Brussels Shopping

  1. Mary's

    Established in 1919, and supplying Belgium's royal family with chocolates since 1942, Mary's is the grande dame of praline (filled chocolate) makers. All 70-plus varieties of all-natural chocolates (including scrumptious coffee creams) are created entirely by hand.

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  2. Neuhaus

    Stunning chocolate shop with stained-glass windows and sumptuous displays. Established in 1857 and is now a reasonably priced, national chain.

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  3. Nicola's Bookshop

    Specialising in world literature translated into English, this welcoming independent bookshop runs readings, author signings and poetry events. There's a small tearoom attached.

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  4. Nicolas Woit

    Vintage fabrics found at flea markets and Barbie dolls from the '50s and '60s (such as the perma-tanned Hawaiian Barbie on display) are the inspiration for the feminine fashions of this Brussels-born designer, who trained with Issey Miyake and Thierry Mugler in Paris.

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  5. Olivier Strelli

    Congo-born Strelli is to Belgium what Georgio Armani is to Italy - an internationally renowned designer creating tailored men's and women's fashion that transitions seamlessly from the boardroom to cocktail parties and beyond. This light-filled boutique is Strelli's HQ.

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  7. Passage du Nord

    Passage du Nord is an elegant 19th-century, glass-vaulted shopping arcade connecting the Lower Town's brash shopping thoroughfare, Rue Neuve, to Place de Brouckère.

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  8. Pêle Mêle

    You could lose yourself for hours among the shelves of this cavernous secondhand bookshop, which also stocks a vast array of CDs, comics and computer games.

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  9. Pierre Marcolini

    Brussels-born Marcolini is the wunderkind of Belgian chocolate-makers, whose pralines include melt-in-your-mouth ganaches (cream-filled chocolate) made from exotic teas. Other Marcolini innovations include quirky bunny-eared Easter eggs. Make your selection from the glass counter then head to the back room to pick up your order. There's talk of a tea room opening soon upstairs.

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  10. Place du Grand Sablon

    Weekly antique market.

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  11. Place du Jeu-de-Balle flea market

    The quintessential Marolles experience is haggling at this chaotic flea market, established in 1919. Weekends see it at its liveliest, but for the best bargains, head here early morning mid-week.

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  13. Place Jourdan Market

    You can get food and clothes at this little suburban market.

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  14. Planète Chocolat

    You can catch praline-making demonstrations every Saturday at (around €7 ) at this experimental chocolate shop famed for its chocolate floral 'bouquets' and other innovative shapes. If the weather's behaving you can sip hot chocolate on the tearoom's outdoor terrace.

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  15. Rue Neuve

    Rue Neuve is a pedestrianised street that's wall-to-wall shoppers, especially on Saturday afternoons.

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  16. Sablon Antiques Market

    Over one hundred vendors fill this stately square on weekends, selling crockery, crystal, jewellery, furniture, 18th-century Breton Faïence (pottery) and other relics of bygone eras. Prices generally reflect the high quality of goods for sale.

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  17. Sterling Books

    There's a fantastic selection of travel guides on the 1st floor of this friendly English-language bookshop, plus a good range of history and art books.

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  19. Stijl

    Brussels' top fashion showroom not only has labels by Belgian icons like Antwerp Sixers Ann Demeulemeester and Dries Van Noten, but also emerging new designers like Cathy Pill, whose atelier is just around the corner. Climb the wooden staircase at the back to the 1st floor to hunt for end-of-season bargains.

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  20. Super GB

    Big supermarket in the basement of the City 2 shopping centre.

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  21. Waterstones

    This British emporium has Brussels' most comprehensive range of English-language books.

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  22. Wittamer

    Did someone say world's best chocolatier? It's a big call to make, but this humble patisserie that branched out into chocolate almost 15 years ago is definitely a short-odds starter. The store at number 12 remains one of the finest patisseries around, while number 6 produces sweet souvenir treats for the folks back home.

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