Chocolatier Del Rey (Chocolate)

Lovely chocolate store and café with a luxurious and fancy vibe, both inside and out. The desserts were beautifully crafted and clearly required a lot of attention to detail. We dined in and enjoyed coffee and desserts—the service was quick and pleasant. While the portion-to-price ratio is on the high side, the taste was excellent, making it worth visiting at least once. However, given the prices, it might be more of a spot for special occasions. The coffee was decent but not exceptional.

DelRey – A Nostalgic Masterpiece of Chocolate Excellence Stepping into DelRey is like stepping into a world where craftsmanship and passion reign supreme. This iconic chocolatier in the heart of Antwerp carries an aura of nostalgic excellence, a place where time seems to honor tradition rather than change it. Every bite here is an experience—perfection wrapped in chocolate. Their chocolates aren’t just confections; they’re artistry in its purest form. The outer shell snaps delicately under your bite, revealing a silky, decadent ganache that melts effortlessly on your tongue. Whether it's the deep, velvety richness of their dark chocolate or the smooth, creamy embrace of their pralines, every piece tells a story of dedication, precision, and love for the craft. And then, there are the macarons—exceptional in every way. Light, airy, with just the right chew, each one bursts with balanced flavors that linger long after the last bite. The almond cake? Simply to die for, a masterpiece of texture and taste that feels like a warm embrace. The service is as refined as their creations—warm, hospitable, and effortlessly elegant. The ladies behind the counter embody professionalism and grace, making you feel not just like a customer, but like a guest in their world of chocolate excellence. It had been 18 years since my last visit, and yet, nothing had changed. The flavors, the passion, the pride in their work—all still there, untouched by time, as if Antwerp itself protects this little chocolate haven. For anyone visiting Antwerp, DelRey is not just a stop—it’s an experience, a journey into the soul of Belgian chocolate.

Premium café experience with top-tier pastries and drinks. At first glance, Antwerp didn’t scream “bakery mecca.” Sure, there are solid local spots scattered across the city, but nothing that truly stands out as iconic. That’s why I opted for a hidden gem that felt more relaxed, and Del Rey was the perfect sugar-fueled retreat. Their display was packed with a tempting variety of French pastries and petite cakes, and I especially appreciated the mini versions priced at just 2.5 euros. Everything I tried was fantastic—not overly sweet, but still perfectly indulgent. While Del Rey is known for its chocolates, their non-chocolate pastries were equally on point. I paired my treats with an iced hazelnut latte, one of those deconstructed versions where you can customize your syrup and sugar levels to your liking. To sweeten the deal, it came with complimentary chocolates and some adorable sugar cubes on the side. It might not have been the best latte I’ve ever had, but for the price, it felt like a steal. If you’re looking for a more low-key, less touristy spot in Antwerp, I’d highly recommend giving this café a try.

It’s my first time to buy cakes here. The cakes looks very pretty and delicious. The service is also very nice.

I visited really close to their closing time, so the showcase was already so empty, and I had to choose from whatever the leftovers. The petit four cakes were just okay, not so impressive. The chocolate tart was kind of too plain to me. The macarons were Cassis + lavender and raspberry + violet and were the best on my plate. The staff were very generous, professional, and kind to serve me when I only had about 30 minutes to finish everything before they close. I honestly expected to get kicked out. I'm glad I gave a shot and had a great experience.

Amazing place and well worth a visit. The selection of patisserie and chocolates were great, and the lady helping me was very helpful. She answered all my questions about the chocolates and was able to recommend something suitable for every flavour profile I asked for. Very impressed and I ended up coming two days in a row. Very much recommend!

I initially stopped by Chocolatier Del Rey to pick up a few gifts, but the sheer beauty and variety of their chocolates quickly tempted me further. While many shops in Belgium unfortunately lack accessibility, Del Rey exceeded my expectations. A kind staff member immediately came to assist me with my pram, making me feel incredibly welcome. Inside, the atmosphere was relaxed and inviting. The staff were incredibly patient and helpful, answering all my questions and offering thoughtful suggestions based on my preferences. The display of chocolates was simply stunning, with a wide variety of decadent and beautifully presented treats. I purchased some gift boxes and indulged myself with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic chocolates for myself….. They were absolutely divine! It's a shame they only have two shops in the world (Antwerp and Tokyo) and don't ship to the UK due to customs restrictions - as I would love to enjoy their creations more often ;-) My experience at Del Rey was truly exceptional, and I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates exceptional chocolate.

Great service . We took the eggless blackforest cake to Germany which was about a 7 hour drive and a sunny day but the cake was so well packed and it reached home safely without melting. Thank you for the packing and the helping us choose the cake for such a long drive ! We cut it the next day and was sooooo yummy!!

