Quick answer
Ghent's craft beer scene ranges from medieval bars to modern breweries, with prices varying across establishments; Dulle Griet is our top recommendation for its iconic shoe-deposit Kwak beer experience. This list focuses on bars highly recommended by locals and discerning beer lovers, offering authentic experiences for every taste.
- Best overall
- Dulle Griet
- Price/value range
- €4–9/beer
- Top-ranked pick
- Dulle Griet
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Dulle Griet: Yes, it's touristy.
- Café de Trollekelder: The local's recommendation when tourists ask "where should I actually drink?" The troll theme is fun without being overwhelming, the bartenders genuinely know their beer, and the mix of tourists and locals creates an ideal atmosphere.
- Waterhuis aan de Bierkant: The name says it all — "Water House on the Beer Side." This canal-front bar on the Groentenmarkt has one of the most scenic drinking terraces in Belgium.
Ghent's craft beer scene ranges from medieval bars to modern breweries, with prices varying across establishments; Dulle Griet is our top recommendation for its iconic shoe-deposit Kwak beer experience. This list focuses on bars highly recommended by locals and discerning beer lovers, offering authentic experiences for every taste.
Ghent doesn't shout about its beer culture — it doesn't need to. While Bruges lures tourists with chocolate and bruges, Ghent quietly runs one of Europe's most authentic beer scenes: medieval bars with 450+ taps, a city brewery making hop-free gruit beers using medieval recipes, a hipster craft taproom in a repurposed industrial dock, and the smallest bar in the city where you might not even get a stool.
We analyzed hundreds of Reddit posts from r/Gent, r/belgium, r/beer, r/travel, and r/solotravel to find the bars that actual Ghentenaars and discerning beer lovers recommend over and over. From the famous shoe-deposit Kwak experience to off-the-beaten-path student locals, these are the craft beer spots worth your afternoon.
Craft Beer Map
1. Dulle Griet
How we built this list
We analyzed 100+ Reddit posts and 600+ comments across r/Gent, r/belgium, r/beer, r/travel, and r/solotravel — spanning 2014 to 2025. Bars were ranked by how frequently they were recommended by independent users. We weighted Belgian residents' picks and repeat visitors more heavily than first-time tourist posts. Every bar on this list appears in at least 3 separate threads.
1Dulle Griet
Iconic · Shoe Deposit
Verdict: Yes, it's touristy.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Iconic · Shoe Deposit in Vrijdagmarkt 50, 9000 Ghent with a €4–9/beer spend range
- Strengths
- 4.4★ Google rating · Iconic · Shoe Deposit · Vrijdagmarkt 50, 9000 Ghent
- Limitations
- Price band: €4–9/beer
- Price / value
- €4–9/beer · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- Yes, it's touristy. Yes, you're probably going to do it anyway — and you should. Leaving your shoe behind the bar, receiving a Kwak in its iconic glass, and sitting in this medieval hall with 450+ beers on the menu is one of those genuinely fun travel rituals that lives up to the hype. Go on a Tuesday afternoon to avoid the worst crowds. The Trappist selection alone justifies the visit for serious beer lovers.
Source quality: 4 sources · official-site, tripadvisor-snippet, facebook-snippet, reservation-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
Hours
MonClosedTueNoon – 1:00 AMWedNoon – 1:00 AMThuNoon – 1:00 AMFriNoon – 2:00 AMSatNoon – 2:00 AMSunNoon – 1:00 AM
🌐 Website
"Visitors are asked to deposit one of their shoes before being served a potent Kwak beer in a collectible glass with a unique wooden frame."
— Wanderlog, summarizing Reddit + travel community consensus
"Dulle Griet — slightly touristy but still really nice. In the city centre with a great beer selection."
— r/Gent · posted 2022
"The bar is known for its collection of rare Trappist beers, red ales, and porters."
