Brussels worth queuing for: levain breads, laminated pastry, regional bakes and the morning ritual.

Where to queue for bread and pastry

Maison Dandoy ★ 4.6

Daily 09:30 to 22:00Walk-in onlySpeculoos and Brussels waffles

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.

Worth the queue: Gaufre de Bruxelles with whipped cream

Rue Charles Buls 14, 1000 Brussels

Maison Dandoy Rue au Beurre ★ 4.5

Daily 10:00 to 19:00Walk-in onlySpeculoos and biscuits

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.

Worth the queue: Original speculoos biscuit

Rue au Beurre 31, 1000 Brussels

Boulangerie Charli ★ 4.5

Mon-Sat 07:30 to 19:00, Sun 08:00 to 13:30Walk-in onlyOrganic sourdough breads

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.

Worth the queue: Fig and walnut sourdough

Rue Sainte-Catherine 34, 1000 Brussels

Boulengier ★ 4.5

Tue-Fri 07:00 to 19:00, Sat 07:00 to 18:00, Sun 07:00 to 17:00 (closed Monday)Walk-in only24-hour-fermented sourdough

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.

Worth the queue: Pain de campagne

Avenue Jean Volders 11, 1060 Saint-Gilles

Wittamer ★ 4.5

Tue-Sun 08:00 to 19:00Belgian patisserie and chocolate

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.

Worth the queue: Royal de chocolat

Place du Grand Sablon 12, 1000 Brussels

Frederic Blondeel ★ 4.5

Tue-Sun 10:00 to 18:30Walk-in onlyBean-to-bar chocolate and patisserie

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.

Worth the queue: Single-origin praline boxes

Quai aux Briques 24, 1000 Brussels

Renard Bakery ★ 4.4

Mon and Wed-Sat 07:00 to 18:30, Sun 07:00 to 14:00, closed TuesdayWalk-in onlyArtisan sourdough breads and patisserie

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.

Worth the queue: Country sourdough loaf

Place Fernand Cocq 3, 1050 Ixelles

Gaufres and Waffles ★ 4.1

Daily 11:30 to 19:00Walk-in onlyBelgian waffles

Gaufres and Waffles in the Galerie du Roi is the Brussels waffle counter built around recipes by double Michelin-starred Yves Mattagne, both sweet (chocolate, fruit) and savoury (steak tartare, lobster, salmon) on pearl-sugar irons.

Worth the queue: Mattagne sweet waffle

Galerie du Roi 6, 1000 Brussels
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