A new wineshop venue just off the Place Sablon. A friendly welcome from the knowledgable owner,…read morePinto, who is passionate about her wines, all sourced directly from the winemakers in Italy and Spain. Tastings are a delight - try her early evening tastings Thursdays and Fridays, and make sure you sample the Tuscan charcuterie and cheeses. Prices are surprisingly affordable and certainly good value for money.

Cool little place to sample some spirits, some beers available as well, nice clean look in the shop…read morearea, rear shop area with windows overlooking a canal, and a small, secluded basement level terrace right on the water. Bathroom was ok, located on the second floor. Only one employee while we were there, but she was very friendly. Good for a quick stop /break.

I actually discovered that this place is located in the only wooden building in Ghent. Apparently…read moreall of the wooden buildings, except this one, were pulled down after the Great Fire of London (which goes to show how old this building actually is). However, the store is far from old, rather it is a specialist retailer of alcohol. While he does have a small variety of beers, it is the spirits that seem to be the focus here. The owner is incredibly knowledgeable, and also incredibly chatty. Don't expect to get trappist beers here, namely because they are sold everywhere else - he is only interested in rare beers, namely craft or micro-brews. He does have a small outdoor area downstairs but there are only three tables, so it can get a little cramped. Certainly a place to check out, especially if you like rare and exotic alcohol.

Yeah, this place is as good as it gets, because there's not many places (even in the chocolate…read moremecca of Belgium) that mix the concept of swank wine bar with artisanal chocolate haven. Alex & Alex does just this in a cosy, yet chic, cafe environment next to the sablon where the "big boys" of chocolate dominate (think: Marcolini, Godiva, Neuhaus, etc). In spite of the competition, Alex & Alex is worth checking out as it offers clientele the opportunity to pair handmade confections by chocolatier Frederic Blondeel with glasses (trust me, you'll have more than one) of champagne. If you're not into bubbles there's tea and coffee along with other cold/hot drinks. What I enjoy most about Alex & Alex is that it's less busy than the upmarket joints located across the street (mind you I adore Pierre Marcolini and think it's worth stopping in to grab a box of their macarons or 85% Madagascar dark), the environment is always inviting, and I always find something unique that I sure as hell would not have found at one of the more mainstream chocolatiers. Another big selling point is that Frederic Blondeel has several dairy/soy free options so you don't have to look on with envy as your friends snap up a handful of pralines to indulge in. For more: http://fortheintolerants.com/?p=5078

This is my first review for an antique store... Really it's a pickers little heaven. My family has…read morea thing for picking and have been picking in the neighbourhood literally over a decade. This place didn't used to be so big but it's pretty big now and just like a brownie, it hit the spot. Sadly they are not in the business of negotiating prices which is half the fun but their prices are very reasonable and their pickings are of quality. Their variety is large, from old farm sinks to silver pocket watches you'll find your treasure. Everything is organised in rooms but still messy enough to get your hands dirty and work your way through a pile of old telephones... The find is always the most exiting part of being a picker!

This is not really your traditional winery. They dont make the wine here but they do order some…read moregood ones. Apparently it was a winery back in the day but they stopped making wines and now they only order them. We booked a wine tour not sure what to expect but it turned out to be fun. The wine tour was in Dutch but the people were nice enough to explain it in English as well. They usually only have the tours in Dutch though. It was really nice that they accomodated us in english and it made the experience great. At the end of the walking tour you get to taste the different wines and have some little snacks. All the snacks were nice finger foods. The bread was ridiculously good though. That was a trend in Belgium and Holland where they have the freshest bread on the table every time. The wine was solid as well. It was a fun time at the "winery" and we also bought some wine after. Definitely come check it out.

From the owner: Historique et traditionnel Le Gré du Vin est non seulement un restaurant, mais aussi une boutique…read morede spécialités du Languedoc-Roussillon et du Sud-Ouest (assiettes de charcuterie, fois gras, fromages). La bâtiment est une maison du XVIIIème siècle avec une salle sous verrière et un intérieur en brique et bois.