Restaurant in Gent, Belgium
Vegetable-first, Michelin-noted, easy to book.
Elders is a Michelin Plate-recognised organic bar-restaurant in Gent, operating at the €€ price tier with a market-led vegetable-forward menu. With back-to-back Plate awards in 2024 and 2025 and a 4.7 Google rating, it delivers credentialed cooking at a fraction of what comparable Gent restaurants charge. Easy to book and well-suited to solo diners or pairs at the bar.
At the €€ price point, Elders on Edmond Van Beverenplein is one of the more considered bets in Gent right now. You are paying for market-led vegetable cooking with enough technique behind it to earn a Michelin Plate in both 2024 and 2025 — two consecutive years of recognition that signals consistency, not a one-season fluke. If you have already been once and found the vegetable-forward format appealing, this is worth revisiting: the menu evolves with market availability, so repeat visits tend to feel distinct from the last.
Gent has been building a credible reputation for produce-driven cooking over the past several years, and Elders sits inside that shift with a clear point of view. Chef Tom Pauwelyn's kitchen runs on what the market offers, which means the menu changes rather than staying fixed. For a returning guest, that is the main practical reason to come back: you are unlikely to eat the same thing twice. The plates are described as direct in their construction , simple dishes, well-executed , which in practice means the quality of the raw ingredient does most of the talking. This is a format that rewards diners who appreciate restraint over complexity.
The bar-restaurant format at Elders matters more than it might initially suggest. Sitting at or near the bar puts you closer to the rhythm of the kitchen , you see the plates leave, you can ask questions, and the interaction with the team tends to be more direct than at a conventional table. For a solo diner or a pair, bar or counter seating at a room like this is often the better choice over a table: the pacing feels more natural, and the informal register suits the €€ price tier. If you are returning to Elders and you sat at a table last time, try the bar. The experience of the same menu from that vantage point reads differently.
The bar-restaurant model also means the room skews casual. This is not a white-tablecloth environment, and the Michelin Plate recognition here is based on cooking quality rather than service formality. That is a relevant distinction if you are weighing Elders against higher-priced alternatives in the city: you are trading some service polish for a more relaxed room and a lower bill.
Elders holds a Google rating of 4.7 from 255 reviews , a sample size substantial enough to trust. Two consecutive Michelin Plates (2024, 2025) confirm the kitchen is operating at a level that warrants attention in the organic and vegetable-led segment. Michelin's Plate designation does not carry the weight of a star, but it does indicate that inspectors found the cooking worth flagging. For a €€ restaurant, that credential is a meaningful marker.
For broader context on where Elders sits in Belgium's organic dining conversation, it is worth considering that venues like Barge in Brussels and Archibald De Prince in Luxembourg are operating in a similar organic-focused register, though at different price points and in different cities. Within Gent specifically, Elders occupies a position that few direct competitors can match at this price tier.
Reservations: Booking difficulty is rated Easy , this is one of the more accessible restaurants in Gent at this quality level, and you should not need to plan weeks in advance, though booking ahead is advisable for weekend evenings. Budget: €€, making it considerably more accessible than €€€€ peers such as Vrijmoed or Oak Gent. Dress: No formal dress code is on record; the bar-restaurant format suggests smart-casual is appropriate. Address: Edmond Van Beverenplein 16, 9000 Gent.
If you are choosing between Elders and Gent's €€€ tier , Souvenir, Publiek, or Bar Bask , the decision comes down to how much the vegetable-first format matters to you. Elders is the right call if you want Michelin-acknowledged cooking at a lower spend. If you want a more elaborate tasting experience or a wider protein-forward menu, step up to Souvenir or Publiek.
For a full picture of where to eat and stay in the city, see our full Gent restaurants guide, our Gent hotels guide, and our Gent bars guide. If you are building a wider Belgium trip, Bozar Restaurant in Brussels, Hof van Cleve in Kruishoutem, Boury in Roeselare, Zilte in Antwerp, and Willem Hiele in Oudenburg are worth adding to the list. Also consider d'Eugénie à Emilie in Baudour if you are travelling further afield.
