Lovely, Ghent.

Wow, what an amazing three days getting to basque in the beauty of this gem. Although once overlooked, this city is gaining more and more tourists by the year. A city filled with character, fresh vibes, and a flourishing food scene.

Although caught in unfavorable weather conditions, some college friends and I made the most of our three day visit to Ghent, Belgium. To escape the rain we mostly ate our way through the city. What is travel without taking in all the local cuisine, though?

In this blog post, I'll show you local hotspots to check out when spending a weekend in Ghent trying to escape the rain.

Our view from our room in Hostel Uppelink.

Where to Stay

Firstly, I would highly recommend staying at Hostel Uppelink. The quality of the hostel is decent! The location, though, is fantastic! It is situated right by the Korenmarkt, a very popular area for tourists. The hostel offers free walking tours everyday, so that's a plus. It also rents out kayak's, perfect for those sunny summer days! My favorite thing was the view from our all-female dorm window!

Tip: For new-time hostel goers, make sure to bring a lock to secure your valuables in a locker provided in your room.

Book directly from the hostel's website to have breakfast included every morning throughout your stay. If you book through booking.com you will have to purchase breakfast separately for an extra 5 euros per day.

FOOD

1. O'YO

If you want a healthy wholesome breakfast head over to this lovely cafe! There menu is all plant-based, so you know you your meal will be infused with quality nutrients and minerals! Due to stomach issues, I only ordered the banana bread and an iced matcha latte. It was soo good! There were so many items on the menu I wanted to try, but just not enough stomach space.

During my morning visit I was fortunate enough to chat with the owner of the cafe. She was so sweet and so informative! I loved that she carried on a conversation with me about life in Ghent and all things health, and Belgium + Dutch culture. Nowadays, after 45 was elected, I rarely come across such friendliness when traveling through Europe, so it was so refreshing to connect with the locals.

I can't wait to go back to revisit this cozy cafe.

Bonus: The cafe owner has made it a point to have an infused water station for free. There was only one other cafe that had free tap water available. Many other servers refused to serve me tap water. Yes, the reason that don't serve tap water is to increase sales.

Website: Here

Location: Brabantdam 82, 9000 Gent, Belgium

2. Full Circle Coffee

So thankful, I didn't have to work hard to find cafes that served matcha lattes! I was pleasantly surprised when I learned Ghent is up with the latest cafe drink trends! Their pastries were plant-based which was such a win! I opted for a slice of the chocolate fudge cake they had on hand. Super yummy, of course, if you are into plant-based treats!

The interior was one of my favorites! It had earthy vibes, while maintaining an industrial design with a hint of mid-century interior. I guess you could say it is very "grammable".

This is a cafe you can take your laptop to for studying or work. Some people were connected to the internet, while others had their nose in a book. I could tell most of the people that come to this cafe are college students, so feel free to pack a laptop, or a good read and head over to this cafe during a rainy morning or afternoon!

Website: Here

Location: Zuidstationstraat 5, 9000 Gent, Belgium

3. Wasbar

I loved the concept of this cafe! It is a regular cafe AND laundromat. What? Yep, kill two birds with one stone. Kind of wish there was this type of "wash bar" available when I was in school. This is the place you want to visit when you are looking to have a productive day!

The food was pretty good! I couldn't help but slurp the last bits of my chai latte. The waffle wasn't too bad itself! They have a full menu, so it's not just treats and coffee.

They do sell laundry detergent, so no worries if you forgot yours back home, or if you are a backpacker looking to get laundry done.

Website: Here

Location: Korenmarkt 37, 9000 Gent, Belgium

4. Le Bal Infernal

5. Gust

This quaint and cute cafe is rated as one of the top 10 cafes to get brunch in Ghent on Tripadvisor. Rightly so, the food was pretty good! I will say seating was a bit more crammed then usual, but still very cosy. Make sure to reserve a table to ensure you get a comfortable table for you and your party!

I had been craving pancakes for the LONGEST time. It's a comfort food I crave on a rainy day. Thankfully, the pancakes on the menu were "American", meaning they were thick and fluffy pancakes, and not like the typical Dutch/Belgian Pancakes (flat, crêpe-like pancakes). It was a total score! They were served with maple syrup and some blueberries! Of course, like most foods deemed "american", these weren't exactly American, but nonetheless, they were great!

Usually, I love golden lattes ( a turmeric-infused drink), but the one served at Gust was a bust! I would recommend trying a different drink to accompany your brunch! My friends enjoyed their meal, yogurt with granola, and eggs and toast.

Tip: many of the restaurants and cafes in Ghent require you to reserve a table in advance, so keep that in mind!

Website: Here

Location: Annonciadenstraat 4, 9000 Gent, Belgium

After eating your heart out, walk it off.

I had heard many great things about Ghent, but truly, as others mentioned, it’s easy to fall in love with it just by taking a stroll around it’s neighborhoods.