Ghent: Belgian Waffle-Making Workshop with Beer Tasting

The clever part of this Ghent workshop is that it joins two Belgian favorites in one 90-minute hands-on class. You taste three beers, learn what makes them different, then choose one for your waffle batter before cooking and decorating your own batch.

I like the relaxed teaching style, with hosts such as Thomas, Anna, Luc, and Reuben bringing plenty of humor and useful background. I also like the generous finish: you can eat as many waffles as you make and take leftovers home. The main consideration is price. At $55 per person, it offers food, drinks, instruction, and a recipe, but some people may find it costly for a short class.

Key Points

• Three Belgian beers first: Taste different styles and learn how each one fits into Belgium’s brewing culture.
• Beer goes into the batter: Choose a favorite beer for your waffles, or request a non-alcoholic or gluten-free alternative.
• Hands-on from mixing to topping: You prepare the batter, bake the waffles, and add chocolate, speculoos, whipped cream, icing sugar, and more.
• Generous portions: Eat as many waffles as you can make, with leftovers available to take away.
• A social break from sightseeing: The class brings together couples, families, and people from around the world at shared cooking stations.
• Useful take-home extras: You receive the secret recipe and a graduation certificate, and some sessions also include an apron.

Belgian Beer and Waffles in One Ghent Class

Belgium gives you plenty of chances to eat waffles and drink beer separately. This workshop makes a stronger case for trying both together, with a short class that is part tasting, part cooking lesson, and part social evening out.

You begin with three Belgian specialty beers. The host introduces each one, explains its character and background, and lets you taste it without turning the session into a formal lecture. The exact beers can vary, and some sessions have included four or five samples, but the advertised plan is three.

That variation is worth noting. If you are keen on beer, you may get more than the basic tasting. If you do not drink, the workshop still works because under-18 participants receive non-alcoholic drinks, and hosts can provide alternatives such as coffee, tea, or juice.

The beer portion gives the cooking lesson a useful local setting. You are not simply following a waffle recipe in a generic kitchen. You are learning why beer matters in Belgium, then deciding which flavor you want to carry into your batter.

Meeting the Host at the Green Door

The workshop takes place in central Ghent, about five minutes from one of the city’s well-known central sights. Look for a tall white building with a large green wooden door.

The front door is normally open. If it is closed, push it open or tap on one of the windows to the left, and the host should let you in. Go up the small stairs, then find the first door on the left. That is the workshop entrance.

This is a useful arrival detail because the building is not described as a large, obvious cooking school from the street. Give yourself a few extra minutes rather than arriving exactly at the start time and searching while the class begins.

The class is taught in English, since people come from many countries. The hosts can translate parts of the lesson if needed, but you should be comfortable following basic spoken instructions in English.

Choosing the Beer for Your Waffle Batter

After tasting, you choose a favorite beer to use in the batter. This is the most distinctive part of the class. The beer is not only something you drink alongside the food. It becomes part of the recipe.

You and a partner then move to a cooking station. The host explains the process and helps you prepare the mixture. The lesson is designed for beginners, and the instructions are straightforward enough for families, couples, and people who rarely cook.

The batter rests before baking. During that pause, the host may continue talking about beer, show a short video about the brewing process, or simply keep the group chatting with another drink. This gives the class a natural rhythm rather than forcing you to stand idle beside the waffle irons.

You can request a non-alcoholic batter, and gluten-free flour is available. One important caution: the standard information says alcoholic drinks are for participants aged 18 and over. If you need gluten-free beer as well as gluten-free flour, confirm the details before arrival. At least one session did not have gluten-free beer available on site, even though the flour was provided.

Baking Waffles Together

Once the batter is ready, you cook your own waffles. The host walks you through the baking stage, and the process is simple enough that children and first-time cooks can take part with adult help.

The activity works best when you treat it as a shared task rather than a private cooking lesson. You may be paired with someone from your group or work alongside other participants. That format helps the class feel social, but it also means the pace depends partly on the group.

Most people find the cooking easy to follow. One caution is that the instruction can feel less structured in a busy session. If you prefer every step to be demonstrated, completed, and checked before the next one begins, ask questions as you go. The printed recipe helps, and the hosts are available to explain anything that seems unclear.

The result is a pile of warm Belgian waffles rather than one carefully plated serving. That matters for value. You are not paying for a quick taste. You are making enough to eat generously, and many participants have had extra waffles to take back to their accommodation.

Toppings from Chocolate to Speculoos

Once the waffles are baked, you decorate them at a topping station. The available choices include chocolate sauce, Belgian speculoos, whipped cream, icing sugar, and jam.

The topping selection is sweet and familiar rather than elaborate. If you want fresh fruit, berries, or a particular chocolate spread, do not assume it will be available. One useful suggestion is to enjoy the first waffle with only a light topping so you can taste its texture and the effect of the beer in the batter.

Speculoos is a particularly fitting choice in Belgium. It gives the waffle a spiced biscuit flavor, while chocolate and whipped cream make the result more dessert-like. You can keep making waffles and add different toppings as you go, which is more fun than choosing one fixed combination at the start.

