The 5 most romantic restaurants in Ghent

Acclaimed chef Tomek Mroszczak runs this informal bistro in a former cafe on the edge of the old town. The name één twee vijf (one two five) is based on the street number. The intriguing menu lists dishes in a few simple words, such as ‘Norwegian cod, pointed cabbage, miso’.

This is a charming little restaurant located in a 19th-century town house with an open fire in the winter. The chef comes up with creative dishes using unexpected ingredients. There is even a little garden at the back for summer evenings.

Marcelo Ballardin’s restaurant is hidden away on the first floor of a brick house dating from 1671. Oak, it says on the door. Nothing more. Local foodies come here for the exceptional cooking inspired by the chef’s Italian and Brazilian roots. His cooking delights everyone with its creative blend of local ingredients, Mediterranean influences and Brazilian flair.

This bar and restaurant is located, as the name says, at door 73 in one of Ghent’s oldest streets. The interior has a vintage look with plain wooden tables and a mosaic floor. The food is prepared by a Greek chef who creates colourful and innovative sharing plates based on recipes from his own cookbook. It’s a convivial spot where you eat very well.

This Japanese-inspired restaurant sits on the ground floor of a cool new office building. It occupies a vast minimalist space that resembles an office canteen with bare concrete walls and big windows. Locals come here for the creative fish and seafood dishes made using Japanese and Scandinavian techniques.