Missy Sippy Blues and Roots Club is a nightlife spot in Binnenstad, Ghent.
Missy Sippy is Ghent's dedicated blues and roots venue near Sint-Niklaaskerk, with live acts Thursday through Saturday, a Louisiana-inspired kitchen and cocktails until 02:00.
Tip: Live acts start at 21:00 on Thursdays; arrive at 20:00 for a table with a clear view of the small stage.
Address: Klein Turkije 16, 9000 Gent, Ghent
Hotsy Totsy on the Hoogstraat is a dark 1930s-style bar with red velvet and a record collection: the most atmospherically speakeasy-like room in the Patershol without being a formal cocktail bar.
Tip: The bar is at its best on quieter Tuesday and Wednesday evenings when the Patershol crowd thins and the vinyl gets full attention.
Het Oud Canten Huis on the Kammerstraat is Ghent's long-running LGBTQ+ bar near the centre, with a friendly mixed crowd, drag nights and a late license through the weekend.
Tip: Drag performances run on selected Saturday nights; check the Facebook page for the monthly event schedule.
De Bijloke is Ghent's main classical and world music hall: a 14th-century former hospital refectory with exceptional acoustics, hosting Baroque, jazz and world music concerts.
Tip: Book tickets directly at debijloke.be for the Ghent Jazz Festival programme in July; popular acts sell out months ahead.
Dok Brewing Company in Hal 16 at Dok Noord hosts regular live music sessions and DJ nights at the weekend, combining craft beer with an unpretentious industrial concert setting.
Tip: The outdoor Dok Noord waterfront fills in summer for open-air sets; check dokbrewingcompany.be for the weekly music programme.
Jigger's in the Patershol is Ghent's most serious cocktail destination: a medieval cellar bar with 500+ spirits, seasonal cocktail menu and a hidden-feeling intimacy despite being well-known.
Tip: Arrive by 21:00 to guarantee a seat; the bar fills to capacity on weekends and does not take walk-ins after 22:00.
Hotsy Totsy on the Hoogstraat is a dark 1930s-style bar with red velvet and a record collection: the most atmospherically speakeasy-like room in the Patershol without being a formal cocktail bar.
Tip: The bar is at its best on quieter Tuesday and Wednesday evenings when the Patershol crowd thins and the vinyl gets full attention.
Het Oud Canten Huis on the Kammerstraat is Ghent's long-running LGBTQ+ bar near the centre, with a friendly mixed crowd, drag nights and a late license through the weekend.
Tip: Drag performances run on selected Saturday nights; check the Facebook page for the monthly event schedule.
Rococo in the Patershol cobbles is Ghent's closest thing to a listening bar: dark, candle-lit and playing a carefully chosen vinyl programme to an arty late-evening crowd.
Tip: The bar is at its best on a Tuesday or Wednesday when the Patershol is quiet and the music gets full room attention.
