31 upscale places in Antwerp, editor-picked. occasion restaurants in Antwerp: destination kitchens for celebrations and visits. All Antwerp food.
Nage ★ 4.5
borgerhout · Congresstraat 42, 2060 Antwerp
Nage relocated from Reyndersstraat to a Congresstraat corner space in the 2060 quarter and now serves casual seasonal cooking with a natural-wine list.
Tip: Open Friday to Monday only; reserve a week ahead for weekend service.
Soixante ★ 4.5
berchem · Guldenvliesstraat 60, 2600 Berchem
Soixante in Berchem is a Michelin-listed bistronomie room near Antwerp Centraal-Berchem station. Priced at €€€. Kitchen leans bistronomie, seasonal.
Tip: Tables are tightly packed; reserve well ahead. Two tram stops from Antwerp Centraal makes it an easy out-of-centre dinner.
Bar Burbure ★ 4.5
het-zuid · Vlaamsekaai 41, 2000 Antwerp
Bar Burbure in Antwerp on Vlaamsekaai serves cocktails and a 600-bottle wine list built by a Michelin-trained sommelier. The list rotates with the seasons.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The cocktail menu changes quarterly; ask for the sommelier's house pour.
Bar Burbure ★ 4.5
het-zuid · Vlaamsekaai 41, 2000 Antwerp
Bar Burbure in Antwerp on Vlaamsekaai pours a 600-bottle list built by Jurgen Lijcops, a sommelier with a long career across Belgian Michelin-starred.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The wine list rotates seasonally; ask for the sommelier's recommendation.
Bar Pêche ★ 4.4
theaterbuurt · Bollandusstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp
Bar Pêche on Bollandusstraat, just off Britselei, is chef Semmy Roumans's small bistro built around seasonal fish, vegetables and natural wine.
Tip: The intimate dining room books up fast; reserve a fortnight ahead for weekend tables.
Dôme ★ 4.4
zurenborg · Grotehondstraat 2, 2018 Antwerp
Dôme in Antwerp is a French brasserie under an 1893 rotunda in Zurenborg. Frédéric and Evangeline Chabbert run the room on Grotehondstraat. Priced at €€€.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book the round table directly under the dome.
InVINcible ★ 4.4
historisch-centrum · Haarstraat 7-9, 2000 Antwerp
InVINcible in Antwerp serves traditional Gallic bistro fare on Haarstraat. Located in Historisch Centrum. Kitchen leans french-belgian bistro.
Tip: The wine cellar runs deep across Loire and Burgundy. Book ahead, the room is small.
Bistrot du Nord ★ 4.4
eilandje · Lange Dijkstraat 36, 2060 Antwerp
Bistrot du Nord in Antwerp keeps one Michelin star for hearty classical bistro cooking. Michaël Rewers leans on meat and tripe in a tiled vintage room.
Tip: Closed Saturday and Sunday. Lunch is the better-value entry, around 50 euro for three courses.
Bistrot L'îlot ★ 4.4
eilandje · Kribbestraat 15, 2000 Antwerp
Bistrot L'îlot in Antwerp is Sander De Saegher's seasonal bistro on Eilandje, opened end of 2017 after his Graanmarkt 13 sommelier years. Priced at €€€.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The bistro seats only 30, book ahead even on a Tuesday.
Dôme ★ 4.4
zurenborg · Grotehondstraat 2, 2018 Antwerp
Dôme in Antwerp seats diners under an 1893 rotunda in Zurenborg. Frédéric and Evangeline Chabbert run a French brasserie programme on Grotehondstraat.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book the round table under the dome; the room rewards an ambitious wine order.
Bistrot L'îlot ★ 4.4
eilandje · Kribbestraat 15, 2000 Antwerp
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.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book a fortnight ahead; only 30 covers per service.
De Koninck Antwerp City Brewery ★ 4.4
het-zuid · Mechelsesteenweg 291, 2018 Antwerp
De Koninck Antwerp City Brewery on Mechelsesteenweg pours its full Bolleke range from a brewery taproom that has run since 1833 in the same building.
Tip: Brewery tour adds a poured Bolleke at the end. Reservations recommended for weekend tours.
Titulus ★ 4.4
sint-andries · Oever 8, 2000 Antwerp
Titulus Antwerpen on Oever is a natural-wine bar in Sint-Andries. The list runs Belgian and European growers; the room runs small, the kitchen tight.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. The cheese plate works as a full dinner with three glasses of natural red.
Hiro ★ 4.3
eilandje · Napoleonkaai 1, 2000 Antwerp
Hiro in Antwerp is an informal Japanese izakaya on Napoleonkaai overlooking the MAS. Located in Eilandje. Priced at €€€. Booking recommended.
Tip: Sit at the counter to follow the knife work. The basement room is louder; reserve upstairs for a quieter dinner.
Bistrot Benoit ★ 4.3
historisch-centrum · Zirkstraat 23, 2000 Antwerp
Bistrot Benoit on Zirkstraat is a modern Franco-Belgian bistro on a quiet square at the edge of the old centre. Located in Historisch Centrum.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Friday and Saturday dinner is Menu Benoit only; book a weeknight for a la carte.
Bistrot Benoit ★ 4.3
historisch-centrum · Zirkstraat 23, 2000 Antwerp
Bistrot Benoit on Zirkstraat is a modern Franco-Belgian bistro on a quiet square at the edge of the old centre. Located in Historisch Centrum.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Friday and Saturday dinner is Menu Benoit only; book a weeknight for a la carte.
