Gent Smaakt is an annual culinary festival where restaurants from Ghent and the surrounding area showcase their dishes to a wide audience. Instead of visiting a single restaurant, you can sample different cuisines all in one place. That’s what makes the festival so much fun. The festival takes place in the heart of the city, amongst historic buildings and charming squares.

Ghent’s restaurants are spread across five different squares, each with its own theme, featuring a food stall or food truck. This combination of delicious food and an atmospheric setting makes Gent Smaakt a huge success year after year. What makes this culinary festival particularly special is the focus on fresh and local produce. Many dishes are prepared using local ingredients. So you not only taste quality, but also the flavour of the region.

Gent Smaakt is all about tasting, discovering and experiencing. This culinary festival offers much more than just good food. You can stroll past various stalls and food trucks run by Ghent restaurants and choose for yourself which dishes you’d like to try. As participating chefs serve smaller portions of their dishes, you can easily put together your own tasting menu. This way, you can discover a variety of flavours and cuisines in a single visit. From refined classics to surprising new combinations: there’s something for everyone.

Enthusiasts keen to delve deeper into gastronomy will be in their element. During Gent Smaakt, various workshops and talks are organised. Here you can learn more about ingredients, cooking techniques and flavour combinations. A fun and educational addition for those who want to get just that little bit extra out of their visit.

Even the youngest visitors won’t be bored for a moment. Children can entertain themselves with spot-the-difference puzzles and board games or take part in the special children’s restaurant. Here, they’ll experience what it’s like to run their own restaurant. What’s more, together with the children from the Children’s Restaurant, we’ll be searching for the most child-friendly restaurant in Ghent. This makes Gent Smaakt an outing for the whole family.

Of course, a good glass of wine, a refreshing drink or a Belgian craft beer is a must. Scattered across the grounds, you’ll find various drinks stands where you can choose the perfect accompaniment to your meal. With its convivial atmosphere, the historic setting of Ghent and the packed programme, Gent Smaakt is an event that young and old alike can thoroughly enjoy.

After a day of tasting, discovering and socialising, it’s lovely to spend the night in comfort. At Van der Valk Hotel Gent, you can combine your visit to the culinary festival with peace, comfort and convenience. Van der Valk Hotel Gent is easily accessible by both car and public transport. Thanks to its convenient location, you can easily reach the centre of Ghent and return to your hotel feeling relaxed after Gent Smaakt.

After a day full of flavours and conviviality, it’s wonderful to come home to a spacious, modern hotel room where you can completely unwind. During your stay, you can make use of various comfortable facilities, such as fitness and wellness facilities, free Wi-Fi and child-friendly amenities. Everything is in place for a relaxed and carefree stay over the Ascension weekend.

After a good night’s sleep, start the day with an extensive live cooking breakfast buffet. Enjoy fresh pastries, hot dishes, fruit, juices and coffee or tea. This way, you’ll start your day in Ghent full of energy, ready to discover even more of the city and the festival. Would you like to make Gent Smaakt a complete getaway? Then don’t wait too long and book your stay at Van der Valk Hotel Gent now.

This page is informative and not officially affiliated with the organization of Gent Smaakt.