40 cheap eats places in Ghent, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Ghent: the places editors actually return to. All Ghent food.
De Hopduvel Beer Shop ★ 4.8
dok-noord · Dok-Noord 7/005, 9000 Gent
De Hopduvel has been one of Belgium's premier specialist beer shops since 1892. The Dok Noord location stocks more than 900 Belgian beers: obscure lambics.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-18:00; ask the staff to pack a mixed half-dozen for the evening.
Het Trappistenhuis ★ 4.5
brabantdam · Brabantdam 164, 9000 Gent
Het Trappistenhuis is a brown beer cafe south of the city centre run by a beer expert, with over 170 Belgian specialties anchored on the full Trappist lineup.
Tip: Westvleteren XII is on the menu when stocks allow: ask the bar staff what is in the cellar that week before ordering.
Tierenteyn-Verlent ★ 4.5
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt 3, 9000 Gent
Tierenteyn-Verlent has ladled its grainy Dijon-style mustard from barrels at the same Groentenmarkt address since 1790. Booking recommended.
Tip: The shop is open Monday from 13:00 and Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00; closed Sundays. The old barrels behind the counter are original.
Himschoot ★ 4.4
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt 1, 9000 Gent
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.
Tip: Arrive by 08:00 for the warmest bread and the shortest queue. The Dok Noord branch opens later.
De Hopduvel ★ 4.4
dok-noord · Dok-Noord 7, 9000 Gent
De Hopduvel is one of Belgium's most respected beer bottle shops, now relocated to Dok Noord with around 900 Belgian beers in stock. The shop-bar allows you.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday; the bottle selection changes when distributors deliver. Ask the staff what arrived that week.
't Dreupelkot ★ 4.4
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt 12, 9000 Gent
't Dreupelkot on the Groentenmarkt is Ghent's legendary jenever bar: 100+ varieties in a dark wood-panelled room, open until 01:00 on weekends.
Tip: The bar has no seating on busy nights; standing with a glass of jenever at the dark wooden counter is the intended experience.
Hot Club de Gand ★ 4.4
city-centre · Schuddevisstraatje 2, 9000 Gent
Hot Club de Gand is a 50-seat jazz bar tucked into a narrow side alley off the Groentenmarkt, programming more than 200 free live performances a year.
Tip: Live jazz five nights a week from gypsy swing to free improvisation; arrive by 20:30 to claim a seat before the band starts.
Himschoot Bakery ★ 4.4
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt 1, 9000 Gent
Ghent's oldest bakery since 1880: suikerbrood, koeken and morning buns for under €3 each, eaten standing in the Groentenmarkt near the Gravensteen.
Tip: Arrive by 08:00 for the warmest bread; the Dok Noord branch opens later and has slightly shorter queues.
Mokabon ★ 4.3
city-centre · Donkersteeg 35, 9000 Gent
Mokabon has roasted coffee on Donkersteeg since 1937, when Erminio Mazzaro arrived from Italy. Located in City Centre. Reservations advised.
Tip: Open Monday to Saturday 09:00-18:30, closed Sunday. The standing bar at the front turns over fastest; tables in back take longer.
OR Coffee Roasters ★ 4.3
sint-pieters · Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 126 A, 9000 Gent
OR Coffee sources direct-trade arabica from South American and African farms and now runs its Ghent Coffee Lab on Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat after vacating Dok.
't Dreupelkot ★ 4.3
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt 12, 9000 Gent
Pol's tiny jenever bar on the Groentenmarkt serves more than 200 jenevers, including around 50 made in-house. The low-ceilinged brown bar has barely changed.
Tip: Open from 16:00 daily; cash only, the room holds around 25 people and fills fast.
Hotsy Totsy ★ 4.3
binnenstad · Hoogstraat 1, 9000 Gent
Hotsy Totsy has been injecting Ghent with blues and jazz since the 1970s. The Claus brothers' bar hosts live music most evenings from September to June.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday from 18:15; closed Sunday and Monday. Summers are lighter programming; September to June is the season.
De Echte Gentse Neuzen ★ 4.3
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt, 9000 Gent
The competing cuberdon stalls at the Groentenmarkt are one of Ghent's most famous food rivalries. De Echte Gentse Neuzen sells the authentic cone-shaped.
Tip: Buy a small bag and eat them standing at the stall; they are best at market temperature, not carried around in a bag.
Frituur Tartaar ★ 4.3
city-centre · Heilige-Geeststraat 3, 9000 Gent
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.
