Cafe-restaurant€€het-zuid
Buchbar in Antwerp is a cafe-restaurant on Scheldestraat in Het Zuid. The kitchen runs all-day brunch, lunch plates and pours small-batch coffee.
Signature: Brunch plates, Lunch counter dishes
Order: The brunch plate with eggs and bread from the in-house counter; the filter coffee is roasted in Antwerp.
Tip: Closed Monday. The patio fills first in summer; book ahead for the weekend brunch.
Belgian beer-paired pizza€€het-zuid
Otomat in Antwerp on Van Schoonbekeplein serves pizzas built on Belgian beer-dough and beer-paired toppings. Each pizza is matched to a specific Belgian brew.
Signature: Beer-dough pizza, Belgian craft beer pairings
Order: The Lupulus pizza; the kitchen pairs every pie with a specific Belgian brew named on the menu.
Tip: The Antwerp branch is the original; chain expansion came later. Walk-in friendly mid-week.
Modern Belgian-Italian€€€€theaterbuurt
Le Pristine in Antwerp is Sergio Herman's modern Belgian-Italian dining room in a 1960s modernist building. Crudo, wood-grilled fish and pasta. Closes end of December 2026.
Signature: Crudo plates, Wood-grilled fish, Pasta of the day
Order: The crudo of the day and a wood-grilled fish; the pasta course rotates with what was shopped that morning.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The Cafe two doors down is the better-value breakfast and lunch option.
Vietnamese€€historisch-centrum
BÚN in Antwerp is a Vietnamese bar and restaurant on Volkstraat, listed in the Michelin Guide for fine-dining Vietnamese 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 from the Vietnamese-leaning list.
Tip: The smaller Little Bún noodle shop is the takeaway sibling for quicker counter eating.
Modern Belgian, natural wine€€€borgerhout
Nage relocated from Reyndersstraat to a Congresstraat corner space in the 2060 quarter and now serves casual seasonal cooking with a natural-wine list. Koen Lenaerts runs the kitchen with partner Niki Vansant on the floor.
Signature: Seasonal small plates, Orange-wine pairings
Order: A spread of small plates paired with the natural-wine flight; the list leans into orange wines and Loire growers.
Tip: Open Friday to Monday only; reserve a week ahead for weekend service.
Seasonal Belgian gastro-bistro, natural wine€€€theaterbuurt
Bar Pêche on Bollandusstraat, just off Britselei, is chef Semmy Roumans's small bistro built around seasonal fish, vegetables and natural wine. The card is short: four starters, four mains, four desserts.
Signature: Seasonal fish course, Vegetable starter of the day, Natural-wine pairing
Order: The day's fish main, paired off the list with a glass of natural white; the vegetable starter shows the kitchen's understated hand.
Tip: The intimate dining room books up fast; reserve a fortnight ahead for weekend tables.