The counters in Ghent worth queuing for: bread, pastry, and the morning ritual.
Bakery counters in Ghent worth queuing for: levain breads, laminated pastry, regional bakes and the morning ritual.
14 places
Order Suikerbrood (sugar bread): a sweet enriched loaf studded with pearl sugar, eaten at room temperature.
Himschoot has been baking at the Groentenmarkt since 1880, making it the oldest bakery in Ghent. The original stone-oven recipes produce koeken, sugar bread.
Order Rozijnenbrood (raisin bread): the house enriched loaf with plump raisins baked into the dough.
The Dok Noord branch of Ghent's oldest bakery brings Himschoot's 1880 recipes into a contemporary warehouse space at the revived port. Morning buns, seeded.
Order Country sourdough loaf: 24-hour fermentation, open crumb, caramelised crust.
Pastry chef and chocolatier Joost Arijs opened this specialist sourdough bakery in 2022, with slow-fermented wheat, rye and multigrain loaves.
Order Praline selection box: six to eight seasonal pralines with unusual flavour pairings that change regularly.
Joost Arijs won best patisserie in Belgium from Gault and Millau: the showcase holds intricate tarts, entremets and seasonal pralines year-round.
Order Cheese roll: a dense, savoury roll with a strong Gruyere filling, sold warm from 07:30.
Boulangerie Bloch has been baking at this Sint-Pieters address since 1899, with an Alsatian-influenced range: diverse breads, quiches and cheese rolls.
Order Seasonal fruit tart: made with pastry cream and whatever fruit is ripe that week.
Julie's House overlooks the Leie canal near Patershol and the Gravensteen, making artisanal pies, cupcakes, breakfast pastries and seasonal jams.
Order Gentse bolus: the city's sticky caramel spiral bun in its most authentic current form.
Baba Jacquet is a 30-year-old family bakery reinvented as a brunch bar: the gentse bolus (caramel spiral bun) is the best version in the city today.
Order Seasonal praline gift box: six pieces, flavours announced weekly on Instagram, always unexpected.
Marijn Coertjens opened his patisserie at the foot of the Gravensteen in 2016. The pralines are built on unusual flavour combinations; the seasonal pastry.
Order Sourdough tartine: house bread spread with local butter and seasonal market toppings.
Pain Perdu bakes wood-fired sourdough daily and serves it as tartines, sandwiches and toast across its full breakfast and lunch menu. The large rear garden.
Order Tartine with almond butter and jam: the house bread toasted and spread at the communal table.
Le Pain Quotidien's Ghent location near the Korenmarkt serves organic bread, home-baked croissants and a reliable vegan range throughout the week.
A sample of Ghent hotels from our booking partner, who list 102 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
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Treck Hostel
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Compare for next weekend: Holidu in Ghent from USD 78/night · Booking.com in Ghent from USD 86/night
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Order Mini lemon tart: sharp pastry cream in a crisp shell, the most popular single item in the case.
Pain and Compagnie bakes French-influenced loaves and sells them alongside croissants, mini tarts and savoury quiches at its Kalandeberg cafe.
Order Banana bread slice with hazelnut cream: dense, moist and naturally sweet.
Madam Bakster bakes using only natural sweeteners: oats, nuts and dates replace refined sugar across croissants, brownies and the full pastry range.
Order Smørbrød with smoked salmon and dill cream: dark rye bread, cured fish and a properly acidic dressing.
SMORBRØD brings a Scandinavian open-sandwich sensibility to Ghent: sourdough baked on premises, served with pickled fish, house butter and seasonal toppings.
Order Vegan scone with raspberry jam: plant-based but properly flaky, one of the better vegan pastries in Ghent.
Peaberry sits at the foot of Sint-Baafskathedraal and combines vegan-friendly pastries with specialty coffee. The bread rolls, scones and salads alongside.
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