Ghent Neighborhood Guide

Ghent is one of Norfolk's oldest and most walkable neighborhoods, a tree-lined mix of early 20th-century architecture, independent restaurants, and a genuinely pedestrian culture that sets it apart from most of the region. Bordered by The Hague to the east and Hampton Boulevard to the west, the neighborhood centers on Colley Avenue and 21st Street, where coffee shops, late-night bars, antique stores, and the beloved Naro Expanded Cinema have anchored neighborhood life for decades. Residents tend to arrive on Dutch bikes or on foot, drawn by the density of good options within a short walk and sunsets over The Hague that make the higher rents feel like a reasonable negotiation. The tradeoffs are real: street parking is a persistent frustration, king tides occasionally turn low-lying blocks into shallow waterways, and the proximity to Sentara Norfolk General keeps the neighborhood busy around the clock. What holds it together is a historic confidence and a brunch-fueled social energy that gives Ghent its particular, hard-to-replicate character.