The Mistress
Binnenstad, Ghent
Restaurant in Ghent, Belgium
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
The Mistress is a practical central Ghent dinner option for Wednesday-to-Saturday evenings, especially if location matters more than a published chef, cuisine, or tasting-menu promise. Treat it as a neighborhood anchor, not a trophy booking; diners who want a clearer format should cross-shop other Ghent restaurants first.
About The Mistress
The Mistress is a Ghent evening option with a limited profile: it opens Wednesday through Saturday from 6–11 PM, closes Sunday through Tuesday, lists a smart casual dress code. Use it when those hours fit your plans, rather than as a choice built around a specific cuisine, chef, award, price point, or menu format.
Use it as an evening option, not a trophy booking
Ghent has enough dining options that the decision here should be practical. The Mistress works when the schedule works and the group is comfortable choosing without knowing the cuisine, price, or menu structure in detail. The fit is weaker for diners who need a clear format in advance or are planning around a firm budget ceiling.
The strongest reason to keep it on the list is timing: The Mistress is open from Wednesday through Saturday, 6–11 PM. For broader planning, use Our full Ghent restaurants guide, then compare eating plans with Our full Ghent bars guide, Our full Ghent hotels guide, Our full Ghent wineries guide, Our full Ghent experiences guide.
Who should choose it over another Ghent table
Choose The Mistress if the priority is an evening window from Wednesday through Saturday and the group is comfortable choosing without a specific cuisine label. If you want to compare other named options before deciding, look at Arbane, Ferri, Il Mezzogiorno, Restaurant Sin, or The Drifter.
For a wider shortlist, keep The Mistress in its proper context: a Ghent evening option with its hours and smart casual dress. Other dining rooms may suit better if you need more detail on cuisine, budget, service style, or menu format before deciding.
Planning details
- Location
- Baudelostraat 37, 9000 Gent, Belgium
- Website
- themistress.be
- Phone
- +32488911133
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Mistress presents itself as a deliberately low-profile, neighbourhood-rooted dining room within Ghent's independent scene. The write-up emphasizes a semi-private, word-of-mouth character: public information is sparse and the place is known mainly to regulars rather than the tourist press. Its location on Baudelostraat, a short walk from the Vrijdagmarkt, places it firmly in the city's habitual dining fabric—chef-driven and local in temperament rather than overtly formal or tourist-oriented. Expect a restrained, local-focused experience that rewards those who seek out quieter, chef-led restaurants off the main visitor routes.
Best For
This is a restaurant geared toward diners who are intentionally looking for a neighbourhood discovery rather than a high-profile destination. The Mistress suits evening occasions where guests value chef-driven cooking and a discreet, local atmosphere—hence its fit for date nights and special occasions. Because public-facing information is intentionally minimal, it attracts regulars and those who prefer habitual dining patterns. It reads as a place for considered meals with people who appreciate provenance and a low-key profile rather than for loud, high-turnover crowds or tourist-first service.
Ordering Tips
Public information on The Mistress is deliberately sparse, so plan ahead: seek reservation details through local sources, word-of-mouth recommendations or the restaurant's direct contact channels rather than relying on broad travel listings. Treat it as a neighbourhood spot that may prioritize regulars and informed diners; if you’re traveling specifically to visit, allow extra time to confirm opening hours and booking procedures. Because the venue is described as low-profile and not on tourist routes, arriving with a confirmed plan and clear directions from Baudelostraat or the Vrijdagmarkt area is advisable.
Venue details
Ambiance
Colourful interior with warm, welcoming atmosphere that invites relaxation and culinary exploration.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Intimate
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to look if this does not fit
If the group wants a more defined dinner plan, check Ferri or Arbane first. If the goal is a backup with a different room feel, compare Il Mezzogiorno and The Drifter.
Restaurant context
How it compares with Ghent peers
Ferri, Restaurant Sin, Arbane, Il Mezzogiorno, The Drifter are the smarter cross-shops when the main question is format clarity. The Mistress is the easier recommendation for a central evening when the group is flexible; the others make more sense when cuisine, value, or room style needs to be decided before booking.
For a more planned dinner, start with Ferri, Restaurant Sin, or Arbane before committing here. For a looser night where the address and evening-only rhythm are enough, The Mistress is a lower-friction option. Il Mezzogiorno and The Drifter are better fallbacks if the group wants to compare mood and value rather than chase a specific menu structure.
Explore Ghent
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Mistress guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Mistress
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Mistress | Ghent | No published awards |
| Ferri | Ghent | No published awards |
| Restaurant Sin | Ghent | No published awards |
| Arbane | Ghent | Michelin Guide France & Monaco 2026We're Smart World Top Restaurants 20252025 Michelin 1 Star2025 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Gault & Millau Remarkable Restaurant2024 Michelin Plate |
| Il Mezzogiorno | Ghent | No published awards |
| The Drifter | Ghent | No published awards |
.png?width=1200&quality=80)
How The Mistress Ghent compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at The Mistress?
The Mistress does not specify a cuisine type, dish, or menu format. The practical move is to choose it only if you are comfortable planning an evening in Ghent without arriving with a specific dish in mind. If a fixed concept matters more than flexibility, compare it with Restaurant Sin or Arbane instead.
What should a first-timer know about The Mistress?
First-timers should plan around the opening times: Wednesday through Saturday from 6–11 PM, with closures Sunday through Tuesday. The dress code is smart casual. Beyond that, cuisine, price, chef, or menu format are not specified.
What are alternatives to The Mistress in Ghent?
Ferri, Restaurant Sin, Arbane, Il Mezzogiorno, The Drifter are useful alternatives to compare with The Mistress. Choose one of those if you want to review more options before locking in a Wednesday-to-Saturday evening plan.
Can I eat at the bar at The Mistress?
Do not count on bar dining unless the venue confirms it directly, because bar seating is not specified. The safest plan is to treat The Mistress as an evening dining option in Ghent and confirm any seating preference directly before you go.
Is lunch or dinner better at The Mistress?
Evening dining is the option, since The Mistress is open 6–11 PM Wednesday through Saturday and does not list lunch hours. That makes the choice straightforward: plan it for the evening, not a midday stop.
Is The Mistress good for a special occasion?
It can work if your special occasion is an evening in Ghent on a Wednesday to Saturday and smart casual dress suits the plan. For a celebration where you need a clear cuisine, price, or menu format before deciding, compare Restaurant Sin, Arbane, or another Ghent option first.
