The 5 best bars to drink like a local in Ghent

When young owners took over Ghent’s oldest cafe (dating back to 1639), they resolved to keep its ancient interior and authentic atmosphere. The wooden bar, old card tables and photos of football teams are all still in place. But the old Dutch name De Wan has become De Wan and Only, and there is now a menu with typical Belgian dishes. The result is a cool spot for a local beer and a pot of mussels.

Here is a brown cafe with a comfortable old interior furnished with battered sofas, old wooden tables and strange stuffed animal heads. You can drop in at any time of day for an espresso, a Belgian beer or a bowl of soup. The little overgrown garden at the back is the perfect spot to sit on a summer evening with a glass of Keizer Karel beer.

This friendly bar has bare wooden floorboards, a timber counter and beer kegs for tables. It could almost be a saloon bar in the Wild West, except it is filled with Belgian cycling memorabilia, making it a popular place for a late-night beer during the Ghent Six Days race. Football fans also pack in here when Belgium is playing a game.

Here is the oldest cafe in Ghent, where music students from the nearby conservatory rub shoulders with local councillors who work in the town hall opposite. The cafe dates back to 1340, or possibly even 1228, depending on who is telling the story. It is a friendly local place with old photographs on the walls, candles on the tables and jazz playing quietly in the background.

Located near Sint-Pieters station, this old brown volkscafé has somehow survived intact. The interior is decorated with a tiled floor, wood-panelling and old paintings. It attracts a mix of students, regulars and commuters on their way to the station. It’s a good spot to meet friends, read a novel or play a board game.