€€patershol
Win is a compact natural wine bar on Burgstraat near the Gravensteen castle, with a weekend brunch menu and an afternoon coffee service in a renovated room.
Wine focus: Natural wine and brunch cafe
Order: Afternoon glass of the current house natural red with home-made madeleines: the most Ghentian pre-dinner.
Tip: Open Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00; the brunch format on weekends is popular, book ahead.
€€vrijdagmarkt
Hey Frankie is a neighbourhood wine bar open Fridays to Sundays near Vrijdagmarkt. The list is natural-wine focused: growers who farm without pesticides.
Wine focus: Natural wine and wine shop
Order: Weekend natural wine pairing glass with bar snacks: the team selects from what arrived that week.
Tip: Open only three days a week; the Friday evening slot before a Vrijdagmarkt dinner is the sweet spot.
€€€graslei-korenlei
Allegro Moderato has one of the few wine terraces in Ghent with direct views of the medieval guild houses, focusing on Belgian and French grower wines.
Wine focus: Belgian and French wines with canal views
Order: Belgian natural wine by the glass with oysters: the Korenlei terrace turns this into a postcard.
Tip: The terrace fills fast on summer evenings; book a table and stay for dinner to hold it.
€€€binnenstad
Volta's wine list is one of the most ambitious in Ghent, matching modern Belgian cooking with grower wines from across Europe in a converted turbine hall.
Wine focus: Modern European wines at a fine restaurant
Order: Ask the sommelier for the glass of the day: the team changes the by-the-glass selection nightly.
Tip: Walk-in seats at the bar are easier to get than a table booking; the park setting adds to the atmosphere.
€€patershol
Roots is a farm-to-table Patershol bistro that treats its natural wine list as seriously as its food. The optional wine pairing for the tasting menu brings.
Wine focus: Natural wine pairing at farm-to-table bistro
Order: Wine pairing with the seasonal menu: four to five small pours matched by the kitchen to each course.
Tip: One of the best-value wine pairings in Ghent; the pairing adds around €25 to a €45 tasting menu.
€€€binnenstad
Steendam 66 runs a wine lounge attached to its Gault and Millau-listed bistro. The by-the-glass selection pairs with the short, seasonal lunch menu.
Wine focus: Creative wine pairings at a fine-dining lounge
Order: Lunch wine pairing: two or three glasses matched to the daily menu, with commentary from the team.
Tip: The lounge bar is easier to access than the dining room without a reservation.