We are definitely spoiled for choice when it comes to breakfast and brunch places in Gent. Here you get a list of places to enjoy a breakfast and brunch in Ghent in the following categories:

• Just nice
• Child-friendly
• Vegan/vegetarian/allergy friendly
• Affordable
• Irish breakfast
• Alternative

We’ll also give you a small explanation about breakfast in Belgium and list where you can find more breakfast place suggestions and reviews.

Just nice 

I couldn’t pinpoint these into any other category than just being my favourite places. What they have in common is generous portions, the food is made with love and served with a smile and you get value for your money. They also have comfy chairs and cosy interiors.

Wald

Address: Dendermondsesteenweg 39/001, 9000 Gent

Speciality: This is an oasis with green leaves thanks to all their plants (which they also rent out), fresh delicious breakfast items (I recommend the egg/aubergine dish shakshuka, it’s served piping hot and full of taste!). They serve breakfast every day and a special Sunday brunch. Wald is located near the Dampoort station. They welcome early birds from 8 AM on weekdays. Sunday brunch starts at 9:30 AM.

Caffè Rosario

Address: Emile Braunplein 11, Gent

This cafe opens already at 8:15 AM. You can enjoy Italian specialities, omelettes, grilled sandwiches, special coffees (with lots of cream, oreo, nutella etc.) and much more with great service in this cosy place smack in the middle of Gent.

Luv L’oeuf

Address: Nederkouter 30, 9000 Ghent

This place is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and serves breakfast all day, as many places in the U.S. do. As the name suggests they serve amazing dishes with eggs. But also waffles and more. I love savoury breakfast and suffer serious FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) here when choosing between the huevos rancheros, Eggs Benedict and their shakshuka. Their pancakes and waffle portions look amazing too! You can find some vegan options on their menu as well.

Also, they are open for (boozy) brunch on Sundays. They only take walk-ins, no reservations possible, and no groups larger than 6 people.

Emmy’s Eats and Sweets

Address: Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 97, Gent

Emmy offers homemade bread, spreads, coffee, delicious sweets, freshly squeezed orange juice and much more in a cosy interior weekdays from 9 AM till 6 PM. They have an extensive breakfast menu with a pick and mix possibility. They also offer a Mediterranean option with hummus and feta items.

Vegan & allergy considerate

Breakfasts are often naturally vegetarian, just skip the slice of ham or bacon. But for vegans, it might be more difficult to find a place with meat- and dairy free options.
Same goes for people with food allergies. Here are a few options:

Madam Bakster

Address: Brabantdam 142, 9000 Gent

You can enjoy a delicious vegan & sugar-free brunch at this charming cafe from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Julie’s house

Address: Kraanlei 13 + Elisabethlaan 26 + Wiedauwkaai 23M, Gent

Speciality: With delicious pastries, cakes and cupcakes you can savour breakfast in different formulas (e.g. mini breakfast mid-week, and bigger selections at the weekend, also a hangover one during the Gentse Feesten) only in the one in the centre at Kraanlei. There are vegan and gluten-free options in the selections, and you can order things to take-away too.

Le Pain Quotidien

Address: Kalandeberg 10 + Korenmarkt 16, Gent

This bakery and cafe offer an extensive organic breakfast menu and numerous vegetarian and vegan alternatives in the heart of Gent. You might also need to speak with a stranger during your breakfast as they serve you sitting at the big communal table.

Affordable

Ikea

Address: Maaltekouter 2, 9051 Sint-Denijs-Westrem

In order to attract more customers to the furniture shop, Ikea offers a super cheap breakfast. Their most expensive option costs 2 euros and consists of coffee, bread rolls with butter, omelette and smoked salmon. Ikea opens at 10 AM (9AM on Saturday).

Hema

Address: Korenmarkt 3, 9000 Gent

Did you know you can have a cheap breakfast on the second floor of the homeware retail chain Hema at Korenmarkt in Gent? For a few euros you can pick and mix items from their buffet. The breakfast is available Monday to Saturday from 9 AM.

