Eating and drinking are two key activities in and of themselves on a visit to Ghent. Get ready to feel cosy and wrapped up over sensational vegetarian food, delicious meat dishes, waffles and Belgian beer.
I’ve listed my favourite cafes, bars and restaurants below:
Cafes
Mokabon
Mokabon was founded by Erminio Mazzaro in 1937. Get top notch coffee and a slick experience here.
Maison Elza
Elza is the owner’s grandmother and the inspiration behind the 1920s interior. Maison Elza offers breakfasts, hot drinks, scones, cakes or sandwiches and even full meals.
Hof van Herzele
Get your Belgian waffles at Hof van Herzele, which, in the 13th century, was an inn for the knights of Herzele. The cellar is the only remaining part of the original building; it’s got a truly medieval feel.
Bars
Trollkelder
Trollkelder – meaning Troll Cellar – is an absolute delight that offers a menu of more than 300 Belgian beers (the house beer is the Trollenbier). This basement bar was a library until the 1980s. The first bar manager’s wife loved trolls and mythological creatures, hence the theme. Even a visit to the toilets is trippy, where every inch of the walls is plastered with beer caps.
Rococo
Rococo is the best spot for a late night intimate chat. It is lit solely by candlelight, and run by Betty, the landlady. It’s in Patershol, the most beautiful neighbourhood in Ghent.
De Dulle Griet
De Dulle Griet, offering more than 500 local and international beers, is an absolute must on any trip to Ghent. If you order a Max beer (served in a huge glass), you’ll have to hand in your shoe to be stored in a basket that hangs from the roof. It’s to deter theft of the much sought after glasses.
Dok Brewery Co
Dok Brewery Co is about a 20-minute walk North of the city centre. It’s got an amazing selection of beers that you can even order as smaller samples as a set of six. Depending on the strength of each beer you choose for your six pack, you will either simply get the opportunity to try lots of different beers for a cheaper price, or you’ll do that and get totally wasted.
‘t Dreupelkot
Head to ‘t Dreupelkot for a taste of any of 200+ jenevers (Dutch Gin). The bar is small, cosy and classically Ghentian.
Hot Club de Gand
Hidden down a dark alleyway is Hot Club, which hosts a different free jazz night every night of the week, alongside an excellent selection of beers and other drinks.
Monday is improv night, Tuesday features international musicians, Wednesday is avant-garde, and the list goes on. Shows start at 21:00 but get there earlier to grab a seat and a beer before the place fills to the brim.
Café ‘t Galgenhuis
Galgenhuis means “gallows house”, named so because in the past, the square that this bar looks over – Groetenmarkt – was the location of public hangings!
It’s the smallest bar in Ghent. If you’re lucky, you’ll find the only table at the top of the bar free for an exclusive feel.
Het Spijker
Het Spijker was a great bar that had been running for years, until in 2022 it declared bankruptcy, after it having been discovered that the owner had been cooking the books on the sale of beer for years!
It’s now up for sale. Fingers crossed its new owner will honour its history and keep it as the cosy bar it’s always been.
The Cobbler
The Cobbler is a little known hotel with a bar open to the general public, which offers delicious cocktails and a great view of St Michael’s bridge, and a fabulous Harry Potter-esque staircase.
Bar Lume
Bar Lume is in the beautiful Vrijdagmarkt. It’s greatest asset is the long benches outside that are made from radiators. If you get cold easily but don’t want to miss out on the bustle of outdoor drinking, this is the place to go.
Barrazza
Barrazza is my favourite secret spot in Ghent; it looks over the river Lys, and unsurprisingly it received an honourable mention in the book The 500 secrets of Ghent by Derek Blyth. They’ve got a great selection of board games for a rainy day!
Restaurants
Lekker Gec
Ghent is considered the vegetarian capital of Europe, due to its plethora of vegetarian restaurants and forward-thinking food policies. Lekker Gek is directly opposite the train station, making it the perfect stop off for food before or after a trip away.
I used to work directly above Lekker Gek, so it became my local. You can serve yourself a selection of delicious vegetarian delights, which change every day, for a very reasonable price.
Uit steppe & oase theeten
This is the perfect spot for a low-key lunch. Hidden in plain sight in the centre of town, you can enjoy their lush summer terrace for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
‘t Klokhuys
For regional dishes or Belgian classics, head to ‘t Klokhuys in Patershol neighbourhood. Their stoverij (Belgian stew) is divine.
Amadeus
Ribs, ribs ribs. And a classic Ghentian stoverij (beef stew) is what you’ll find here. Delicious.
There are two restaurants in Ghent, one in Patershol neighbourhood and one right in the centre of town.
De Stokerij
At De Stokerij you will find classic brasserie dishes combined with original vegetarian cuisine, in a former gin distillery. The atmosphere is surprisingly cosy given the industrial feel of the place.
Panda
Panda is the place to go for the Ghent classic that is Waterzooi – fish stew. And it has lovely views of the canal on the other side, whether you choose to sit inside or out.
Take a memory home with you
If you love Belgian beer, and appreciate the delight of drinking out of a proper, elegant Belgian beer glass, head to Hop Duvel shop to buy any Belgian beer and accompanying glass that take your fancy.
Have you visited Ghent and did you go to any of these places? Any favourites? Comment below!
Leave a comment