Smart-casual is the right call. Elders operates as a bar-restaurant with a relaxed room , no dress code is on record, and the €€ price tier and informal format confirm this is not a jacket-required environment. Think neat but comfortable.
Yes , this is one of the better solo dining options in Gent at this price point. The bar-restaurant format means solo diners can sit at the bar, which suits the room's informal register and makes the experience more interactive than sitting alone at a table. At €€, the bill stays manageable too.
No group capacity data is on record, and with no phone number listed, the leading approach is to contact the venue directly via their booking channel or email. For larger groups (6+), verify in advance whether the room can accommodate you , bar-restaurants of this type sometimes have limits on party size.
Yes, at the €€ price tier. Two consecutive Michelin Plates and a 4.7 Google rating from 255 reviews indicate the kitchen is delivering cooking well above what the price suggests. Compared to €€€ alternatives like Souvenir or Publiek, Elders gives you credentialed vegetable-led cooking at a meaningfully lower spend.
For a step up in ambition and price: Souvenir (€€€, Modern Flemish) and Publiek (€€€, Modern Cuisine) are the closest peers in quality, with more elaborate menus. Vrijmoed and Oak Gent operate at €€€€ and offer a different scale of experience. For Asian-leaning cooking at a different register, a food affair is worth checking. See our full Gent restaurants guide for the complete picture.
No tasting menu format is confirmed in the available data , Elders is listed as a bar-restaurant with market-led dishes rather than a fixed tasting progression. If a tasting menu format is important to you, Souvenir or Vrijmoed are the more reliable choices for that format in Gent.
It depends on what kind of occasion. For a low-key celebration where the food is the focus and the bill stays reasonable, Elders works well , the Michelin Plate credentials give it enough weight to feel considered without the formality of a €€€€ room. For a milestone dinner where service depth and room drama matter, Vrijmoed or Oak Gent are stronger choices.
The organic, vegetable-led format means the kitchen is already oriented toward plant-based cooking, which is a practical advantage for vegetarians or those avoiding meat. For specific allergen requirements, contact the venue directly before booking , no phone number is listed in available data, so reach out via their booking channel or email. The market-driven menu means dishes change regularly, so confirming current options ahead of your visit is advisable regardless.
Elders is a bar-restaurant at the €€ price point, so keep it relaxed. Clean, casual clothes are fine — this is not a white-tablecloth room. Think the kind of outfit you'd wear to a good neighbourhood wine bar.
Yes, and it's one of the better solo options in Gent at this level. The bar-restaurant format means counter or bar seating is natural for one, and the market-led vegetable cooking gives you plenty to focus on without needing company to justify the meal.
Elders works for small groups, but the bar-restaurant format is better suited to twos and threes than large parties. If you're coming with six or more, check availability carefully — the room layout at a venue like this typically prioritises smaller covers.
At €€, yes. Two consecutive Michelin Plates (2024 and 2025) and a 4.7 Google rating from 255 reviews suggest the kitchen is consistently delivering. For organic, market-led cooking at this price in Gent, it's a strong bet — you're not paying €€€ for the same level of recognition.
For a step up in ambition and price, Souvenir and Publiek are the obvious moves. Bar Bask is worth considering if you want something with a stronger bar-forward identity. Vrijmoed is the choice if you want vegetable-focused cooking pushed further with more formal technique.
Elders' format is market-led and evolves with availability, which is the point. If you want a fixed, multi-course progression with wine pairings, a more structured venue like Vrijmoed may serve you better. At Elders, the value is in the flexibility and the price point, not in tasting-menu formality.
It works for a low-key celebration — good food, Michelin recognition, and an easy booking window make it a reliable choice. If you need the full occasion setup (private space, sommelier-led wine service, formal pacing), the €€€ tier in Gent will serve you better.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
