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Food tours in Ghent: what to eat and which tour to book
Ghent is a university city with a working medieval centre, and it eats like Flanders: waterzooi (a creamy chicken or fish stew that is the city's own dish), beef stewed in beer (stoverij), frites with mayonnaise from a frituur, Belgian beer, and sweets such as cuberdons, the purple cone-shaped 'Ghent noses'. Mustard from the old shop on the Groentenmarkt and dry-cured Ganda ham are local buys. Ghent also takes vegetarian food seriously: since 2009 the city has promoted a weekly meat-free Thursday, and vegetarian and vegan choices are easier to find than in most of Belgium. The prettiest streets around the Graslei and Korenmarkt are touristy; the Patershol, Vrijdagmarkt and student areas around Overpoort offer more everyday eating.
Use this page to know what to order and where, with rough 2026 prices in euros. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Ghent
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghent waterzooi Gentse waterzooi | A creamy stew-soup of chicken (or, in the older version, fish) with carrots, leeks, celery and potatoes, thickened with egg yolk and cream. Ghent's signature dish. | Traditional Flemish restaurants in the centre and the Patershol. | roughly €20–28 a main course |
| Flemish beef and beer stew stoverij / stoofvlees | Beef slowly stewed in dark Belgian beer with onions, mustard-spread bread and sometimes a little brown sugar or vinegar, served with frites. | Brasseries, Flemish restaurants and many frituren (chip shops), which sell it as a sauce. | roughly €18–25 a plate in a restaurant; €4–7 as a sauce on frites |
| Frites frieten | Twice-fried chips served in a paper cone with mayonnaise or another sauce (andalouse, samurai, stoofvleessaus). Belgians treat the frituur as a serious institution. | Frituren across the city, including near Vrijdagmarkt and the Korenmarkt. | about €3–5 for a portion plus €1–1.50 for sauce |
| Ghent noses cuberdons / neuzekes | Cone-shaped purple sweets with a hard shell and soft raspberry-flavoured syrup centre. They keep only a few weeks before crystallising, so they are rarely exported. Sold from stalls and sweet shops. | Stalls and sweet shops around the Groentenmarkt and the centre. | roughly €4–8 for a bag |
| Ghent mustard Gentse mosterd | Sharp mustard made and sold in a long-established shop on the Groentenmarkt, often ladled from wooden barrels into jars. Good with Ganda ham or cheese. | Groentenmarkt. | roughly €5–10 a jar |
| Ganda ham Gandaham | Dry-cured, salted ham from the Ghent area, sliced thin. Served as a starter or bought in delis. | Delis, the Groot Vleeshuis on the Groentenmarkt, and restaurant starters. | roughly €10–16 as a starter; sold by weight in shops |
| Belgian beer bier | Trappist and abbey beers, sour Flemish reds and browns, and local Ghent brews, each served in its own glass. Many bars stock dozens or hundreds of labels. | Specialist beer bars in the centre, Vrijdagmarkt and the Patershol. | about €3.50–7 a beer |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Groentenmarkt and the Groot Vleeshuis
Small square by the river with the mustard shop, cuberdon sellers and the Groot Vleeshuis, the medieval covered meat hall with hams hanging from the roof, now used to showcase East Flanders regional products with a shop and café.
Vrijdagmarkt
Large square with a weekly Friday-morning market that has been held here for centuries, ringed by beer bars, frituren and cafés.
Patershol
A tight knot of medieval lanes behind the Gravensteen castle with a high concentration of restaurants, from Flemish cooking to international food. Quieter and more local than the Graslei.
Graslei, Korenlei and Korenmarkt
The famous waterfront of guild houses. Terraces and restaurants with the best views in the city and prices to match; fine for a drink, less so for dinner.
Holy Food Market
A food hall set inside a former chapel near the Vrijdagmarkt, with several food stands, a bar and long shared tables. Useful for groups who want different things.
Overpoort and the student area
Student district south of the centre with cheap frituren, kebab and pita shops, falafel and late-night food.
Food tours in Ghent compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghent: Belgian Waffle-Making Workshop with Beer Tasting | 1.5 hours | from €59 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Ghent: Guided City Tour with Food Tastings | 2.5 hours | from €81 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Ghent: Brewery visit + Beer Tasting tour with a Young Local | 3 hours | from €79 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Ghent: Food & Drink Walking Tour with Tastings | 2.5 hours | from €79 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Ghent: Belgian Chocolate Making Workshop with Beer Tasting | 2 hours | from €59 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Ghent: 1.5h Waffle Making Workshop - All You Can Eat | 1.5 hours | from €38 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
Ghent: Belgian Waffle-Making Workshop with Beer Tasting
On GetYourGuide · run by Waffles 'n Beer | Chocolate 'n Beer
- Length
- 1.5 hours
- Price
- from €59 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 325 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Taste 3 Belgian specialty beers Learn to make & bake Belgian waffles All ingredients & cooking materials Eat as many of your own baked waffles as you want Transport
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Look for a tall white building with a big green wooden door. Normally the green front door of the building will be open. If not, you can push it open or tap on one of the windows (on the left side of the front door), then the host will open the front door for you. When you enter the building, please take the small steps upstairs. The entrance of the workshop space is the first door on the left. The host will be there waiting for you.
Ghent: Guided City Tour with Food Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by Tours of Ghent
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €81 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 276 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Sightseeing tour of Ghent Guide 5 food tastings (small bites and larger portions) Photo opportunities Transportation Additional food and drinks Tips
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Meet your guide at the Jacob Van Artevelde statue at Vrijdagmarkt square. It is the big statue in the center of the square.
