Gentse Goeste hiking route

Near the Dampoort, you end up in the Sint-Macharius district, an atmospheric part of Ghent around the ruins of St Bavo's Abbey. Lots of greenery here, some nice traffic-free streets, and inviting eateries like De Buffel, the district's number one food and drink spot. Across Sint-Jorisbrug, at the Portus Ganda marina, awaits Valeir, yet another cosy establishment for breakfast, coffee, brunch or ice cream.

Under Ghent's three towers, too – the Belfry, St Bavo's Cathedral and St Nicholas' Church – you'll come across one quaint eatery next to another brown café. If you're thirsty, visit Brewery Artevelde, where you can drink Ghent beer among the brewing equipment and kettles. At Edelrot, you'll enjoy some natural wines (and other drinks) with small bites in a Parisian setting. Café Den Turk on Botermarkt, Ghent's oldest café, is known for its East Flanders beers, home-made uuflakke sandwiches and plenty of ambiance. And on the cosy Donkersteeg you'll find Mokabon, Ghent's age-old coffee bar. 

Are you hungry? At SGOL, you'll get a table under the 'sheep barn', in the shadow of the belfry. In the shadow of the sheep barn, you'll also find Ooost, where you can buy more than 175 East Flanders regional products. They also serve a local lunch of the day.  Yalla Yalla Beirut Foodbar is the place to be for some delicious Lebanese cuisine, with falafel, hummus and mezze to share.

Near and past Baudelo Park, walk back toward your starting point, and there are plenty of culinary discoveries to be made here as well. The Industrial Museum's cafe, Bar Baudelo, for example, where the motto is "social and local". The business is an employment project by the non-profit Kompas for people distanced from the labour market. The menu features drinks and small snacks, with a focus on local produce: Ghent specialities and products from local partners such as Hinkelspel cheese, local beers, Talamini ice cream, etc.

Other things you'll find: FranzGustav, the number one establishment for sweet and savoury delicacies as well as all-day brunch in a beautifully renovated corner building, the reading café and world restaurant ENTR of culture house De Centrale, and Publiek, the trendy restaurant with some top dishes by Flemish foodie Olly Ceulenaere.

Last leg of your walk: Dampoortstraat, where the Golden Gai Noodle Bar will put hearty ramen bowls on the table in a bright setting. Mortier switches smoothly between coffee shop by day and cosy restaurant by night. Definitely pop in at the end of the street: CoPain, for some delicious organic bread and sandwiches, baked in Ghent with local ingredients. More in the mood for something sweet? At ice cream parlour Just Bas, you'll find fresh ice cream, home-made by owner Bassel.