Ghent's most photographed strip, where medieval guild houses line both banks of the Leie. Terraces here fill fast on warm days; the iconic view repays the tourist-area prices.
Et Alors near the Graslei brings Parisian bistro energy to Ghent: animated room, seasonal French-Belgian food and a weekend brunch worth booking.
Signature: Weekend brunch, French-inspired lunch plates
Order: The weekend brunch menu, which brings the Parisian concept into the sharpest focus.
Tip: Book at least a week ahead for Saturday or Sunday brunch; the reputation has outgrown the walk-in capacity.
Allegro Moderato occupies a canal-side house on the Korenlei, with views of the guild houses across the Leie. The kitchen produces carefully plated modern.
Order: Seasonal fish from the market with local vegetable sides: the kitchen changes with what arrives each morning.
Tip: Book the window table for the guild-house view. Closed weekday lunches.
Et Alors near the Graslei on Jan Breydelstraat serves sweet and savoury crepes with seasonal bistro plates, transitioning to wines and cocktails by evening.
Order: Ham-cheese crepe with mustard: simple, made with good buckwheat batter and the right amount of crisp edge.
Tip: Morning coffee and crepes work well here before the Graslei tourist crowd arrives around 10:00.
Korenlei Twee occupies a prime guild-house building on the Korenlei with direct views of the Graslei across the Leie. Coffee, brunch and light brasserie.
Order: Cappuccino on the terrace with a view of the medieval guild houses: the most postcard-worthy coffee in Ghent.
Tip: Tables fill by 10:30 on sunny days; weekday mornings before 10:00 are the quietest.
Vinogradoff is a wine shop and bar specialising in natural and biodynamic wines from Eastern Europe: Georgia, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Czech Republic alongside.
Wine focus: Eastern European and natural wines
Order: Georgian amber wine in a traditional qvevri style: skin-fermented, oxidative and unlike any European.
Tip: Shop-bar hybrid; most visits start with the staff recommending a region and end with buying a bottle home.
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.
Vinogradoff specialises in natural and biodynamic wines from Eastern Europe, with by-the-glass pours from its bar-shop on the Ajuinlei near the Korenlei.
Order: Georgian amber wine flight: three pours from different qvevri producers that show how dramatically the style.
Tip: An evening that starts at Vinogradoff and continues to Korenlei dinner follows the best natural wine and food arc in Ghent.
Et Alors near the Graslei serves sweet and savoury crepes and bistro plates on weekend mornings: a Parisian-Belgian brunch hybrid that rewards booking ahead.
Order: Weekend brunch menu: the Parisian-Belgian plates at their most confident on a Saturday or Sunday morning.
Tip: Book at least a week ahead for Saturday or Sunday; the reputation has outgrown the walk-in capacity on weekends.