Best Burgers in Ghent: Beef and Veggie Guide

The best burgers in Ghent cluster in the medieval centre, around the Korenmarkt, the Graslei and the Vrijdagmarkt, in the narrow streets of the Patershol, and on the Overpoort, the student nightlife strip next to Ghent University. Expect beef and plant-based burgers on the same menu more often than in most Belgian cities.

That mix has a history. In 2009 Ghent became the first city in the world to promote an official weekly vegetarian day, Thursday Veggie Day, and the city now counts an unusually high number of vegetarian restaurants for its size. A Ghent burger guide therefore has to judge the meat-free option as seriously as the beef one. The city also has a condiment worth seeking out: Tierenteyn-Verlent, on the Groentenmarkt, has made its sharp mustard by the same recipe since 1790.

Burgers in Ghent: key facts

• Neighbourhoods to explore: Korenmarkt, Graslei and Korenlei, Vrijdagmarkt, Patershol and the Overpoort.
• Local specialty: Tierenteyn mustard, sold fresh from the barrel, and Gentse waterzooi, a creamy stew.
• Veggie culture: Thursday Veggie Day, launched by the city and the NGO EVA in May 2009.
• Busiest time: the Gentse Feesten, ten days of street festivities every July.
• Getting around: a 2017 circulation plan keeps most cars out of the centre; walk, cycle or take the tram.
• Currency: euro (EUR), Belgium’s currency since euro notes and coins arrived in 2002.

Every guide we publish on Ghent is dated and lists only venues, addresses, prices and ratings we could verify. To keep exploring, browse our burger restaurant guides by city.