Andon Akayyan

There are professional encounters that are quickly forgotten.

And then there are those that stay with you.

Andon Akayyan is undeniably one of those people who leave a mark.

By his journey, by his energy, by his passion for what he undertakes, but especially by his profoundly human way of considering others.

Entrepreneur, restaurateur, hotelier, collector, lover of Brussels and its heritage, Andon is one of those personalities you want to get to know better.

But ultimately, it's not his professional career that makes me want to dedicate an article to him in my favourites.

It's the man himself.

The one who always has a project, an idea, a story to tell.

The one with whom a conversation is never trivial.

The one who pushes you to think bigger, to do better and never to settle for the minimum.

And above all, the one I consider to be a man with a big heart.

A meaningful encounter

What I like about Andon is the energy he emanates.

When you talk to him, you immediately feel the passion.

The passion for entrepreneurship.

The passion for beautiful things.

The passion for Brussels.

The passion for sharing knowledge.

But also, and above all, the passion for people.

Andon is someone who goes above and beyond for others.

He gives his time, shares his ideas, looks for solutions and always tries to please.

And for me, that's worth a lot.

Because there are people who succeed professionally without necessarily passing anything on to those around them.

With Andon, it's different.

He makes you want to give your best.

He pushes you to go further.

Not to give up an idea because it seems complicated.

To look for the detail that will make the difference.

To do things with passion.

And I believe that's also what it means to be a true entrepreneur.

Andon Akayyan, the passion for waffles and Brussels

When you think of Andon Akayyan today, it's impossible not to think of the Brussels waffle.

His story with this specialty dates back to 1982, when he took over a historic tea room in the center of Brussels, under the name Tea Room – Gaufres de Bruxelles.

Over the years, this passion grew.

Recipes evolved, expertise improved and above all, the waffle became much more than just a product.

For him, it became a way to discover and bring to life a part of Belgian heritage.

That's what I particularly like about his approach.

He could have just sold waffles.

He chose to turn it into a true experience.

And that's how La Maison des Gaufres was born, opened in 2025 in the heart of Brussels, a stone's throw from the Grand-Place.

La Maison des Gaufres: much more than a waffle

When you enter La Maison des Gaufres, you quickly understand that Andon never does things by halves.

The decor is meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail.

Art Deco, crystal, tables incorporating crystal and 24-carat gold, antique waffle irons on display…

Everything tells a story.

Everything has been thought out.

And that's precisely what makes it so much like him.

The pursuit of beauty, quality, and detail.

The waffles are prepared on site, the recipes are developed with family expertise dating back to 1982, and even the artisanal waffle iron was specially designed for the house, inspired by historical models.

What might seem like a simple detail is actually very revealing of Andon's personality.

He likes to understand.

He likes to search.

He likes to perfect.

And above all, he likes to do things well.

Very well.

This is probably why La Maison des Gaufres has found a special place in the Brussels landscape.

And when I see today that the establishment also benefits from a BXLOVE 5 Distinction – "Exceptional Signature", it makes me smile.

Because, ultimately, these five hearts correspond quite well to my idea of this establishment.

Not just an address where you eat a waffle.

But an address where you find expertise, passion, heritage, and a true personality.

The best waffle in Brussels?

I'll be honest: I don't claim to be able to judge all the waffles in Brussels.

But I can recognize a person who constantly seeks to improve what they do.

And that's exactly what I find in Andon.

For him, a waffle is not just dough and a waffle iron.

There are the ingredients.

The recipe.

The cooking.

The texture.

The crispiness.

The presentation.

The welcome.

The decor.

The smile.

And everything that makes a simple moment like eating a waffle become a memory.

Perhaps that's what I love most about his way of doing business.

He doesn't just sell a product.

He seeks to create an emotion.

And when you taste a waffle in this environment, you better understand why this establishment has become a true ambassador for the Belgian waffle.

An entrepreneur who never stops

What's fascinating about Andon is that waffles are just one part of his world.

His journey is that of a true entrepreneur.

He has worked in catering, hospitality, and various projects in the heart of Brussels.

He is notably associated with Hotel Agora Brussels Grand Place, in the historic center.

And then there are all these stories, all these ideas and all these projects that make a conversation with him go in so many different directions.

That's also what makes exchanges with him so interesting.

We talk about Brussels.

Then about gastronomy.

Then about history.

Then about heritage.

Then about crystal.

Then about entrepreneurship.

And ultimately, we always leave with something.

An idea.

A thought.

A desire.

Or simply a smile.

The passionate collector

Andon also has a rather extraordinary passion for collecting.

Notably for glass and crystal stair newel post balls, of which he has amassed an impressive collection over the years.

Some pieces come from prestigious houses like Baccarat, Saint-Louis or Clichy.

But here again, what interests me is not just the collection itself.

It's what it reveals about the man.

Andon loves objects with a story.

He loves savoir-faire.

He loves artisans.

He loves what stands the test of time.

And this passion led him, among other things, to take an interest in the work of Belgian glass master Louis Leloup, to whom he dedicated, with Adrien Roselaer, the book Louis Leloup, une vie de cristal.

Once again, we find the same desire:

to preserve, transmit, and discover.

A personal story that perhaps explains a lot

Behind the entrepreneur, there is also a life journey.

Andon is of Armenian origin. Born in an Armenian village located in present-day Turkey, he then arrived in Belgium with his family.

His personal history, his journey, the difficulties encountered and the path traveled give even more depth to the character.

His story with Sevgi, told in the documentary La fabuleuse histoire de Sevgi et Andon, is also an important part of his journey.

A love story between two people from different cultures and religions, in a context where their relationship was not necessarily easy to accept.

When you know a little about this story, you might look at Andon differently.

You understand this strength better.

This determination.

This ability to move forward despite obstacles.

And perhaps also this desire to create, to build and to transmit.

What I really like about Andon

This is probably where the real reason for this article lies.

Because I could talk for a long time about his waffles.

About his restaurants.

About his hotel.

About his collections.

About his projects.

About Brussels.

But that's not why Andon is in my favourites.

It's for the man.

I love his generosity.

I love his enthusiasm.

I love his perfectionist side.

I love this constant desire to do better.

I love his entrepreneurial spirit, because he never stands still.

I love his curiosity.

I love the discussions we can have.

And above all, I love his ability to help those around him grow.

He pushes you to believe in your projects.

To dare.

To work.

To start over.

To look for a better solution.

Not to be afraid to aim high.

And I think that's an extremely rare quality.

A true favourite

In a city like Brussels, there are many beautiful places.

But places would be nothing without the people who bring them to life.

And that's exactly why Andon Akayyan deserves, in my opinion, his place in this section.

My favourite is not just for La Maison des Gaufres.

It's not just for his waffles.

It's not just for his entrepreneurial journey.

It's not just for his love of heritage.

It's for everything behind it.

For the man who gives his all.

For the one who goes above and beyond for others.

For the one who always seeks to please.

For the one who pushes you to give your best.

For the one with whom a simple conversation can become fascinating.

And yes, I find it quite amusing that BXLOVE awarded him 5 hearts / an "Exceptional Signature" for La Maison des Gaufres.

Because, ultimately, if I were to award hearts to Andon, I wouldn't count them in stars.

I would count them in encounters, exchanges, projects and memories.

So yes, Andon Akayyan is a true favourite.

And if you are passing through Brussels, go and discover La Maison des Gaufres.

Taste a waffle.

Look at the decor.

Observe the details.

But above all, if you are lucky enough to meet Andon, take the time to talk to him.

Perhaps you too will understand why some encounters stay with you.