Mid-Range in Ghent

Joost Arijs Patisserie and Chocolaterie ★ 4.7

zuidstationstraat · Vlaanderenstraat 24, 9000 Gent

Joost Arijs won best patisserie in Belgium from Gault and Millau: the showcase holds intricate tarts, entremets and seasonal pralines year-round.

Tip: A few doors down from The Bakery, both run by Arijs. Do both in one visit on a Tuesday morning.

Gruut Stadsbrouwerij ★ 4.7

binnenstad · Rembert Dodoensdreef 1, 9000 Gent

Gruut is Ghent's own city brewery, producing five herb beers from a medieval recipe that has never used a single hop. Instead, a blend of herbs.

Tip: Saturday brewery tours include all five house beers; book ahead in summer. The taproom serves all five on draught daily.

The Bakery by Joost Arijs ★ 4.6

zuidstationstraat · Vlaanderenstraat 28, 9000 Gent

Pastry chef and chocolatier Joost Arijs opened this specialist sourdough bakery in 2022, with slow-fermented wheat, rye and multigrain loaves.

Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday 08:00-18:00; the croissants are best in the first two hours of opening.

WAY Specialty Coffee Roasters ★ 4.6

dok-noord · Dok-Noord 4E/001, 9000 Gent

WAY is run by Belgian barista champion Charlene De Buysere in a converted warehouse at Dok Noord, rotating single-origin filters every few weeks in Ghent.

Tip: Open weekdays only (08:30-16:30); plan a Dok Noord visit on a Tuesday to Thursday morning.

WAY Coffee Roasters ★ 4.6

dok-noord · Dok-Noord 4E/001, 9000 Gent

WAY is run by Charlene De Buysere, a Belgian barista and brewing champion. Belgium's first Diedrich IR12 roaster produces light and medium single-origins.

Dok Brewing Company ★ 4.6

dok-noord · Dok-Noord 4B, 9000 Gent

Dok Brewing occupies the converted Hal 16 metal workshop at Dok Noord with 30 taps: house brews alongside Belgian craft guest beers. The long communal.

Tip: Open Thursday to Saturday until 01:00; the Thursday evening session is the quietest way to visit the brewery without a weekend crowd.

WAY Coffee Roasters ★ 4.6

dok-noord · Dok-Noord 4E/001, 9000 Gent

WAY is run by Belgian barista champion Charlene De Buysere at Dok Noord: a championship-level roastery-cafe that the tourist trail rarely discovers.

Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-17:00; pair a WAY filter coffee with a pastry from the Himschoot branch in the same building.

Marijn Coertjens Chocolatier and Patissier ★ 4.5

patershol · Burgstraat 151, 9000 Gent

Marijn Coertjens opened his patisserie at the foot of the Gravensteen in 2016. The pralines are built on unusual flavour combinations; the seasonal pastry.

Tip: Near the Gravensteen; pair a shop visit with a castle tour and a Patershol dinner.

Cafe Labath ★ 4.5

binnenstad · Oude Houtlei 1, 9000 Gent

Cafe Labath is the city's best-known specialty cafe, occupying a corner building steps from Sint-Michielsbrug with floor-to-ceiling windows and a big-city.

Tip: Open from 08:00 Tuesday to Saturday; the weekday morning slot before 09:00 is the quietest.

Cafe Labath ★ 4.5

binnenstad · Oude Houtlei 1, 9000 Gent

Labath is Ghent's longest-established third-wave specialty cafe. While not a roaster in the strict sense, the baristas source and rotate single-origin beans.

Frites Atelier ★ 4.5

groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt 20, 9000 Gent

Sergio Herman's upmarket frites counter at the Groentenmarkt has marble counters and stainless sauces pumped from brass-spigot barrels. The frites are fried.

Tip: Expect a queue at lunch; the Groentenmarkt location is the busiest. The frites cool fast so eat immediately.

Marijn Coertjens Chocolate Stall ★ 4.5

patershol · Burgstraat 151, 9000 Gent

Marijn Coertjens' shop near the Gravensteen produces what Gault and Millau considers the best pralines in Ghent. The seasonal praline range changes monthly.

Tip: Buy pralines here and eat them in the Patershol lanes. They travel better than cuberdons.

Cafe Labath ★ 4.5

binnenstad · Oude Houtlei 1, 9000 Gent

Cafe Labath on Oude Houtlei is Ghent's most established third-wave specialty cafe, with weekend brunch plates and the city's most consistent espresso.

Tip: The corner terrace fills on sunny weekend mornings; arrive by 10:00 for the best outdoor seat at this historic canal-side cafe.

