Eat well in Ghent without overpaying: the locals'-budget edition.
Eat well in Ghent for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
14 places
Order Daily bean special: the most filling option at the most central budget address in Ghent.
Vegetarian lunch bar next to the Castle of the Counts with a bean-forward menu, seasonal specials under €10 and a castle-view terrace in the old town.
Order Frites with stoverij and the house tartar sauce: under €6 for a full cone that doubles as a meal.
Frituur Tartaar is a city-centre friterie between the monuments and shopping streets, serving Ghent stoverij stew on hand-cut frites with a homemade tartar.
Order The plant-based burger: Ghent's best vegan budget burger, assembled fresh and served in a paper wrapper.
Ghent's central vegan fast-casual kitchen on Nederkouter with a rotating menu of wraps, bowls and hot plates made entirely from plants and priced under €12.
Order Daily soup with bread roll and apple: the fixed-price combination that made this a Ghent workers staple.
Soup Lounge's daily-rotating bowl of fresh soup, a bread roll and an apple costs under nine euros at a central Ghent address near the Friday market square.
Order Seasonal organic lunch plate: the most honest expression of this kitchen's farm-to-table approach.
Long-standing organic vegetarian institution near Sint-Pieters station: a buffet-style lunch with soup, salad bar and daily hot dish under €10.
Order The daily lunch special: a changing plant-based plate built on whatever the organic supplier delivered.
Student vegan and vegetarian lunch spot near Sint-Pieters station with organic daily specials under €10 and a loyal following from the university.
Order Vegan scone with coffee: the plant-based pastry and single-origin filter combination for under €7.
Peaberry combines specialty coffee with vegan-friendly pastries and bread rolls at the foot of Sint-Baafskathedraal for under €8 all-in at the counter.
Order Suikerbrood (sugar bread): the pearl-sugar enriched loaf, warmest and cheapest near the Gravensteen walls.
Ghent's oldest bakery since 1880: suikerbrood, koeken and morning buns for under €3 each, eaten standing in the Groentenmarkt near the Gravensteen.
Order Violet cuberdons: a bag of ten pieces eaten on the walk to the Gravensteen, the most Ghentian budget snack.
The competing cuberdon vendors near the Groentenmarkt sell Ghent's signature sweet: pointed purple gum-and-sugar cones at about a euro from rival stalls.
Order Frites with vegan curry sauce: the most-ordered combination at this plant-based frituur in the centre.
Belgian Vegan Awards Best Fast Food winner: a fully plant-based frituur with frites and vegan sauces for under €6 a serving on Papegaaistraat.
A sample of Ghent hotels from our booking partner, who list 102 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
Getaway Studios Gent
A stay at Getaway Studios Gent places you in the heart of Ghent, within a 5-minute walk of Episcopal Palace...
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Quartier Leonard
A stay at Quartier Leonard places you in the heart of Ghent, within a 5-minute walk of Van Eyck Swimming Po...
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Treck Hostel
With a stay at Treck Hostel in Ghent (Brugse Poort), you'll be within a 15-minute walk of Dr. Guislain Muse...
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Hotel Campanile Gent
When you stay at Hotel Campanile Gent in Ghent, you'll be in the business district, within a 15-minute walk...
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Compare for next weekend: Holidu in Ghent from USD 78/night · Booking.com in Ghent from USD 86/night
Stays are listed by our booking partners, not editor picks. We earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Order Banh mi with Vietnamese pork: the house roll that started the Knees to Chin following in Ghent.
Knees to Chin serves Vietnamese banh mi rolls and rice noodle bowls under €12 in a compact fast-casual format near the Kouter and Sint-Baafsplein.
Order Whatever the week's organic delivery inspired: the kitchen announces the menu via social channels each week.
Vegetarian tea room and restaurant on Brabantdam: a rotating organic menu with plates under €12 sourced from nearby farms, with serious tea selection too.
Order The seasonal carrot-based signature plate: rotating monthly, always filling and best-value on the menu.
Vegetarian and vegan kitchen on Phoenixstraat with filling plant-based comfort food plates under €11: a reliable budget lunch in a friendly low-key setting.
Order Sourdough tartine with seasonal toppings: house bread spread with local butter and morning market produce.
Wood-fired sourdough bakery with breakfast and lunch tartines under €12 in a Zuid garden setting: the house bread makes every sandwich memorable.
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