Tip: The vegetarian and vegan snacks are signposted on the menu, which is unusual for a friterie. Lunch queues are heaviest 12:30-13:30.
Cuberdon Stalls at Groentenmarkt ★ 4.3
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt, 9000 Gent
The competing cuberdon vendors near the Groentenmarkt sell Ghent's most iconic sweet: pointed purple gum-and-sugar cones at around €1 each from rival stalls.
Tip: Both vendors near the square are authentic; the competition between them has kept quality high and prices reasonable for decades.
Himschoot Dok Noord ★ 4.2
dok-noord · Dok-Noord 7/001, 9000 Gent
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.
Tip: Shares the Dok Noord complex with WAY Coffee Roasters; the coffee-and-pastry pairing is the obvious move.
Take Five Espressobar ★ 4.2
kouter · Voldersstraat 10, 9000 Gent
Take Five is a compact espressobar with a jazz soundtrack and a loyal following of specialty-coffee drinkers in the city centre. The baristas pull clean.
Tip: Open seven days a week from 08:30 (09:00 weekends); the small counter fills on weekend mornings.
Take Five Espressobar ★ 4.2
kouter · Voldersstraat 10, 9000 Gent
Take Five sources from multiple Belgian and European specialty roasters and rotates them through its two grinders. The jazz soundtrack, the focused espresso.
Rococo ★ 4.2
patershol · Corduwaniersstraat 57, 9000 Gent
Rococo is Betty's candlelit bar on the Patershol cobblestones. The single room is lit entirely by candles; the atmosphere is intimate and the conversation.
Tip: Opens after 21:00; arrives late and stay late. Betty runs the bar at her own pace.
Frituur Bij Sint-Jacobs ★ 4.2
sint-jacobs · Bij Sint-Jacobs 16, 9000 Gent
The Sint-Jacobs friturkot has stood on the Friday Market square for generations: double-fried frites and the city's Gentse beef stew sauce served.
Tip: Friday morning during the antique market the queue is longest but the frites are freshest. Cash still moves the line faster than card.
Stoverij Street Stalls ★ 4.2
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt, 9000 Gent
During Gentse Feesten and weekend markets, temporary stalls around the Groentenmarkt and Vrijdagmarkt sell bowls of Gentse stoverij: the deep amber beef.
Tip: Available year-round at many brasseries; the street stall version during Gentse Feesten in July is the most warm-lit way to try it.
Gentse Bolus at the Market ★ 4.2
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt 1, 9000 Gent
The Gentse bolus is a sticky caramel-coated spiral bun unique to Ghent. Market bakers sell them warm from trays at the Saturday and Friday markets. The Baba.
Tip: Available at the Friday Vrijdagmarkt and Saturday Groentenmarkt; also sold year-round from Himschoot at Groentenmarkt 1.
Knees to Chin ★ 4.2
kouter · Voldersstraat 11, 9000 Gent
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.
Tip: The queue at lunch peaks between 12:00 and 13:30; a ten-minute wait is worth it for the freshness of the rolls.
Bloch 1899 ★ 4.1
sint-pieters · Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 84, 9000 Gent
Boulangerie Bloch has been baking at this Sint-Pieters address since 1899, with an Alsatian-influenced range: diverse breads, quiches and cheese rolls.
Tip: The food truck runs at Latem market on Fridays and Saturdays if you miss the flagship store.
Peaberry Coffeebar ★ 4.1
binnenstad · Limburgstraat 36, 9000 Gent
Peaberry sits at the foot of Sint-Baafskathedraal: a compact, vegan-friendly coffee bar serving specialty brews, bread rolls and fresh salads daily.
Tip: Take-away focussed; if you want to sit stay, come at opening before the cathedral tourist flow starts.
Koffeine ★ 4.1
binnenstad · Lange Kruisstraat 6, 9000 Gent
Koffeine is a warm coffee bar tucked behind Sint-Baafsplein with iced lattes, americanos and a short food menu of banana bread and seasonal pastries.
Tip: The compact room means most visitors take away; the nearby Veldstraat benches are a common perch.
IzyCoffee Dok Noord ★ 4.1
dok-noord · Dok-Noord 7/002, 9000 Gent
IzyCoffee took over the Dok-Noord 7 warehouse unit when OR Coffee vacated, building a 100% arabica menu plus signature pistachio latte and pandan iced coffee.
Tip: Open seven days a week 08:00-18:00, Saturdays to 20:00. The Dok-Noord crowd makes weekend mornings busiest; weekday afternoons are quiet.
