Take Five Espressobar

Take Five opened in 2016 behind a salmon pink art deco facade just off Ghent's main shopping streets, and owner Alexis Ywaska has kept the bar centered on espresso and pour over ever since. The coffee comes from De Witte Zwaan, a roaster based in nearby Eeklo, with the single origin selection rotating in step with the roaster's own seasonal lots.

Floor tiles and low jazz keep the ground floor feeling more like a listening bar than a quick coffee stop, while an upstairs nook gives regulars somewhere to linger with a laptop or a magazine. The crowd is a genuine mix of locals, students and visitors passing through the shopping streets outside, and staff have been known to bring out a water bowl for anyone walking a dog.