Ghent: Belgian Waffle-Making Workshop with Beer Tasting

Belgian beer and waffles are not just two famous Belgian exports here. They become one hands-on lesson, with three beer tastings followed by batter mixing, waffle baking, and a table full of toppings. You choose your favorite beer for the batter, then eat as many waffles as you make.

I like the relaxed, social setup, especially the chance to learn from hosts such as Thomas, Anna, Reuben, and Luk, who bring plenty of jokes and beer facts to the room. I also like the useful souvenirs: a secret recipe, graduation certificate, and leftover waffles to take away.

The main consideration is price. At $55 per person, this is not a cheap snack stop, and the basic topping selection may feel modest if you expect fresh berries or a broad dessert spread. Still, the beer, food, instruction, and 90-minute activity make the cost easier to justify.

Key points at a glance

• Three Belgian beers first: Taste different Belgian specialties and learn how their styles, flavors, and brewing traditions differ.
• Your beer goes into the batter: Pick a favorite brew for a distinctive waffle mixture, or choose a non-alcoholic or gluten-free alternative.
• Hands-on cooking: Mix the batter, use the cooking stations, bake your own waffles, and decorate them yourself.
• Unlimited waffles you make: Keep baking and eating during the session, with leftovers often available to take away.
• Friendly English instruction: Hosts including Thomas, Anna, Reuben, Patty, and Luk keep the class accessible to an international group.
• Good for mixed drinkers: Non-drinkers can have coffee, tea, juice, or other non-alcoholic drinks instead.

Why this Ghent workshop works so well

I like activities that give you a break from looking at buildings and put you at a table with something to do. This workshop does that neatly. You spend 90 minutes learning a Belgian food tradition, tasting local beer, and talking with the people around you.

The setting is in central Ghent, about five minutes from one of the city’s popular scenic spots, according to the activity details. You are not being bused out to a distant brewery or farm. Transport is not included, but the central location makes this easy to add between sightseeing stops.

The experience provider is Waffles ’n Beer, also associated with Chocolate ’n Beer. The Ghent meeting point is a tall white building with a large green wooden door. If the door is closed, you can push it open or tap on one of the windows to the left, and the host will let you in. Go up the small steps, then find the first door on the left.

That arrival note matters. This is not the sort of place with a giant street sign and a hotel-style lobby. Save the directions before you set off, especially if you are arriving close to the start time.

Three beers, three different introductions

The session begins with the beer tasting. You sample three Belgian specialty beers while the host explains what makes each one different. The emphasis is not simply on pouring drinks. You get a basic guide to Belgian beer styles, flavor, and brewing traditions, with each glass given some context.

The selection can vary. Some sessions have included four or even five beers, while the stated program promises three. You should treat three as the firm expectation and any additional samples as a pleasant extra, not something to count on.

This part is useful even if you already know Belgian beer. Belgium has a huge beer culture, and a guided tasting helps you compare drinks instead of ordering at random. If you are new to the subject, you get enough explanation to recognize why one beer may taste fruity, spicy, bitter, strong, or light without having to sit through a formal lecture.

Hosts have different personalities, but the strongest sessions seem to benefit from a lively presenter. Reuben has been praised for his beer expertise and entertaining delivery. Thomas has led sessions with a clear grasp of Belgian beer and its background, while Anna has been described as attentive and warm. Luk, Luc, Patty, Fabien, and Tinee have also hosted sessions.

Do not expect a quiet, private tasting for two. This is an English-language group activity with people from several countries. That is part of the appeal if you like meeting new people, but it also means the rhythm depends partly on the group and the host.

Choosing beer for your waffle batter

After the tasting, you choose one of the beers to add to your batter. This is the workshop’s clever link between the two halves. You are not tasting beer in one room and making an unrelated dessert in another. The drink becomes part of what you cook.

The hosts guide you through the recipe from scratch. You mix the ingredients, let the batter rest, and then move on to the cooking stage. During the wait, there may be more beer and, in some sessions, a video about the beer-making process.

