Announcement!
It all began in 1912, when chocolatier Jean Neuhaus created the first praline in the Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert. Since then, the Belgian capital has become one of the world’s centres of chocolate craftsmanship. Today, more than 150 companies and around 200 shops and boutiques in Brussels are connected to chocolate production.
On the last weekend of March, Brussels invites residents and visitors to a “sweet stroll” – the BXL Gourmand chocolate route. On 28 and 29 March, the city centre will turn into a real paradise for chocolate lovers as a dozen renowned chocolatiers open their doors to treat visitors to pralines, chocolate bars and other delicacies.
The route can be followed at your own pace: simply pick up a map or open it on your smartphone and move from one chocolate stop to another. Along the way, guests can enjoy tastings, hear chocolatiers talk about their craft and even step into workshops normally closed to the public – the very places where pralines are made.
The map also highlights artisan bakeries and pâtisseries featured in the Tartine & Boterham guide, perfect places to finish the walk with a cup of coffee and some freshly baked treats.
Link:
https://events.localguide.brussels/…/bxl…/register
Among the participants are both renowned chocolate houses and a new generation of artisan workshops. For example, the well-known Belgian chocolatier Pierre Marcolini invites visitors to taste his pralines made from cocoa beans sourced from different parts of the world. Chocolatier Laurent Gerbaud surprises with unusual combinations of chocolate with dried fruit and spices, while at The Belgian Chocolate Makers visitors can learn how cocoa beans are transformed into finished chocolate using the bean-to-bar method, from roasting to the final bar. In the new boutique Plaisirs Chocolatés guests will be able to see the process of making pralines on site, and chocolatier Arthur Amblard will present his line of chocolate without added sugar. Incidentally, he received this year’s Grand Prix “Breakthrough of the Year 2026”. The 2026 honorary prize went to Frédéric Blondeel.
The route also passes through some of Brussels’ legendary chocolate houses. Among them is Wittamer, which has been operating for more than a century, as well as the famous brands Mary Chocolatier and Elisabeth Chocolatier. Here visitors can taste classic Belgian pralines, hot chocolate and other sweets the city is famous for. According to the organisers of BXL Gourmand, the main aim of the route is to give residents and tourists the opportunity to rediscover Brussels through taste.
My husband used to court me with chocolate from his favourite boutique, Elisabeth Chocolatier in Antwerp (there is also one in Brussels). My personal favourite is Laurent Gerbaud — his boutique is opposite BOZAR, and you really should try the praline with buckwheat. And it is simply impossible not to fall under the charm of Pierre Marcolini (although on 13 March I managed to oversleep a visit to his workshop — scheduling it for 8 a.m. felt rather inhumane).
Ten chocolatiers in the capital are taking part in the route, including several artisans from the Tartine & Boterham 2026 selection as well as a number of iconic chocolate houses.
Among the participants:
Pierre Marcolini – boutique at Place du Sablon
Laurent Gerbaud – known for bold combinations of dried fruits and spices
Wittamer – legendary chocolate house since 1910
Atelier Sainte‑Catherine
The Belgian Chocolate Makers – bean-to-bar chocolate production
Arthur Amblard – chocolate without added sugar
Plaisirs Chocolatés – new chocolate workshop
Passion Chocolat
Mary Chocolatier
Elisabeth Chocolatier