Gravensteen castle Ghent

We were pleasantly surprised by our visit to Gravensteen castle in Ghent, Belgium.

This 10th century castle has a nice treasure hunt for kids who need to find the jester. Kids enjoyed their tour and the guide book with clues for the hunt. Kids under 12 are free!

There was a lot more indoor time in the castle than we initially expected. We thought it would mostly be outdoors or in the castle courtyard. However, the tour had us going up and down and into different areas of the castle.

We really enjoyed the entertaining audio guide, which is included with ticket. The history of the castle wasn't just a bunch of dry facts. Instead, the narrator shares many  interesting stories with a bit of humor to keep the listener engaged.

Very friendly service at the shop and the ticket booth. There is even a room in the ticket area to park strollers.

There are such stunning views of the city from the roof of the castle! 

We had such a fun experience exploring and learning about the history of the Gravensteen castle! 

If you're visiting the Belgian city of Ghent and looking for a nice family activity, visit Gravensteen in Old Town and pickup some audio guides! 

Don't forget your snacks!

Gravensteen 

Sint-Veerleplein 11, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Check out their website for more info.

If you need a coffee break after the castle, Julie's house is a nice dessert place nearby Gravensteen.

Koffeine Ghent

With friendly service and a nice ambience, Koffeine in Ghent is a nice spot to sit for a coffee break, or even do some remote work.

There are two levels of seating in this cafe and when we visited there was also an outdoor table.

You order first and pay when you're done. The staff bring your order to your table so you don't need to worry about picking up your order when they call it out.

Koffeine offers a few different desserts to pair with your drink. We tried the banana bread and it was delicious.

If you're in Ghent and looking for a nice cafe to sit for a warm drink, maybe a place to wait out the rain, visit Koffeine!

Don't forget your snacks!

Koffeine

Lange Kruisstraat 6, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Check out their instagram for more info.

The Cafe Brussels

After a busy morning that included a train ride and walking around the city, we were ready to find a place to sit and escape the rain. Located in Bourse de Bruxelles, the beautiful Stock Exchange building, The Cafe, is the perfect spot to sit indoors.

With it's beautiful interior, it's a lovely place to have a small bite to eat or a drink. There are even kid-friendly options. A spacious cafe with many tables to choose from, The Cafe, has plenty of space for a stroller. They also have high chairs if needed.

Along with classic coffee drinks, there is a nice selection of Belgian beers. You can also order cheese to go with your drink.

For snacks, they offer cheese and meat plates, toasted sandwiches, a daily soup and some desserts like waffles!

The service was good and food was delicious. Overall, we all had a great experience at The Cafe. Bourse de Bruxelles was renovated in 2023 and houses a museum, another restaurant and is an amazing place to go to admire the ceilings and the building's architecture.

If you're visiting Brussels and looking for a nice place for a small lunch or a coffee break, check out The Cafe at Bourse de Bruxelles!

Don't forget your snacks!

The Cafe

Pl. de la Bourse, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Check out the website for more info.

Carpe Diem Bakery and Tea Room Bruges

Carpe Diem Bakery and Tea Room in Bruges is a nice spot to sit or grab something to enjoy as you're walking around Bruges.

There are tables outside if you get something from the bakery, along with indoor seating as well.

The waffles were delicious! You can choose to have it with just powdered sugar, add sauce or seasonal fruit.

They also offer some lunch and breakfast items like customizable omelettes or sandwiches.

For drinks, dining at the Tea room, we had to try the Tea and coffee.

The ambiance was really cozy and a horse drawn carriage sometimes passes by on the street outside.

Good, attentive service and kid-friendly, we had a relaxed lunch at Carpe Diem Tea Room before starting our day in Bruges.

If you're visiting Bruges and looking for a lovely place to stop for lunch or some waffles and tea, visit Carpe Diem Bakery and Tea Room!

Don't forget your snacks!

Carpe Diem Bakery and Tea Room

Wijngaardstraat 8, 8000 Brugge, Belgium

Check out their website for more info.

Le Bal Infernal - Used Book Cafe Ghent

 

We stumbled upon Le Bal Infernal - Used Book Cafe on an evening walk in Ghent, Belgium.

Great selection of drinks and a few snacks to go with, this cafe was popular even near closing time. They do last call maybe 10 min before, but they go around to every table to check.

The coffee also included a biscoff cookie and an Easter egg!

Friendly welcoming service and nice ambience, this cafe is a really cozy place to grab a drink and relax. You can choose to sit indoors or grab a table outside.

It was evening and a kid-free coffee break but this cafe is spacious to park a stroller and not too quiet that you would be worried that kids are being too loud ;)

If you're looking for a good place for a coffee break or beer after walking around Ghent, check out Le Bal Infernal - Used Book Cafe. 

Don't forget your snacks!

Le Bal Infernal - Used Book Cafe

Kammerstraat 6, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Check out their website for more info.

Boba Cat Ghent

 

A super cute, cat-themed, bubble tea shop, Boba Cat is a great place for dessert, especially for those who enjoy Boba or bubble tea.

Located in Ghent, Belgium, near Albert Park, Boba Cat has a variety of drinks, hot and cold. Some drinks already come with the bubbles but you can always add the tapioca pearls for a little extra. We tried and enjoyed the Coffee Frappe with boba!

The bubble tea shop has been opened since last year, and also offers vanilla and matcha crepes, and Taiyaki or "fish shaped waffles". The traditional Taiyaki is filled with red bean but you can also select a few different fillings.

