Vinyl is culture.
Not an algorithm, not a playlist, but something you touch, feel and dig for.
Ghent surprised us with how alive the record scene really is. From basement-style shops to cafés filled with students flipping through crates between classes.
We went around the city, store by store, and collected the ones that actually felt authentic. No fake aesthetic, no tourist traps, just real music spaces.
These are our Top 5 Record Stores in Ghent
GenX Records (Ghent)
Quick Overview
A must visit for every music lover.
Located in a beautiful old building on Bagattenstraat 197, GenX Records combines a record store and a cozy café. Perfect for browsing, relaxing and hanging out ☕️
It’s one of those places that instantly makes you feel like staying a bit longer.
What Makes It Special
- The shop spreads across four floors, each with its own vibe 🎶
- You’ll find both new and second hand vinyl, covering everything from rock and jazz to hip hop, funk and electronic music.
- They also sell music merch, books and turntables, giving the place more of a cultural feel than a simple record shop.
- The café area adds a social touch where students, collectors and DJs often meet and talk about their latest finds.
Why We Love It
GenX Records is more than a shop, it’s a place to slow down and enjoy music again. The staff are passionate and easy to talk to, always ready to share recommendations or stories about their favorite albums.
Whether you come to buy vinyl, grab a coffee or just soak in the atmosphere, it’s one of those hidden gems that makes Ghent’s creative side shine 🎧
📍 Bagattenstraat 197, 9000 Ghent
🌐 genxrecordstore.be
Music Mania
Quick Overview
Founded in 1969, Music Mania is Belgium’s longest running independent record store and still one of the most iconic spots for vinyl lovers in Ghent.
You’ll find it on Sint Pietersnieuwstraat 19, just a short walk from the university area. The place has that old school record shop energy mixed with a creative local touch. 🎶
What Makes It Special
- A wide selection of records including jazz, funk, disco, hip hop, synth wave, and afro funk 🎷
- They run their own record labels and collaborate with STROOM Records, which helps shape Ghent’s music scene.
- The shop feels warm and social. Students, collectors and DJs often hang out, chat with the staff and share what they are currently listening to 🎧
Why We Love It
Music Mania has this calm but inspiring vibe that makes you want to stay a little longer. You might walk in just to browse but you’ll probably end up leaving with something special.
The staff are passionate and always happy to talk about music which makes the whole experience feel real and personal.
A perfect stop after class or on a rainy Ghent afternoon. Good music, good people, good mood. ☕️
📍 Sint Pietersnieuwstraat 19, 9000 Ghent
🌐 musicmaniarecords.be
LAB23 Shop
Quick Overview
LAB23 in Kammerstraat 9 is one of the most underground spots in Ghent.
If you’re looking for a mainstream record store, this is not it. And that’s exactly why it’s special. The place feels raw, creative and a bit rebellious. 🎧🔥
What Makes It Special
- The music selection goes deep into 90s underground electronic. Think dubby techno, trance, breakbeat and weird gems you won’t find anywhere else.
- You still get some variation though. There’s jazz, reggae, hip hop and rock, but always niche, always curated.
- The shop mixes vinyl culture with graffiti lifestyle. You’ll see spray cans, markers, stickers, clothing and custom pieces made in-store.
- There’s a small chill area where you can grab a coffee or beer and just talk music with the owner. Feels more like a creative hangout than a typical store 🙂
Why We Love It
LAB23 has this no-filter, DIY vibe that makes it super authentic.
You walk in and you immediately feel the passion behind it. The kind of place where you don’t just “shop”, you connect with the culture.
Perfect if you want something different, something you didn’t expect or if you just want to chill and get inspired for a moment 🎶
📍 Kammerstraat 9, 9000 Ghent
🌐 Instagram: @lab23shop
My Fcking Records
Quick Overview
My Fcking Records on Sluizeken 34 is the spot if you breathe Hip Hop.
No genre mix, no “vinyl for everyone”. This place is Hip Hop only, and you feel it the second you see the window display with Westside Gunn covers and the newest Freddie Gibbs x Alchemist release. 🥷💿
As Jeremy says in his own Instagram bio:
“Hip-Hop vinyl so raw it’ll slap your mother.”
What Makes It Special
- The selection covers everything from East Coast classics, West Coast legends, Dirty South icons and Midwest gems. If you’re into Jay Z, Snoop Dogg, UGK, Mobb Deep, Three 6 Mafia or modern underground acts, you’ll find them here.
- Inside it feels like stepping into a small Hip Hop archive. Old Source Magazine issues, Hip Hop photo books, cultural history, rare vinyl pressings and a super relaxed listening vibe.
- There’s a cozy lounge where you can sit, read, talk, or just zone out while the owner plays something fire in the background.
- You’re greeted at the entrance by a tiny pug who immediately sets the tone 🙂
- The owner Jeremy built the shop out of pure passion. He told us he doesn’t make much money from it because the online market is oversaturated, but he keeps going because Hip Hop is his life. That alone deserves respect.
Why We Love It
My Fcking Records feels personal in a way most stores don't.
It’s not curated for tourists. It’s not trying to be “aesthetic.” It’s real Hip Hop - the culture, the passion, the community.
You walk in and instantly understand why places like this matter.
If you care about the genre even a little, go support this shop, talk to Jeremy, chill for a bit and take something home. Independent Hip Hop stores don’t survive without people like us showing up 🔥🎧
📍 Sint-Jacobsnieuwstraat 82, 9000 Ghent
🌐 Instagram: @myfuckingrecords
Vinyl Kitchen
Quick Overview
Vinyl Kitchen on Lange Violettestraat 160 in Ghent has been running since 1998 (opened right before the Ghent Festivities).
It’s strictly second-hand vinyl territory. No big new-release section, but forgotten jams, holy grails, and real crate-digging stuff. Cassette tapes, CDs, even old turntables are part of the mix 🎛️💿
What Makes It Special
- A heavy focus on second-hand: soul, funk, disco, metal, new wave, world music, hip-hop, house and more, all used-vinyl gems.
- It’s old school in a good way: “The shop we see as a Nirvana for record collectors.”
- You can actually sit and listen: comfortable seats, space to browse at your own pace.
- Extra gear & formats: not just LPs, but 7″, tapes, CDs, maybe a turntable if you’re lucky.
- Authentic vibe: this isn’t flashy, it’s about the music and the hunt.
Why We Love It
Vinyl Kitchen hits that sweet zone for anyone who’s serious (or semi-serious) about vinyl culture.
You walk in expecting to discover something, not just pick up what everyone else has.
If you love crate-digging, vintage formats, surprise finds or just hanging out in a relaxed record-store space. You’ll feel at home here.
(Love digging through crates and discovering something rare? You might also enjoy our Top 5 vintage- spots in Ghent.)
📍 Lange Violettestraat 160, 9000 Ghent
🌐 vinylkitchen.be
The Final Spin
Digging through Ghent’s record stores showed us how alive this city really is.
Each spot has its own vibe, its own rhythm and its own people behind it, and that’s what makes exploring them so much fun. Whether you’re deep into vinyl or just curious, take your time, talk to the owners, flip through the crates and see what finds you.
Maybe you walk in with no expectations and leave with a record you didn’t even know you needed.
That’s the magic of this city, and the magic of vinyl.
Want more student-approved Top 5 lists of Ghent? Browse our full archive of Top 5 posts and find your next adventure.
Signed with good vibes – left to right: Patrick, Giuseppe, Emre, Ece & Nicoletta 🤍
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