Irish Breakfast

When you need something more fried than the traditional Belgian breakfast then you need a full Irish Breakfast. Get one from:

Patrick Foley’s Irish Pub

Address: Recollettenlei 10, 9000 Gent

During the weekends you can enjoy a full Irish breakfast brunch (bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, toast, butter, marmalade….) between 9 AM and as late as 3 PM Saturdays and Sundays. There is also a full breakfast menu available until 11 AM on weekends.

Other popular ones + lists

These places are so often mentioned and praised in travel guides and city blogs that I include them here too, even though I have not experienced them myself:

Gust, Frans Gustav, Pain Perdu, Alix Table Jardin, Rokkebolle, Simon Says, Superette

Here are some lists:

• Elle.be, the Belgian version of the famous fashion magazine has published a list of their favourite breakfast and brunch places. Great especially for ladies. In Dutch.
• Hipste Adresjes has a newsletter announcing new hip, trendy, newly opened places in Gent. Check out their breakfast list here. In Dutch.
• The travel blog Gorgeous Blog has a list of 20 places for brunch and breakfast in Gent in English available here.
• The official tourist guide Visit Gent list in English: “A breakfast fit for an emperor
  Looking for a cozy spot for breakfast or brunch?”

Alternative

Flower market

Address: Kouter, Gent

Opening hours: Sundays from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Speciality: You can enjoy the flower market every day on Kouter, but on Sunday mornings, there are more flowers, stands, music and you can eat oysters and drink champagne at the Blauwe Kot. Or enjoy an espresso and a croissant at the coffee wagon. Or go to one of the cafes next to the square for brunch or breakfast, such as Paard van Troje, Cru or Cafe Theatre’s Bloch.

Bio market at the Gent St Pieter station

Address: Maria Hendrikaplein,

Opening hours: Sundays from 8 AM to 1 PM

Enjoy biological products at this small market opposite the main entrance of Gent St Pieters train station. You can also compile breakfast from the various stands and enjoy it there al fresco, from coffee to freshly baked bread, cheese and fruit. After 10 there are quite some queues.

TIP: See more about markets and other shopping in our The Square.Gent post here.

Waffles at Establissement Max

Address: Goudenleeuwplein 3, 9000 Gent

This is my favourite spot to bring friends and family visiting Gent. Most people want a good waffle when they are in Belgium. The waffles are only served from 11 AM so it is only suitable for a late & sweet breakfast.

They are also quite pricey but boy are they worth the look on the face of the first time eater! And so crunchy yet so soft. At the back of the restaurant you can watch the waffles being made with traditional irons.

Max is located in the middle of the historical centre, so it’s great to combine with other sightseeing activities.

Wasbar

Address: Korenmarkt 37 + Kalandestraat 3, Gent

Kill two birds with one stone and come here to do your laundry while enjoying breakfast or brunch.  It’s obligatory to reserve a table, depending on weekend, day and which restaurant. Check the website for the latest information.

Bodega

Address: Koningin Elisabethlaan 57

As the name suggests this restaurant located near the St Pieters station dishes up Spanish dishes the Spanish way. Their breakfast follows the Belgian concept of bread and spread, with the exception of “eggy bread” – bread soaked in eggs/milk and then fried. And Serrano ham instead of the normal one of course!

Hotels

Many hotels offer breakfast buffets also to non-guests, call the hotel you’d like to visit to know if possible and what the price is.

Breakfast traditions in Belgium

A traditional Belgian breakfast usually consists of croissants, chocolate or raisin pastries (called ontbijtkoeken in Dutch) and/or bread, with cheese or meat, butter or margarine, sweet jam and chocolate paste. Coffee with milk, tea, chocolate or fresh juice is drunk. Often also yoghurt with muesli or cereals are eaten (with or without milk). Especially on Sundays, it’s common to get freshly baked bread and pastries from the nearest bakery. Also amping up the breakfast with an egg and possibly with bacon is a Sunday thing.

Past breakfast time?

Check out our recommendations for dinner here and here.

Other

Going for breakfast? Do check the links of the places for the latest updates on opening hours, addresses, whether a reservation is necessary and so on to get the latest information and to avoid any disappointments.

Is your favourite place not included on the list? Share your preferred breakfast spot and the reasons why you enjoy it so much in the comments, please!