Brussels Shopping

Wittamer is the ultimate in chocolate sophistication, but that might not prevent you from wanting to scoff a few of their finest pralines, in one go! A pretty, fuchsia and taupe café upstairs is perfect for afternoon tea and a selection of patisserie goods well worth blowing your diet for.

Where: Place du Grand Sablon 6-12-13, 1000 Brussels, +32 (0) 2 512 37 42

Find truckloads of fresh fruit and veg at the Marché du Midi on Sunday mornings. A step up in price (but not necessarily in quality) is trendy Marché du Châtelain from 1pm till late on Wednesday afternoons. Even if you don't buy anything, stick around for a jovial after-market tipple. For top-end victuals, serious foodies swear by épicerie fine Rob. Longer lasting market finds are at antiquey Sablon and junky Jeu de Balle.

Where: Rob, Boulevard de la Woluwe 28, 1150 Brussels, +32 (0) 2 771 20 60

Hergé (1907-1983) created Tintin, the snooping, spiky-haired reporter, in Brussels. The city is definitely cartoon-strip mad – with a Cartoon Strip Museum, cartoon-strip murals criss-crossing the city and this colourful store selling everything from Tintin books to watches, T-shirts and key-rings.

Where: Rue de la Colline 13, 1000 Brussels, +32 (0) 2 514 51 52

Tintin website

… because you'll love Polish-born, Brussels-based Aleksandra Paszkowska's easy basics and quirky concepts (a change from the usual). Pick up her 'instant party dress' to avert wardrobe emergencies; a cotton summer frock and pop-up crinoline tightly packed into an xs carrier bag. Hunting for edgier designer wares? The Dansaert area is sure to deliver.

Where: Y dress?, Rue Antoine Dansaert 102, 1000 Brussels, +32 (0) 2 502 69 81

Y dress? website

Inaugurated by Léopold I in 1846, this smart, glass-topped mall is one of Europe's first covered shopping arcades. Split into royal galleries (Galerie du Roi, Galerie de la Reine and Galeries des Princes), you'll find Delvaux handbags and scarves, Ciel Mes Bijoux costume jewellery, Belgian lace or Neuhaus chocolates. Then pause for coffee, sticky cakes and people-watching.

Where: enter through the Rue de la Montagne or Rue des Bouchers, 1000 Brussels

My wife told me to bring some Brussels lace back for her and I really thought this would be difficult for me to do. But I must say that I was really surprised by the quantity of different laces and the help I received. I went to the Rubbrecht lace store on the main square. Really quite a place to visit! The staff were really helpful and the shop stocks a lot of accesories and lace-related gifts. James Howard, Dublin

Where: Rubbrecht, Grand-place 23, 1000 Brussels, + 32 (0) 2 512 02 18

My friend took me to DOD, a big brands outlet with several locations in Brussels. There are separate shops for men, women and children and they have opened two more for shoes and lingerie. I got designer goodies for the whole family. Myriam Stallart, Kent

DOD website

Pierre Marcolini is to chocolate what Chanel is to couture. Need I say more? His black boutique on Grand Sablon Square is my absolute favourite. Anne-Marie, Richmond

Where: Pierre Marcolini chocolatier, Rue des Minimes 1, 1000 Bruxelles, +32 (0) 2 514 12 06