The Waffles ‘n Beer Workshop in Ghent Centre

The best part of this Ghent workshop is the simple pairing: taste three Belgian beers, choose your favorite, then use it in waffle batter. I like that the beer is not just a drink on the side. It becomes part of the cooking lesson, which gives the familiar Belgian waffle a playful local twist.

I also like the generous format. You can bake and eat as many waffles as you want, with toppings to finish them. Hosts such as Thomas, Tina, Fabian, Anna, and Stijn are praised for clear instructions and good humor. The main consideration is the price, $71.20 per person, which makes the class best for people who want a hands-on activity rather than a quick snack.

Key points at a glance

• Three Belgian beers first: Learn about the brewing process and taste styles such as Kriek, peach beer, and Gulden Draak.
• Your chosen beer goes into the batter: The tasting leads directly into the waffle lesson.
• Brussels-style waffles: You prepare, bake, and eat your own light, fluffy waffles.
• Plenty of food: You can make as many waffles as you want and add toppings of your choice.
• Small enough to feel social: The maximum group size is 18 people, with pairs working together.
• Central Ghent setting: The workshop starts and ends at Onderbergen 4, with English instruction and translation help when needed.

Why beer and waffles work so well together

Ghent is an easy city to explore on foot, but after a few hours of churches, canals, and old streets, a short activity with food and drink can be a welcome change. This workshop gives you more than a plate of waffles. You get a taste of Belgian brewing, a basic cooking lesson, and time to sit with the people in your group.

The pairing also makes sense culturally. Belgium is famous for both its beer and its waffles, yet many city visits treat them as separate stops. Here, the two are linked. You taste the beer, think about its flavor, and then add your chosen one to the batter. It is a small idea, but it makes the class more memorable than a standard beer tasting or cooking demonstration.

The experience lasts about one hour and 30 minutes. That is long enough to enjoy the food without taking up half your day. I would place it between major sightseeing plans, or use it as an early evening activity when you want something social but not a full dinner.

Starting at Onderbergen 4 in central Ghent

You meet at Onderbergen 4, 9000 Gent, and the activity ends at the same place. The location is near public transportation, which helps if you are staying outside the center or do not want to walk the whole way.

Check your booking carefully before setting out. The company also runs the workshop in other cities, and the booking must be for the Ghent location. The meeting point is clear, but this is one detail worth confirming before you leave your hotel.

The class is offered in English because people from many countries join. The hosts can translate parts of the lesson when needed, though the main instruction remains in English. You should be comfortable following spoken directions in English, especially during the batter preparation and baking steps.

The group can include up to 18 people. That is not an intimate private lesson, but it is still small enough for a host to guide the room. The format often has people working in pairs, which is useful if you are visiting with a partner, friend, or family member.

Three Belgian beers before the waffle batter

The workshop begins with a tasting of three Belgian beers. Your host explains something about each beer, including its background and brewing process, before you taste it. This gives the opening part of the class a clear purpose rather than making it a simple round of drinks.

The beers can vary, but one session included a cherry Kriek, a peach beer, and Gulden Draak. That selection gives you a useful spread of styles: fruit-forward, sweet, and stronger or more malt-focused. You might find that your favorite beer for drinking is not the one you choose for cooking, so take your time with the tasting.

Hosts Thomas and Fabian are especially good at adding beer facts and tasting tips to the session. Thomas is also praised for storytelling, while other hosts, including Stijn, Tina, Anna, and Fabian, bring their own friendly approach. Since the host can change, the tone may vary slightly, but the structure remains the same.

The alcohol policy is straightforward. Participants must be at least 18 to receive alcoholic drinks. Anyone under 18 gets non-alcoholic drinks instead. That means families can still join, but children will not take part in the beer tasting in the same way as adults.

Choosing a beer for Brussels-style waffles

After tasting the beers, you choose one to add to your waffle mixture. This is the workshop’s most interesting idea because it turns the tasting into a practical decision. A fruity beer may give the batter a different character from a darker or stronger beer, though the precise result depends on the beer selected and the amount used.

You then follow the host’s recipe and instructions. The class is designed to be easy to follow, and the hosts help with the process rather than leaving you to work things out alone. That makes it suitable for people with little or no baking experience.

The waffles are Brussels style, which generally means a lighter, fluffier waffle rather than a dense, caramelized Liege waffle. The finished texture matters here. The goal is not just to produce something edible, but to make waffles that are airy enough to work with a range of toppings.

One useful detail comes from the portion size: a pair may have enough batter for about four very large waffles. That is plenty of food for most people, especially with toppings and beer. You should arrive hungry, but do not plan a large meal immediately beforehand.

Baking, eating, and trying different toppings

Once the batter is ready, you cook your waffles under the host’s guidance. This is the hands-on part of the class, and it gives the experience its social energy. You are not simply watching someone prepare a Belgian specialty. You are mixing, baking, checking the result, and adjusting as you go.

The activity allows you to bake and eat as many waffles as you want. That is a major value point, since the workshop is not limited to one small sample. Reviews describe plenty of food, and the generous batter helps explain why people often leave full.