Amazing macarons to be found at Del Rey! Mr & I ventured outside the hotel to find this delight right on our corner. We chose our go-to flavors to really appreciate the comparison in our knowing competition for best overall Pistachio macaron & the pistachio really hit you as an afternote. Same with the Strawberry-Rose. Started out super strawberry then the floral tone hit you to finish Tender cookie part, perfect cookie to cream ratio. You've definitely got 2 fans over here! Thank you for the super welcome to the city!

Definitely my favorite dessert place in Belgium. Every time I visit Belgium I stop by the Antwerpen store abs grab some dessert dor our first night! These cakes look like art and taste like heaven! They are perfectly sweeten and very delicious!

This elegant chocolate and dessert shop is a must visit when you come to Antwerpen, Belgium. There are nice tables/seating available for you to enjoy the sweets with hot chocolate or tea if you preferred. We had some desserts and chocolates, and they are delicious.

Earl grey hot chocolate was tasty if you like milk chocolate. I wanted a more dark ghocolate flavor with a bold infusion of earl grey. Because it was so milky and sweet, it was hard to detect the earl grey. I regret not looking at the grand cru hot chocolates, where you can choose the cacao percentage. Standard eclair good cream. Standard exterior with a layer of tasty milk chocolate. Vanilla bean cream had a great eggy flavor that made me want more and more! I got a mini so it was only like 1,40 or 2 euros. Pistachio raspberry cake called the Dalia was delightful and fun! It tasted like a raspberry sherbert. Not rich like other pistachio cakes, but light. Citrusy sponge cake bottom layer with a very nutty layer of pistachio cream. Then a layer of raspberry cream and gelee on top that give the cake an ice cream sherbert taste. At the very top, they added a raspberry meringue and a minty cream. Super fun cake! Good to experience if you like fruity cakes. Martinique was milk chocolatey, with rich fillings and light chocolate cake. Easily understandable why the del rey employee said it was popular. This one may be one of my favorites since its texture is so light, and it tastes kind of like the best chocolate ice cream youve ever had. The mini version then has a chocolate topper that melts in your mouth. If i could go back, id get the bigger version of this one (which i think was about 4 euros, as opposed to the 2euros i paid for the mini). Passion fruit tart had a very bold passionfruit flavor, with 3 currants on top to add a tart taste contrast. Perfect topper is you ask me. The vibrant and lightly sweet passionfruit flavor paired well with the buttery tart below. The tart was well made, crisp exterior with a bit of cakey texture in the middle. You guys, i love fruity desserts so this one made my eyes roll back it was so good. I would get a family size of this one and horde it to myself. The taste was perfect for me, and it was so light.. I would def get this again. Chocolates: Cinnamon marzipan melted in my mouth!! Lighter tasting marzipan was a pleasant surprise. I immediately knew my other chocolates would be amazing! White chocolate jasmine had a strong floral flavor, and thus easily one of my favorites. Another favorite was the pistachio mint grand cru, which had a delightful crunchy texture and refreshing minty taste. Del Rey is just amazing. Since its just a few blocks from the train station, this shop is definitely worth a visit! I already want to go back!

The place where you will find the original handmade belgian chocolates. Del Rey is hidden in the Diamond district of Antwerp a few steps away from the Central Station. From The original chocolates to the most delicate cakes, from homemade gelato to macaroons Del Rey is the best chocolatier in Belgium. No matter how big or small every bite will blow you away. It's a bit pricey but it's an experience that you won't forget easily. Just add it to your list if you're visiting Antwerp and simply forget about Leonidas, Godiva or any other commercial Belgian chocolatier.

Bad service. 2 people saw me waiting but just chatted together with snobby expressions. I didn't get help for 10 minutes and when I finally did she was rude. No gloves handling the chocolate and I was rushed although it wasn't busy. The grand cru hot chocolate was overrated. Watered down with no flavor. Not worth it at all with so many other high quality shops in Belgium

In my opinion, no other patissier compares to this one. When I'm in Antwerp and need an indulgent pick me up, I come here and get some of their very refined hand-made pralines. They have so many different kinds. If you get a box you can ask that they omit certain types of chocolates, if you don't like them, which is nice. They have cookies, ice cream and ice cream cakes, cakes and tarts in all sizes, sweet spreads and many other goodies that are nicely displayed in the shop. For parties you can get ice cream cakes and cakes made to order in larger sizes. As kids we always got their frozen Santa ice cream cake. Those were awesome Christmases. There's a cafe next door as well, if you want a sit down experience.

Our first taste of Belgian Chocolate was at Del Rey 35 years ago. We go back every time we are in Antwerp to have a box of this amazing chocolate. Lovely shop, lovely people lovely, flavorful chocolate.

We are in Del Rey right now, and I will say that this is worth a try for people who are passing by. I really like this chocolate lounge and is somehow different from the other ones in Belgium. The smoothies are exceptionally good and the chocolates are bursting with flavor. It is a good choice if you are going to this city.