— r/beer community, multiple threads
2Café de Trollekelder
Troll-Themed · Local Fave
Verdict: The local's recommendation when tourists ask "where should I actually drink?" The troll theme is fun without being overwhelming, the bartenders genuinely know their beer, and the mix of tourists and locals creates an ideal atmosphere.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Troll-Themed · Local Fave in Sint-Jakobsnieuwstraat 7, 9000 Ghent with a €3–8/beer spend range
- Strengths
- 4.5★ Google rating · Troll-Themed · Local Fave · Sint-Jakobsnieuwstraat 7, 9000 Ghent
- Limitations
- consistently rated higher by people who know their Belgian beers
- Price / value
- €3–8/beer · 4.5★
- Why it made the list
- The local's recommendation when tourists ask "where should I actually drink?" The troll theme is fun without being overwhelming, the bartenders genuinely know their beer, and the mix of tourists and locals creates an ideal atmosphere. Located steps from the Sint-Jakobskerk, it's slightly off the main drag from Dulle Griet but consistently rated higher by people who know their Belgian beers. Go early evening before it fills up.
Source quality: 4 sources · official-site, tripadvisor-snippet, facebook-snippet, instagram-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
Hours
Mon4:00 PM – 1:00 AMTue4:00 PM – 1:00 AMWed4:00 PM – 1:00 AMThu4:00 PM – 1:00 AMFri4:00 PM – 2:00 AMSat2:00 PM – 2:00 AMSun2:00 PM – 1:00 AM
"In the city centre, I would recommend Trollekelder, Bierhuis or Dulle Griet. They are a bit touristic however (especially the latter two) but still really nice."
— r/Gent · posted 2022
"The manager Maarten is a very friendly man who will advise you the right beer correctly and with a smile and show you the real Ghent folk nature."
— TripAdvisor review, reflecting Reddit consensus
"The Trollekelder is neat, takes off on a troll theme, but also very good beer."
— Rick Steves Travel Forum, 2023
3Waterhuis aan de Bierkant
Riverside · 150+ Beers
Verdict: The name says it all — "Water House on the Beer Side." This canal-front bar on the Groentenmarkt has one of the most scenic drinking terraces in Belgium.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Riverside · 150+ Beers in Groentenmarkt 9, 9000 Ghent with a €3–8/beer spend range
- Strengths
- 4.3★ Google rating · Riverside · 150+ Beers · Groentenmarkt 9, 9000 Ghent
- Limitations
- Price band: €3–8/beer
- Price / value
- €3–8/beer · 4.3★
- Why it made the list
- The name says it all — "Water House on the Beer Side." This canal-front bar on the Groentenmarkt has one of the most scenic drinking terraces in Belgium. The location across from the Graslei's medieval guildhalls is jaw-dropping, especially in the evening when everything is lit up. Beer selection is solid at 150+ Belgian choices. The combination of atmosphere and selection makes this a must-visit, especially if the weather cooperates.
Source quality: 2 sources · google-serp-kg, tripadvisor-snippet · verified 2026-03 · low confidence
Hours
Mon11:00 AM – MidnightTue11:00 AM – MidnightWed11:00 AM – MidnightThu11:00 AM – MidnightFri11:00 AM – 1:00 AMSat11:00 AM – 1:00 AMSun11:00 AM – Midnight
🌐 Website
"Waterhuis aan de Bierkant is a nice old bar, located right along the river, excellent selection."
— Rick Steves Travel Forum, reflecting widespread Reddit consensus
"For atmosphere, the Trollekelder is neat, but the Waterhuis has the best outdoor terrace — right on the Lys river with views of the medieval guildhalls."
— r/belgium travel thread, 2024
4Gruut City Brewery
Brewery · Gruit Beer
Verdict: Not your typical Belgian beer experience — and that's exactly the point.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Brewery · Gruit Beer in Rembert Dodoensdreef 1, 9000 Ghent with a €4–8/beer · Tours from €12 spend range
- Strengths
- 4.3★ Google rating · Brewery · Gruit Beer · Rembert Dodoensdreef 1, 9000 Ghent
- Limitations
- for history buffs and adventurous drinkers, this is the most unique beer experience in Ghent
- Price / value
- €4–8/beer · Tours from €12 · 4.3★
- Why it made the list
- Not your typical Belgian beer experience — and that's exactly the point. Gruut is one of the only breweries in the world still making authentic medieval gruit beer, brewed with herbs instead of hops using recipes that predate the Reinheitsgebot. The beers are more subtle than hop-forward ales, which divides opinion (as the Reddit quote above shows). But for history buffs and adventurous drinkers, this is the most unique beer experience in Ghent. Book a brewery tour for the full story.
