Vandekerckhove Koffiebranderij is a restaurant in Zuidstationstraat, Ghent.
Vandekerckhove has roasted coffee on the Brabantdam since 1854: five generations later, the drum roaster is still visible in the shopfront on a daily basis.
Why locals love it: On a tram route rather than the tourist walking circuit; most visitors miss the roastery because they never go far enough down the Brabantdam.
Tip: Go on a weekday morning when the drum is running; the smell of fresh roasting from the shopfront is the best possible advertisement.
Address: Brabantdam 55, 9000 Gent, Ghent
Edelrot next to the Belfort tower is a natural wine bar and bottle shop consistently overlooked by visitors despite being steps from Ghent's main landmark.
Why locals love it: Positioned between two major tourist routes but the narrow entrance and bottle-shop format means casual visitors often walk straight past it.
Tip: The bottle shop section has better prices than many Brussels specialists; the staff can advise on shipping or travelling with bottles.
Hey Frankie opens three evenings a week near the Vrijdagmarkt: a neighbourhood natural wine bar with sensibly-priced pours and a loyal local crowd.
Why locals love it: Three evenings a week opening and a side-street location mean it rarely appears in mainstream guides and stays off most tourist itineraries.
Tip: Thursday is the quietest evening and the best for a conversation with the owner about what has just arrived from the producers.
WAY is run by Belgian barista champion Charlene De Buysere at Dok Noord: a championship-level roastery-cafe that the tourist trail rarely discovers.
Why locals love it: Dok Noord requires a deliberate trip from the centre; tourists who make it to the complex usually stop at the brewery and miss WAY entirely.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00; pair a WAY filter coffee with a pastry from the Himschoot branch in the same building.
Jigger's operates in a medieval Patershol cellar, serving seasonal cocktails and over 500 spirits in a candlelit setting few tourists ever find.
Why locals love it: The unmarked street entrance and no signage: you only find Jigger's by knowing it is there or by following someone who does.
Tip: Arrive by 21:00 to guarantee a seat; the bar fills to capacity after 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays with no walk-in option.
Vinogradoff on the Ajuinlei specialises in natural and biodynamic wines from Eastern Europe: Georgia, Slovenia and Hungary, a rare focus in Belgian wine bars.
Why locals love it: Eastern European wine focus is genuinely unusual for Ghent; the bar-shop format and weekday-only opening hours keep the crowds manageable.
Tip: The wine shop section offers bottles to take away; the staff know each producer personally and can recommend accordingly.
Stroom Brouwers' Friday evening taproom is one of the most relaxed craft experiences in Ghent: Belgian-American hybrid ales on tap in an unpretentious space.
Why locals love it: Open Fridays and Saturdays only and not on the main Dok Noord visitor circuit; the Forelstraat address is off most tourist routes.
Tip: Tours at weekends by prior arrangement; the Friday evening tap session is the best way to try the full Stroom range.
