5 places that do a good brunch in Ghent

This intimate cafe in the heart of Ghent is furnished in a relaxed rustic style with a tiled floor, dark walls and old wooden tables. It quickly fills up at the weekend, but you might manage to squeeze inside, or find a table on the terrace. The friendly team offers a big choice of classic brunch food, including homemade cinnamon buns, stacks of fluffy pancakes or avocado toast. Towards the middle of the afternoon, the cafe turns into a cocktail bar.

This is a friendly coffee house with rustic wooden floorboards and a long communal table. They serve fresh local food, including tasty breads, flaky croissants and small pots of homemade jam. The secret garden at the back is one of the most romantic spots we know in Ghent.

Located in a handsome art nouveau corner house, this tiny coffee bar is popular with students stopping off for a coffee or a healthy lunch. The interior is decorated in a relaxed Nordic style with small round tables, benches and cushions. The coffee bar is named after the wife of the architect who designed this building in 1903.

This bright cafe sits on the waterfront in the trendy Dok-Noord district. The kitchen offers breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes using local suppliers like Bakker Klaas for their sourdough bread. You can also drop in for a barista coffee made with beans from De Witte Zwaan roastery or a craft beer brewed by Dok Brewing Company on the other side of the water.

Alix Aelterman serves healthy food in a beautiful old town house where her father once ran his doctor’s surgery. She has also created a secret summer spot in the large garden behind the house. It’s a relaxed, romantic place for a weekend brunch or a picnic under the trees.