In this blogpost we will introduce you the most well-known, famous and frequently visited pubs and clubs for students in Gent.
As an Erasmus student, you can take part in the Erasmus Student Network (ESN GENT), which provides you a lot of benefits and special offers for all students who have the ESN card.
This card allow you to enter the parties organized by the ESN GENT, without paying for the entrance ticket at Twitch Club, which is the “official club” of the ESN, and it also provides you with special offers and discounts at Patrick Foley's and many other places mentioned below.
In the following paragraphs, we are going to describe each of the bars, pubs and clubs, where most of the Erasmus students spend their “free nights” in the city of Gent. We also linked the location of each one of them, named the discounts they have and why are they frequently visited by the Erasmus students
Pubs
1. Patrick Folley´s
This Irish Bar & Restaurant was established in 1997, just 10 minutes walking distance from Gent’s historical city centre. Foley’s plays an important role of the city's burgeoning hospitality sector. They offer something for everyone at prices which remain amongst the most competitive in their class.
Central to their success has been combining big hearted Irish hospitality and a homely decor, with quality drink and outstanding food. Their kitchen combines hearty Irish cuisine with the finesse of the Belgian kitchen. You should definitely try their popular burgers and Irish fries, who have kept the customers coming back for years.
For Erasmus students we recommend the Thursday karaoke night. Just choose a song, sing it and get a beer for free! With ESN card small Jupiter beer costs only 1,50 Euros and the big one costs 3 euros!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/xRsymG8a1dp
Opening hours: every day from 09:00 - ...
Why be moody, when you can shake your booty?
2. Dulle Griet
If you like to taste al lot of different beers then the Dulle Griet is certainly something for you. The Dulle Griet is located at Vrijdagmarkt, Ghent where next to the statue of Jacob van Artevelde. The authentic cannon can be admired a little further ahead.
The "Vrijdagmarkt" square is surrounded by a number picturesque corners and alleys but in the café "de Dulle Griet" you can freely enjoy the medieval, rustic atmosphere of the city.
Here you can try more than 500 different types of beer, but there is one beer that you can only find at the Dulle Griet. To taste it you need to give the bartender one of your shoes while drinking the beer, because they don't want you to steal the special glass in which this beer is served.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/yuFPGdHApN12
Opening hours: Monday: 16:30 - 01:00
Thuesday - Saturday: 12:00 - 01:00
Sunday: 12:00 - 19:30
Trust me, you can dance. -Wine
3. Hot Club
If you fancy a quieter place to hang-out and like live music, Hot Club is the place for you. At the end of a small alley near the Groentenmarkt, you’ll find this hidden gem. A cozy pub with a Southern atmosphere and a charming, authentic interior. They even have a small terrace to relax both in summer and winter.
Be entertained by the live jazz, blues or swing performances from Sunday to Thursday at 21u, while enjoying the extensive variety of beer, soft drinks or coffees.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/jHKUZ9tNHG42
Opening hours: Monday - Wednesday: 15:00 - 03:00
Thursday and Sunday: 15:00 - 04:00
Friday and Saturday: 15:00 - 05:00
According to chemistry, alcohol is a solution.
4. Comic Sans
If you know who Spider-man is, heard of ‘Wingardium Leviosa’ and you always wanted to catch ‘em all, Comic Sans will be heaven on Earth for you. Think of a true superhero headquarters but with a bar, video game consoles, card/boardgames to play, and geeky pinball machines.
Enjoy a themed cocktail, a sweet Tatooine sunset or a venomous Poison Ivy perhaps, or try the home-made butterbeer while enjoying some rock and metal music. There’s even a little merchandise shop where you can buy shirts, mugs, comics, etc. of your favorite characters!
Each month there are several events: parties, competitions or even Metal-karaoke. Sign me up, Scotty!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/PMC83P7aVev
Opening hours: Tuesday - Thursday: 14:30 - 01:00
Friday - Saturday: 14:30 - 03:00
Sunday: 16:00 - 00:30
The best beers are the one we drink with friends.
CLUBS
1. Charlatan
Charlatan is one of the biggest and most important places for entertainment in Gent. This place consists of three different rooms: the café itself, a dance room and 'Barbaar'. They even have a a summer terrace!
During the week Charlatan is a cosy café’, where you can relax drinking a beer. At the weekends, on nights out this place becomes a crowded club of two rooms with different music styles in each of them. Cocktails, beer, live performances and a huge number of DJ’s will make your night unforgettable!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/ruaXZAh732N2
Opening hours: every day from 8 pm, except on Monday
When you can dance for hours, but get tired after running for 5 minutes.
2. Twitch
'Overpoort' is the most visited street for students. It is a place where there are a lot of bars and clubs. If you are looking for the best night life in Ghent, you should definitely visit the overpoort.
Twitch is quite famous for its modern music, that breaks the charts. If you have an ESN card you will get a lot of discounts for entrance and shots. Are you a party maniac? If yes, this is the best club for you. If this is not enough for you, they organise a happy hour from 00:00 until 01:00. During this happy hour, you get free entrance and 1+1 on all your drinks. You do need an ESN card for the Happy hour.
If you are an erasmus student, we recommend you to buy an ESN card. It is worth it, trust us. It includes a lot of other discounts and benefits. One of the benefits are the private events in famous club Twitch.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/3YTXsCBnTYk
Opening hours: Monday: 22:00 - 05:00
Tuesday: 21:00 - 05:00
Wednesday: 21:00 - 05:00
Thursday: 21:00 - 05:00
Fryday: 22:00 - 05:00
Saturday: closed
Sunday: closed
Study hard, but party harder.
3. Cuba
Ready to party? Cuba is one of the most famous clubs in Overpoort, the perfect place to start and end the night. In this club you can dance to all kinds of music and really cool Dj’s all night long until your feet hurt, while enjoying the young environment.
Happy Hour? Do not doubt it, if you go there between 00:00 and 1:00 you get a 50% discount on beer, so you will not have your glass empty, believe us.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/wQTzAAs7ePx
Opening hours: Monday: 20:00 - 06:00
Tuesday: 20:00 - 06:00
Wednesday: 20:00 - 06:00
Thursday: 20:00 - 06:00
Fryday: 21:00 - 06:00
Saturday: 21:00 - 06:00
Sunday: closed
No one looks back on their life and remembers the nights they got plenty of sleep.
4. Kompass Klub
Kompass Klub is the place where you get a unique musical experience that shows the intensity that is hidden in the meaning of the word 'rave'. An experience where all these big words disappear and our bodies are drawn to the speakers. Kompass Klub is a Techno-club in Ghent where you can see some big names like Amelie Lens and Len Faki. It is the place to be for the young and old technolovers.
Events: Extrema Noir 19, NY Rave w/ Len Faki
I'm not an alcoholic, alcoholics go to meetings. I'm a drunk, I go to parties.
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