Places that I have visited on my travels that were/are worth mentioning....
Where to stay in Ieper?
Le Chat Noir ( central Ypres / Ieper )
Diksmuidsestraat 91, Ieper, 8900, Belgium. Tel 0032 (0) 47 4595344 email: Info@lechatnoir.be
Click here for le chat noir website
Le Chat Noir ( The Black Cat ) is situated in the very centre of Ieper.
Run by Alain, the rooms are of the highest standard, considering the unique location the rooms are inexpensive.
Just minutes from the world famous Cloth Hall & Menin Gate, you are surrounded by history.
Also very near the restaurants and chocolate shops, Alain has a vast background knowledge of the Great War and can offer advice on what to see.
Alain's own family are steeped in WW1 history, his grandfather having fought throughout the conflict, he was also wounded.
Click here for map from the Cloth Hall to Le Chat Noir
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Varlet Farm
A fantastic B'n'B with exceptional customer service from Charlotte and her Family. I've seen all the rooms and they are all to a very high standard with modern facilities ideally located for exploring the battlefields being only 2 minutes from Tyne Cot, and the scene of a Royal Naval Division battle.
It is the only place that I recommend to my own own family when visiting!
Breakfasts at Varlet Farm:
It's worth staying for the breakfasts alone! an exceptional spread of food and as much tea and coffee as you can drink! it does not end there Charlotte also invites guests to make a packed lunch for later! What more could you want?
The Rum Jar Bed & Breakfast
Click here for Peter at The Rum Jar B ' n ' B
Great value centrally located B'n'B run by the enigmatic Pete, who has a wealth of knowledge about Ieper and the surrounding battlefields, in a great location just down from Ypres Reservoir Cemetery and the English Church in Ieper...
Also a fantastic Full English breakfast
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Talbot House, Poperinge
www.talbothouse.be/en/
Sleep in the same rooms as the WW1 Tommies did 90 years ago, a basic however fantastic place to stay, includes self catering shared kitchen, however there is an abundance of restaurants nearby, also extremely cheap so you can afford to eat out each night.
You can really feel their presence.........
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Where to Eat in Ieper?
The Ruyffelaere Restaurant
Rue Gustave de Stuers September 1911
8900 Ieper
Tel : 00 32 (0) 57 36 60 06 ,
Click here for deruyffelaer website
Real Flemish cooking straight from Grandmother's kitchen, great food which is completely different from those on the main square cooked in the traditional Flemish style.
This restaurant is very popular, booking is a must!
Just a five minute walk from the Cloth Hall (click here)
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Restaurant 'Utopia' ( Iepers best kept secret!)
Elverdingsestraat 8, 8900 Ypres, Belgium Tel.: 057 20 28 38
Restaurant Utopia is just 5 minutes walk from the Cloth Hall, and directly opposite the famous St George's Memorial Church ( otherwise known as the English Church )
The food is very good value & very high quality, just off the main square it has a less crowded atmosphere and better value.
Staff are friendly and the menu is in English, personal favourites are:
Flemish Stew at 12 euro this is fantastic value, also comes with salad and chips
Chicken Stew again great value with great taste.
1/2 Chicken: from memory this is only 9 euro's, great tasting
Irish Coffee: A very good Irish coffee
Click here for map and directions
In short Utopia is such good value that I'm reluctant to tell people about it!
Frituur De Leet ( Fish & Chips!!! )
a. Vandenpeereboomplein 51 ( just opposite the English Church )
Open 11.30 - 14.00 then 18.00 - 24.00 ( Closed Sunday Morning & all day Monday)
A great chip shop, with chips that you will recognise from back home in the UK!
Great friendly service & Sarson's vinegar ( what more could you want! )
Lovely surroundings and seating for 30 people
By far the best chip shop in Ieper ( in my opinion! )
Poppy Steak and Pizza
Poppy Pizzeria & Steakhouse, Meensestraat 16, 8900 Ieper
Tel. +32(0)57-205550 info@poppyrestaurant.com
A very well known great value restaurant within 1 minute of the gate, most visitors to Ieper will already have heard of this great all round restaurant, always very popular so worth booking where possible, most meals pizza, lasagne etc around 10 euro
Kip 'n' Spit: "L'aile et la cuisse"
This is a fantastic restaurant in very welcoming surroundings, the half spicy Chicken is not to be missed!
Once you have eaten here you will understand why the locals keep it to themselves!
For details:
Further Afield
Skylark Battlefield Tours, Guided Tours, Bed & Breakfast
Run by Victor Piuk and his wife Diane, this B'n'B is ideally situated for your visit to The Somme and the surrounding battlefields
Vic is a British WW1 author & tour guide, deeply passionate about the Great War he has a depth of knowledge that is infectious.
He has also a great interest in the WW1 poets and has written a book on the WW1 poet Will Streets
Shopping in Ieper
Want to buy a postcard?
A great shop with nearly every single object of stationary that is imaginable.
Just metres from the Menin Gate, they have a fantastic selection of postcards
Boudry can also enlarge pictures that you have taken of the battlefields to create the perfect souvenir; they can also print your battlefield photographs or WW1 family portraits directly onto box canvases.
Why not email them your WW1 ancestor photo before your trip, the box canvas portrait could be ready for you to collect on arrival! perhaps for a surprise presentation whilst in Ieper? ( after payment completed of course!)
BOUDRY
25 Meensestr , 8900 Ieper
BELGIUM
Tel: +32 57 20 02 47
Want to buy Belgian Chocolates?
Patisserie Chocolaterie Vandaele
A great little shop full of character and great tasting hand-made chocolates the ideal gift to take home!
This shop has been in here since 1891 the owner also has some wonderful WW1 models on display.