A weekend in Brussels isn't complete without a coffee and a morning pastry. But the Belgian capital has such an abundance of bakeries it can be hard to know where to go.
The Brussels Times has therefore created a guide of the best bakeries Brussels has to offer, dotted across the city's municipalities, from Schaerbeek in the north to Forest in the south. Each of the bakeries below features a delicious display of freshly-baked bread and buttery, flakey pastries and there are also some with gluten-free goods too.
Breadwinners
Renard
Just off a corner of the cosmopolitan Place Fernand Cocq is Renard – famous among locals and a victim of its own success, with long queues stretching along the pavement at the weekends. We promise it's worth the wait though, because a mouthwatering counter of crisp pastries, loaded focaccias and quiches and artisanal loaves will greet you as you pass through the doors.
Credit: Renard / The Brussels Times
The team working behind the counter are also a delight and service is surprisingly quick and well-organised for the number of people packed in the tiny shop. Get there early to avoid the queues, or if you'd prefer a lie-in, you can even place an order online!
Place Fernand Cocq 3, Ixelles 1050. Open every day. Find more information here.
Boulengier
A stone's throw away from the Parvis de Saint-Gilles, this old fashioned pub-turned-bakery offers a fantastic selection of freshly baked bread and pastries as well as sandwiches.
Credit: Boulengier
The artisanal goods are made exclusively with seasonal produce and everything is baked on-site by an expert French baker. It is very popular among locals, and can often be seen with queues of Saint-Gilloises waiting to pick up their daily bread on weekends.
Avenue Jean Volders, 11, Saint-Gilles 1060. Open Tuesday to Sunday. Find more information here.
Pinpin
Pinpin is one for those who are feeling more adventurous and pushing the boundaries of bread making. This bakery's loaves are packed with exotic flavours adapted to the season, from kimchi and carrot top pesto and candied lemon, to apricot and almond, and broccoli and pesto.
Credit: Pinpin
Pinpin places an additional emphasis on environmentally-friendly baking, with locally-sourced Belgian produce, production quantity adapted according to events and weather to minimise unsold items and food waste, and deliveries on bike or on foot.
Rue Blaes 152, City of Brussels 1000. Open Thursday to Sunday. Find more information here.
Aube
A hidden gem in the depths of southern Brussels, Aube is famed for its perfectly baked sourdough, made on-site in an open workshop using 100% organic flour and natural yeast, according to traditional methods. The renovated former garage also offers a wide range of mouthwatering pastries, focaccia, sandwiches and seasonal snacks, all served with a smile.
Credit: Aube
Order online in advance to skip the queues or spend a leisurely morning sipping on a coffee on-site in the sun – and you might even catch our Edior in Chief picking up his weekend croissant!
Boulevard Guillaume Van Haelen 6, Forest 1190. Open Friday to Tuesday. Find more information here.
Soleil
Heading up to the north of Brussels, Soleil is located just around the corner from Schaerbeek's town hall, filling the square with the delicious aroma of freshly-baked baguettes, focaccia, brioche, cardamom rolls, cookies and cinnamon buns. Its owner, Antoine Martinot, has set himself apart from others with his later 10:00 opening times.
Credit: Soleil
Also emphasising environmentally-friendly baking, Martinot has a limited product range without compromising on quality. For him, long fermentation times and additive-free flour are an essential part of the sourdough-making process. Don't drop in too late in the day, because this spot is popular among locals and sells out quickly.
Place Colignon 32, Schaerbeek 1030. Open Wednesday to Saturday. Find more information here.
Gluten-free goodness
Chambelland
Can't eat gluten? Look no further! Chambelland first popped up in Paris just over ten years ago, a bakery whose signature product was an organic, naturally gluten-free rice bread. Since then, it has grown considerably, spreading to warm, lively neighbourhoods in Luxembourg, Lausanne and Brussels, but still "firmly rooted in a sustainable development approach."
Credit: Chambelland
The shops also offer a selection of gluten-free pastries, tarts and choux made from our rice and buckwheat flours, giving a new twist to old favourites with novel flavours. They even offer cakes for special occasions, serving up to 18 guests and made to order.
Avenue de l'Université 42, Ixelles 1050. Open Monday to Sunday. Find more information here.
Kapa
On a quiet, unassuming street corner in Schaerbeek is Kapa. Launched in 2023 by Sofia and Antreas Nikidimas from Athens, the Greek-inspired bakery Kapa quickly became a huge success and established itself as the flagship bakery in local neighbourhood. "The name comes from Kappa, the Greek letter K, which is the first letter of the words croissant, coffee and heart (κρουασάν, καφές, καρδιά)," Sofia told Sudinfo in an interview.
Credit: The Brussels Times
Kapa immediately won over residents with its wide selection of fresh drinks, pastries, sandwiches, salads and vegan and gluten-free items, homemade desserts and Brussels artisan ice cream. For their speciality coffee, the managers travel to Brazil and Ethiopia to source the best possible Fair Trade coffee beans. The golden, flaky spanakopita is worth a special mention, made fresh daily with crisp spinach, creamy feta, and aromatic herbs, all wrapped in filo. "It's been one of our best sellers since we opened, and it's easy to see why."
Avenue de Roodebeek 1, Schaerbeek 1030. Open Tuesday to Sunday. Find more information here.
Career change?
La Boule
After 20 years as a graphic designer, Brussels-born Vincent De Troy caught the baking bug. He donned an apron and opened the family-run La Boule in 2018, which has since become one of Saint-Gilles' most popular spots. He prides himself on sourdough made with additive-free Belgian flour, pastries, baguettes, brownies and chouquettes. The Brussels Times can also confirm that the Breton Kouign-amann is unparalleled.
Credit: La Boule
De Troy moved to a brand new workshop in September 2023, with a trendy minimalistic style where customers at the counter can look down to the floor below and see the bakers at work. The bakery is just a stone's throw away from Brussels-Midi – making it the perfect place to pick up a pastry before catching a train.
Rue de Mérode 100, Saint-Gilles 1060. Open Thursday to Monday. Find more information here.
Brood
In 2021 during the pandemic, Stéphanie Browaeys left her job in finance to teach herself baking. Originally from Oudenaarde, near Ghent, Browaeys honed her skills, developed her knowledge and forged links with local producers before opening Brood in the Brugmann district of Brussels in 2022. Placing particular emphasis on sustainability and quality over quantity, she uses additive-free flours and opts for long fermentation times.
Credit: Brood
The deliberately limited range consists of a few types of bread and pastries: salted caramel and peanut rolls, pain au chocolat, croissants, spelt bread and the signature bread. Following its success, the shop moved to Rue Darwin in October 2024, a few hundred metres from her workshop, where everything is still produced on site.
Rue Darwin 38, Ixelles 1050. Open Wednesday to Sunday. Find more information here.
Piece of cake
Ginkgo
Ginkgo first opened the doors of its historic Saint-Gilles premises in December 2017. Branded as more of a pâtisserie (cake shop), this establishment offers a wide selection of seasonal treats, handmade by a team of passionate pastry chefs with years of experience. However, 2025 marked a major turning point for Ginkgo, as they now also bake their own natural sourdough. Fancy a lie-in? Orders of €20 and over can be delivered to your door.
Credit: Ginkgo - Artisan pâtissier
And now that summer has well and truly arrived in Brussels, be sure not to miss Gingko's gourmet ice cream, made using high-quality ingredients.
Place Julien Dillens 8, Saint-Gilles 1060. Open Tuesday to Saturday. Find more information here.
