Wittamer — Restaurant in Brussels

Wittamer Pastries is a prestigious patisserie located in Brussels, and we were told we must visit it as part of our recent adventure.

Established in 1910, Wittamer proudly displays that it holds the esteemed title of "Purveyor to the Court of Belgium," a mark of its exceptional quality and royal approval. When I asked how they got it, I was informed “the King buys his cakes here.”

The patisserie also wins awards for their croissants, and the shop itself is a feast for the eyes with so much deliciousness on display. We were told it is well known for its artisanal craftsmanship and high-quality ingredients. When my life flashes before my eyes, I hope I can remember the things I ate today from their shop.

I got one of their croissants, an amazing invention called a “Fraisier”, another called a “Macaron Joy” and I wish I’d just bought one of everything.

By the time I got the the foyer of one of the EU parliament and waiting for the main building to open, I sat down in the foyer and got to enjoy the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted in my life. This was before an angry security guard came over and told me directly that I wasn’t allowed to eat there. I was basically finished by then, so when he waddled triumphantly back to his desk to celebrate a job well done and eat something and sip from his water bottle, I decided for freedom and democracy I would finish the last of the Fraisier. It was an amazing dessert that looked like a strawberry and tasted like something made by an artisan for a King or gift to a god.

Maybe if who gets to eat and who doesn’t wasn’t inconsistently applied, the UK wouldn’t have voted for Brexit, I think to myself.

I reflected that while I was sitting in a building aimed at celebrating European cultural exchange, bringing people together around shared ideals of peace, unity, solidarity and shared understandings - I could have just stayed at Wittamer’s and celebrated all of those things while overlooking pastries not politics.

Less Emmanuel Macron more delicious macarons might have kept the UK from voting for Brexit.

If the UK decides to rejoin the EU, I’m confident it will be so their elected officials can head to Brussels and stop by Wittamer’s for a croissant and a box of tasty treats.

Their first vote will be to change the eating rules in the foyer, boldly declaring the often misunderstood and incorrectly attributed “Let them eat cake!” Adding the condition “…preferably from Wittamer!”

This place was a definite highlight,...

This is one of those places that serve to remind you that if quality matters in Brussels you should go to places where you already know what you get and not experiment. The bakery is everything but not refined as they explain on their website. The cakes are glamorized by fruits and chocolate from outside but taste too much of eggs and leave taste of disappointment after you have it. Be careful if you order cake for eat in, you will pay a different price compared to the one they labeled on the cakes inside. Their prices on the cakes inside are misleading because they only show the price for take away. Is it really difficult to put prices on the cakes both for eat in and take away? We paid 16 euros for two basic eggy cakes and 8 euros for two underaverage coffees. The waiter asked us not to move to another table again after we changed table because a lady was coughing on the table next to us. This was really impolite because of course I would move to another table if they don't care to separate the tables enough so I could feel safe. Overall, very regretting experience! I find Le Pain Quotidien which is nearby much better both for coffee and cakes and prices...

Lost glory… I come to this place since over thirty years, it always was a family thing for special occasions to get the pastry from Wittamer. Unfortunately, things are no longer the same. The shop is not so attractive anymore, the counter is less inviting. In the earlier days going in there was an experience by itself. Although some of their classics were there, I think on a Sunday morning there should have been a bit more choice. The lack of choice is already an invitation for me to go see some of their competitors. The welcoming by the staff was all but elegant. When I was hesitating between two cakes with chocolate, the impatient staff started telling me all about all the other cakes… if one hesitates about beer, why reading the wine list??? Then the staff damaged the cake as she took it out of the counter and if I had not made the remark she would have given it to me. Unacceptable. I had a look at their snacking corner, but that all but seduced me. Sorry Wittamer, you opened the door for me to go elsewhere, and even my grandmother at 88 years old agrees it is time...