Shopping in Belgium
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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.
reviewed
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Stadsfeestzaal
The 19th-century neoclassical architecture of this former city festival hall is jaw-dropping, particularly when viewed from the champagne-glass-shaped platform rising beneath its glass roof. It contains a shopping mall, but the building is the real star.
reviewed
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Bottle Shop
Not your typical off-licence - this shop goes to town with copious quantities of beer, jenever (gin) and mineral waters, all displayed in slick surroundings.
reviewed
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Neuhaus
Framed by stained-glass windows, this is the original shop of the inventor of the praline, opened in 1857.
reviewed
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Dr Vinyl
Not just a music shop, you can also check out what's happening in the nightclub scene at Dr Vinyl.
reviewed
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De Biertempel
Beer specialist shop where you can even pick up a well-priced bottle of Westvleteren.
reviewed
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Place Jourdan Market
Place Jourdan hosts a small Sunday morning market selling food and clothes.
reviewed
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International Magazine Store
The place for foreign and local newspapers and top-selling magazines.
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De Slegte
Second-hand books, including English-language novels.
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Delhaize
Supermarket in St Andries.
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Diamond District
Immediately southwest of Centraal Station is the Diamond District. The first things most people see of this quarter are the gold and diamond shops newly located inside Centraal Station. Here you'll find people from all over the world, including plenty of newly engaged Brits (prices here average 30% lower than in UK High Sts) browsing the bright lights and gleaming displays.
But outside, it's a vastly different world. Orthodox Jewish men clad in distinctive black coats and hats shuffle around the lacklustre quarter, traders with briefcases handcuffed to their wrists hurry into diamond exchanges and armed guards keep watch over the little huddle of streets where…
reviewed
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Tierenteyn-Verlent
Ghent’s traditional mustard-maker, the 1790-established Tierenteyn-Verlent, has occupied this heritage-listed shop since 1860, and it retains its original interior of tall glass cabinets of apothecary and spice jars behind varnished timber counters. Mustard is still made using original techniques and only natural ingredients: vinegar, salt and ground mustard seeds. Each jar comes with its own little wooden spoon (plastic spoons can also be used, but not metal, as it separates the vinegar).
reviewed
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Tierenteyn-Verlent
Ghent's traditional mustard-maker, the 1790-established Tierenteyn-Verlent, has occupied this heritage-listed shop since 1860, and it retains its original interior of tall glass cabinets of apothecary and spice jars behind varnished timber counters. Mustard is still made using original techniques and only natural ingredients: vinegar, salt and ground mustard seeds. Each jar comes with its own little wooden spoon (plastic spoons can also be used, but not metal, as it separates the vinegar).
reviewed
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2be
Occupying a 15th-century Gothic mansion, this sleek emporium stocks a tantalising array of artisan chocolates, wines, jenevers, conserves, sweets, biscuits and other 100% Belgian goodies including a superb selection of beers, such as the local Brugse Zot, which you can try at the canalside café. Ask staff to fill you in on the escapades of the resident ghost of Perez de Malvenda, the former Spanish mayor whose house this mansion once was.
reviewed
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Galerie d'Ixelles
The most interesting of the Upper Town arcades is the tiny Galerie d'Ixelles. Although not far from Ave Louise, this gallery and its continuation, Galerie de la Porte de Namur, are culturally a world away, located in the Matonge quarter, home to Brussels' Congolese community. Mainstays here include pint-sized shops selling African cloth, Kinshasa's latest CD imports and hairdressing salons with names like 'Dream Hair' or 'The New Image of Black Men'.
reviewed
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2BE
Occupying a 15th-century Gothic mansion, this sleek emporium stocks a tantalising array of artisan chocolates, wines, jenevers, conserves, sweets, biscuits and other 100% Belgian goodies including a superb selection of beers, such as the local Brugse Zot, which you can try at the canalside café. Ask staff to fill you in on the escapades of the resident ghost of Perez de Malvenda, the former Spanish mayor whose house this mansion once was.
reviewed
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Gare du Midi Market
Said to be the biggest market in Europe, this sprawl of colourful stalls next to the railway lines has an international flavour, with exotic North African and Mediterranean spices, cheeses, meats, clothing, leather goods and everything else under the sun. Its food stands, selling bites like Moroccan crêpes with cheese, honey and vegetables along with mint tea, are a favourite with clubbers winding down from Saturday night.
reviewed
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Stadsfeestzaal
The 19th-century neoclassical architecture of this former city festival hall is jaw-dropping, particularly when viewed from the champagne-glass-shaped platform rising beneath its glass roof. The historic building was gutted by fire in 2001, and reopened in late 2007 as an ultra-upmarket shopping mall extending from the Meir south to Hopland, but the luxe boutiques are a bonus – the restored building is the real star.
reviewed
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Crush Wine
Brussels is too self-respecting to have a Fosters-spouting Aussie-theme bar, but international enough to have this wondrous cellar stocking over 190 Australian wines (the most comprehensive selection in Europe). Look out for rare drops from Tasmania and deliberate over dozens of Margaret River reds. There are daily tastings and tapas and regular wine events; call ahead for its schedule of Saturday openings.
reviewed
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Temmerman
Glass jars filled with sweets line up behind the counter of this old-fashioned sweet shop, which has been in its current location since 1904, and is run by the eighth generation of this family of confectioners. All of its sweets are made by the family’s factory, including typically Belgian neuzekes (hard, triangular cherry-red ‘noses’ filled with soft jelly) and mokke (aniseed biscuits).
reviewed
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Temmerman
Run by the 8th generation of this family of confectioners, glass jars filled with sweets line up behind the counter of this old-fashioned sweet shop, which has been in its current location since 1904. All of its sweets are made by the family's factory, including typically Belgian neuzekes (hard, triangular cherry-red 'noses' filled with soft jelly) and mokke (aniseed biscuits).
reviewed
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Galerie de la Porte de Namur
The continuation of Galerie d'Ixelles is Galerie de la Porte de Namur. Although not far from Ave Louise, this gallery and tiny Galerie d'Ixelles are located in the Matonge quarter, home to Brussels' Congolese community. Mainstays here include pint-sized shops selling African cloth, Kinshasa's latest CD imports and hairdressing salons with names like 'Dream Hair' or 'The New Image of Black Men'.
reviewed
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Galeries St-Hubert
Opened in 1847, Europe’s first-ever covered shopping gallery comprises three connecting arcades beneath its vaulted glass roof: Galerie du Roi, Galerie de la Reine and the smaller, perpendicular Galerie des Princes. Between them, the arcades contain a cinema, theatre, cafés and some wonderful shops selling chocolate, books and music, fashion and accessories (including Belgian Delvaux handbags).
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Office of Walloon Products
Walloon specialities such as pèkèt, chocolate, Liège syrup (dense jam made of apples or pears), Aubel cider, Trappist beers, salt meats and Herve cheese can be found at the Office of Walloon Products. And not only perishable goods; Walloon cookbooks, puppets and other souvenirs are available. What's not on the shelf for instant gratification you can order.
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Chocolate Line
Bruges has 50 chocolate shops, but just five where chocolates are handmade on the premises. Of those, the Chocolate Line is the brightest and best. Wildly experimental flavours by ‘shock-o-latier’ Dominique Persoone include bitter Coca-Cola, and black olive, tomato and basil; it also sells pots of chocolate body-paint (complete with a brush). Opening hours fluctuate.
reviewed