The Bakery by Joost Arijs is a bakery in Zuidstationstraat, Ghent.
Pastry chef and chocolatier Joost Arijs opened this specialist sourdough bakery in 2022, with slow-fermented wheat, rye and multigrain loaves.
Must order: Country sourdough loaf: 24-hour fermentation, open crumb, caramelised crust.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday 08:00 to 18:00; the croissants are best in the first two hours of opening.
Address: Vlaanderenstraat 28, 9000 Gent, Ghent
Joost Arijs won best patisserie in Belgium from Gault and Millau: the showcase holds intricate tarts, entremets and seasonal pralines year-round.
Order: Praline selection box: six to eight seasonal pralines with unusual flavour pairings that change regularly.
Tip: A few doors down from The Bakery, both run by Arijs. Do both in one visit on a Tuesday morning.
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.
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.
Joost Arijs won best patisserie in Belgium from Gault and Millau: the showcase holds intricate tarts, entremets and seasonal pralines year-round.
Order: Praline selection box: six to eight seasonal pralines with unusual flavour pairings that change regularly.
Tip: A few doors down from The Bakery, both run by Arijs. Do both in one visit on a Tuesday morning.
Boulangerie Bloch has been baking at this Sint-Pieters address since 1899, with an Alsatian-influenced range: diverse breads, quiches and cheese rolls.
Order: Cheese roll: a dense, savoury roll with a strong Gruyere filling, sold warm from 07:30.
Tip: The food truck runs at Latem market on Fridays and Saturdays if you miss the flagship store.
Julie's House overlooks the Leie canal near Patershol and the Gravensteen, making artisanal pies, cupcakes, breakfast pastries and seasonal jams.
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.
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.
