Sleeping in is not an option in Leuven: but good bread – often sold out by the time the clock strikes 12 – is worth getting up early for! After years of hard and loyal service as an economist, Marjan Bruyland grabbed an apron and plonked her sacks of flour down inside this tiny shop housed in an old train station building. After learning the ropes under her predecessor Linde Decoodt, she now kneads awesome sourdough loaves made from locally-ground, organic grains (sourced from BoerEnCompagnie), available plain or flavored (sun-dried tomatoes, mixed seeds), plus a handful of sweet treats that are worth the detour to Kessel-Lo: cinnamon rolls, cookies, coconut macaroons, brownies, pasteis de nata… // Laszlo Dela

THE HIDDEN GEM: The signature mallow teacakes, cheekily named “boobies” (€2 a cake).