Franco-Belgian bistro€€€historisch-centrum
Bistrot Benoit on Zirkstraat is a modern Franco-Belgian bistro on a quiet square at the edge of the old centre. The owners cook playful, ingredient-led plates that read traditional but rarely are.
Signature: Vol-au-vent, French onion soup, Menu Benoit
Order: The Menu Benoit, a three-course tasting at 57.5 euros with optional wine pairing; the vol-au-vent and onion soup show the kitchen's classical side.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Friday and Saturday dinner is Menu Benoit only; book a weeknight for a la carte.
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.
