Julie's House is a bakery in Patershol, Ghent.
Julie's House overlooks the Leie canal near Patershol and the Gravensteen, making artisanal pies, cupcakes, breakfast pastries and seasonal jams.
Must order: Seasonal fruit tart: made with pastry cream and whatever fruit is ripe that week.
Tip: The canal-view terrace in front fills on sunny mornings; the jam and granola are worth taking home.
Address: Kraanlei 13, 9000 Gent, Ghent
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: Seasonal praline gift box: six pieces, flavours announced weekly on Instagram, always unexpected.
Tip: Near the Gravensteen; pair a shop visit with a castle tour and a Patershol dinner.
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: Gentse bolus: the city's sticky caramel spiral bun in its most authentic current form.
Tip: Closed Tuesdays; open all weekend from 08:00 with a sunny terrace that fills fast.
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: Seasonal praline gift box: six pieces, flavours announced weekly on Instagram, always unexpected.
Tip: Near the Gravensteen; pair a shop visit with a castle tour and a Patershol dinner.
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: Sourdough tartine: house bread spread with local butter and seasonal market toppings.
Tip: The garden fills fast on sunny weekend mornings; the bread sells out by early afternoon. Arrive before 10:00.
Le Pain Quotidien's Ghent location near the Korenmarkt serves organic bread, home-baked croissants and a reliable vegan range throughout the week.
Order: Tartine with almond butter and jam: the house bread toasted and spread at the communal table.
Tip: The Kalandeberg location is around the corner from Korenlei; combine with the waterfront walk.
Pain and Compagnie bakes French-influenced loaves and sells them alongside croissants, mini tarts and savoury quiches at its Kalandeberg cafe.
Order: Mini lemon tart: sharp pastry cream in a crisp shell, the most popular single item in the case.
Tip: Two minute walk from the Korenlei; an excellent midmorning pastry stop between waterfront and Gravensteen.
Madam Bakster bakes using only natural sweeteners: oats, nuts and dates replace refined sugar across croissants, brownies and the full pastry range.
Order: Banana bread slice with hazelnut cream: dense, moist and naturally sweet.
Tip: Open Thursday to Sunday only; the weekend brunch queue suggests booking ahead.
