The love for bread has significantly varied and changed over the past five years or so.
Some years ago, many people liked their bread pre-cut, soft and not too gooey, hence sourdough wasn’t too much welcome. Nowadays, most bakeries popping up in Brussels have at least one type of sourdough bread to offer, and even people at home try to make their own.
While the list of good bakeries in Brussels is non-exhaustive, below is a short list with a few around the city that are worth a visit. Other great bakeries are: Hoppla Geiss, Matinal, Boulengier, Ginkgo, La Boule, and more.
1. La Fleur du Pain
Located right next to Place Flagey, you´ll spot this little bakery easily on a Saturday morning – the line of people waiting to grab one of the delicious baguettes, brioches, or savoury treats is unmissable. The French baking chef Laurent Richard has been in Brussels since 1990, bringing the best of French baking to the European capital. I tried a very nice olive focaccia, their baguette, and another savoury pastry with goat cheese and ham, and I would’ve liked to buy much more. They also have a choice of breads made from different flours such as rye or spelt, different sorts of baguette, éclairs, fancy little cakes, and much more you should discover.
Price Range: Baguette around 2€, breads 2-5€
2. Boulangerie Gâteau
Baptiste, who is French and the owner of Gateau, is happy to tell you his stories about bread and to introduce you to the secrets of good baking. When you enter the boulangerie-pâtisserie, you’ll be greeted by a large black cupboard with a selection of different breads (with grains, nuts, dried fruit, and made from sourdough and spelt, rye, wheat, or other flours) and, of course, a baguette, either the traditional or the longer version of it, the Ficelle.
The pain au chocolat I tried here was exceptional; all buttery, very crispy, and the chocolate inside was delicious. The baguette reminded me of France; all gooey and elastic inside and super crispy on the outside. If you feel like something healthier, made from darker flour, try the Scandinavian bread, made from rye, spelt, and some wheat flour with apricots and cranberries. The éclairs are equally not to miss. I tried one with a vanilla filling and chocolate glazing.
Be aware that on weekends, lines become long and bread disappears quickly. So either be early, or preorder.
Baguette artisanale 1,70€, pain au chocolat 1,30€, breads 3-5€
3. Boulangerie Charli
This bakery in St Catherine offers a huge variety of freshly baked breads made from all kinds of flours and containing all sorts of grains, fruits, and nuts. One of my favs here is the Tarte Tatin. The apples were soft, almost falling apart, caramelized but not too sweet, and the bottom was buttery, crumbly, and delicious. They have a wide range of sourdough breads and others, and I also tried their brioche, which was very fresh and fluffy even a day later.
They have two places, directly opposite each other, one focused on sweet, the other on salty things. If you’re interested, you can peek into their kitchen, where all the magic is happening.
Price Range: piece of cake 3-5€, Brioche 3,5€, bread 3-5€
4. Renard Bakery
It´s hard to pass this place without recognising it, let alone entering. Their tarts are presented right at the entry, filled with fruit, chocolate, and other delicious ingredients. They sell all kinds of breads, brioche, tarts, croissants, sandwiches, and even jams. I haven’t tried their cakes yet, but the artisanal baguette, their Madeleines, Croissants, and one of these waffle sandwiches filled with heavy vanilla cream. Everything here looks very appealing, and it is hard to resist, believe me.
Price Range: Baguette artisanale 1,70€
5. Pâtisserie Garcia
Portugal in Brussels. While you can’t travel to Portugal at the moment, you can catapult yourself there gastronomically. Pâtisserie Garcia, or Pastelaria Garcia, is a very authentic Portuguese spot in Brussels. It’s unpretentious, people are very nice, prices are more than fair, and the coffee and food are great. I used to sit down at one of the tiled tables with a view facing the inside of Pâtisserie Garcia.
It’s kept in dark blue and white colours with a few traditional and nice elements, such as a small fountain attached to the wall. The waiters speak French or Portuguese, depending on what you prefer, and are fast and friendly. We ordered a Portuguese coffee with milk (or as they call it: Galao), two Pastel de Nata, a ham and cheese croissant, and a thick piece of toast with salted butter on it. All simple but delicious and enjoyed in a great atmosphere.
Just next to it, on the corner of the street, is their bakery offering even more pastries, bread, and savoury produce. The decoration is similar to the café, so once you enter, you are leaving Brussels and visiting Portugal. I immediately fell in love with both places, and I think you will, too.