50 fifty ★ 4.4

binnenstad · Ottogracht 10, 9000 Gent

50 fifty runs a bistronomy sharing-plate format on Ottogracht with vegetable-led seasonal plates rated 4.8 out of 5 by local reviewers. Located in Binnenstad.

Tip: Come with four people to try the widest range without over-ordering; the room accommodates groups well.

Soul Kitchen ★ 4.4

binnenstad · Godshuizenlaan 33, 9000 Gent

Soul Kitchen opposite the Bijloke park serves plant-based fine dining in a sharing format: seasonal, organic, locally sourced produce treated with the same.

Tip: Thursday to Saturday evenings for the full menu; Sunday lunch is the shorter but equally well-sourced format.

Vandekerckhove and Bar ★ 4.4

zuidstationstraat · Brabantdam 55, 9000 Gent

Vandekerckhove has roasted coffee in Ghent since 1854. The fifth-generation family roasts on-site and the bar brews espressos and slow coffees daily.

Tip: Open every day except public holidays from 10:00-18:00; the bean shop sells the house blend in 250g bags.

Vandekerckhove Koffiebranderij ★ 4.4

zuidstationstraat · Brabantdam 55, 9000 Gent

Vandekerckhove has roasted coffee on the Brabantdam since 1854. The fifth-generation family roasts on a visible drum roaster inside the shop. The house blend.

Dok Brewing Company ★ 4.4

dok-noord · Dok-Noord 4B, 9000 Gent

Dok Brewing Company occupies a converted metal workshop at Dok Noord with 30 taps: their own house brews plus guest taps from Belgian craft breweries. Long.

Tip: Open Thursday to Saturday until 01:00; this is one of the few places in Dok Noord that works as a late-night destination.

Wijnbar ONA Nederkouter ★ 4.4

binnenstad · Nederkouter 71, 9000 Gent

Wijnbar ONA on the corner of Bagattenstraat and Nederkouter is Ona Van Reybrouck and Arne De Wilde's intimate natural-wine spot, opened in 2015.

Tip: Tuesday to Saturday until 8pm only; closed Sunday and Monday. Walk-ins fine early, reserve for after 18:00.

Edelrot Bar ★ 4.4

binnenstad · Belfortstraat 6, 9000 Gent

Edelrot functions as both a natural wine bar and a wild beer bar: the list includes wild-fermented saisons, spontaneous lambics and Belgian farmhouse ales.

Tip: Open from 15:00 Tuesday to Saturday; prices are genuinely fair for the quality of the natural wine selection.

Chubby Cheeks ★ 4.4

binnenstad · Onderbergen 33, 9000 Gent

Chubby Cheeks is a convivial bar-restaurant where a young team serves unusual natural wines by the glass alongside inventive small plates in a relaxed space.

Tip: Walk-ins welcome; Friday and Saturday evenings fill fast and bar seats give the easiest route in without a reservation.

Edelrot Bar and Shop ★ 4.4

binnenstad · Belfortstraat 6, 9000 Gent

Edelrot is a natural wine bar and bottle shop next to the Belfort tower, focusing on low-intervention, natural-process and skin-contact wines by the glass.

Tip: Open from 15:00 Tuesday to Saturday; the bottle shop inside allows you to buy what you tried. Prices are honest for natural wine.

Chubby Cheeks ★ 4.4

binnenstad · Onderbergen 33, 9000 Gent

Chubby Cheeks is a convivial natural wine bar where interesting small-plate dishes are designed to match unusual bottles. The card runs from funky orange.

Tip: A Gault and Millau HIP pick; the menu changes frequently so the best visit is a return one.

Dok Noord Beer Hall ★ 4.4

dok-noord · Dok-Noord 7, 9000 Gent

The Dok Noord complex concentrates several brewing and beer retail operations in one cluster, ideal for sampling by flight on a Saturday afternoon.

Tip: The Dok Noord area is best visited on a Saturday afternoon when Stroom, Dok Brewing, De Hopduvel and OR Coffee are all open simultaneously.

Dok Brewing Company ★ 4.4

dok-noord · Dok-Noord 4B, 9000 Gent

Dok Brewing Company in Hal 16 at Dok Noord is open until 01:00 Thursday through Saturday: 30 taps including house craft IPAs and Belgian guest beers.

Tip: Thursday evening is the quietest late session; the Friday crowd is younger and louder from midnight but the beer quality stays constant.

Vinogradoff ★ 4.4

graslei-korenlei · Ajuinlei 15, 9000 Gent

Vinogradoff on the Ajuinlei specialises in natural and biodynamic wines from Eastern Europe: Georgia, Slovenia and Hungary, a rare focus in Belgian wine bars.

