Our visit came during a bizarre bout of warm weather, and we sat outside on the sidewalk-cumterrace, with sun on our faces, an excellent view of the castle and, unfortunately, a fair amount of traffic at close range. But, to be fair, Coffee & Curiosa & Champagne (which will henceforth be known as C&C&C) is not a place to visit for its outside. It is a place to visit for its Victorianesque, chandelier-clad interior that lives up to its (middle) name.
Also inside, you’ll find flavourful café food, excellent coffee and baked goods and – why not? – baking supplies.
C&C&C’s menu features standard café fare. We noshed breadsticks and a smooth sundried tomato pesto, an enjoyable beginning, then moved on to carrot soup, croque monsieur, toast with mushrooms and a plain omelette. Each dish was not only sizeable, it was respectable. You can also get more of a meal than we opted for, whether with one of their salads, pastas or a variety of meat dishes.
Some cafés offer food as an afterthought; these dishes were above average and quite satisfying for lunch. The prices were above average, too, which I suppose can be justified by the prime real estate and the ample portions, but it’s still not a place to drop in for a quick, cheap eat.
It’s an excellent place, though, to drop in for coffee. Although it will require some effort on your part, as their list of “curious coffees” takes some careful consideration. These beverages combine coffee, cream and alcohol, for a more serious coffee outing. The regular espresso/cappuccino/etc are also there, and they are good; plus, they are accompanied by a mini-cupcakes, topped with a layer of brightly coloured citrusy sugar paste icing that brought me instantaneously back to my childhood. Partner your coffee with pancakes or ice cream for a perfect mid-afternoon break.
As the shop’s name promises, there are indeed champagnes on the menu, although not as many as I would have expected given that it had earned eponymous privileges. The drinks list is quite long and varied, including about 20 teas and a few premium whiskeys.
Between the hot beverages and the alcohol, C&C&C is particularly worth a visit on one of the more cool and rainy summer days. The interior features large, cosy chairs gathered around coffee tables. Curling up there with a book or around the table with friends would be a cinch. There are also several simple wooden tables if you’re taking a meal.
A bar from the venue’s earlier incarnation as an ice-cream shop runs around the L-shaped room, and a few glass-domed cake trays will certainly tempt you towards their sugary delicacies.
Just past a statue atop an antique dresser are the baking merchandise. They stock a good selection of basics, such as patterned paper cupcake liners and a rainbow of cake decorating supplies. There are slightly more advanced and/or unusual options, such as the cake-mould-plus-figurine to make a princess-shaped cake. Sound out of your league? The café offers baking workshops that will undoubtedly make you a regular shopper in no time.
Geldmunt 6, Gent
Sun, Tues, Wed 11.00-18.00 Fri-Sat 11.00-22.00
An excellent selection coffees, teas and desserts in an affectionately antique atmosphere
Contact Bite at flandersbite@gmail.com
Flanders Today is a 
-14°C / -5°C
