Ghent: Belgian Waffle-Making Workshop with Beer Tasting

Waffles and beer make a fine Ghent double act. This 90-minute workshop brings both together in a friendly, hands-on class where you taste three Belgian beers, choose one for your batter, bake waffles from scratch, and pile them high with chocolate, speculoos, whipped cream, and more. I especially like the easygoing teaching and the fact that you can eat as many waffles as you make. The main consideration is price: at $55 per person, it is not the cheapest snack in Ghent, though the beer, food, instruction, recipe, certificate, and leftovers make the cost easier to justify.

The experience also works well for mixed groups. Non-drinkers can have coffee, tea, juice, or non-alcoholic drinks, and gluten-free flour is available. Children under 16 need one-to-one adult supervision, and alcohol is only served to participants aged 18 and over. Hosts including Thomas, Anna, Reuben, Luc, Patty, Fabien, and Tinee have been praised for keeping the room warm, funny, and welcoming.

Key points to know before booking

• Three Belgian beers begin the class: You learn about each beer’s style, flavor, and background before choosing one for the batter.
• You bake the waffles yourself: The class is genuinely hands-on, from mixing ingredients to cooking and decorating.
• The waffles keep coming: You can eat as many of your own waffles as you make, and leftovers can go home with you.
• Non-drinkers are included: Coffee, tea, juice, and non-alcoholic drinks are available, while gluten-free flour can be requested.
• The location is central and simple to find: Look for a tall white building with a large green wooden door.
• You get useful souvenirs: The secret recipe, a graduation certificate, and leftover waffles give the experience life beyond the workshop.

What happens during the 90-minute class

The workshop has a clear rhythm: taste, mix, bake, decorate, eat. It is short enough to fit into a busy day in Ghent, but long enough to feel like an activity rather than a quick demonstration.

You are not simply watching someone else cook. You work with a partner at a cooking station, follow the recipe, and make the batter yourself. The hosts guide the process and answer questions, so you do not need prior kitchen experience.

The class takes place in English because people from many countries attend. That makes it social, but it also means the pace can vary a little depending on the group. Hosts can translate parts of the explanation when needed.

Belgian beer first, waffle batter second

The opening beer tasting gives the workshop its Belgian flavor. You sample three Belgian specialty beers and hear about their different characteristics and brewing backgrounds. The point is not just to drink three glasses. You are encouraged to notice how the beers differ before deciding which one should go into your batter.

This is a smart start. Belgian beer can be sweet, bitter, fruity, spicy, light, or strong, and the tasting gives you a small lesson in that range without turning the class into a formal beer course. Reuben, Thomas, Anna, and other hosts have been praised for making the explanations lively rather than technical.

Once you choose a favorite, a portion goes into the waffle batter. That gives you a direct link between the tasting and the cooking. You are not sampling beer in one room and making unrelated food in the next. The chosen beer becomes part of your recipe.

The precise beers can vary, so do not book this expecting a fixed list of labels. Some sessions have included four or five beers, according to individual accounts, but the stated format is a tasting of three Belgian beers. Some people also describe additional beer during the workshop, including pours while the batter rests. The safe expectation is three samples, with the possibility of more depending on the session and host.

If you do not drink alcohol, you are not pushed to participate. The class can provide non-alcoholic drinks, coffee, tea, or juice. That matters for couples and families, since one person can enjoy the beer lesson without making the whole group split up.

Mixing batter with a beer or alcohol-free option

After the tasting, you roll up your sleeves and move to the cooking stations. You work with a partner, which makes this especially suitable for couples, friends, and family groups. It also creates an easy way to chat with people from other countries while the mixture comes together.

The recipe is designed for beginners. You follow the steps, combine the ingredients, and allow the batter to rest before baking. Some sessions use a printed recipe displayed in the workshop, while the host explains the method and helps with questions.

Here is one useful point to keep in mind: the class may feel more like a social group workshop than a private cooking lesson. One account found the instructions a little confusing because the group did not always move through each step together. If you prefer very strict, measured instruction, you may need to pay close attention and ask for help. The hosts are there to guide you, but you are still part of a shared class.