Bistro Estelle ★ 4.3
borgerhout · Laar 10, 2140 Borgerhout
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.
Tip: Borgerhout sits east of the ring road. The 1, 7 and 24 trams stop two blocks away.
Den Engel ★ 4.3
historisch-centrum · Grote Markt 3, 2000 Antwerp
Den Engel in Antwerp is the city's best-known brown cafe, anchoring Grote Markt 3 in a building that runs back to the 14th century. Booking recommended.
Tip: Open daily until 01:00 weekdays, 03:00 weekends. Closer to the Stadhuis side, the bar is busier than the back terrace.
Paeters Vaetje ★ 4.3
historisch-centrum · Blauwmoezelstraat 1, 2000 Antwerp
Paeters Vaetje in Antwerp sits in the cathedral's shadow on Blauwmoezelstraat. The list runs deep across Belgian abbey, Trappist and lambic styles.
Tip: Order a Westvleteren 12 if it's in stock; the cellar list rotates weekly.
Patine Wijnbistro ★ 4.3
het-zuid · Leopold de Waelstraat 1, 2000 Antwerp
Patine in Antwerp's Zuid is a wine bistro on Leopold de Waelstraat. The list runs natural and orange wines; the kitchen builds small plates around them.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The bar seats six; reserve a table on busier nights.
Tannin ★ 4.3
het-zuid · Volkstraat 50, 2000 Antwerp
Tannin in Antwerp on Volkstraat is a natural-wine bar with a Mediterranean lean. The cellar runs Italian, Loire and Champagne growers in equal measure.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The kitchen runs four small plates; the cheese tray is the safest order.
Album ★ 4.3
het-zuid · Vlaamsekaai 6, 2000 Antwerp
Album in Antwerp on Vlaamsekaai pours natural and biodynamic European growers from a tight cellar. The bistro kitchen builds small plates around the list.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The room seats 20; reserve mid-week if you want a Saturday-night table.
RAS ★ 4.2
historisch-centrum · Ernest Van Dijckkaai 37, 2000 Antwerp
RAS in Antwerp sits on the riverfront on Ernest Van Dijckkaai with a Scheldt terrace listed in the Michelin Guide. Located in Historisch Centrum.
Tip: The Scheldt-facing terrace fills first in summer. Reserve the inside river view for sunset dinners.
Patine Wijnbistro ★ 4.2
het-zuid · Leopold de Waelstraat 1, 2000 Antwerp
Patine in Antwerp is a wine bistro on Leopold de Waelstraat in Het Zuid. The kitchen pairs short, ingredient-led plates with a deep cellar list.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The small kitchen runs four mains a night; arrive before 19:30 for full choice.
Café Quinten Matsijs ★ 4.2
historisch-centrum · Moriaanstraat 17 (corner of Hoofdkerkstraat), 2000 Antwerpen
Quinten Matsijs is Antwerp's oldest pub: a 1565 inn on the corner of Moriaanstraat and Hoofdkerkstraat with stained glass, beer steins on every shelf.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. The kitchen runs until 21:30, so eat early; the Flemish stew in Trappist beer sauce is the room's case.
Patine Wijnbistro ★ 4.2
het-zuid · Leopold de Waelstraat 1, 2000 Antwerp
Patine in Antwerp's Zuid is a wine bistro on Leopold de Waelstraat. The list runs natural and orange wines; the kitchen builds small plates around them.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The bar seats six; reserve a table on busier nights.
Bar Brut ★ 4.2
eilandje · Londenstraat 3, 2000 Antwerp
Bar Brut in Antwerp on Londenstraat pours Belgian natural and biodynamic growers in Eilandje. Open wed-sun 17:30-00:30. Booking recommended.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. The flights of three are the better introduction to the cellar.
Witzli-Poetzli ★ 4.1
historisch-centrum · Blauwmoezelstraat 8, 2000 Antwerp
Witzli-Poetzli in Antwerp is a long-running artists' bar in the cathedral shadow on Blauwmoezelstraat. Candle-lit, vintage, open until late.
Tip: The back tables are quieter; the front bar gets loud after 23:00.
Café Ernst ★ 4.1
historisch-centrum · Ernest Van Dijckkaai 19, 2000 Antwerp
Café Ernst in Antwerp on Ernest Van Dijckkaai is a riverfront bar with a tight natural-wine list. The terrace looks across the Scheldt at the Linkeroever.
Tip: The sunset hour fills with the after-work crowd. Reserve for the river-facing tables.
L'Entrepôt du Congo ★ 4.0
het-zuid · Vlaamsekaai 42, 2000 Antwerp
L'Entrepôt du Congo in Antwerp on Vlaamsekaai is a long-running brown cafe with a colonial-era interior and a Het Zuid waterfront terrace. At Vlaamsekaai 42.
Tip: The terrace seats fill in summer with the Vlaamsekaai weekend crowd.
Den Bengel ★ 3.9
historisch-centrum · Grote Markt 5, 2000 Antwerp
Den Bengel on Grote Markt 5 is the smaller neighbour to Den Engel. The Belgian beer list is shorter, the bar quieter, the terrace on the cobbles.
Tip: When Den Engel is at capacity, walk two doors right to Den Bengel.