The instructions are designed for beginners. You do not need previous baking experience, and the cooking process is presented as a series of simple steps. You generally work with a partner at a cooking station, so this suits couples and friends who enjoy doing something together rather than watching a demonstration.

One point is worth noting: the level of step-by-step direction can depend on the host and the size of the group. Some people appreciate the loose, social approach. Others would prefer the instructor to pause after every step so everyone can keep pace. If you like highly structured classes, pay close attention to the printed recipe and ask questions as you go.

Gluten-free and non-alcoholic choices

The workshop is not limited to beer drinkers. You can request a non-alcoholic alternative, and non-drinkers have been offered coffee, tea, juice, and other soft drinks. The host may also allow you to enjoy these options even if someone else in your party is tasting beer.

A gluten-free flour option is available. The gluten-free beer situation needs more care. At least one session did not have gluten-free beer on hand, despite earlier information suggesting it would be available. The host helped solve the problem when the participant bought a suitable beer independently.

If gluten-free beer is important to you, confirm it before booking or arriving. Do not assume that gluten-free flour automatically means every part of the tasting is gluten-free. The supplied information supports a gluten-free waffle alternative, but it does not promise a fixed gluten-free beer selection.

Alcohol is served only to people aged 18 and older. Minors receive non-alcoholic drinks. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult on a one-to-one basis, and children under 3 are not accepted.

Baking waffles at your own station

The most satisfying part is making the waffles yourself. You mix the batter, follow the host’s instructions, and bake the waffles rather than receiving a plate prepared in advance.

The result is meant to be light and fluffy, and the recipe is simple enough to repeat at home. Several people have specifically valued taking the recipe home, which is a sign that this is more than a one-time food sample. You leave with a practical souvenir that can bring the Ghent experience back to your own kitchen.

The class is collaborative. You and a partner share the work, and the room becomes a mix of measuring, cooking, tasting, and conversation. I would choose this for a couple or small family group that wants an activity with a clear goal. It is also a good rainy-day option because the main event takes place indoors.

The pace is generally brisk but not rushed. The full session lasts 90 minutes, which is long enough to make plenty of waffles without taking up half a day. One family even had enough extra waffles to carry away, though the exact number depends on how much batter your group produces and how quickly the cooking stations move.

Toppings, portions, and what you actually eat

Once the waffles are ready, you can add toppings such as chocolate sauce, speculoos, whipped cream, icing sugar, and jam. The combination of a warm waffle and Belgian speculoos spread is an obvious local touch.

The topping table is generous enough for a fun dessert session, but it is not an elaborate pastry buffet. Fresh berries and Nutella have been suggested as missing additions, so set your expectations accordingly. If you want a very broad choice of fruit, nuts, or premium sauces, this may feel basic.

The strong point is quantity. You can eat as many of your own waffles as you want during the class. That changes the value calculation at $55. You are not paying for one small waffle and three sips of beer. You are paying for a meal-sized amount of food, several drinks, instruction, and an activity.

Leftovers can go home with you. Bring a way to carry them if you expect to have extras, though the supplied information does not promise a particular type of container. Some sessions also include a graduation certificate, and one account mentions an apron as a keepsake. The core promised takeaways are the recipe, certificate, and leftover waffles.

Is $55 a fair price?

At $55, I would call this a mid-priced activity rather than a bargain. If you only want to eat a Belgian waffle, you can spend far less at a café. If you only want to sample Belgian beer, Ghent gives you plenty of other choices.

The price makes more sense if you value participation. You receive three specialty beers, ingredients, cooking equipment, instruction, unlimited waffles from your batch, and the recipe. You also get 90 minutes of structured time in a central location, instead of spending that time deciding where to eat next.

The experience is strongest for people who would otherwise pay for both a food tasting and a casual drink stop. It is less compelling for someone who dislikes group classes, does not drink and does not care about cooking, or wants a polished chef-led demonstration.

