On March 28 and 29, the City of Brussels opens the doors of its finest chocolatiers and maps out its own chocolate route for the first time, inspired by Gent Gourmand. The free route, organized by Enterprendre Bruxelles, invites you to stroll along different chocolate ateliers and shops with a map, taste the chocolate, meet artisans, and discover the craftsmanship behind every praline. BXL Gourmand is the ideal way for those with a sweet tooth to discover Brussels in a new way.
Throughout the entire weekend, you can visit the participating chocolatiers for free tastings and meet-and-greets. Visitors are also invited into the workshops to discover the tricks of the trade and stories behind their creations.
To enjoy a free tasting at a chocolatier of your choice, register in advance via this link and reserve a time slot on March 28 or 29. Anyone can experience the choco route – either individually, as a couple, or with friends and family, and at their own pace.
“Brussels is bursting with exceptional chocolate talent,” says Didier Wauters, Alderman for Economic Affairs of the City of Brussels. “With this route, we want to give them the visibility they deserve and invite Brussels residents to experience their own city in a different, flavourful way. At the same time, we proudly showcase the top quality of our crafts.”
From exceptional craftsmen to grand houses
The ten chocolatiers in the capital consist of various artisans from the 2026 selection of Tartine & Boterham as well as several iconic chocolate houses.
Pierre Marcolini is located in the heart of the Sablon, while Laurent Gerbaud presents his bold combinations of dried fruit and spices on the Mont des Arts, just across Bozar. Furtehr more, you can step back in time at Wittamer, a Brussels institution since 1910. Atelier Sainte-Catherine and The Belgian Chocolate Makers offer a glimpse into their bean-to-bar universe, where Elisabetta Passafaro roasts and conches her own cocoa beans just a stone’s throw from the Grand Place.
Arthur Amblard, laureate of the Doorbraak 2026 prize, surprises further along with chocolate without added sugar. Newly opened on Lombardstraat, Plaisirs Chocolatés presents the creations of Youssef Amar. The route continues past Passion Chocolat, Mary, and Elisabeth.
At these stops, you can taste chocolate in all forms: pralines, bars, and chocolate drops, but also hot chocolate or homemade cookies. Some chocolatiers also offer a glimpse behind the scenes of their workshop. For example, Plaisirs Chocolatés organizes a visit twice an hour where you can see live how a praline is made.
A map featuring all participating chocolatiers and tastings can be found online and in the selected chocolate shops on 28 and 29 March. It also includes a number of artisanal bakeries and patisseries highlighted by Tartine & Boterham, ideal for rounding off the walk with a coffee or something crispy.
Why Brussels is the city of chocolate…
The love story between Brussels and chocolate dates back to 1912, when Jean Neuhaus invented the praline in the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries. More than a century later, Brussels remains the city with one of the largest concentrations of chocolatiers in the world. On May 6, 2025, “the tradition and know-how of chocolate in Brussels” was included in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Brussels Region, a first step towards UNESCO recognition.
According to urban.brussels, more than 150 companies and around 200 shops and workshops keep this tradition alive. A young generation of artisans is also driving innovation in the sector. Frédéric Blondeel and The Belgian Chocolate Makers are leading the way in bean-to-bar and chocolate of specific origin. Sugar-free and plant-based alternatives, on the other hand, are a specialty of Arthur Amblard. Additionally, chocolatiers are now making artisanal ice cream in the summer, smaller pralines better suited for tasting, and are creatively adapting their recipes in times of rising cocoa prices. These trends converge at the chocolatiers of BXL Gourmand.
PRACTICAL INFO
#BXL Gourmand. Free chocolate route with tastings while supplies last.
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March 2026. At various locations in the city of Brussels.
Free, mandatory registration via this link.
A map is available online and in participating chocolate shops. It is recommended to register quickly, as the number of places is limited.
Tartine & Boterham reveals its top 10 for 2026
After mapping the best artisanal bakeries and patisseries in Belgium for ten years, the independent guide Tartine & Boterham is now also focusing on chocolate. Their experts traveled through the Brussels-Capital Region in search of exceptional chocolatiers.
The 2026 selection was compiled by an independent jury of four experts based on artisanal expertise and a tasting of the pralines. To be eligible, the chocolatier must have a shop and workshop in the Brussels-Capital Region. Additionally, he/she must process cocoa beans or couverture chocolate themselves for the production of the pralines.
The 10 award-winning chocolatiers:
Frédéric Blondeel, Laurent Gerbaud, Bomma Flora, Arthur Amblard, L Chocolat, Xocolate, La Maison du Cacao, Jérôme Grimonpon, Yasushi Sasaki and Concept Chocolate.
Honorary Prize 2026 : Frédéric Blondeel
Breakthrough Prize 2026 : Arthur Amblard