You can add a topping of your choice. The available selection can make the final tasting feel like a small dessert bar, with each person building a waffle to suit their taste. Pairing the finished waffle with the same beer used in the batter is encouraged because it lets you compare the cooking result with the original drink.

I like this part because it turns the class into a simple experiment. You taste the beer on its own, then taste it again with the waffle. Sweet toppings may soften a beer’s bitterness, while a fruit beer may fit naturally with a dessert-style topping. You do not need a trained palate to enjoy the comparison.

What the hosts add to the experience

The hosts are an important part of this activity. The strongest descriptions focus on patience, clear instruction, humor, and a welcoming manner. Thomas is repeatedly praised for combining beer history with practical waffle guidance. Stijn is described as an excellent host, while Tina, Fabian, and Anna also receive warm comments for making the class easy and enjoyable.

That range of names tells you something useful: the company uses more than one instructor, so you should not book expecting a particular person unless the booking specifically confirms it. Still, the teaching style appears consistent: explain the beer, demonstrate the recipe, guide the baking, and keep the room moving.

This is also a good way to meet people. A group of up to 18 may include couples, families, solo visitors, and friends. Working in pairs gives the class a natural structure, and the shared food makes conversation easier than it can be during a formal sightseeing tour.

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult on a one-to-one basis. That rule matters for families. A single adult with two younger children may not meet the stated arrangement, so check your group setup before booking.

Who will get the most from this Ghent workshop

I would recommend this activity to several types of visitors:

• Couples and friends who want an evening activity with food, drink, and a little competition over the best waffle.
• Families with children old enough to follow a cooking lesson, provided the adult-to-child rule is met.
• Solo visitors who enjoy meeting people in a small group rather than eating alone.
• Beer fans who want context for Belgian beer instead of only ordering a glass at a bar.
• Food-focused visitors who like learning a recipe and eating the result.
• First-time visitors to Ghent who want a relaxed introduction to two well-known Belgian specialties.

It may be less suitable if you do not drink alcohol and want the beer tasting to be the main attraction. Non-alcoholic drinks are provided for minors, but the activity is built around Belgian beer, so adults avoiding alcohol should ask whether the format fits their needs.

It is also not a formal culinary course. You learn a recipe and baking method, but the emphasis is on fun, tasting, and social time rather than professional technique.

Is $71.20 a fair price?

At $71.20 per person, this is not the cheapest way to eat a waffle in Ghent. You can buy a waffle for far less at a café or street stand. The price makes more sense when you count the beer tasting, the instruction, the food, and the chance to prepare as many waffles as you like during the session.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay for both a beer tasting and a meal or dessert. You are also paying for a hosted activity that works in bad weather and gives you a fixed two-hour block in your schedule.

The value is weaker if you mainly want to sample Belgian beer quickly or have one waffle before continuing your sightseeing. In that case, a bar and bakery stop will cost less and give you more freedom.

For families, calculate the total carefully. Adult participants receive alcoholic drinks, while minors receive non-alcoholic drinks, but the per-person price still applies. The food is generous, so you should not need to budget for a separate meal immediately afterward.

Practical details before you reserve

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity offers a mobile ticket. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded or accepted under the stated policy.

The workshop needs a minimum number of participants to run. If that minimum is not reached and the activity is canceled, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Service animals are allowed. The building is accessible to wheelchair users, but the workstations have tall tables and stools, so they may not suit someone who cannot transfer from a wheelchair. If this affects you, contact the provider before booking to discuss the setup.

Because the class is booked about 31 days ahead on average, I would reserve early if your Ghent dates are fixed. That is especially sensible for weekend plans, family visits, or groups that want to sit and work together.

Should you book the Waffles n Beer Workshop?

I would book it if you want a cheerful, hands-on activity that combines Belgian culture with plenty of food. The best reasons are the beer-to-batter idea, the generous waffle portions, and hosts who make the lesson easy to follow.

I would skip it if you only want the lowest-cost waffle or a serious beer education session. For most visitors, though, the $71.20 price is reasonable when you treat the workshop as a meal, tasting, and social activity in one.

For a first visit to Ghent, this is a particularly good break from sightseeing. You leave with a recipe, a better sense of Belgian beer styles, and a full stomach. Just confirm the Ghent meeting point, check the age requirements, and arrive ready to cook.

FAQ

Where does the Waffles n Beer Workshop take place?

The workshop starts and ends at Onderbergen 4, 9000 Gent, Belgium. The meeting point is near public transportation.

How long does the workshop last?

The activity lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

What language is the workshop in?

The workshop is offered in English. Hosts can translate some parts when necessary.

How many beers will I taste?

You will learn about and taste three Belgian beers. You then choose one beer to use in your waffle batter.

Can children participate?

Yes. Participants under 18 receive non-alcoholic drinks. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult on a one-to-one basis.

How many people can join the workshop?

The maximum group size is 18 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and changes within that period are not accepted.