Best Vegan-Friendly Places in Ghent, Belgium
Ghent holds a very special place in my heart, since I became vegan in this very city in the year 2020 (just when the first Covid wave hit Europe) I’ve also studied here for 2 years, and explored hidden nooks of the city on a student budget. Sometimes, I found affordable but also delicious vegan sandwiches, and sometimes, drool-worthy vegan pizzas! I’m getting mouth-watery :p
Very few people might be aware of this, but Ghent has been awarded the title “Veggie Capital of Europe” for it has more veggie restaurants compared to metropolises like Paris or London. And there’s genuinely an appreciation here for creative plant-based meals. So, veganers, y’all are in for a delight! Welcome to Ghent 🙂
Follow this blog for more vegan options – we’ll be updating this post as and when we find new hotspots or new catering services in the city.
A lot of people think they love animals, but then they have animals tortured for food.
Plant A Pizza
Website: Plant A Pizza, Ghent.
This pizza place in the heart of Ghent (literally) has to top our list. It’s Belgium’s first 100% plant-based pizzeria, and has flavours that will make your taste buds dance in joy! They craft their pizzas using a slow fermentation process that lasts at least 36 hours to make the dough easily digestible.
The founder, Victor, is from Chile, but grew up in Belgium. Adopting a vegan lifestyle more than a decade ago, he started plant a pizza first in markets and festivals, and then opened a full-fledged restaurant in Ghent in 2021. Now, there’s a plant a pizza franchise in Antwerp too.
I cannot recommend their pizzas enough – they have such distinct flavours. Shiva and I have tried their cheesy garlic bread as well, and it’s delectable. Plant A Pizza has really ruined us forever. Please, please go here if you happen to be in Ghent 🙂
Frietketel – vegan fries
When I first arrived in Ghent, I had no idea that the traditional fries are often made from animal-based oils. I was a vegetarian in the first six months, and seeing many Belgians queue up in front of frituurs (traditional Belgian snack bars or kiosks) on Friday evenings, I was tempted to try the fries. When I did, I absolutely hated the smell and the texture, not knowing they were not vegan or vegetarian. But, thanks to places like Frietketel that genuinely make yummy fries with even better dips. It’s not a 100% vegan place – they do serve meat burgers and snacks – but their fries are fully vegan. You can also share your fries, since they serve in quite generous portions.
Their vegan burgers are an absolute hit as well! I highly recommend the avocado and walnut burger. Delicious!
Tip: Go early, as they tend to get full every day. Also, they’re closed on Saturdays, so keep that in mind!
O’yo Healthy Food Bar
Website: O’yo Healthy Food Bar
O’yo bar in Ghent is a (mostly) vegan and vegetarian catering, offering wholesome sourdough toasts and pastries for breakfast and nourishing bowls for lunch.
Founder Phaedra Lybaert’s own struggle with chronic stomach issues made her realise the lack of awareness surrounding probiotics and fermentation. This personal experience inspired her to establish a venture that promotes healthier, plant-based alternatives and helps people make more informed choices about their gut health.
The gluten-free pancakes of O’yo are mouth-watering, and so are their homemade soups and garden bowls. For hot and cold drinks, they also have a range of plant-based milk options including coconut and gluten-free oat milk. Try their ‘Total Reset’ tea and you’ll be ready to take on whatever challenge comes your way!
Madam Bakster
Madam Bakster is a conscious and artisanal bakery in Ghent Zuid. They are fully plant-based, and most of their products come without refined sugar and wheat. I have tried their passionate chocolate mango cake and it was to die for! The crust was crispy and the cream so smooth.
Trust me when I say this, but Madam Bakster’s desserts are unrealistically dangerous to health – I mean wdym pastries can taste THIS good?! Thanks to my dear friend Alitzel for introducing me to this gem of a place in Ghent. Not only introduced, but she literally ordered a vegan cake from here on her birthday, despite being a non-vegan. Friends, if you find such thoughtful people in your life, please hold them close. They try to make this world a better place by the very act of existing 🙂
Tip: They are open only from Wednesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00
souplounge
A healthy, mostly veggie soup spot right in Patershol – one of Ghent’s oldest and most charming neighbourhoods – eating at Souplounge almost feels like stepping back in time to those old-school canteens, where you sit around a table with friends and colleagues and enjoy a simple, wholesome meal together. Although it isn’t entirely vegan, they offer mostly vegan vegetable soups, with four different homemade soup flavours to choose from each day. You can top them with extras like cheese, croutons, parsley, and more.
It’s not an à la carte kind of place, you choose your soup, and carry the tray with a bread roll and a piece of fruit (I found this cutest!) to your table. Visit Souplounge for a comforting, fuss-free meal and enjoy your meal in a setting that feels both nostalgic and welcoming.
Oyya Icecream
Oyya crafts its ice cream using a traditional artisanal method by pasteurising milk, cream and sugars. While the parlour isn’t fully vegan place, they offer an impressive selection of vegan flavours. Over the years, I’ve tried several of their sorbets, and can confidently say it’s delicious!
Oyya has locations in both Ghent and Bruges, with two outlets in each city. It’s a convenient option for anyone looking for a delicious vegan treat.
Knol & Kool
Knol & Kool is one-of-a-kind place in all of Belgium! This fully vegan restaurant is right next to Ghent’s first 100% plant-based mini-supermarket.
Started by Stijn, Knol & Kool was a vegetarian bistro until 2017. Since then, it is fully vegan and is now a full-fledged family business. I genuinely love to see vegan businesses thriving!
If you’re in Ghent, I highly highly recommend visiting Knol & Kool for some refreshing, creatively prepared vegan meals. Love their Lasagne and salads. Also, if you ain’t in the mood to eat, just check out the supermarket – you’ll find am array of vegan creams, sauces, dairy alternatives for desserts, and so on.
Bakker Frimout
Bakker Frimout was such a delightful discovery! While taking a stroll around Ghent Zuid back in 2021, I was craving something sweet and chocolaty when I happened to spot this bakery right in the neighbourhood. I rushed in, only to find that they had already run out of their vegan croissants and cookies. Needless to say, my cravings weren’t satisfied that day!
But I didn’t give up. I came back another morning, nice and early, and bought a bunch of their sweet delicacies. And honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever had such delicious croissants, cookies, and pastries that were so perfectly balanced and not overly sugary. Definitely worth the second visit!
What other vegan-friendly places would you add to this list?
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