Move over Willy Wonka, we’ve found the best chocolate in the world and it lives in Bruges. With hundreds of flavours to try including chilli truffle, peppermint praline and even a chocolate shooter, Bruges is home to the best chocolatiers around. Discover the best chocolate shops in Bruges.
There are only a handful of times throughout the year when it’s deemed socially acceptable to gorge on chocolate until you end up in a sugary coma in front of the TV: Christmas, Easter and your birthday. However, if you’re planning a trip to Bruges you might want to make an exception. Home to charming canals, mythical medieval streets and the best Belgian beer cellars, Bruges is the perfect city for a weekend getaway — especially for chocolate lovers (think Valentines Day and Easter).
Chocolate shops in Bruges are believed to be the best in the world — where better to sample Belgian chocolate than Belgium itself? Brussels might have an annual Chocolate Fair but Bruges houses the original ‘Choco-Story’ museum, where you can see how cocoa beans are transformed into tasty Belgian chocolate.
The chocolate shops are all located in the heart of Bruges so be sure to stay at one of the many hotels positioned along the medieval streets. We’d recommend the Hotel Dukes’ Palace if you’d like somewhere with original decor and a classic 15th century style that reflects the charm of the historic streets. Martin’s Relais is also a top pick for those who prefer classic architecture. These 17th-century canal houses boast waterside views and are only a short walk to the Market Square. Alternatively, if you’d prefer something a little more modern, check out Hotel Van Cleef. This boutique hotel promises guests a stylish stay in Bruges with a library, spa and canal-side terrace adding to the experience.
Rumour has it, even Colin Farrell stopped by a few chocolate shops when filming ‘In Bruges’. If it’s good enough for a Hollywood movie star…
CHOCO-STORY MUSEUM
Where: Huis de Crone, Wijnzakstraat 2, 8000 Brugge
- Opening times: 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. daily and 10 a.m. till 6 p.m. throughout July and August
- Entrance fee: Adults €8, Groups, 65+, Student €7, Children (6–11) €5, free to children under six years old. Book tickets through the official website.
Dive into the world of chocolate with Choco-Story, Bruges must-see chocolate museum. Whether you wish to learn how your favourite food is made through in-house demonstrations or want to get hands on at a praline-making workshop, the museum has something for every chocoholic.
Take a trip through the cocoa bean’s 4,000 year history from Aztec times through to the present day, with demonstrations, displays and of course plenty of samples along the way. You’ll come across giant sculptures made entirely of chocolate, learn about its health benefits (yes, really) and discover how cocoa was used as an offering to the gods. And, if you really want to make the trip educational, peruse the library which contains books on chocolate and cocoa.
Visit the museum on Easter weekend to experience a chocolate extravaganza. With workshops across the course of the weekend including truffle and mendiant making and enough chocolate samples to make Bruce Bogtrotter jealous, a day at Choco-Story is sure to leave you in a sugar coma.
THE CHOCOLATE LINE
- Where: Simon Stevinplein 19, 8000 Brugge, Belgium
- Opening times: 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. 10.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Sunday and Monday.
- Best for: Testing your taste-buds with unusual flavours such as Wasabi, Saffron Curry and even a chocolate shooter where you can ‘catapult a little of our cocoa-herb mix directly into the nose’.
If you are a true chocolate connoisseur, you’ll have heard of Dominque Persoone. Head of the ‘Guild of Bruges Chocolatiers’, Dominque leads the way in chocolate making with his world famous ‘The Chocolate Line’ artisan shops. With locations in Bruges, Antwerp and even a plantation in Mexico, this guy is the chocolate expert — so you’re guaranteed delicious chocolate no matter what obscure flavour you try.
Head along to the shop on Simon Stevinplein 19 in Bruges which promises customers the full chocolate experience where they can watch the roasting, peeling and crushing of cocoa beans as they are transformed into chocolate. Dominque Persoone is known for his daring ingredients which include Coca-Cola, Cuban cigar and guacamole flavoured chocolate as well as an unusual marzipan with black-olive purée combo.
What’s more, the Chocolate Line windows are renowned for over-the-top, eye-catching displays that will convince even the healthiest of passers-by to stop by for a few sweet treats. Previous displays have included giant chocolate boots filled with — you guessed it — piles of chocolate; toothy piranhas whose bulging eyes peer over classic sea-shell pralines and life-sized poodles made entirely of chocolate along with carefully crafted chocolate poo to match. It’s no wonder Mr Persoone is known as the ‘shock-o-latier’.