Tip: The wine shop section offers bottles to take away; the staff know each producer personally and can recommend accordingly.

Hotsy Totsy ★ 4.4

binnenstad · Hoogstraat 1, 9000 Gent

Hotsy Totsy has injected Ghent with blues and jazz since the 1970s: the Claus brothers bar hosts live music most evenings from September to June.

Tip: No live music in July and August; the rest of the year, Thursday to Saturday evenings are the most reliably musical.

Vandekerckhove Koffiebranderij ★ 4.4

zuidstationstraat · Brabantdam 55, 9000 Gent

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.

Tip: Go on a weekday morning when the drum is running; the smell of fresh roasting from the shopfront is the best possible advertisement.

Edelrot Bar and Shop ★ 4.4

binnenstad · Belfortstraat 6, 9000 Gent

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.

Tip: The bottle shop section has better prices than many Brussels specialists; the staff can advise on shipping or travelling with bottles.

Le Baan Thai ★ 4.3

patershol · Corduwanierstraat 57, 9000 Gent

Le Baan Thai has anchored Thai cooking in the Patershol since 1988 and earned the 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand for a short menu run. Priced at €€.

Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; the dining room seats fewer than thirty so book by phone two or three days ahead for Friday and Saturday.

Boris et Maurice ★ 4.3

sint-amandsberg · Antwerpsesteenweg 329, 9040 Sint-Amandsberg

Bib Gourmand-recognised bistro in Sint-Amandsberg run by two former colleagues who built a seasonal French-Belgian menu around local suppliers.

Tip: A ten-minute tram ride from the centre; the relative distance means bookings are easier to secure than more central peers.

't Klokhuys ★ 4.3

patershol · Corduwaniersstraat 65, 9000 Gent

't Klokhuys runs out of a narrow Patershol house and is one of the most cited places in the city for Gentse waterzooi. The room seats fewer than 30 people.

Tip: Book at least two days ahead; the room is tiny and fills weeks ahead in summer.

Le Baan Thai ★ 4.3

patershol · Corduwanierstraat 57, 9000 Gent

Le Baan Thai has been the Patershol reference for Thai cuisine for 37 years and holds a 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand, with green and red curries on a short.

Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; Sunday lunch service is the quietest slot. Tables are small so reserve a few days ahead.

Lokaal ★ 4.3

binnenstad · Brabantdam 100, 9000 Gent

Lokaal built its reputation on a menu that is 80 per cent vegetarian but never feels restricted. The daily changing board of seasonal Belgian small plates.

Tip: One of the few kitchens in Ghent with a serious gluten-free breakfast; check the board when you arrive.

Baba Jacquet ★ 4.3

zuidstationstraat · Vlaanderenstraat 118, 9000 Gent

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.

Tip: Closed Tuesdays; open all weekend from 08:00 with a sunny terrace that fills fast.

Pain Perdu Bakery ★ 4.3

zuidstationstraat · Walpoortstraat 9, 9000 Gent

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.

Tip: The garden fills fast on sunny weekend mornings; the bread sells out by early afternoon. Arrive before 10:00.

Pain Perdu ★ 4.3

zuidstationstraat · Walpoortstraat 9, 9000 Gent

Pain Perdu bakes wood-fired sourdough and runs a sunny rear garden that has made this Walpoortstraat cafe one of Ghent's most loved brunch destinations.

Tip: The garden fills fast on sunny weekends; aim to arrive before 11:00 to get an outdoor table.

Full Circle Coffee Bar ★ 4.3

zuidstationstraat · Zuidstationstraat 5, 9000 Gent

Full Circle was one of Belgium's first fully plant-based specialty coffee bars, with oat or rice milk for all drinks and vegan pastries throughout.

Tip: The Zuid location is the larger; the Astridlaan branch is a useful stop near the train station.

BOON Lunchbar ★ 4.3

patershol · Burgstraat 1A, 9000 Gent

BOON is a vegetarian lunch bar at the foot of the Gravensteen. Located in Patershol. Order the rhubarb soda. Specialty: vegetarian lunch and seasonal salads.

Tip: Kitchen closes in the early evening; this is a daytime spot. The counter fills at lunch so aim for 11:45.

Full Circle Coffee Bar and Roastery ★ 4.3

zuidstationstraat · Zuidstationstraat 5, 9000 Gent

Full Circle was one of Belgium's first fully plant-based specialty roasters. Located in Zuidstationstraat. Priced at €€. At Zuidstationstraat 5.