Walking into the grounds of Bar Bricolage is nothing short of entering some kind of parallel universe. When I first walked up to it, I thought there couldn’t possibly be a good bar around here, in a part of Ghent that’s undergoing redevelopment. So when I stepped into a tranquil paradise with boardwalk paths over sandy grounds, birds singing in the leafy trees, and butterflies fluttering about, I immediately felt like I’d been transported to some backpacker beach bar in a tropical part of the world.

As it’s all outside, Bar Bricolage is only open during the summer months, and it’s the perfect place to grab a beer or a cocktail and put your feet up in one of the many little hideaways. I like the fact that everything is constructed out of wood, from the little turret to the birds’ house and broken piano… My favourite spot is the bench overlooking the water of the old Houtdok (wooden dock), with the industrial cranes and even St Michael’s Church in the distance. I like to visit in the late afternoon when it’s quiet and there’s a live DJ set playing chill-out music. But if you stay later, coloured lights hanging in the trees are switched on, and so is the live performance space.

There’s also room for a pop-up restaurant (indoor & outdoor) where different restaurants from Ghent offer 4 or 5 dishes. Bar Bricolage also runs Sunday brunches and outdoor yoga classes.