Ghent: Brewery visit + Beer Tasting tour with a Young Local
On GetYourGuide · run by BeerSecret
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €79 per person
- Rating
- 4.4 ★ from 48 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- Local guide 5 x 15cl beer tastings 1 vintage Trappist beer 1 local liquor sample Visit a working working Visit 2-3 beer spots Local delicacy samples Mini chocolate pairing Brief description of historical monuments
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
- Starts
- At the big square, you'll find the bar called PUBLIKA Look for the guide who's recognisable with BeerSecret merchandising Or the white umbrella or The Green/White Cap (depending on the weather conditions) PS: On rainy days, let's meet on the stairs of Novotel, just a few steps away from the PUBLIKA bar.
Ghent: Food & Drink Walking Tour with Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by Charlie Tours Ghent
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €79 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 45 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Local tour guide Minimum of 10 tastings
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Saint Michael's Church, Ghent
Ghent: Belgian Chocolate Making Workshop with Beer Tasting
On GetYourGuide · run by Waffles 'n Beer | Chocolate 'n Beer
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €59 per person
- Rating
- 4.5 ★ from 20 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Expert chocolatier guide All necessary chocolate making ingredients & materials Tasting of Belgian beer Your own handmade chocolates to take home
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Onderbergen 4A, 9000 Gent, België
Ghent: 1.5h Waffle Making Workshop - All You Can Eat
On GetYourGuide · run by 1USUAL INTERNATIONAL
- Length
- 1.5 hours
- Price
- from €38 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 8 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- All ingredients and cookware Free non-alcoholic drinks Take-home recipe Full assistance from start to finish Wide variety of toppings Second stomach to fill with more waffles
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Nodenaysteeg 5, 9000 Gent, Belgium
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Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Ghent's street food is frites from a frituur, waffles, cuberdons from stalls, and pita and falafel near the station and university. There are no big street-food markets except seasonal events such as the Christmas market and the Gentse Feesten in July.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down meals are in brasseries, Flemish restaurants and beer cafés. Lunch is roughly 12:00–14:00 and dinner from 18:00–18:30; kitchens often close by 21:30–22:00. Weekday lunch menus (dagschotel) are the best value.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes in Ghent are relatively rare and more often focus on chocolate, pralines or beer. Beer tastings and brewery visits are more common than cooking classes.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | €30–45 (bakery breakfast, frites or pita lunch, dagschotel dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | €60–90 (two sit-down meals with a couple of beers) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €130+ (a well-regarded restaurant tasting menu) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Excellent by Belgian standards. The city has promoted a weekly vegetarian day since 2009, and many restaurants offer vegetarian and vegan versions of Flemish dishes. Frites in many frituren are fried in beef fat (ossewit), so ask if you are strict.
Halal: Ghent has large Turkish and Moroccan communities, with many halal butchers, bakeries and restaurants, particularly along the Sleepstraat north of the centre. Traditional Flemish restaurants are not halal, and beer is used in many stews.
Gluten-free: Coeliac awareness is reasonable. Waterzooi and many stews are thickened with flour or bread, frites may share fryers with breaded snacks, and beer is not gluten-free. Ask for 'glutenvrij'; newer restaurants are better informed.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Waterfront terraces on the Graslei and Korenlei with high prices and mediocre food aimed at day-trippers. Have a drink there for the view, then eat in the Patershol or side streets.
- Old or crystallised cuberdons sold to visitors. Squeeze gently: fresh cuberdons have a soft, slightly yielding feel. Buy from busy stalls and eat within a couple of weeks.
- Sauce and extras on frites charged separately at higher-than-expected prices. Check the price board; sauce is almost always extra.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
What should I eat in Ghent if I only have one meal?
Gentse waterzooi, the city's own creamy stew, usually made with chicken. Follow it with a Belgian beer and pick up cuberdons and a jar of Ghent mustard from the Groentenmarkt to take home. For something quicker, frites with stoofvleessaus (stew gravy) from a frituur are the local fast food.
Do I need to tip in Ghent?
No. Service is included in Belgian restaurant prices, and tipping is not expected. Rounding up or leaving a couple of euros for good service is a kind gesture. On food or beer tours, a small tip for a good guide is appreciated but not required.
Is Ghent good for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, it is one of the easiest cities in Belgium. The city has run a weekly 'Thursday Veggie Day' campaign since 2009, and there are many vegetarian and vegan restaurants and cafés. Ask in frituren whether chips are fried in beef fat, which is traditional in Belgium.
How much should I budget for food per day?
On a budget, roughly €30–45 covers a bakery breakfast, frites or a pita at lunch and a dagschotel (dish of the day) for dinner. Two sit-down meals with a couple of beers come to about €60–90. Tasting menus at the city's best-known restaurants start around €100 per person before drinks.
When is the Vrijdagmarkt market on?
As the name ('Friday Market') suggests, the main market is on Friday mornings, and the tradition goes back to the Middle Ages. Stalls sell clothes and household goods as well as food, so it is more of a local general market. Check current times with Ghent's tourist office before planning around it.
What time do restaurants close?
Earlier than in southern Europe. Kitchens usually serve lunch from about 12:00 to 14:00 and dinner from about 18:00 to 21:30 or 22:00; many restaurants close one or two days a week, often Sunday and Monday. Frituren and kebab shops stay open late, especially around the Overpoort student area.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.