Our top 5 pasta bars:

🍝 Bocca

🍝 La Bicyclette

🍝 Nonna

🍝 Mamy pasta & more

🍝 Basic Italian

Just across Overpoort you’ll find Bocca, a modern pasta bar where everything revolves around flavor and choice. It’s a small, simple place, no fancy decor or music, but that’s what makes it easy to enjoy. You walk in, pick what you like, and walk out happy (and full).😉

⚡ Why we think you should check it out:

• Bocca is simple and consistently good.
• Generous portions that leave you satisfied.
• Welcoming staff who make you feel at home.🏠
• The food always hits the spot🎯, comforting and reliable.
• Perfect for a quick lunch between classes. 📚
• Great choice for an easy, warm dinner that isn’t too unhealthy.

Our pick? At Bocca, you can create your own pasta exactly how you want it. You can choose the pasta type, sauce, and toppings. They also have a pasta of the week if you feel like switching things up, this week’s special was a pasta with leek, minced meat and béchamel sauce. 🍝

The ordering screens make the process smooth and quick, even when it’s busy. We went for a pasta pesto with sun-dried tomatoes, crispy bacon🥓 and parmesan and, of course, spaghetti, because that’s always our go-to. Everything tasted fresh, with a homemade feeling that’s hard to fake.

We love that Bocca keeps it simple yet delivers real comfort in every bowl.❤️

Just a short walk from Campus Schoonmeersen, we found La Bicyclette Pasta Bar: a cozy little spot where good vibes and comforting pasta dishes come together🫱🏼‍🫲🏽. It quickly became one of our go-to places for a relaxed, affordable lunch full of flavor and personality.🤩

At La Bicyclette, things stay simple: delicious pasta, generous portions, and a warm welcome every time. There’s just one person running the whole show: taking orders, serving food, and making sure everyone feels right at home. That personal touch gives the place a friendly, down-to-earth charm that we really love.🫶🏼

⚡ Why we think you should check it out:

• Super close to Campus Schoonmeersen - ideal for a quick lunch.⏱️
• A friendly, down-to-earth atmosphere that makes you want to come back.
• Great variety of sauces and toppings to suit every taste.
• Student-friendly prices and portion options.
• A place where hospitality feels genuine, not scripted.

Our pick? The Thai Chicken 🍜 - a fun, flavorful twist with tender chicken and a touch of spice🌶️. It’s the perfect balance of comfort and kick, and one of the best choices if you want something a bit different.

La Bicyclette Pasta Bar isn’t about fancy dining, it’s about feeling welcome, eating well, and enjoying a laid-back moment in the middle of your day.

Friendly faces, hearty flavors, that’s what keeps us coming back to La Bicyclette. ❤️🚲

A cozy spot in the heart of the city

Whenever we’re in downtown Ghent and craving something really satisfying, we always head to Nonna. This cosy pastabar on Onderbergen is just a short walk from the Korenlei, but as soon as we step inside, it feels like a little hidden gem. The moment the smell of fresh pasta, garlic, and rich tomato sauce hits us, we instantly feel at home.🍅
The casual, welcoming atmosphere makes it clear that here, it’s all about the food.

What we love most about Nonna is how it manages to feel both lively and cosy at the same time.🧡 Whether we’re stopping by for a quick bite, it never feels rushed. The staff are friendly and attentive, the pasta is always fresh and perfectly cooked, and the warm, inviting vibe keeps us coming back again and again.😊
For us, this pastabar isn’t just a meal, it’s a little slice of comfort in the heart of Ghent.❤️

⚡Why We Think You Should Check It Out:

• We love Nonna for keeping things simple, fresh, and full of flavor.
• No endless menu.🧾
• Whatever we order, it never disappoints.
• The tiramisu 🍰 is an absolute must.
• The name Nonna comes from the owner’s mother, a tribute to family, love, and the warmth of a home-cooked meal. You can feel that love in every dish.
  
  

Our pick? The pasta bolognaise 🍝 -It’s rich, comforting, and perfectly balanced, the kind of sauce that makes us pause and savor every bite.

For us, it shows everything we love about Nonna: the simple ingredients we can taste, the love put into every dish, and the warmth that makes us feel at home every time we eat there.🏡

Right in the heart of Ghent, at the beautiful Vrijdagsmarkt, we found Mamy Pasta & More. A brand new spot where comfort, flavor, and friendliness come together in one bowl🥣. A cozy, welcoming place where you can build your pasta exactly the way you like it:

• Choose your pasta type
• Pick your sauce
• Add your favorite toppings
• Watch it all come together in a lovely bowl!

The moment we walked in, we were greeted with a smile and a warm atmosphere🔥 that instantly made us feel at home. It’s the kind of place where you can sit down after a long walk through the city and just relax for a bit.🧘🏼

And it’s not just pasta, you can also enjoy a refreshing smoothie or a homemade iced tea, and if you’ve still got a little room left, treat yourself to a scoop of delicious ice cream🍦. The perfect sweet ending to your meal!😋

⚡ Why we think you should check it out:

• Perfect central location at the Vrijdagsmarkt.
• Build your own pasta – fully your way.
• Warm, cozy atmosphere with friendly service.
• Extra treats like smoothies, iced teas & ice cream.

Our pick? The Mamy sauce, a comforting tomato-based sauce🥫 with its own little twist, served with chicken meatballs. Soft, simple flavors that hit just the right spot, the kind of pasta that makes you smile after just one bite.😄

Cozy in the heart of Ghent, where a warm welcome and your perfect pasta bowl come together, that’s Mamy Pasta & More. ❤️

In a rush but still craving a tasty, freshly made pasta? Basic Italian is your spot in Ghent. As the name suggests, it’s all about keeping things simple, fast, and full of flavor. No fuss, just good food done right.😎

At Basic Italian, you can create your own pasta by choosing your pasta type, sauce, and toppings, or you can go for one of their Pasta Specials. Everything is made fresh in-house, with no pre-packaged sauces, just honest Italian flavors straight from the pan.🥘

The vibe is relaxed and modern, and the best part? You can watch your pasta being cooked right in front of you.🫵🏼

⚡ Why we think you should check it out:

• Quick, friendly service, perfect for a lunch break, before class, or on the go.
• Homemade sauces that actually taste fresh.🤤
• Affordable & flexible: choose your portion size and stay on budget.
• Two locations in Ghent: Sint-Pietersplein 42 & inside Sint-Pietersstation.🚇
• Open during the day, great fot lunch or an early dinner.
  
  

Our pick? Definitely the Pasta Pesto 🌿. It's creamy, aromatic, and full of that classic basil flavor that never disappoints.

Basic Italian proves that fast food doesn’t have to mean boring food. So if you’re craving a quick taste of Italy without leaving Ghent, this is the place to go.✨

Whether you’re squeezing in a quick bite between classes, catching up with friends, or simply craving a warm bowl of comfort food… Ghent has you covered. These five pasta bars each bring something unique to the table, but they all share one thing: they serve pasta that makes you pause, smile, and enjoy the moment. 🍝💛

From grab-and-go favorites to cozy bowls that taste like home, every spot on this list has its own charm. What they all have in common is that little spark of comfort, the kind that turns an ordinary day into something just a bit more delicious.

So go out, explore, and find your new favorite pasta bar in Ghent. And remember: in this city, the perfect bowl of pasta is always just around the corner. 😋