Wittamer

Wittamer has been one of the great names in Brussels pâtisserie since 1910. The family house describes itself as an exceptional Belgian maison, and its shop on the Place du Grand Sablon, in the most elegant part of the upper town, has long been a destination for locals buying cakes for a celebration as well as visitors looking for a taste of Belgian craftsmanship.

The range covers three main areas: chocolates, pâtisseries and viennoiseries. Among the items featured by the house are the Carré 25, a signature cake, and a raspberry éclair, as well as everyday croissants. The chocolates come in assortments and boxes that make good gifts, while the pastries are best eaten fresh. Seasonal creations also appear through the year.

Wittamer suits anyone with a sweet tooth, couples strolling through the Sablon and visitors who want to bring home something more refined than supermarket chocolate. Prices reflect the quality and the location, but a single pastry is an affordable treat. It is a good place to compare with the other famous chocolatiers on the same square, a classic Brussels pastime on a weekend afternoon.

The house says it is open seven days a week, with hours varying by shop, so check the official website for the Sablon shop's current times before visiting. Weekends are the busiest, especially when the Sablon antiques market is on, so a weekday morning visit is calmer. Orders for cakes and larger quantities can be placed in advance, which is worth doing for special occasions.

The Place du Grand Sablon is served by trams 92 and 93 at the Petit Sablon stop and is a short walk from Brussels-Central station. The Church of Our Lady of the Sablon, the Petit Sablon garden and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts are all nearby, and the Rue Blaes leads down to the Marolles.

For a full Sablon afternoon, start at the weekend antiques market, take a pastry from Wittamer, sit in the Petit Sablon garden opposite and then walk up to the Place Royale. It is one of the most pleasant short walks in the city, and it shows a quieter, more refined side of Brussels than the busy streets around the Grand-Place.