DUMON
- Where: Simon Stevinplein 11, 8000 Brugge
- Opening times: 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. daily
- Best for: Classic flavours with no frills
Head further along Simon Stevinplein and you’ll come across Dominque Persoone’s biggest rival Dumon Chocolatier. Equally as tasty and extravagant, Dumon boasts fresh, raw ingredients and original flavours, which according to the official website will ‘ravish you in the best way possible’.
Stephan Dumon began his chocolate journey with a small shop in his garage after graduating from Bruges’ ‘Ter Groene Poorte’ school where he became a chocolatier extraordinaire. Since then, Dumon has acquired a number of shops, one of which is located in Hong Kong. The store in Simon Stevinplein Square is the most popular of his three Bruges stores with additional locations in Eiermarkt and Walstraat as well as spots elsewhere in Belgium.
Visit Dumon if you’re a fan of classic flavours, quirky figurines and too-pretty-to-eat choc-o-bars, all of which make ideal gifts. There’s even sugar-free options for the health conscious millennial.
THE OLD CHOCOLATE HOUSE
- Where: Mariastraat 1, 8000 Brugge
- Opening times: 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (tearoom closes at 5.30 p.m.) daily
- Best for: ‘Real’ hot chocolate
The Old Chocolate House is the brain child of Françoise Thomaes who began his business as a small chocolate store, famous for its rich, ‘real’ hot chocolate. Nowadays the shop still attracts chocolate fans who crave ‘real’ hot chocolate but has added more items to the menu including waffles, flavoured gingerbread, marzipan and chocolate slabs.
Pop into the store to pick up chocolate, truffles, pralines and baked treats. With a sign that reads ‘The Place to Be To Drink The Best Hot Chocolate’ above the door and a chocolate brown exterior that almost looks edible (if only), The Old Chocolate House is sure to remain a firm favourite with locals and tourists for years to come.
Be sure to stop off at the tearoom inside to enjoy Baileys, Jamaican or ‘Forbidden’ hot chocolate along with one of ‘Grandmothers Waffles’ which include jam, chocolate, butterscotch and whipped cream fillings — better loosen that belt.
PRALINETTE
- Where: Wollestraat 31b, 8000 Bruges
- Opening times: 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. daily
- Best for: Chocolate making demonstrations
Enjoy an interactive experience at Pralinette, where you can watch Fangio De Baets and his team of chocolatiers hand craft pralines, truffles, seashells and even chocolate paste using traditional methods. The ‘Pralinette’ recipe, made simply of real butter, fresh cream and original chocolate (no artificial additives) is the key to De Baets success, even allowing him to develop his own brand of dark chocolate as a result. The shop works closely with Cacao Barry and Callebaut to ensure it sources the very best cocoa beans from around the world.
With over 80 different flavours to try, you’ll spend longer deciding what to buy than you will eating it. Look out for unique creations such as chocolate seafood as well as more traditional flavours including white, milk and dark truffle boxes.
CONFISERIE DE CLERCK
- Where: Academiestraat 19, 8000 Brugge
- Opening times: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. then 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, closed Tuesday and Sunday.
- Best for: Cheaper prices that don’t compromise on quality
If you’d like to avoid the crowds, stay clear of the Market Place and instead walk to Academiestraat where you’ll find Confiserie De Clerck, a family-run sweet shop that has been around for about 100 years. Naturally a shop that old is the place to go for confectionery classics. Expect to see kletskoppen (a cookie made of almonds and cinnamon) and poeptjes (mini pancakes) as well as an abundance of chocolate figurines which include ducks, sheep and bunnies. There’s also a long list of truffle flavours to pick from such as cherry liqueur as well as fudge and mountains of sugary jelly sweets.
Confiserie De Clerck is Bruges old-school confectioner — shelves filled with every sort of chocolate and candy imaginable — so give it a visit if the sight of sweets makes you burst into song à la Charlie and the Chocolate Factory… ’cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good’.
Have you visited any of Bruges chocolate shops? Which was your favourite? Tweet us @travioor or post a comment on Travioor’s Facebook page and tell us about your experience.
Originally published at www.travioor.com.
