What to do on a day-off in Ghent (BE)
It’s nice to be on tour, play for amazing people every night, travel the world and living on the road. You like the routine of showdays and trill of walking in to a new venue every day and discovering what kind of day you’re in for.
But, as much as you enjoy all that a day off comes as a blessing after a few back to back shows and long drives right. But when you actually have a day off, it's hard to think of creative ways to fill it. You have limited time and energy to do research or just wander about hoping to stumble on a little gem. You also don’t want go to the typical places tourists go and be in crowded places getting ripped off on bad food, warm beer and cold woman 🙂
In this series of blog post I’ll try to help you make the best of your day off by pointing you to the places locals go for good vibes, good coffee, great music and amazing food.
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About the city
Ghent is a relatively small town in the northwest of Belgium known for it’s medieval centre with a wonderful cathedral (Sint Baafs) housing the word famous painting by the Van Eyck brothers, the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (Dutch: De aanbidding van het Lam Gods)
Ghent is a university town and has a vibrant music- and nightlife scene all within walking distance of the venue you’re playing or the hotel you’re sleeping in.
The venues & festivals
There are a couple of great venues to play in Ghent like the iconic Vooruit, now known as VIERNULVIER, the beautiful Handelsbeurs, the bigger Capitol or the recently opened high-end club stage of Wintercircus. For more underground stuff there’s the legendary Café Charlatan and his neighbour Kinky Star to name but a few
If you’re touring with a stage production you’ll probably end up at NTGent who have multiple venues across the city, the cosy Minard, Kopergietery or again kunstencentrum VIERNULVIER to name but a few.
In summer the city has some great festivals all planned around the famous Gentse Feesten in July. Boomtown for rock, electronic and alternative acts, Gent Jazz for jazz acts.
Getting around
As said Ghent is a very compact city so most of the locations mentioned here will only be a short walk from your venue or hotel.
The guide
Coffee
Way Coffee Roasters
Local coffee roaster and WAY now has several locations in the city, go to the Bakehouse if you want to match an amazing cup of brew with wonderful vegan pastry!
Location: Jakobijnenstraat 7
Instagram: waycoffeeroasters.gent
Open: Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm, Sunday 9am to 6pm
Take Five
Great coffee at a great location near the Krook building, especially when the weathers nice and you can sit outdoors. This is also a good place to grab some breakfast or lunch!
Location: Grote Huidevettershoek 10
Instagram: ****takefiveespressobar
Open: Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 6pm, Sunday from 10am to 6pm
Vandekerckhove
Another local roaster, this one has been around since 1854! Great little place to sit outside in the sun and to get some tea or beans for the bus!
Location: Brabantdam 55
Instagram: vandekerckhovebar
Open: Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm
Stuff
Gear - Abacus Music
Luthier Jean-Luc Stockman started with Abacusmusic back in 2002. His small shop houses a huge stock of tools and spare parts for stringed instruments as well as some beautiful custom and handmade electric and acoustic guitars. Jean-Luc can also do repairs so give him a call before coming to the city if you have an instrument that might need some work.
Location: Oudevest 31
Website: https://abacus-music.web.app/
Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 1pm to 7pm
Books - Paard van Troje
Paard van Troje is an independent, eccentric bookshop, home to about 30,000 carefully selected book both in Dutch and English. Offering a curated selection of both bestsellers, literary classics and hidden gems from indie presses alike, ranging from relaxing easy-reads & pageturners to the mind-bending brainchildren of obscure writers and the equally obscure publishers that house them. Best bookstore in town!
Location: Kouter 113
Instagram: paardvantroje_gent
Open: Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, Sunday from 10am to 2pm
Record hunting
Music Mania
This iconic independent recordstore right next to VIERNULVIER has been around since 1969 and can be seen quiet literaly as a cornerstone of the city’s music scene! Great selection of new and used vinyl across multiple genres and continent.
Location: Sint-pietersnieuwstraat 18
Instagram: musicmaniagent
Open: Monday to Saturday from 11am to 6:30pm
Vynilla
Avid collector Bob started his small recordstore in 1981, it houses a quirky collection of vintage and new records for bargain bin to real collector items. Time goes slow here, take your time to dig deep or tell Bob what you’re looking for, he’s like a human Discogs really!
Location: Sint-Kwintensberg 38
Instagram: that’s not the vibe here
Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 6pm
Consouling Store
Record label Consouling Sounds was founded in 2007 and has always focussed on research into how experimental niche music can be put ‘out there’ in a professional way and the store near Vrijdagsmarkt has a great collection of music that falls within that philosophy. A great play to discover new and exiting music!
Location: Baudelostraat 11
Instagram: consouling
Open: Wednesday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm
Great food
Pizza Neapolis
If you’re looking for the real pizza Neapolitan this is the place to go! Nothing fancy or trendy here, just great pizza from the wood fired oven!
Location: Oudburg 41
Phone: +32 9 329 95 84
Instagram: neapolisgent
Open: daily from 6pm to 10pm and from 12am to 2am on Thursday, Friday & Saturday
Brasserie Keizershof
This place has been cooking since 1979 and it serves great. This is the place to go to taste some great Belgian classics like ‘kaaskroketten’, steak frit, Stoverij and Sliptong. It’s a big place but do call up front to be sure you have a table
Location: Vrijdagsmarkt 47
Phone: +32 476 71 11 33
Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm to 11pm (kitchen orders until 9pm)
Aroy Aroy
Hot spot if you like Thai food & beer! Two brothers cooking up trouble and one of the best places for Thai food in the city!
Location: Lange Steenstraat 10
Phone: +32 479 12 45 90
Instagram: aroyaroy_gent
Open: Monday to Friday from 7pm
Le Botanist
Le Botaniste was the first organic, plant-based, and carbon-neutral restaurant in New York City and now there’s a local branch in the city serving great and colourful plant based dishes and some great natural wines to match
Location: Hoornstraat 13
Phone: +32 9 233 45 35
Instagram: le_botaniste
Open: Every day from 11am to 9:30 pm
Noodlebar Ramen
Looking for Japanese Ramen? This is the place for you! Open since December 2012, this small and steamy place offers a variety of ramen soups and typical side dishes, inspired by the seasons and Japan. All components - noodles, broth, toppings and condiments - are made in-house. Not easy to get in but worth the effort
Location: Oudburg 51
Instagram: ramen.gent
Open: Monday to Friday from noon to 2:30pm and on Fridays from 5pm til sold out
Drinks
Gold Listening Bar
If you’re in to great music on vinyl played on a great system in true kissa style, this place is where you should go! Listening sessions and label nights on Wednesdays and Thursdays and ‘Selector’ sets on Friday and Saturdays
To try: Leeflank Kombucha
Location: Goudstraat 2
Instagram: goldlisteningbar.gent
Open: Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm to 1am
Jiggers
The best place for coolers, cocktails and good vibes from some of the best bartenders in the world
To try: The Japanese Cocktail
Location: Oudburg 16
Indstagram: jiggers_coolersandcocktails
Open: Tuesday to Friday from 5pm, Saturday & Sunday from 4pm
Little Red Rooster
Cocktail bar that serves a balanced selection of modern creations, vintage classics and comforting crowd pleasers
To try: The patty melt sandwich!!
Location: Waaistraat 16
Instagram: littleredrooster_ghent
Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 5PM till 1AM
