Otomat is a belgian beer-paired pizza restaurant in Het Zuid, Antwerp.
Otomat in Antwerp on Van Schoonbekeplein serves pizzas built on Belgian beer-dough with beer-paired toppings.
Signature dishes: Beer-dough pizza, Belgian craft beer pairings
Must order: The Lupulus pizza; the kitchen pairs every pie with a specific Belgian brew.
Tip: The Antwerp branch is the original; chain expansion came later.
Address: Van Schoonbekeplein 11, 2018 Antwerp
Bistro Estelle in Borgerhout is an intimate fusion kitchen on Laar. The room is small, the menu is fusion, the wine list runs natural and organic.
Signature: Fusion small plates, Natural-wine pairings
Order: The chef's fusion tasting; the kitchen leans into organic Belgian produce.
Tip: Borgerhout sits east of the ring road. The 1, 7 and 24 trams stop two blocks away.
Witzli-Poetzli in Antwerp is a bohemian artists' cafe-restaurant on Blauwmoezelstraat in the shadow of the cathedral. Candle-lit, vintage, late-running.
Signature: Salads, Tartines, Belgian beer
Order: The tartine of the day with a glass from the long Belgian beer list.
Tip: The room is small and dim. Reserve the rear table for groups of four or more.
Elfde Gebod sits in a 16th-century building beside the cathedral, walls covered in religious statues. Belgian classics with beer sauces and a list of more than a hundred brews.
Signature: Rabbit stew in beer sauce, Mussels in white wine, Flemish carbonade
Order: The rabbit stew in beer sauce or the Flemish carbonade, both built around Belgian abbey ales from the bottle list.
Tip: Open daily noon to ten. The Suikerrui sister-room on the Scheldt is the same kitchen with a different view if Torfbrug is full.
Frites Atelier in Antwerp is the premium Belgian frites concept on Korte Gasthuisstraat. Skin-on frites cooked in beef fat with a long list of sauces.
Signature: Premium frites, Stoofvlees fries, Belgian sauces
Order: The classic frites with stoofvlees on top; the beef-fat fry is the point.
Tip: Counter service. Take the cone for a five-minute walk to the cathedral steps and eat with the spires above.
Bistrot L'îlot in Antwerp is a 30-seat seasonal bistro on Eilandje. Chef Sander De Saegher runs the kitchen with a tight short-menu approach.
Signature: Seasonal small plates, Natural-wine pairings
Order: The four-course seasonal menu with a natural-wine pairing; the kitchen leans Loire and Burgundy.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book a fortnight ahead; only 30 covers per service.
BÚN in Antwerp is a Vietnamese bar and restaurant on Volkstraat, listed in the Michelin Guide for Vietnamese cooking on Belgian organic produce.
Signature: Bún noodle bowls, Bánh mì, Vietnamese small plates
Order: The bún noodle bowl with grilled pork and a glass of natural wine.
Tip: Little Bún is the smaller takeaway sibling for quicker counter eating.