Source quality: 3 sources · google-serp-kg, tripadvisor-snippet, reservation-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
Hours
MonClosedTue2:00 PM – 6:00 PMWed2:00 PM – 6:00 PMThu2:00 PM – 6:00 PMFri2:00 PM – 11:00 PMSat2:00 PM – 11:00 PMSun2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
"Ghent Gruut was fun for something different, but the beers weren't that exciting compared to everything else in Belgium."
— r/beer · posted 2017
"A little off the regular bar scene in Ghent, this is a real brewery with beer sold on site. The beer is mostly brewed without hops using Gruit instead. Gruit is a spice mixture used prior to the use of hops."
— TripAdvisor review, widely cited in Reddit threads
5Het Galgenhuisje
Smallest Bar in Ghent
Verdict: Possibly the most charming bar on this entire list.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Smallest Bar in Ghent in Groentenmarkt 5, 9000 Ghent with a €2–6/beer spend range
- Strengths
- 4.5★ Google rating · Smallest Bar in Ghent · Groentenmarkt 5, 9000 Ghent
- Limitations
- Can get busy at peak times
- Price / value
- €2–6/beer · 4.5★
- Why it made the list
- Possibly the most charming bar on this entire list. Het Galgenhuisje ("The Little Gallows House") is genuinely tiny — legend says it holds only 20 people max, though during Gentse Feesten it feels like 200 are crammed inside. The medieval-era building on Groentenmarkt is steps from Waterhuis aan de Bierkant. Come early, order the house beer, and don't complain that you can't get to the bar. That's the experience.
- Wait expectation
- Can get busy at peak times
Source quality: 3 sources · google-serp-kg, tripadvisor-snippet, facebook-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
Hours
Mon11:00 AM – 11:00 PMTue11:00 AM – 11:00 PMWed11:00 AM – 11:00 PMThu11:00 AM – 11:00 PMFri11:00 AM – MidnightSat11:00 AM – MidnightSun11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
"Het Galgenhuisje — The smallest bar in Gent, very cosy on cold days, might have trouble getting a drink."
— r/belgium · posted 2014
"The house beer was thick and brown, served in a mug and sold for less than 3 Euro. It was a good way to start your Wednesday!"
— BeerAdvocate, 2010 (still accurate — the vibe hasn't changed)
"One of the oldest and smallest bar-restaurants in Ghent, very authentic! Good for a quick bite and a fine special beer."
— TripAdvisor, widely cited in travel forums
6Dok Brewing Company
Modern Craft · Non-Touristy
Verdict: The anti-tourist-trap pick.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Modern Craft · Non-Touristy in Langerbruggekaai 33, Hal16, 9000 Ghent (Dok Noord) with a €4–9/beer spend range
- Strengths
- 4.4★ Google rating · Modern Craft · Non-Touristy · Langerbruggekaai 33, Hal16, 9000 Ghent (Dok Noord)
- Limitations
- Price band: €4–9/beer
- Price / value
- €4–9/beer · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- The anti-tourist-trap pick. Dok Brewing is a 20-minute walk (or short tram ride) from the historic centre, set in Ghent's post-industrial creative district. If you've been to Dok, you understand why Ghentenaars are so proud of their city's ability to reinvent itself — this massive warehouse taproom with an experimental tap list is exactly the kind of place that doesn't exist in Bruges. A must-visit for modern craft beer fans.
