Boutique hotels in Antwerp
-
Hotel Julien
- Style
- Fresh Flemish townhouse
- Setting
- Old city-centre streets
Antwerp
Eating, drinking and dancing
Check out Antwerp's best restaurants, lively cafés, cool dockside nightspots, gastopubs and Belgian beer bars. All you have to do is get yourself out of the hotel…
Restaurants
(+32 (0)3 231 9691)
De Kleine Zavel
Distressed-chic brasserie in a hotel that used to put up seafaring merchants, with wooden crates and to-die-for food from chef/owner Carlo Didden – try fillet of hare with wild mushroom ravioli and hot truffle-broth shot. It won’t break the bank, either.
Stoofstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 234 3834)
Hecker Dinner Wine Bar
Does what it says on the tin, only not in the way you might expect: the astonishing Off Piste tasting menu and Formula 1 wine list (‘the world’s biggest wines at a special low fare’) keep the foodies and fashion insiders coming back for more of chef Kasper Kurdahl’s imaginative offerings. In summer, the rosemary-clad terrace is a lovely place to be. Top reason to love this place? Order your choice of wines and the chef will whip up a Surprise Menu to match them.
Kloosterstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 216 9643)
Coco C
The city’s style set favours this ultra-hip restaurant on Volkstraat, which serves light French-fusion dishes.
Volkstraat 58, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 231 3207)
Gin-Fish
This tiny split-level restaurant on Haarstraat is a Michelin-starred seafood restaurant that showcases the creative talents of chef Didier Garnich; there’s no menu – everything is sourced in the market that day and prepared to perfection. Booking essential.
Haarstraat 9, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 239 9003)
Dôme
Another of the city’s Michelin-starred options, this former teahouse on Grote Hondstraat has delicious and reasonably priced tasting menus served in elegant art-nouveau surroundings.
Grote Hondstraat 2, 2018 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 231 7696)
Mangia e Bevi l’Osteria
Well hidden in a tiny street off Hoogstraat on Haarstraat, this popular place is worth tracking down for its fresh home-made pasta; a reservation is essential. You can also wait for your table at the chic wine bar run by the same family just across the street.
Haarstraat 3, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 257 1471)
Chez Fred
Try this restaurant on Kloosterstraat for a lunch break during a Sunday afternoon of antiques hunting.
Kloosterstraat 83, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 226 02 95)
Traiteur Mario
If we lived in Antwerp, this would become our favourite down-home old-school Italian joint. Run by a family from Emiglia-Romagna, the pasta and lasagne are to die for.
Kammenstraat 71, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 248 5252)
Hippodroom
Stylish bar and restautant with French-accented International Fusion dishes just opposite the Royal Museum of Fine Arts set in an imposing building that also houses Ann Demeulemeester's flagship store.
Leopold de Waelplaats 10, 2000 Antwerp
Cafés
(+32 (0)3 226 7919)
Theo
If you like to enjoy your Poilane toast surrounded by Antwerp’s high-end fashions, try this great little place on Nationalestraat.
Nationalestraat 33, 2000 Antwerp
Frituur Number 1
In the country that gave us chips, the best frites of your life are here at this street stall on the corner of Hoogstraat and Oude Koornmarkt.
Hoogstraat 1, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 233 1252)
Den Engel
One of the many cafés and bars around Grote Markt that are ideal for a people-watching pit stop, this place is justifiably popular, especially in the evening, with Belgian beer aficionados.
Grote Markt 3, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 707 28 05)
Soep & Soup
This appropriately named eaterie on Kammenstraat is ideal for a liquid lunch – consisting of hearty and satisfying soups, of course.
Kammenstraat 89, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 233 5517)
The Bourla Theatre café
At this 19th-century theatre on Komedieplaats, the foyer café has a wonderfully refined atmosphere thanks to its lovingly restored, rather grand interiors, and even better apple strudel. Great for a delicious brunch in truly remarkable surroundings.
Komedieplaats 18, 2000 Antwerp
+32 (0)3 707 1007
Cocktails at Nine
This bright new design-den has gorgeous wood-beamed ceilings and two inviting patio areas to complement its mightily appealing drinks list. Great vibes, great cocktails and great music.
Lijnwaadmarkt 9 2000 Antwerp
Bars and clubs
(+ 32 (0)3 233 15 38)
De Vagant
If you want to try traditional jenerver (a type of Belgian gin) then this well-known bar – a favourite city-centre haunt – on Reynderstraat has several hundred varieties to choose from; its next-door shop sells an even bigger selection of full-size and miniature bottles, and the restaurant is good as well.
Reyndersstraat 25, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 233 3030)
Lux
Towards the regenerated Bonaparte docks area, Lux is a beacon of sophisticated Mediterranean-style food, with an equally sleek lounge bar.
Adriaan Brouwerstraat 13, St Aldegondiskaai 20–22, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 257 3959)
Sips
Near Vlaamse Kaai, this refined cocktail bar is run by Manuel Wouters; Manuel used to work on the QEII and takes considerable care to customise drinks for his clients, as well as mix up the finest classics from his impressive collection of spirits, whiskeys and wines; there’s a humidor, too, for cigar aficionados.
Gillisplaats 8, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 238 7160)
Mogador
Another hip bar, with a great outdoor area overlooking the fine arts museum on Leopold De Waelplaats. Fantastic caipiriñas.
Graaf van Egmontstraat 57, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 237 3978)
Velvet Lounge
In the docks area, which is undergoing a style overhaul – as is typical of wharves in many cities – this hot new venue does dining, drinks, dancing and DJs with consummate panache.
Luikstraat 6, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 248 6727)
Stereo Sushi
Another new addition to Antwerp’s dockside eat-drink-groove-lounge scene, this time with ice-cream coloured banquettes, metallic orbs and an Oriental twist. Try Vietnamese spring rolls or teppanyaki dishes washed down with aromatic teas, healthy tisanes, a glass of champagne or hot sake.
Luikstraat 6, 2000 Antwerp
De Kaai
Completing Antwerp’s dockside nightspot triumvirate, De Kaai is a hip hangar hangout and a one-stop-shop for nights out. The restaurant serves euro-gastropub fare and the club hosts salsa and dance DJs.
Hangar 26/1, Rijnkaai 96, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 227 1101)
Berlin
There’s a homely gastro-pub feel to this laid-back local. It’s easily walkable from the Hotel Julien and close to all the best shopping streets.
Kleine Markt 1–3, 2000 Antwerp
(+32 (0)3 232 4538)
Bierhuis Kulminator
If you know your Lambic from your Trappist, get yourself to this beer café in the Latin Quarter – it’s not exactly a designer style bar (beer paraphernalia and a pub cat are the only decorative concessions) but it does serve more than 500 rare brews, including what are reputed to be the strongest in the world. Some of the vintage beers are older than you are. Closed on Sundays.
Vleminckveld 32–34, 2000 Antwerp
Motel
Currently one of the hottest club bars in Antwerp and perfect for a quick cocktail before you hit neighbouring Velvet Lounge; Thursday nights are particularly popular here.
Luikstraat 7, 2000 Antwerp