You can choose a beer-based batter, a non-alcoholic option, or a gluten-free alternative. If you need gluten-free beer as well as gluten-free flour, confirm the details before arriving. One participant was told gluten-free beer was available, then had to buy a suitable bottle nearby. The host reimbursed that purchase, but checking in advance would be simpler.

Baking waffles that are fluffy and generous

Once the batter has rested, the cooking begins. You bake your own waffles and learn how the mixture changes into the familiar crisp-edged, soft-centered Belgian treat. The reports from the class repeatedly point to generous portions, so this is not a tiny tasting where you leave hungry.

The baking is kept simple enough for first-timers. Hosts explain what to do and help when needed, while you take responsibility for the actual waffles. That hands-on part is the reason I would choose this over a standard food tour if you want to do something rather than just hear about Belgian cuisine.

There is also room for a little harmless kitchen chaos. People work at different speeds, and the class has a relaxed social mood rather than a silent classroom feel. That can be part of the fun, particularly if you are traveling with children or a group of friends.

You should plan your appetite accordingly. Since you can eat as many waffles as you make, it is easy to turn the second half of the class into a full meal. Several participants had enough left over to take back to their accommodation. Bring a container only if you want one, as the experience specifically allows leftovers to go home.

Toppings: sweet, familiar, and plentiful

After baking, you decorate the waffles. The topping selection includes chocolate sauce, whipped cream, Belgian speculoos, icing sugar, jam, and similar sweet additions. Speculoos is the Belgian spiced biscuit flavor often associated with Biscoff, so it gives the finished waffle a particularly local touch.

This is where you can make the plate your own. Keep one waffle simple to taste the batter, then add chocolate and whipped cream to the next. You can also combine speculoos with chocolate for a very sweet finish.

The topping spread is generous, though not everyone will find it broad enough. One participant hoped for fresh berries or a thicker hazelnut spread such as Nutella. The available choices lean toward sauces, spreads, jam, and cream rather than fresh fruit. If fresh toppings are important to you, adjust your expectations.

The unlimited waffle format still helps the value. You are not limited to one carefully decorated sample. You can experiment, make more, and save the extras.

The hosts make the difference

A cooking class depends heavily on its instructor, and this one has received strong praise on that front. Reuben was described as informative, engaging, and entertaining, with a particularly strong grasp of Belgian beer. Thomas has been praised for his beer knowledge and his warm manner, while Anna has been called attentive, kind, and passionate about waffle making.

Luc, Patty, Fabien, Tinee, and other hosts have also been singled out for making the sessions enjoyable. Their names matter because the class is built around personality. A good host keeps the beer explanations moving, notices when someone needs help at the cooking station, and stops the room from becoming too quiet or too chaotic.

The best accounts describe a class that feels relaxed rather than rushed. One group made batter, drank more beer while it rested, then baked at an unhurried pace. Another family found the workshop a highlight of its holiday. That combination of food, conversation, and light instruction is the core strength of the experience.

Still, do not expect the exact same mood every time. Group chemistry changes from session to session, and an English-language class with people from around the world can have different levels of confidence and cooking ability.

Is $55 good value in Ghent?

At $55 per person, the workshop costs more than buying a waffle and a beer from a café. That comparison is fair, but incomplete. You are paying for three beer tastings, ingredients, cooking equipment, instruction, unlimited waffles from your batch, toppings, the recipe, a certificate, and any leftovers you take away.

The food itself can make a substantial part of the cost worthwhile. You are not buying a single dessert. You are making several waffles, eating them during the class, and possibly carrying more back with you. Some accounts also describe extra beer during the batter-resting and cooking stages, though the published promise is three specialty beers.

I see the value most clearly for couples and small groups who want a shared activity. You get conversation, a lesson, drinks, and a meal in one 90-minute block. The workshop also breaks up a day of sightseeing, which is useful in Ghent when your legs need a rest but you still want to do something connected to Belgian culture.

