15 splurge places in Ghent, editor-picked. tasting menus and the full big-night-out treatment in Ghent. All Ghent food.
Vrijmoed ★ 4.9
binnenstad · Vlaanderenstraat 22, 9000 Gent
Two Michelin stars in central Ghent: chef Michaël Vrijmoed pushes Belgian produce through fermentation and global technique, with a dedicated Purs vegetarian.
Tip: Book the 7-course format on a Friday evening, when the kitchen serves its most ambitious version of the menu.
OAK ★ 4.8
patershol · Burgstraat 16, 9000 Gent
One Michelin star and 24 seats in a Ghent medieval lane: Marcelo Ballardin fuses Italian-Brazilian roots with North Sea ingredients and Asian technique.
Tip: Lunch Tuesday to Friday offers a four-course format at a gentler price, and the room is equally relaxed.
Publiek ★ 4.7
binnenstad · Ham 39, 9000 Gent
One Michelin star in a loft-style bistro on Ham street: Olly Ceulenaere champions lesser-known Belgian vegetables and local produce at every turn.
Tip: Lunch is three courses from €55 and usually has last-minute availability where dinner books out weeks ahead.
Roots ★ 4.6
patershol · Vrouwebroersstraat 5, 9000 Gent
Michelin Guide-listed bistronomic gem in Patershol: Kim Devisschere applies rigorous seasonal sourcing and West Flemish heritage to five-course menus.
Tip: Book at least three weeks ahead; this is one of the hardest tables in Ghent to secure.
Bask ★ 4.5
dok-noord · Edward Pynaertkaai 115, 9000 Gent
Bib Gourmand-rated Bask converts a former petrol station into a fire-lit Basque asador, with turbot, txuleta and guinea fowl from their own farm.
Tip: Book the counter seats facing the asador for the full show; the smoke and theatrics are the point.
LOF Restaurant ★ 4.4
binnenstad · Hoogstraat 36, 9000 Gent
Inside the Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof on Hoogstraat, chef Paul de Groote runs a five or six-course tasting menu rooted in classical French technique.
Tip: The Sunday lunch at €17.50 to €27.50 per course is the most accessible way into this kitchen.
Soul Kitchen ★ 4.4
binnenstad · Godshuizenlaan 33, 9000 Gent
Ghent's most serious vegan fine-dining room: a sharing-plate format built around seasonal organic produce from local farms, served in a calm space opposite.
Tip: Book Thursday through Saturday evenings for the full menu; the Sunday lunch is shorter but equally well-sourced.
Volta ★ 4.3
binnenstad · Nieuwewandeling 2b, 9000 Gent
Housed in a converted turbine hall at Nieuwewandeling, Volta serves confident Belgian brasserie cooking with an upmarket edge and a wine list that rewards.
Tip: The terrace along the canal is one of Ghent's finest outdoor dining spots on a warm evening.
Boris et Maurice ★ 4.3
sint-amandsberg · Antwerpsesteenweg 329, 9040 Sint-Amandsberg
Bib Gourmand-rated bistro in Sint-Amandsberg run by two former colleagues, with a seasonally refreshed menu that leans on local producers strongly.
Tip: Call ahead to confirm this day's menu style; it shifts more frequently than most similarly-priced kitchens.
Steendam 66 ★ 4.2
binnenstad · Steendam 66, 9000 Gent
A French-influenced bistro in a handsome historic building near Sint-Jakobs church on Steendam, with confident cooking that plays classical French technique.
Tip: The lunch menu is shorter and represents excellent value against the dinner format.
Commotie ★ 4.1
sint-amandsberg · Victor Braeckmanlaan 367, 9040 Gent
A Michelin Guide-listed creative restaurant in Sint-Amandsberg, where the kitchen takes seasonal Belgian produce in directions that borrow from across Europe.
Tip: The Friday lunch is the one daytime service and often has more availability than the evening slots.
Epiphany's Kitchen ★ 4.1
patershol · Burgstraat 10, 9000 Gent
Dedicated vegan restaurant in central Ghent with a kitchen that goes beyond bean patties: creative preparations of plant proteins and seasonal vegetables.
Tip: Check their social media for the current week's menu before booking; it changes more often than the printed card suggests.
Officina Raffaelli ★ 4.0
dok-noord · Dok-Noord 4B, 9000 Gent
Tucked inside the Hal 16 food hall at Dok Noord, Officina Raffaelli serves fresh Italian pizza and Tuscan regional dishes sourced as close to the Italian.
Tip: Combine a meal here with a beer from Dok Brewing Company next door for the full Dok Noord experience.
Alix - Maison d'Amis ★ 4.0
sint-pieters · Kortrijksesteenweg 206, 9000 Gent
Alix is a warmly decorated coach house near Sint-Pieters station serving seasonal Belgian cooking with a French accent in an honest, personal dining room.
Tip: Walk in for lunch and you stand a decent chance of a table without a booking; evenings fill quickly.
50 fifty ★ 4.0
binnenstad · Ottogracht 10, 9000 Gent
A sharing-plates concept on Ottogracht with a strong vegetable focus. The menu rotates with the season and the kitchen splits its attention evenly.
Tip: Come with a group of four to maximise the number of plates you can try without over-ordering.