The waffles are described in the class information as Belgian waffles, and the cooking lesson focuses on making them from scratch. The recipe is the real souvenir here. You can use it at home, replace the beer with a non-alcoholic option if needed, and recreate the afternoon after your trip.

What the $55 Price Really Covers

At $55 per person, this is not the cheapest way to eat a waffle in Ghent. You can buy a finished waffle from a café or street stand for much less. The price makes more sense when you count the three beer tastings, ingredients, cooking materials, instruction, unlimited waffles from your own batch, and the take-home recipe.

The value also depends on how much you want to participate. If you only want a snack, skip the workshop. If you like food classes, meeting other people, and learning a little about Belgian beer, the cost is easier to justify.

The generous portions improve the calculation. Several sessions have produced enough waffles for people to eat during the class and carry leftovers away. A certificate is included, and some participants have also taken home an apron. These extras are not the main reason to book, but they make the experience feel more complete.

The one criticism worth taking seriously is that the activity can feel about $10 too expensive for some budgets. I would book it when you want a structured Ghent activity, not when you simply want the lowest-cost waffle and beer combination.

Who Will Enjoy This Most

This is a strong pick for couples who want an activity beyond walking from one landmark to another. It also suits families, provided children are old enough to follow the cooking setup and are accompanied properly.

Children under 16 must have an adult with them on a one-to-one basis. Children under 3 are not suitable for the activity. Alcoholic drinks are served only to people aged 18 and older, with non-alcoholic drinks for minors.

You do not need to be a beer expert. The hosts explain the drinks in an accessible way, and the tasting is not presented as a test of your vocabulary. You also do not need baking experience. The class is built around simple instructions and shared work.

Non-drinkers can still take part. Coffee, tea, and juices have been available as alternatives, and the beer tasting is not compulsory. If your group includes people with different tastes, this flexibility is useful.

The workshop is wheelchair accessible. Since the meeting instructions mention small steps inside the building, contact the provider ahead of time if you need precise access details for your own mobility equipment.

Hosts Who Set the Tone

The host matters here because the workshop is as social as it is culinary. Thomas has led sessions with a clear grasp of beer and a friendly way of explaining the waffle process. Anna has been described as attentive and warm, while Luc and Reuben have also hosted well-received classes.

The exact instructor depends on your date. Expect someone who keeps the group moving, answers questions, and adds stories about beer and waffle making. The best sessions seem to balance facts with jokes rather than packing the 90 minutes with technical brewing detail.

You may share the room with people from several countries. That can make the class a pleasant way to meet others during a trip, especially if you are tired of sightseeing alone. It can also mean different cooking speeds and different comfort levels with English. A little patience helps.

Timing, Location, and Practical Details

The workshop lasts 90 minutes, which is a good length for this type of activity. It is long enough for tasting, mixing, resting, baking, and eating, but short enough to fit between other Ghent plans.

You do not need to arrange transport as part of the experience. The meeting point is in central Ghent, and the class is close to major central sights. Plan your route in advance because the green door and upstairs entrance may be easy to miss if you are hurrying.

Wear something comfortable and suitable for cooking. The supplied information does not describe a strict dress code, but waffle batter, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream are happier near an apron than on your best travel clothes.

The activity can be canceled up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the available start times for your date, since the schedule is not fixed in the information provided.

My Verdict on the Ghent Waffle Workshop

I would book this if you want a relaxed, social activity that gives you something to do with your hands. The combination of beer tasting, batter making, baking, and generous portions makes the 90 minutes feel fuller than a standard food sampling.

I would think twice if you dislike group classes, do not drink and do not want alternatives, or are focused only on getting the cheapest waffle in town. The toppings are sweet and fairly simple, and the instruction may feel a little loose if you expect a tightly staged cooking demonstration.

For most visitors, the best reason to choose it is the balance of participation and local flavor. You taste Belgian beers, use one in a recipe, learn a dish you can repeat at home, and leave with a certificate and food for later. At $55, it is a treat rather than a bargain, but it is a well-rounded way to spend part of a day in Ghent.

FAQ

How long does the Ghent waffle and beer workshop last?

The workshop lasts 90 minutes. The session includes beer tasting, batter preparation, baking, decorating, and eating.

How many beers are included?

The advertised experience includes three Belgian specialty beers. Some sessions may offer additional samples, but three is the standard number to expect.

Can I make waffles without alcohol?

Yes. You can request a non-alcoholic waffle batter, and participants under 18 receive non-alcoholic drinks.

Is the workshop suitable for children?

Children under 3 are not suitable for the activity. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult on a one-to-one basis, and only participants aged 18 or older are served alcoholic drinks.

Is a gluten-free option available?

Gluten-free flour is available. If you also need gluten-free beer, confirm this before booking because it may not be available at the workshop.

What toppings can I use?

Toppings include chocolate sauce, Belgian speculoos, whipped cream, icing sugar, and jam. Fresh berries and some other toppings are not guaranteed.

Where is the meeting point?

Look for a tall white building with a large green wooden door. Go upstairs through the small steps, then enter through the first door on the left.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.