Chocolate shop in Ghent ? Nigel?

The two top chocolatiers in Ghent

https://www.chocolaterie-vandenbouhede.be/en
https://maps.app.goo.gl/sJDYNe7L67rLWbGD6

https://www.chocolatesvanhoorebeke.be/en
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qNZjoTiEiW61vSqv9

And also popular (especially popular with tourists, given its location next to the belfry)

https://deduytschaever.be/
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2XceAf2kozhcYnLR8

Thank you Windyram !

Probably not the one you're looking for, but last Fall we visited In Choc for lunch. https://www.inchocgent.be/nl here what I wrote about it in a Trip Report;

The wonderfully unique thing we found about Ghent is it smells like chocolate. It’s like the chocolate shops pump the smell into the street to entice customers. It worked. We stopped for lunch at ‘In Choc’, because of the smell coming from it. We had a window seat overlooking the castle, so the setting was perfect. We both had grilled cheese and the fanciest milkshakes we’ve had since a trip to a hamburger joint in Rye a few years ago. These milkshakes made typical milkshakes look like diet food. And since this was a chocolate shop, our order came with several complimentary chocolates.

In Choc use chocolates from https://daskalides.be/

Thank you so much, Allan !!!

Good grief, what time is it for you in Calgary ???

3am, not sleeping well.

Kim, same time zone as Allan, same situation, but your question was intriguing, so I did a “quick” RSE Website search on “Nigel Chocolate.” Maybe you’re getting the same results, but all I could find in Forum posts within the last 2 years from Nigel was “there are convenient trams directly between both train stations in Ghent and the central part of the city just near the cathedral and chocolate shop.” This was in a thread from February 2025: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/belgium/quick-stop-over-in-ghent-how-long

As you can see, he didn’t list a specific shop there, nor did any other posts in that thread, but Windyram has named some potential places above, close to the cathedral and the belfry.

The above search also gave a few posts from Pam (but many more from Pat!), but Pam’s didn’t seem to be mentioning chocolate, as far as I could tell.

Then again, you could simply scroll through Nigel’s own posting history … he’s got less than 37,000 posts here, so how long would that take? LOL

I hope you get some nice pralines … I’m sure there will be many available!

Kim, I checked some bookmarked TR's, this one is from Pat - "Brought the Rain pants, needed the rain pants." YUM! A town that smells like chocolate.... heaven!

Charlie Chocolate Tour of Ghent. Nick, our guide, is a Ghent native
and loves his city. Between chocolate shop visits he conducted a
comprehensive tour, including history, culture, and lifestyle.

We started with baseline chocolate shops, moved onto hard and soft
candies, and finished with high-end exotic chocolates. The tour was 35
euros each but completely worth it- we had a lot of rich chocolates. I
bought a selected box of chocolates with the craziest flavors ever
concocted, and brought it home to my happy hours group. (The shop
included a cheat-sheet for the flavors: eg Bloody Mary, chilis,
beetroot, Bailey's, cinnamon, mocha, etc.) We sliced the pieces into
small bites and had a great chocolate tasting experience.

Favorite stores visited Vandenbouhede - exotics Van Hoorebeke- high
quality, OP Carrie's favorite Deduytschaever - high quality

I know Nigel’s favorite chocolate shop in Ghent, he has mentioned it several times. He will respond soon as usual, so don’t want to mow the grass away from his feet, you don't have to wait long.

Hahahahaa I love that everybody is on the case !! I have some delightful recommendations already. And not much time in town, I am afraid !!! Got here at 11:30 am and my departure is 5:30 pm. With an exhibition at the MSK and the Golden Lamb and getting between the two on an 88-degree day, in the end I am not even sure I will make it to any chocolate shop or cafe!!

Allan I am sorry you were not sleeping well. Hope you finally got some rest.

As you are already in Ghent with so little time: It's Van Hoorebeke, just a few steps from Saint Bavo's Cathedral. Know that it closes at 6:00 pm.

Ah thank you Wil !

Kim, I think this might be the thread you're looking for. Nigel posts in here that this is his absolutely favorite chocolate from Belgium!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/belgium/ghent-chocolate-tours

Yes! The most recent thread you were thinking about was probably mine - Nigel responded to it. :)

And Wil got it: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oG9xRJosc62zVeak8?g_st=ic . It was almost next door to St. Bavo’s.

Aha - the key thread was from January 2024! I used the filter for 2 years and newer, so didn’t go back far enough. I’d thought that Windyram’s second suggestion was the likely place, and it to end out it was. Glad so many people were on the case, and it sounds like there’s a consensus.

just saw this thanks to Claudia in the Land of LA - travelling and am about 2 days behind - sorry

Yes, indeed, Luc Van Hoorebeke. Open until 6pm tomorrow. I'm driving from Frankfurt tomorrow to Gent, and must be there before they close.

Mrs Nigel wouldn't have it any other way...

Ha! Love it.

I too was looking in only six-months-and&newer posts -- no wonder I couldn't find it !!

That is so funny that you will ne there tomorrow, Nigel.

Now here is my confession: after all this fuss, and walking up to the windows of the chocolate shop, I just couldn't make myself go in. It was 88 degrees, which doesn't sound hot,but felt rather miserable. And I realized that any chocolate I bought would be a melted mess by the time I got back to Paris this evening. So - I will have to go back !!

Thanks to everyone for the contributions and searching and everything - it was so kind of everyone !!! And now I know for next time.

Kim

Kim, glad you’ve already got a goal for next time in Gent, but what, no ersatz chocolate fondue this time, in the heat on your way to Paris? :-)

Good decision, Kim. I ruined a small suitcase with melted chocolate on a trip in Africa in 2024.

On the subject of bringing back chocolate, my family was so enamored with Van Hoorebeke that upon returning from that Belgium trip we ordered online and had a box shipped to the states. And ate Salad for the next two weeks!

Oh Janet !!! I never even thought of that !

Matt -- that is serious devotion !!

Also - it's crazy how all three of those chocolate shops are right near the cathedral !

Kim, I was wondering how you could stand to eat / buy chocolate in that heat! GOSH, we're complaining here in Sweden about 74F.

I just looked at my Notes for Ghent, all it says is, "Chocolaterie Luc Van Hoorebeke."! This thread hasn't been wasted, as many of us have bookmarked or noted Nigel's favorite chocolatier... again.

it's crazy how all three of those chocolate shops are right near the cathedral !

It would seem that, for some, chocolate is a religious experience!

Chocolate from Belgium is a religious experience! I still have supplies left from my April 2026 trip, am just eating a little everyday, little pieces from heaven. I checked into shipping, after my 2024 trip, and it seemed that the shipping was equal to the cost of the candy. So this trip, I threw out my dying walking shoes, and stuffed even more chocolate into my suitcase.
Happy sweets to all!

Hahaha I love that trade, Pat. Shoes in the trash, and more chocolate in the bag!! Wonderful !!