Guidebook for Gent
Food Scene
This is our favourite local bar and diner! We come here regularly for their lovely (and big!) vegetarian dish of the day. They also serve good spaghetti and chili con/sin carne. A good selection of Belgian beers as well. So also a nice spot for just a drink.
If you want to eat, it’s best to make a reservation (online or by phone). It can be busy, so otherwise you’ll have to wait a while for a table, or eat at the bar (which is actually quite nice, the bartenders are all very nice people).
38 locals recommend
De Walrus
497 Coupure LinksThis is our favourite local bar and diner! We come here regularly for their lovely (and big!) vegetarian dish of the day. They also serve good spaghetti and chili con/sin carne. A good selection of Belgian beers as well. So also a nice spot for just a drink.
If you want to eat, it’s best to make a reservation (online or by phone). It can be busy, so otherwise you’ll have to wait a while for a table, or eat at the bar (which is actually quite nice, the bartenders are all very nice people).
Very good pizzas with surprising toppings, all in a non traditional setting. Take away is also possible.
Make a reservation to be sure of a table!
45 locals recommend
Eat Love Pizza
10 AjuinleiVery good pizzas with surprising toppings, all in a non traditional setting. Take away is also possible.
Make a reservation to be sure of a table!
A lovely vegan restaurant with a buffet of freshly prepared dishes which you can choose yourself and then pay according to the weight that of the dishes that you scooped on your plate. Take away is also possible.
17 locals recommend
Lekker Gec
6 Kon. Maria HendrikapleinA lovely vegan restaurant with a buffet of freshly prepared dishes which you can choose yourself and then pay according to the weight that of the dishes that you scooped on your plate. Take away is also possible.
One of the best snackbars in town. There’s usually a big line in front, but service goes quickly and it’s worth the wait. They have also have a big selection of vegetarian and vegan options. You can eat upstairs, in their nice (recently redecorated) setting, in or take away.
33 locals recommend
De Frietketel
89 PapegaaistraatOne of the best snackbars in town. There’s usually a big line in front, but service goes quickly and it’s worth the wait. They have also have a big selection of vegetarian and vegan options. You can eat upstairs, in their nice (recently redecorated) setting, in or take away.
A lovely coffee bar to enjoy good coffee and fine tea. Good cakes as well! Perfect for a break after exploring the city, or as a start of the day with their good breakfast formulas.
55 locals recommend
Café Labath
1 Oude HoutleiA lovely coffee bar to enjoy good coffee and fine tea. Good cakes as well! Perfect for a break after exploring the city, or as a start of the day with their good breakfast formulas.
A bit outside the city centre, but definitely worth the visit! They serve local and ecological brunch, lunch and tapas.
24 locals recommend
WOEST
41 DrongensesteenwegA bit outside the city centre, but definitely worth the visit! They serve local and ecological brunch, lunch and tapas.
If you like good food, and you’re prepared to pay for good quality, Publiek is definitely a must. They serve absolutely wonderful food, mostly organic and seasonal. You can book ahead, but 20% is reserved for booking on the day itself. So definitely worth to make a call in the morning!
49 locals recommend
Publiek
39 HamIf you like good food, and you’re prepared to pay for good quality, Publiek is definitely a must. They serve absolutely wonderful food, mostly organic and seasonal. You can book ahead, but 20% is reserved for booking on the day itself. So definitely worth to make a call in the morning!
Michelin quality food in a very relaxed atmosphere. The head chef used to work at Publiek (3) and the place is a bit similar. Expect to pay around 45 euro/ menu (ex. drinks), but the food is absolutely fantastic, mostly organic and seasonal. Necessary to book in advance.
18 locals recommend
Roots
77 Lodewijk van MalestraatMichelin quality food in a very relaxed atmosphere. The head chef used to work at Publiek (3) and the place is a bit similar. Expect to pay around 45 euro/ menu (ex. drinks), but the food is absolutely fantastic, mostly organic and seasonal. Necessary to book in advance.
