Beside being the smallest bar in Ghent they don’t offer that much beers. It’s very nice to go up stairs and sit on the top table (if it’s free...) or to sit outside where you have a nice view on Ghent. It’s next to ’waterhuis aan de bierkant’ where they serve alOt more beers.

Tiny place, but fun. Selection not that great, but there’s Orval so can’t complain. Went up some ridiculous stairs to a tiny upstairs room with a capacity of 6. Stairs were terrifying on the way down. Prices were pretty good. Worth going to for an Orval and to enjoy the atmosphere.

‘t Galgenhuisje is reputedly the smallest bar in Gent. It’s tucked into the corner of the meat market and from the outside, with its slate roof, it looks a bit like a lean-to that has sunk into the ground over the years. Inside it’s tiny, with just five tables and a little balcony for a maximum of seven people nested in the wooden pitched roof over the bar. The walls are tiled with old, worn blue and white Delft-style tiles and there’s a pair of miniature speakers attached to the beams pumping out old 1980s classics. Downstairs again, behind an iron gate, there are two rather handsome barrel vaulted rooms now housing a restaurant but once used as prison cells, which perhaps accounts for the fact that there’s very little light down here. There are four taps (Mystic Kriek, Tongerlo, Keizer Karel Blond and Haacht Primus Pils) and 14 bottles. They also offer two jenevers, coffee, wine and snacks. There were two bar staff when we were last there, both efficient and industrious as well as friendly, even to a woman who came in to ask if they sold cakes. Bizarrely, she seemed to think it was a bakery and got a suitably witty riposte. (Last visited 12 June 2011).

Selection is pretty limited, but this is a good place to get introduced to Belgian beer culture. I always come here with my couch surfers and they are always charmed by the old interior of the bar. Music varies from ok to plain dreadfull Flemmish Schlagers, but it all adds up to the local ambiance, together with the old folks having their daily lagers there. Service can be good (the small guy with pony tail) or grumpy (the big sturdy guy). Prices are very acceptable for being smack in the old city center. One of my favorite hang out places during the day. In the evening it is often too crowded, though you might be lucky to find a barrel and two chairs on the second floor. Mind you: they don’t serve on the second floor, you go fetch the drinks yourself, because the staircase is so dangerous. ;-)

My personal favourite in Gent - less touristy than Waterhuis, Dulle Griet, Trollekelder and the like. Smoking permitted and excessively done, though. Been there twice on my recent trip to Gent and saw the same crowd of steady local enthusiast beer drinkers on both occasions - an experience in itself. The beer choice is somewhat limited, but who cares as long as you can get Orval (end the excellent Tongerlo Blonde from the tap).