OR Coffee Sint-Pieters ★ 4.1
sint-pieters · Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 126A, 9000 Gent
OR Coffee's Sint-Pieters lab is the original Ghent location, serving slow brews and breakfast sandwiches in a bright room near the university campus.
Tip: University crowds make Monday mornings very busy; Thursday and Friday are the quietest weekday windows.
OR Coffee Lab Sint-Pieters ★ 4.1
sint-pieters · Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 126A, 9000 Gent
The original Ghent OR Coffee Lab near the university serves the full slow-brew range alongside breakfast sandwiches and barista-led filter education sessions.
Koffeine ★ 4.1
binnenstad · Lange Kruisstraat 6, 9000 Gent
Koffeine is a small-batch specialty coffee bar behind Sint-Baafsplein that brings well-sourced single-origin espressos and filter coffees to the most.
Trefpunt ★ 4.1
sint-jacobs · Bij Sint-Jacobs 18, 9000 Gent
Trefpunt is a music and theatre cafe run by the non-profit that launched the modern Ghent Festivities in 1970, hosting concerts almost every evening.
Tip: Monday concerts are free; doors typically from 17:00 weekdays, 15:00 Friday and Saturday. Check the Trefpunt programme before walking up.
Bobonne Cuberdon ★ 4.1
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt, 9000 Gent
Bobonne is a vintage-styled cuberdon stall run by Nele in the middle of the historic centre. The stall stocks the classic raspberry and a range of other.
Tip: The competing stalls at the Groentenmarkt are part of a famous local rivalry; try both and decide for yourself.
Gruut Brewery Street Kiosk ★ 4.1
binnenstad · Rembert Dodoensdreef 1, 9000 Gent
Gruut's outdoor kiosk at the city brewery dispenses all five house herb beers direct from tank for Gentse Feesten and summer evenings. The hop-free brewing.
Tip: The kiosk runs seasonally, primarily during Gentse Feesten in July and summer weekends. The full taproom is open year-round.
Cafe Damberd ★ 4.1
city-centre · Korenmarkt 19, 9000 Gent
Cafe Damberd is an 18th-century pub on the Korenmarkt that has run as a jazz and world-music cafe for over thirty years, with live sets from jazz to funk.
Tip: Open until midnight every night; Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 means it works for a long afternoon-into-night stretch.
Lokaal ★ 4.0
binnenstad · Brabantdam 100, 9000 Gent
Lokaal is a vegetarian tea room and restaurant on Brabantdam with owners Arno, Jelmer and Bliki sourcing from nearby organic farms and rotating the menu.
Tip: The tea selection here is serious; combine the lunch with an afternoon spent in the nearby SMAK museum.
Pain and Compagnie ★ 4.0
binnenstad · Kalandeberg 3, 9000 Gent
Pain and Compagnie bakes French-influenced loaves and sells them alongside croissants, mini tarts and savoury quiches at its Kalandeberg cafe.
Tip: Two minute walk from the Korenlei; an excellent midmorning pastry stop between waterfront and Gravensteen.
Peaberry Coffeebar and Bakery ★ 4.0
binnenstad · Limburgstraat 36, 9000 Gent
Peaberry sits at the foot of Sint-Baafskathedraal and combines vegan-friendly pastries with specialty coffee. The bread rolls, scones and salads alongside.
Tip: Primarily take-away; the outdoor benches near the cathedral are the natural seat.
Het Spijker ★ 4.0
city-centre · Pensmarkt 3, 9000 Gent
Het Spijker is a local pub set in a former granary, with a lounge on the second floor and two terraces: one facing the city centre, the other on the Leie.
Tip: Opens from 10:00 and closes when the last visitor leaves, often well past 02:00. The back terrace is best on warm afternoons.
De Frietketel ★ 4.0
binnenstad · Papegaaistraat 89, 9000 Gent
De Frietketel on Papegaaistraat is a fully plant-based frituur and Belgian Vegan Awards Best Fast Food winner, with vegan frites, sauces and snacks.
Tip: Good option for mixed groups; the fried snacks are convincing even to non-vegans, and prices are on par with standard frituurs.
Kroakemandels at Vrijdagmarkt ★ 4.0
vrijdagmarkt · Vrijdagmarkt, 9000 Gent
Kroakemandels are fried English maple peas seasoned with salt and vinegar: a Ghent street snack that old-timers call the caviar of the working class. Market.
Tip: Most reliably available during Gentse Feesten (mid-July) and at the Friday morning Vrijdagmarkt; rare outside festival season.