B&B Villa Emma

Publiek is a one-of-a-kind star establishment and its friendly vibe is pivotal to its loft-inspired, cosy bistro interior and its home-from-home ambience. The mix of designer and vintage details courtesy of artist friends lend it a quirky personalised feel. The bar even features its old beer pump! The team’s enthusiasm is contagious, and the talented chef frequently serves the main course himself. Don’t expect posh, luxury ingredients, because Olly Ceulenaere is a staunch champion of little-known veggies and produce. His intelligent recipes hit the spot every time and he is a past master in th

Michaël Vrijmoed is light years from your run-of-the-mill chef. Committed body and soul, he harnesses his phenomenal creativity and extensive technical know-how to the service of fine food, combining pedigree Gallic techniques with traditional fermentation and exotic influences. His stellar reputation is also due to his unabridged passion for vegetables, which comes to the forefront in his vegetarian Purs menu, as he relentlessly coaxes the best out of each ingredient. Should he get his hands on white truffles, he proudly brings them to your table as he plies you with suggestions. You may be t

Ready for a whirlwind world tour? Marcelo Ballardin’s Italian-Brazilian roots, his globetrotting past and the international cast of the kitchen team are core to the DNA of this eatery. North Sea clams, Asian flavours or wild manioc roots from the Amazon Forest: the menu has clearly been extremely carefully designed and meticulously crafted. Chef Ballardin aims for simplicity, whilst accepting that this goal may entail a certain degree of complexity. He seeks a subtle balance between crisp acidity and velvety comfort. For example, he enhances quickly seared langoustines in a frothy, powerful sa

This grand old edifice exudes a whiff of exoticism that subtly contrasts with the historic character of the Patershol district. The welcoming interior sports high ceilings and works of art, without forgetting a walled courtyard that is bliss in fine weather. The exquisitely plated dishes are packed in generosity and showcase the wide range of flavours of traditional Thai cuisine. The ingredients are fresh and steeped in rich perfumes and aromas with just the right balance of spices. A few examples include tom kha kai with a savvy mix of tangy and spicy notes and velvety massaman curry rich in

Veteran chef Danny Horseele and his team have set up shop in Gent’s Moscou district. Casually luxurious, this restaurant dripping in gilded details resonates with warmth. The chefs can be admired at work behind a glass partition.Classical cuisine has no secrets for chef Horseele, who has a knack for recruitment and who enjoys trying out novelties, as the mouthwatering associations of the tasting and à la carte menus reveal. Big-boned, no-nonsense tradition is at the core of the house DNA. An example: pigeon, dried for two days, whose breast is cooked to a perfect medium rare and then coated wi

Commotie radiates a sense of zen-like tranquillity. The verdant surroundings and minimalist Japanese decor create a harmonious whole and the terrace is an oasis of alfresco calm, until the arrival of the food interrupts your quiet contemplation. Chef Thomas expresses his originality through fermentation, vegetables, tart flavours, barbecue notes and intense sauces... His inventiveness is captivating, and his nose-to-tail vision is an inspiration. An example of his fascinating approach is monkfish in seaweed, lacquered in butter before being seared over an open flame. He further underscores the

This offshoot of Bar Bask is located on the outskirts of Ghent and revolves around the pintxos theme. The menu stars a cast of small dishes crafted with gutsy Spanish overtones, like the cocktail sauce with a wallop of mustard that is served with a tartare of matured beef, a green salad and a few slices of warm brioche bread. The restaurant works exclusively with outstanding produce, to which it adds a few judicious modern notes for extra peps. The suitably trendy vintage interior and references to tapas bars of the Basque country set the buzzy scene inside. We fully recommend making your way