river Lys canal

The Belgian city of Ghent is a weekend break dream – picturesque and laid-back with real character and tradition. A vibrant university city with a buzzing atmosphere, Ghent lies somewhere between the ‘chocolate box’ perfection of Bruges and the avant-garde fashion holy land of Antwerp. The social heart of Ghent is by the river Lys canal, so, where better to stay than right in the centre of the action…

Location

Ghent Marriott occupies the best spot in the historical Old Town, right on the canal. The listed original brick and wood facade is a striking contrast to the modern interior with an impressive glass atrium.

The building housing the Ghent Marriott has a rather illustrious history as a former brothel, denoted by the backward facing golden swans on the facade, although all signs of vice have been stripped away in favour of sleek, contemporary interiors.

The Room

My room on the second floor was very spacious and bright in a calming, nautical palette of yellow and blue palette with deep wood highlights. Unlike some hotel rooms, the bed wasn’t the only focus of the room, as I had a large work desk, a comfy seating area and a large flat screen TV. This is particularly good for business travellers who need a bit of extra living space to avoid cabin fever.

A tea and coffee maker, fluffy bathrobes, powerful air con and free broadband internet made the stay even more comfortable.

I first experienced a Marriott ‘Revive’ bed at London Marriott Grosvenor Square and I can barely describe just how heavenly they are. The ultra-soft, dreamy beds are a Marriott trademark and are present at all of the group’s hotels worldwide, so you can always look forward to a good night’s sleep.

The Bathroom

The marble bathroom was just the right size and had a bathtub-shower, so you can relax and unwind properly in the evening. Ghent Marriott has beaten the record for the number of bathroom amenities offered. The bathroom sink area was filled with bits and pieces including dental kits, a comb, bath salts, hand soap, facial soap, loofah, body lotion….the list goes on.

A Welcome Treat

Waiting in my room for me was a delightful box filled with a double layer of Belgian truffles and pralines from the neighbouring chocolate shop, Van Hoorebeke. Belgian chocolate was then ticked off my list, although it made a continual appearance throughout the trip.

Drinks at Poppi Bar

On the first night we came back for drinks in the relaxing Poppi Bar, at the centre of the hotel atrium, which was lit up in changing colours at night. The barman at Poppi makes an excellent Amaretto Sour and we even spotted member of the BBC Symphony orchestra having a post-concert night cap.

Breakfast

Marriott breakfasts are always rather special and the breakfast served each morning at Korenhuis was a real highlight. There was an excellent hot buffet selection, a variety of mini pastries and fresh bread, cheese, yoghurt, sliced fruit and cereal.

Korenhuis comprises three separate dining rooms, but our favourite was the deep red room with large windows overlooking the canal, where we enjoyed a private dinner on our last evening.

To burn off the indulgent Belgian cuisine, Ghent Marriott offers a fitness room and Marriott bikes that you can hire to explore the city. As the Old Town is pedestrianised, locals ride their bikes everywhere, even at night on the way home from the pub, after a few shots of jenever!

Ghent is perfect for city breaks, as you can see the best bits over a few days and still have plenty hidden gems left to uncover on a second visit. Ghent Marriott’s enviable location, superior service and stunning canal-side views make it an exceptional place to stay – in fact, I could hardly bear to leave.

Photos: Chérie City and Ghent Marriott.

Chérie City was a guest of Ghent Marriott.

Belgium is world renowned for its fine chocolate and beer, but there are still some local food secrets to discovers, such as Ganda ham, Nazareth cheese and Jenever – a kind of gin popular in Belgium and the Netherlands.

This week, I was invited to come and explore the foodie and cultural delights of Ghent, staying at the Ghent Marriott, perched conveniently on the picturesque banks of the river Lys canal.

On our second day in the city, we took a 3-hour ‘Nibbling Through Ghent’ walking tour with Lynn from VIZIT. She regaled us with tales about the city’s landmarks and colourful locals. We heard about students occupying the castle over the rising price of beer, why the noose is the symbol of Ghent and various saucy stories of naked statues and how to spot a Medieval brothel (just look for two backward facing swans)!

Julie’s House

Our first stop was Julie’s House, a petite bakehouse and tea room in the historic Patershol area, close to the canal. Just open for a few years, Julie’s House has become the place to stop for a sweet treat. Julie serves a daily selection of pies and tarts, bijou cupcakes, brownies, scones and clafoutis.

We sampled chunks of delicious Rocky Road, lemon cheesecake and walnut cake – my favourite was the refreshing lemon cheesecake.

Daskalidès

Our next stop was for another sugar high at Daskalidès, a Belgian chocolate shop with a history. In 1931, the Daskalidès-Kestekides family established two brands of home-made pralines – Daskalidès and Leonidas. Formerly a family-run business, Daskalidès now has ever so stylish shops around Europe, but the story started in Ghent.

Pralines are the signature chocolate at Daskalidès – I loved the patterned Kenya Noir with Kenyan coffee and cocoa nibs. You can also try hand-made truffles, liqueur pralines and artisan ice cream. There is a huge selection of beautifully-packaged gifts to take back home such as orangettes, pâtes de fruits, marshmallows, nougat, Florentines and chocolate galettes.

Cafe Den Turk

We stopped for a half-way beer at Cafe Den Turk, Ghent’s oldest pub dating back to 1228. Cafe Den Turk first opened as a coffee house (hence the Turkish coffee name reference), and then became a traditional pub, serving a wide range of Belgian beers.

I tried a glass of Gruut blonde – a local beer brewed in the city of Ghent. It’s a light, slightly cloudy beer that’s very easy to drink, although it does have a high alcohol strength at 12%.

Petite Normandie

Our next foodie destination was a narrow cobbled street that used to be named rue de Paradis, due to the number of French first floor brothels. Nowadays the street’s primary vice is cheese, from a tiny traditional shop called Petite Normandie (Donkersteeg 21).

We tried four Belgian cheeses – the mild and nutty Narazareth cheese, a goat’s cheese with prune jelly, a garlic soft cheese with a white rind and a stronger Cheddar-like cheese.

Het Groot Vleeshuis

We finished our foodie adventures at Het Groot Vleeshuis, the 15th century great Butcher’s Hall of Ghent, which now acts as a showcase for East Flemish food.

A number of Ganda hams (Ganda is the Old Celtic name for Ghent) hang from the wooden beams overhead, telling of the building’s history, yet there is a modern bar and cafe where you can order dishes made using artisanal local produce.

We tried three types of ham – two thin dried hams and one cooked ham – served with strong local mustard boasting a closely-guarded secret recipe. All were delicious, but I preferred the cooked ham, as it was juicy, thick and full of flavour.

t’ Dreupelkot

Skipping forward to our last night in Ghent, we rounded off the trip with a night cap at t’ Dreupelkot, a tiny, popular bar overlooking the canal that serves over 100 varieties of jenever. Owner Pol is a quite a character and so legendary in Ghent that he has a mural above the alleyway that leads to his bar.

We ordered a selection of flavoured jenever shots – vanilla, raspberry, mango, hazelnut and cactus, but if you’re really adventurous, try the ultra-hot chilli flavour. This eye-watering shot was apparently created after a group of workers from the Volvo factory suggested that the jenever wasn’t strong enough – Pol’s revenge!

Ghent is a perfect city break destination for foodies and after the tour, you can continue the gastronomic discoveries at some of Ghent’s most stylish restaurants – Belga Queen, Brasserie Pakhuis, Korenhuis and Bord’Eau Brasserie.