Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Ghent

Only because of its unbeatable ratio of quality to prices, one would be tempted to say that the fish restaurant Le Grand Bleu is the absolute top.

Customers often wonder how the chef, Peter Maximus, manages to prepare such delicious dishes at such a modest price. It is certainly not the quality of the food that has been saved on: only fresh daily ingredients are used and everything is prepared à la minute. That implies that you will have to wait a while sometimes, but that is nothing to worry about, because the romantic setting of the ivy-covered building makes you forget about the time.

The nice location, near Ghent's marina, is an extra reason to go and visit this cosy restaurant. Certainly if you are a lover of lobster or oysters, since these are the absolute specialties of the restaurant. Recently, some meat dishes were added to the menu, such as grilled filet pur.

More, nicely illustrated, info is to be found on the restaurant's website.

Firenze, a cosy restaurant run by a Belgian-Italian couple, is the right place for a delicious and reasonably priced pasta or pizza. Booking is a must since it is always very busy in the restaurant. The waiters diligently come and go and are not averse to joking now and again. Firenze has a wide range of pizzas, and also highly recommended are the spaghetti lupara, and the maccheroni ai 4 formaggi. True to tradition, you will be offered a small glass of aniseed liqueur after your meal.

This bar belongs to the Sphinx cinema, and can be described as quiet and cosy. Even if you have not visited the cinema, you can come here for a drink and enjoy the beautiful view of the Korenmarkt, since the bar is located on the first floor.

There is a wide selection of beers and wines at hand, and the bar's specialities are coffee and cocktails. In the autumn and winter you can get freshly made soup every day.

The interior of this magnificently renovated warehouse (behind the Veldstraat) truly is as tasteful as are its meals. As a result, the Pakhuis is a rather crowded establishment, with a slight bias towards business people. But, the more, the merrier, to coin a phrase...

The Pakhuis is highly reputed for its somewhat industrial-like setting, its refined cuisine, and discreet and correct service. You can also go to the Pakhuis just to have a drink at the bar, which is a true pleasure. And yes, the tables turn out to be rather small, but after all, we are in a brasserie...

This is a rather modern café-bar, next to the KNS, where you can talk with your friends or enjoy the restful music in the background. You will find a wide selection of snacks: sandwiches, salads and also meat and fish dishes. 't Vosken also has a party and meeting room.

If the weather is nice, you can sit on the terrace, which offers an exclusive view of the lively Sint-Baafsplein, Sint-Baafskathedraal and the Belfort.