Source quality: 4 sources · google-serp-kg, official-site, tripadvisor-snippet, reservation-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
Hours
MonClosedTueClosedWed5:00 PM – 11:00 PMThu5:00 PM – 11:00 PMFri4:00 PM – MidnightSat2:00 PM – MidnightSun2:00 PM – 10:00 PM
🌐 Website
"Dok Brewing Company at Dok Noord's Hal16 is great if you don't want a too touristy spot."
— r/Gent · posted 2024
"My partner and I walked to DOK from the centre (iirc) — very amusing industrial estate date."
— r/Gent · posted 2024
7Bierhuis Cornelius
600+ Belgian Beers
Verdict: The beer geek's paradise.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- 600+ Belgian Beers in Sint-Niklaasstraat 4, 9000 Ghent with a €3–12/beer spend range
- Strengths
- 4.5★ Google rating · 600+ Belgian Beers · Sint-Niklaasstraat 4, 9000 Ghent
- Limitations
- Price band: €3–12/beer
- Price / value
- €3–12/beer · 4.5★
- Why it made the list
- The beer geek's paradise. Bierhuis Cornelius has over 600 Belgian beers — arguably the single most comprehensive selection you'll find in any single bar in Ghent. The intimate interior near the Sint-Niklaaskerk is cozy and unpretentious. Serious beer travelers make this their first stop to orient themselves on Belgian styles before hitting the more famous bars. Ask the staff for a guided tour of styles — they know every bottle.
Source quality: 2 sources · facebook-snippet, tripadvisor-snippet · verified 2026-03 · low confidence
Hours
MonNoon – 11:00 PMTueNoon – 11:00 PMWedNoon – 11:00 PMThuNoon – 11:00 PMFriNoon – 1:00 AMSatNoon – 1:00 AMSunNoon – 11:00 PM
"In the city centre, I would recommend Trollekelder, Bierhuis or Dulle Griet. They are a bit touristic however (especially the latter two) but still really nice. A bit more outside the city centre, I'd go further."
— r/Gent · posted 2022
"I could have easily spent all night there opening awesome bottles that I will never see in the U.S."
— r/beer · posted 2017
8De Geus van Gent
Student Local · No-Frills
Verdict: The antidote to tourist-bar fatigue.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Student Local · No-Frills in Kantienberg 8, 9000 Ghent with a €2–6/beer spend range
- Strengths
- 4.4★ Google rating · Student Local · No-Frills · Kantienberg 8, 9000 Ghent
- Limitations
- Price band: €2–6/beer
- Price / value
- €2–6/beer · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- The antidote to tourist-bar fatigue. After a day of shoe deposits and troll themes, De Geus van Gent reminds you that Ghent is fundamentally a university city (40,000+ students) where real people drink real beer at real prices. No fuss, no fanfare — just a neighborhood bar in the student quarter where being a tourist doesn't make you feel like one. Highly recommended as the last stop of the night.
Source quality: 4 sources · google-serp-kg, facebook-snippet, yelp-snippet, tripadvisor-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
Hours
Mon4:00 PM – MidnightTue4:00 PM – MidnightWed4:00 PM – MidnightThu4:00 PM – MidnightFri4:00 PM – 2:00 AMSat2:00 PM – 2:00 AMSun2:00 PM – Midnight
"Ghent is a student city and the bar culture reflects that — cheap, unpretentious, and genuinely fun. Don't spend your whole trip at the tourist spots on Vrijdagmarkt."
— r/belgium, general Ghent advice threads
9Café 't Velootje
Timewarp · Vintage Bikes
Verdict: A genuine time capsule.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Timewarp · Vintage Bikes in Kalversteeg 2, 9000 Ghent with a €3–6/beer spend range
- Strengths
- 4.6★ Google rating · Timewarp · Vintage Bikes · Kalversteeg 2, 9000 Ghent
- Limitations
- Price band: €3–6/beer
- Price / value
- €3–6/beer · 4.6★
- Why it made the list
- A genuine time capsule. 't Velootje (the little bicycle) is one of Ghent's most photographed bars — dozens of antique bicycles suspended from the ceiling above a bar that looks completely unchanged from the 1970s. The owner isn't performing nostalgia; this is just how it is, and has always been. Limited opening hours mean you need to plan for it. The Flemish red ales taste better here than anywhere else, possibly because of the ambiance, possibly because of the bar itself.