A great little place close to where we used to live. It’s a bit outside the centre, but surely worth a visit. Great beers and simple but delicious food. You cannot book in advance, but when you go and sit at the bar, you are bound to find a table after a while.
27 locals recommend
Ganzerik
29 DruifstraatA great little place close to where we used to live. It’s a bit outside the centre, but surely worth a visit. Great beers and simple but delicious food. You cannot book in advance, but when you go and sit at the bar, you are bound to find a table after a while.
Very good Libanese food for a very cheap price. The interior looks a bit like a snackbar but it has actually a very nice atmosphere, good service and the food is really tasty so it’s definitely worth the visit.
7 locals recommend
Libanese Snack
1 RodelijvekensstraatVery good Libanese food for a very cheap price. The interior looks a bit like a snackbar but it has actually a very nice atmosphere, good service and the food is really tasty so it’s definitely worth the visit.
Drinks & Nightlife
A nice little café tucked at the end of a small allyway in de middle of Ghent. Regular jazz-performances with very good musicians.
67 locals recommend
Hot Club Gent
2 SchuddevisstraatjeA nice little café tucked at the end of a small allyway in de middle of Ghent. Regular jazz-performances with very good musicians.
This nice little bar is quite popular with locals, and with good reason. A very good selection of wines, served by bartenders who know what they’re talking about.
40 locals recommend
Minor Swing
56 OttograchtThis nice little bar is quite popular with locals, and with good reason. A very good selection of wines, served by bartenders who know what they’re talking about.
Essentials
A big supermarket with lots of choice, which is open on Sunday mornings.
8 locals recommend
Carrefour Market Groene Vallei Gent
1 Broederlijke-WeverspleinA big supermarket with lots of choice, which is open on Sunday mornings.
A big and pleasant supermarket with only ecological goods. We shop here regularly!
19 locals recommend
Ghent Bio-Planet
134 DrongensesteenwegA big and pleasant supermarket with only ecological goods. We shop here regularly!
Arts & Culture
A nice museum of modern art with good expositions on a regular basis.
230 locals recommend
Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art
1 Jan HoetpleinA nice museum of modern art with good expositions on a regular basis.
On of our favorite theaters, with a good international program. A nice mix of (modern) theatre, dance and performance. A lot of choice, also for non Dutch speakers!
7 locals recommend
CAMPO nieuwpoort
31 NieuwpoortOn of our favorite theaters, with a good international program. A nice mix of (modern) theatre, dance and performance. A lot of choice, also for non Dutch speakers!
A beautiful building with a different halls for concerts, theatre, performances, ... A lot of choice, also for people who don't speak Dutch!
A nice place for a drink or a simple lunch/dinner as well. Good terrace in summertime!
178 locals recommend
Vooruit
23 Sint-PietersnieuwstraatA beautiful building with a different halls for concerts, theatre, performances, ... A lot of choice, also for people who don't speak Dutch!
A nice place for a drink or a simple lunch/dinner as well. Good terrace in summertime!
Parks & Nature
A nice nature reserve just outside the city. Good for a walk or run. It's about 5 kilometers to walk around the park. Entrance
125 locals recommend
Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen
32 DriepikkelstraatA nice nature reserve just outside the city. Good for a walk or run. It's about 5 kilometers to walk around the park. Entrance
If you want to go for a run, do as the local Ghentians do: run around the Watersportbaan. It's a well maintained running track of exactly 5 kilometers. Also safe to run in the evenings.
26 locals recommend
Watersportbaan
If you want to go for a run, do as the local Ghentians do: run around the Watersportbaan. It's a well maintained running track of exactly 5 kilometers. Also safe to run in the evenings.
During the summer this is the best place to go for a swim in the lake. Also just a nice park to take a walk, or go for a round of mini-golf!
108 locals recommend
Blaarmeersen
During the summer this is the best place to go for a swim in the lake. Also just a nice park to take a walk, or go for a round of mini-golf!