The Best Waffles in Ghent, Belgium
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I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I’VE BEEN SLEEPING ON BELGIUM.
It’s a close train ride from Frankfurt, but I’ve never really made a concerted effort to visit.
A work trip was taking me to Ghent, though, so I decided to arrive the weekend before to explore the city on my own.
And I was completely blown away.
Ghent has a beautifully compact, medieval charm, with plenty of big sites and small curiosities to keep travelers entertained for more than the five days in total I spent there.
I HAD VERY LITTLE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OR EXPECTATIONS OF GHENT, WHICH MADE EACH DISCOVERY ALL THE MORE SPECIAL.
Being in Belgium, I was keen on finding a good beer tasting, scrumptious chocolates, and of course, waffles.
If you’re looking for the best waffles in Ghent, you’ve come to the right place!
The Best Waffles in Ghent, Belgium
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Here are my top recommendations for the best waffles in Ghent, Belgium.
Best Overall 💎 - Waffles N’ Beer Workshop
Best Variety 🧇 - House of Waffles
Best for Sweet Tooths 🍭 - oyya — waffles & ice cream
Brussels Waffle vs. Liège Waffle
Before we dive into where to find the best waffles in Ghent, a bit of a culinary lesson.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO DISTINCT STYLES OF BELGIAN WAFFLES.
The first are Brussels waffles, those rectangular concoctions with deep pockets perfect for capturing syrup.
They’re made from a yeast-based batter that gives them an airy, light texture along with a crispy exterior.
BRUSSELS WAFFLES ARE USUALLY TOPPED WITH POWDERED SUGAR, FRUIT, OR WHIPPED CREAM.
Liège waffles are more of a handheld treat, with a dense, sweet dough and an almost caramelized exterior.
LIÈGE WAFFLES, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAVE RAGGED EDGES AND A DENSE, CHEWY TEXTURE.
Pearl sugar is added to the dough, giving them an almost caramelized exterior that doesn’t require any further toppings.
Instead, variety is added directly to the dough — in Liège, Belgium, shops offer regular or cinnamon waffles, and both are insanely delicious.
Waffles n’ Beer Workshop
We accidentally stumbled upon the Waffles n’ Beer Workshop while walking down Onderbergen in the center of Ghent, the yeasty scent of batter wafting through the air.
I immediately pulled out my phone and scanned the QR code on the sandwich board outside the entrance.
THE WAFFLE N’ BEER WORKSHOP PROMISED A HANDS-ON WAFFLE COOKING CLASS ALONG WITH A TASTING OF LOCAL BELGIUM BEERS.
I was intrigued, not only because I’d been looking for both of these things - waffles, and a beer tasting - and the idea of putting them together struck me as genius.
I was instantly smitten with the dedicated cooking workstations at the Waffles N’ Beer Workshop.
THE WORKSHOP TAKES PLACE IN A CUSTOM-FITTED KITCHEN SPACE WITH PLENTY OF CHARACTER.
The space is outfitted with cooking workstations that contain everything necessary for making classic Belgian waffles, like hand mixers for whipping up the batter and waffle irons for cooking the final product.
Guests are greeted upon arrival and given an introduction by their instructor.
I really liked this part because our instructor was a Ghent local, and he gave us plenty of local perspective in addition to the tasting and cooking class.
This is why I refer to cooking classes as “Connection Experiences” in my Europe Experience Planner - you’re learning something, sure, but you’re also connecting with a local, in a casual environment, who is able to answer your questions about local customs and everyday life.
Guests are also encouraged to introduce themselves so that they’re able to get to know the other travelers who are also taking part in the experience.
The beer tasting was first — we were introduced to Belgium varieties like a traditional Belgian Lambic fruit-beer, all the way up to a quadruple beer, which are among the strongest Belgian Ales with ABVs between 10-13%.
After the tasting, we headed over to the cooking stations to begin making waffles.
We tasted between four and five beers…
…but the St. Bernardius and Gulden Draak were among my favorites.
THE BEERS DEFINITELY LOOSENED UP THE GROUP — WE WEREN’T EXACTLY CHASING PERFECTION WITH OUR COOKING SKILLS AT THIS POINT.
The cooking tutorial, though, — one half demonstration, one half hands-on learning — was incredibly informative and delivered in a laid-back, conversational style.
We portioned out our ingredients and then learned the techniques for mixing the batter, greasing the waffle iron, and properly cooking the waffles.
The recipe was part of the decor, which I thought was a charming touch.
The experience ends with a heaping plate of waffles and a glass of beer selected from among those in the tasting.
This recipe made so many waffles that, even after eating my fill, I was able to take a small parcel of waffles back to my hotel.
DARE I SAY, THE WAFFLES TASTED EVEN BETTER THE NEXT MORNING?
It was one of my best breakfasts in Ghent.
The finished product, a tasty stack of waffles, washed down with a heaping pour of Belgian beer.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THE WAFFLES N’ BEER WORKSHOP AS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN GHENT.
I found it to be a really time efficient and affordable way to experience two major elements of Belgian food culture.
And if you don’t have a ton of time in Ghent, there are Waffle N’ Beer outposts in Bruges and Brussels, too.
Other Great Waffles in Ghent
HOUSE OF WAFFLES IS THE BEST CHOICE FOR WAFFLES IN GHENT, IN MY OPINION, THANKS TO THE WIDE VARIETY OF ITS MENU.
Their selection of savory waffles offers an alternative from the sugar bombs on offer at most places around town.
Using a Brussels style waffle as a base, House of Waffles creates dishes like the tomato & mozzarella version that we absolutely devoured during our visit.
Sweet tooths, fret not: they also offer Liège waffles and Brussels waffles topped with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, ice creams, and fruit.
It’s located right along the Graslei in the center of Ghent.
oyya — waffles & ice cream is the waffle outpost for sweet tooths. It began as an ice cream truck in Bruges, and evolved into its second food truck, a waffle truck.
Today, oyya has a collection of brick and mortar locations across Bruges and Ghent.
THEY SERVE TRADITIONAL LIÈGE WAFFLES — PEARL SUGAR AND ALL — WITH AN ASSORTMENT OF TOPPINGS.
It’s a great place if you or your group appreciate sweet treats like homemade gelato or milkshakes, and they even have an assortment of vegan gelato, too.
In Ghent, there are two locations, one on Langemunt in the north of the city center and another on Koestraat in the south of the city center.
Go.fre Gent is a great option for celiac travelers.
The Ghent outpost of this Bruges original offers Liège-style waffles: both plain and topped with whipped cream, strawberries, or bananas.
THEIR WAFFLE-ON-A-STICK IS A GLUTEN FREE OPTION, AS ARE SEVERAL OF THE AVAILABLE TOPPINGS.
It’s located on the corner of Hoornstraat and Veldstraat in the center of Ghent.
Conclusion
IF YOU’RE IN GHENT, YOU HAVE TO TRY WAFFLES. AND BEER.
Honestly, the best beers I tried in Ghent were those that were part of the tasting at the Waffles N’ Beer Workshop.
And learning how to make Brussels style waffles on my own is a skill that I’ve permanently added to my cooking repertoire.
If you’re just looking for a quick waffle, I’d point you to House of Waffles, oyya, or Go.fre Ghent.
But if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, don’t miss the Waffles N’ Beer Workshop.
Happy travels! 🧇🍻
xx,
Angela