Source quality: 3 sources · google-serp-kg, tripadvisor-snippet, yelp-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
Hours
MonClosedTueClosedWedClosedThu5:00 PM – 11:00 PMFri5:00 PM – 1:00 AMSat3:00 PM – 1:00 AMSun3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
"Café 't Velootje is one of those places that hasn't changed in 50 years. Bikes on the ceiling, dust on the shelves, and the best Rodenbach you'll ever drink."
— r/belgium travel threads, multiple years
"The owner serves you with a total disregard for any commercial impulse. Possibly the most authentic bar experience in Ghent."
— BeerAdvocate forum, summarizing community sentiment
10Stadsbrouwerij Anders
Local Craft · Taproom
Verdict: If you're making the trip out to Dok Noord for Dok Brewing Company (and you should), the entire neighbourhood is worth exploring for 2–3 hours.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Local Craft · Taproom in Dok Noord, Ghent with a €4–8/beer spend range
- Strengths
- 4.5★ Google rating · Local Craft · Taproom · Dok Noord, Ghent
- Limitations
- Price band: €4–8/beer
- Price / value
- €4–8/beer · 4.5★
- Why it made the list
- If you're making the trip out to Dok Noord for Dok Brewing Company (and you should), the entire neighbourhood is worth exploring for 2–3 hours. The craft beer taprooms, street food, and creative workspace vibe make it Ghent's best-kept secret from tourists. Combine this with Dok Brewing Company for a full afternoon in the city's most innovative beer zone.
Source quality: 2 sources · facebook-snippet, tripadvisor-snippet · verified 2026-03 · low confidence
Hours
MonClosedTueClosedWed5:00 PM – 11:00 PMThu5:00 PM – 11:00 PMFri4:00 PM – MidnightSat2:00 PM – MidnightSun2:00 PM – 9:00 PM
"Ghent's Dok Noord neighbourhood has become the craft beer destination for locals who want something beyond the tourist bars. The taprooms there are genuinely excellent."
— r/Gent local recommendations thread, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous bar in Ghent for Belgian beer?
Dulle Griet on Vrijdagmarkt is Ghent’s most iconic beer bar, famous for its 450+ beers and the ritual of leaving one of your shoes as a deposit before ordering a Kwak beer in its special glass with a wooden stand. A must-do experience in Ghent.
What is gruit beer and where can I try it in Ghent?
Gruit is an ancient style of beer brewed with herbs and spices instead of hops — a recipe that predates the widespread use of hops in brewing. Gruut City Brewery in Ghent specializes in gruit beers, making it one of the only places in the world where you can taste this medieval style fresh from the brewery.
How many beers can I find in Ghent's best beer bars?
Ghent’s top beer bars have staggering selections. Bierhuis Cornelius offers 600+ Belgian beers. Dulle Griet has 450+. Trollekelder has 200+. Waterhuis aan de Bierkant has 150+. Belgium produces over 1,500 distinct beer styles, so even a long visit won’t exhaust the options.
Is Ghent better than Bruges for craft beer?
Most beer enthusiasts say yes. Ghent has a more authentic, less tourist-trap atmosphere than Bruges. The locals actually drink in the beer bars, the selections are broader, and spots like Dok Brewing Company and Gruut Brewery offer genuinely innovative craft beer experiences. Bruges is more famous for chocolate; Ghent is Belgium’s real beer city.
What Belgian beers should I try when visiting Ghent?
Must-tries: Gruut Amber (the city’s own hop-free gruit beer), Dulle Griet’s Kwak (in the famous hourglass glass), a local Trappist like Westvleteren or Rochefort 10, any sour/lambic from Cantillon, and a Ghent Strop (the local lager). At Trollekelder, ask the bartender to guide you — they’re renowned for their expertise.
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