Nice reasonably priced department store chain. Got some odds and ends here while traveling. They…read moresell a lot of different things and have a food court upstairs. You can self checkout and tap to pay or use your smartphone.

*** CAFETERIA REVIEW ***…read more Hema is an everyday supply store popular in the Netherlands and Belgium. They sell things like basic clothes, umbrellas, food items, home supplies and stationery. But did you know that some Hema branches have cafeterias?? These cafeterias are a life saver in Belgium where traveling and eating out is quite expensive, an average sit down meal (even lunch) runs over 20 euros per person. Some days, especially as a traveler, you just want to sit down, have a square meal for not too much money, and catch up on the internet! If you agree with this sentiment and you are visiting Ghent, Hema is the lunch place for you! As an American the best comparison I can give is the Ikea cafeteria. I do think it was inspired from the Ikea model as an attempt to try and get more people through the door (you have to walk thru the whole store to get to the cafeteria.) You can get basic dishes like sandwiches, soups, pasta, and oddly enough, indonesian fried rice with satay, keropok and pickles (??????) Of course, the latter thing was so beguiling and so unexpected in Belgium that I had to get it. It ran me about 8 euros. Portion wise it was small, but then again, it is refreshing to get a square meal that is not America super sized. I definitely needed the small Coke I got to round out the meal. At the end of the day, definitely worth it and a refreshing savings over getting ripped off at even non touristy restaurants for a lot of money. You have the choice of eating indoors or on the balcony. I didn't try it, but the balcony seems nice as it looks out over Korenmarkt. I would recommend this for your coffee break in Ghent so you can have a great view while relaxing on a terrace. BTW, just like Ikea, when you are done you bus your table and store your tray in a rack. Wish we had this sort of place in the USA! ... and omitting Ikea, too far away from me :(

Best coffee in town! Geeks unite here. Steven has put all his creative energy in building a small…read moreshop where you can enjoy a coffee take-away and checking some comic collectables. Are you looking to give your geek (girl)friend a statue of the Green Lantern, Dr. Who or Harry Potter or are you looking for a specific boardgame. You'll find it all in between the manga or Marvel/DC comics.

There are many lace shops in Bruges (though not as many as Chocolate shops) and I think we visited…read morethem all (Ahem!). While I admire the craft, they can all start looking the same. We decided to go and purchase here after checking many out .We couldn't get to see the one on Bal Street (highly recommended by travelers and websites) by the Lace Museum (closed) as it had just closed for lunch (What is up with so many Bruges shops closing for lunch) on a cold day and we did not want to wait. We ventured back to the Markt area as we had liked most of the items at Lace Jewel. The range of products and prices was amazing. My wife purchased several pieces in the mid-level price range. There were large pieces she liked better (I reminded her of the missed opportunities from our last trip to Belgium to no avail) but opted for smaller items for herself and to give as gifts, etc. The cost was surprisingly satisfactory considering the quality but can get very expensive for the larger items. The shop owners were very attentive and friendly, helping customers with questions and needs. From the time we went in to leaving there was a constant check out line of three to four which attests to the popularity of Lace Jewel. While that size line may not seem long, in a small crowded shop like this, it is impressive. So, if you can't get to the Bal Street location, don't fret because the quality, service and variety can be found here.

I'm so glad we decided to make the trek down to this place for brunch during our stay in Bruges…read more The whole concept is really cool because you probably can't go wrong with either books or brunch but together seems like an even better combination. Our server was a touch cold and aloof but it was ok because they provide you with a paper menu that you can check off what items you want. This is a fantastic concept and I really wish more places did this. Two of us ordered the bagel with hummus, zucchini, feta, olives, tomato, and cilantro. This was not only nice on the eyes, but it was delicious and packed with tons of veggies and healthy shit. I could not have had a better breakfast. GF ordered the omelette with toast and she liked it but it brought up that dilemma that's as old as time regarding whether or not she likes eggs. If you do, in fact, like eggs, this is probably a safe choice. The last in our party ordered the granola bowl with nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, and yogurt. This person is very hard to please but I do remember her being pleased by this dish. They also have a million other things like pancakes, waffles (duh), sandwiches, salads, a dish of the day, a pie of the day, and a bunch of yummy drinks. The environment is SO cozy and a great place to spend some time enjoying good food and a book.

Wow!! I am so impressed by this place. The service was wonderful, they provide menus where you…read morecheck what you want. The food was fresh and so delicious. I told the waitress I do not eat pork and she substituted the ham for cream cheese for the extensive breakfast. So often I have fruit salads with bad fruit, but everything tasted great! The ambience is wonderful. They have books in English and other languages where you can grab a book and enjoy your meal. It's a wonderful location to hang out and take a break. I will be retuning.

I really enjoy local maker gift shops and LOQUAL was no different…read more Vibe wise they leaned heavily towards smaller knick knacks and decor, although I did love their small white homes that had lights in them. They also carried baby bows, hair scrunchies, and jewelry that seemed to be for children, such as beaded friendship bracelets. I could see this LOQUAL being a great resource for stocking stuffers and a hit with the age 7-14 crowd so all in all I would say it was probably one of the better tourist shops in Bruges.

This was my favorite shop in all of Belgium and Netherlands on this trip! There were so many…read morebeautiful and well curated things that happen to be up my alley. I got a couple of the little lady necklaces (see photos) that were just adorable and unique. Never seen anything like these before! Also got a pair of earrings of flowers--the shape of a poppy, I think--and they offered a few styles and sizes of these in multiple colors. The shop lady said this jewelry designer is the designer for the Queen of Belgium, who, I take it, is quite fashionable. There were some great hats there and some gloves unlike I've ever seen before. There was so much packed in this little shop, and I'd recommend this to any #fashion lovers, or for those who appreciate arts, artisans and super unique wearable items. LOVED. Bring plenty of money, you'll have trouble deciding which items you are taking with you!

The chocolates are amazing from this shop, and the woman was so kind and explains in detail all…read moreabout the chocolate making process. Truly, this is a family owned business -go and buy chocolates here. You will be happy you did!

We tried 4 different chocolates. Salted caramel and coconut were our favorites. Lady behind the…read morecounter was very helpful.

Unfortunately, this shop is closing by the end of the month…read more I wish I actually lived in the area because they still had a ton of great home decor items for sale (at half price!). I picked up a pillowcase, but they still had tons of figurines, magnets, postcards, and other oddities. Shopkeeper was super nice.