La Gaufre de Valenciennes at Maison Meert (local variant)
Valenciennes has its own distinct waffle tradition — the gaufre de Valenciennes — a thinner, crispier, more caramelised cousin of the Liège waffle, eaten warm from street stalls and boulangeries across the city centre. Finding a great one is a delicious quest.
What makes it different
The Valenciennes waffle is baked in a rectangular iron that gives it a fine, lacey grid pattern and a toffee-coloured crust that shatters satisfyingly at the first bite. The interior stays soft and slightly chewy, with a gentle vanilla and brown-sugar fragrance that hangs in the air around the stall.
Unlike Belgian waffles, it is rarely loaded with toppings — a dusting of icing sugar is considered sufficient, and purists insist that anything more is an insult to the batter. Eat it standing up, folded in a paper napkin, in the shadow of the Hôtel de Ville.
Where to find the best ones
The covered market halls and the boulangeries on Rue de Paris and around Place Verte are your best hunting ground. Ask locals for their favourite — you will get passionate, contradictory answers, which is exactly the point.
On market days, a handful of dedicated waffle vendors set up on the edges of the Place d'Armes with portable irons. The smell alone will find you before the stall does. Budget around €1.50–€2 per waffle — one is never enough.
Pairing and context
A gaufre de Valenciennes pairs perfectly with a small black coffee or a glass of local bière de garde from the Brasserie du Pays Flamand. Several brasseries on Place d'Armes serve both, making for a very satisfying mid-morning break after the market.
The waffle is also a popular gift: many boulangeries sell them vacuum-packed in gift boxes, which survive the journey home surprisingly well and make far better souvenirs than any fridge magnet.
More of Valenciennes
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Valenciennes →