There are different indie artists' work displayed at the cafe, with various things like little stickers, postcards, and pins available. Some even related to bubble tea🧋 

Boba Cat has a bench for outdoor seating and quite a few tables indoors including a few lounge seats by the window. It's a spacious place and ok to bring a stroller inside.

Delicious drinks and desserts is the perfect combo to get you through the day. Kids and parents enjoyed our bubble tea break at Boba Cat!

If you're visiting Ghent or live in the city and craving bubble tea or even just a refreshing drink without any bubbles, visit Boba Cat! It's always nice to support small businesses!

Don't forget your snacks!

Boba Cat

Zuidstationstraat 8, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Check out their Instagram for more info.

Julie's House Ghent

From cakes to cupcakes and more, Julie's House in Ghent, Belgium is a cute little bakery cafe to visit!

There are even a few vegan-friendly desserts to choose from including a vegan cupcake and Oreo brownie.

This cafe has two floors of seating but you might have to wait for a table as it's pretty popular. There are tables outside as well if stairs aren't easy to do for kids or seniors. Strollers can be parked indoors at the waiting area. Otherwise, the cafe is kid-friendly with lots to choose from for both kids and adults! 

The main floor is where you can see and choose your desserts. Once you get a table, you can sit and order your treat and drink.

Drinks come with a small cake sample which is a nice touch. You can also find some sample cupcakes downstairs at the cash register.

After ordering, you are given a receipt which you take down to the cashier to pay when you are ready.

You can also take some treats to-go and they pack them in a nice box for you.

We had a lovely visit to Julie's House, which is located near the Gravensteen castle. The service was good and the cakes and cupcakes were delicious. 

If you're visiting Ghent or live in the city and craving some dessert or a coffee break, enjoy some treats at Julie's House! 

Don't forget your snacks!

Julie's House

Kraanlei 13, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Check out their website for more info.

La Dolce Barista Ghent

After a walk to the historical centre of Ghent and chasing bubbles in the square, we were ready to eat! Located near St. Bavo's Cathedral, La Dolce Barista was the perfect break for waffles and coffee!

We decided to try both kinds of waffles, the rectangular shaped and the other more traditional "Liege" waffle. 

You can choose to add a sauce or fruit, even ice cream to your waffles. Kids definitely approved!

They mention on the menu that if there are many customers, your ordee could take time because waffles are made fresh. The waffles were indeed hot, fresh and delicious!

The staff was friendly and there is both indoor and outdoor seating available.

Coffee is available in two sizes, we got the large. It's always nice when your hot drink comes with something sweet to sample. Ours were paired with mini waffles! So cute!

It was nice to sit in and take a break after our walk. La Dolce Barista also offers other breakfast items like eggs and even panini sandwiches. 

If you're looking for a lunch spot or just feel like a waffle break while walking around in Ghent, visit La Dolce Barista!

Don't forget your snacks!

La Dolce Barista 

Limburgstraat 14, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Check out their website for more info.

Currychiwa Japanese Curry House Ghent

A cool find while exploring Ghent, we first spotted Currychiwa Japanese Curry House after our day out in the city. We made sure to come back a different day for dinner and really enjoyed it!

For the Japanese Curry, you can choose the base, rice or upon noodles, then the meat and finally, how spicy you want the sauce. From non-spicy to extra hot. For an added crunch, you can add fried onions to the top.

For kids (under 12), you can order a smaller portion, which is half the price. You can also ask them to serve the curry separate from the rice, in case kids prefer it that way. They were out of the "non-spicy" curry so we ordered the regular for the kids.

It was actually the kids' first Japanese Curry. They already love noodles, rice and chicken katsu, so we wanted them to try Japanese Curry as well. They tried a bit and found it so yummy, that they wanted more! 

Currychiwa also offers some starters to share like edamame beans and chicken karaage.

There are a few different drinks to choose from both with alcohol (like sake, beer, plum wine) and alcohol free (lemonade, soda water and various sodas).

The Japanese Curry house has a few tables and some seating on higher seats at a counter but it's a small restaurant. Make a reservation for bigger groups or come early to make sure you get a seat. 

From the starters to main curries, the food was flavorful and delicious. The service was good and the staff were helpful. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal and were glad we came back when they were open to try it.

If you're visiting Ghent or live in the city and are craving a hot, delicious bowl of Japanese Curry, enjoy a meal at Currychiwa!

Don't forget your snacks!

Currychiwa Japanese Curry House

Nederkouter 73, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Check out their instagram for more info.

Laurence Takeaway Bruges

Delicious waffles with many different toppings to choose from, Laurence Takeaway in Bruges, Belgium didn't disappoint!

We found this place after looking at the reviews of waffles in Bruges. The waffles are homemade, made fresh to order and delicious! 

This small dessert shop doesn't have any indoor seating, but you go inside to order. Note: Expect it to be very crowded if you visit on a weekend or public holiday!

Laurence Takeaway recently celebrated their 5th anniversary (April 2024) and even after a busy day the service was friendly and welcoming! 

We had a really lovely experience at this little dessert shop and kids enjoyed their desserts as well! 

If you're visiting Bruges for a day, or longer, (and don't mind the line) stop by Laurence Takeaway for some delicious waffles, ice cream or a hot drink! You can take it to sit on a bench with the Swans or eat it as you explore the streets of Bruges.

Don't forget your snacks!

Laurence Takeaway

Walstraat 4, 8000 Brugge, Belgium

Check our their instagram for more info.