The food portion also helps. Generous batter quantities and leftovers can turn the workshop into a light meal, especially earlier in the day. I would not book it solely because it is the cheapest way to eat in Ghent, but I would consider it good value for a couple or family looking for a memorable activity with edible results.

Who should book this in Ghent?

I would recommend it to couples, families with older children, friend groups, solo visitors who enjoy social classes, and anyone curious about Belgian beer but unsure where to start. It has enough structure for beginners and enough local food context to feel connected to Belgium rather than like a generic cooking class.

It works particularly well near the start of a Belgium trip. You learn a waffle recipe you can use later, get a basic sense of Belgian beer, and gain a better idea of what to order in cafés and bars.

Families should check the age rules carefully. Children are welcome under the stated conditions, but under-16s need a one-to-one adult companion, and the alcohol portion is replaced with non-alcoholic drinks for anyone under 18. The activity is wheelchair accessible, though the meeting instructions mention small steps upstairs, so anyone with specific mobility needs should confirm the exact access arrangement before booking.

Non-drinkers should not feel pushed aside. The hosts have provided coffee, tea, juice, and other alternatives. The beer remains central to the theme, but you can still take part in the batter mixing, baking, toppings, and eating.

Practical tips before you go

Book the Ghent location carefully. The provider also operates elsewhere, and the instructions specifically warn you to select Ghent.

Arrive with the green door instructions saved. Look for the tall white building, not a prominent tour office. Go upstairs to the first door on the left.

Keep your schedule flexible after the class. You may leave with a certificate, recipe, and extra waffles, and you will probably want time to sit down rather than rush straight into the next museum.

Tell the host about dietary needs before the activity begins. Gluten-free flour is available, but gluten-free beer may not be. If you do not drink, ask for a coffee, tea, juice, or other non-alcoholic choice.

The class is conducted in English because the group is international. Hosts can translate parts when needed, but you should expect the main instructions and explanations to be in English.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the available start times for your date, since the activity runs for 90 minutes but the schedule can vary.

Should you book the waffle and beer workshop?

Book it if you want to do something in Ghent rather than simply look around, and if beer, dessert, and a little group banter sound like a good use of 90 minutes. The best reasons are the hands-on baking, the recipe you can reuse, and the generous chance to eat your own waffles.

Skip it if you want a private class, a serious brewing seminar, or a refined dessert tasting with lots of fresh toppings. The structure can feel informal, the topping range is not huge, and $55 is a fair price rather than a steal.

For most visitors, I think the balance works. You get a distinctly Belgian pairing, a friendly English-speaking host, plenty to eat, and a souvenir that does not gather dust. In Ghent, that is a pleasant way to trade one hour of sightseeing for something you can taste and make yourself.

FAQ

Where does the Ghent waffle and beer workshop meet?

Meet at a tall white building with a large green wooden door. Enter through the door, go up the small steps, and use the first door on the left.

How long does the workshop last?

The workshop lasts 90 minutes.

How many Belgian beers are included?

Three Belgian specialty beers are included. Some sessions may offer additional samples, but three is the stated tasting amount.

Is the workshop taught in English?

Yes. The instructor language is English, and hosts can translate some parts when needed.

Can people under 18 drink beer during the workshop?

No. Alcohol is served only to participants aged 18 and older. Minor participants receive non-alcoholic drinks.

Can children attend?

Children under 3 are not suitable for the activity. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult on a one-to-one basis.

Is a non-alcoholic option available?

Yes. Non-drinkers can receive non-alcoholic drinks such as coffee, tea, juice, or other alternatives.

Is a gluten-free waffle option available?

Yes. A gluten-free flour alternative is available. Gluten-free beer may not always be available, so confirm this before arrival if it is important to you.

Can I eat as many waffles as I make?

Yes. You can eat as many of your own baked waffles as you want during the workshop.

What can I take home?

You receive the secret waffle recipe and a graduation certificate. Leftover waffles can also be taken home.