- 1
Grand Place
Meet your guide in front of the City Hall tower on Grand Place/Grote Markt, the heart of Brussels and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Learn about the square's history, from its 11th-century marketplace origins to its stunning Baroque reconstruction after the 1695 bombardment. Understand how its rich trading history paved the way for Belgium's chocolate legacy.
Discover how Brussels became a central hub for cocoa trade and how early innovators perfected the praline, establishing the city as a global chocolate capital.
· 15 min
- 2
Covered Shopping Arcade
Step into Europe's oldest covered shopping arcade, an architectural gem opened in 1847.
Admire the elegant neoclassical facades and soaring glass ceiling, a favored location for Brussels' premier chocolatiers.
Understand how the arcade's grandeur contributed to chocolate's image as a symbol of luxury and refinement in Belgian culture, noting its connection to the invention of the praline.
· 15 min
- 3
Herman Van Dender
Visit Herman Van Dender, a respected chocolatier and baker to the Belgian royal family, recognized as the best chocolatier in Brussels by Gault&Millau in 2023.
Your guide will explain the elements that define exceptional chocolate, from cacao quality to ganache balance.
Taste for yourself why this establishment has earned its prestigious royal reputation.
· 10 min
- 4
Corné Dynastie
Experience the heritage of Corné Dynastie, a family-run chocolate business in Brussels for over a century and five generations.
Savor pralines made using traditional recipes and techniques passed down through the family.
Potentially meet the chocolatier and learn about a craft honed over a hundred years.
· 10 min
- 5
Mary Chocolatier
Discover Mary Chocolatier, founded in 1919 by the city's first female chocolatier.
Learn about the founder's pioneering spirit, her unique packaging designs, and how Mary became the first house to receive an official royal warrant.
Taste pralines from a historic maison that significantly shaped the perception of Belgian luxury chocolate.
· 10 min
- 6
Choco-story Brussels
Potentially visit a working chocolate atelier to witness the chocolate-making process from cacao bean to finished bar.
Observe the intricate steps of melting, tempering, and molding chocolate, a process rarely seen by the public.
Note that this visit depends on the atelier's opening hours and production schedule on the day of the tour.
· 10 min
- 7
Pierre Marcolini
Explore Pierre Marcolini, a celebrated name in the international chocolate scene, known for treating chocolate as fine art.
Learn about Marcolini's pioneering role in the bean-to-bar movement, emphasizing ethical cacao sourcing and complete production control.
Taste meticulously crafted chocolates that are precise, refined, and beautifully presented.
· 10 min
- 8
Laurent Gerbaud Chocolatier
Conclude your tasting experience at a final chocolatier, selected by your guide, which may include Laurent Gerbaud.
Savor pralines known for their unique Asian-inspired flavors.
Enjoy a sweet ending to your delicious exploration of Brussels' chocolate artistry.
· 10 min