The value is less convincing if you only want to sample a waffle or two. A café visit will be cheaper and faster. The workshop earns its price through participation, the social setting, the beer explanations, and the recipe you can use at home.

Finding the green door in central Ghent

The meeting point is described clearly, but you should pay attention when approaching it. Look for a tall white building with a large green wooden front door. The door is normally open.

If it is closed, you can push it open or tap on one of the windows to the left of the entrance. The host should let you in. Once inside, take the small stairs upstairs. The workshop entrance is the first door on the left, where the host will be waiting.

Transport is not included, so you make your own way there. The location is close to central Ghent, and one account placed it about five minutes from one of the city’s notable central sights, but the supplied directions do not give a full street address. Keep your booking details handy rather than relying only on a map pin.

The venue is wheelchair accessible. If stairs or access arrangements are important for your party, confirm the route when booking, since the arrival directions mention small steps upstairs.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this workshop to:

• Couples wanting a cheerful shared activity
• Families with children old enough to take part safely
• Friends who enjoy food, beer, and social classes
• First-time visitors seeking a direct taste of Belgian food culture
• Non-drinkers traveling with beer enthusiasts
• Anyone who wants a recipe to recreate at home

Children under 3 are not suitable for the activity. Participants younger than 16 need to be accompanied by an adult on a one-to-one basis. Alcohol is reserved for adults aged 18 and above, with non-alcoholic drinks offered to minors.

The workshop is also a good choice for a rainy afternoon, though the supplied information does not list weather as a formal operating condition. You do not need good weather to mix batter, bake waffles, and talk over Belgian beer.

Practical booking advice

Choose the Ghent location carefully when booking. The provider also operates elsewhere, and selecting the wrong city could create an avoidable problem.

The class is in English. The hosts can translate some parts if necessary, but you should be comfortable following a group cooking lesson in English. Tell the provider ahead of time about gluten-free needs and any drink restrictions.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option helps if your itinerary may change. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

Wear something comfortable for standing and cooking. The class supplies the ingredients and cooking materials, so you do not need to bring kitchen equipment. You receive the secret recipe and a graduation certificate, and some sessions also provide an apron or offer workshop souvenirs for purchase.

Should you book the Ghent waffle and beer workshop?

Book it if you want to make Belgian food, not just eat it. The best parts are the friendly hosts, the clear beginner-level recipe, the chance to choose a beer for your batter, and the generous waffle portions. Reuben, Thomas, Anna, Patty, Luc, Fabien, and Tinee have all helped give the class its strong reputation for good humor and personal attention.

Think twice if you want a polished private lesson, a fixed beer menu, or a topping bar filled with fresh fruit. The group format can occasionally feel loose, and $55 is a serious price for a food activity.

For most couples, families, and sociable food lovers, I think the workshop earns its place in a Ghent itinerary. You leave with a full stomach, a Belgian recipe, a certificate, and perhaps a box of waffles for later. That is a much better souvenir than another fridge magnet.

FAQ

How long does the Ghent waffle-making workshop last?

The workshop lasts 90 minutes. Check the available starting times for your chosen date.

How many beers are included?

The experience includes a tasting of three Belgian specialty beers. Some sessions may offer additional beer during the workshop, but three tastings are the stated format.

Can I make waffles with beer?

Yes. After tasting the beers, you can select a favorite to use in your waffle batter.

Are non-alcoholic drinks available?

Yes. Non-drinkers and participants under 18 can receive non-alcoholic drinks. Coffee, tea, and juice are also available.

Is a gluten-free waffle option available?

Yes. A gluten-free flour option is available. If you also need gluten-free beer, confirm that detail before arriving.

Can children attend the workshop?

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 participants under 18 receive non-alcoholic drinks.

Where do I meet the host?

Look for a tall white building with a large green wooden door. Enter the building, go up the small stairs, and use the first door on the left.

What can I take home?

You receive the secret recipe and a graduation certificate. You can also take home leftover waffles.