De Koninck Antwerp pale ale, poured in its short stem bolleke glass. The everyday beer of Antwerp since 1833.
Where to eat it: 3 restaurants across 1 city.
Brewery De Koninck opened on Mechelsesteenweg in 1833 and developed an Antwerp pale ale that became the Bolleke. The name refers to the short stemmed glass; ordering one is the city's everyday shorthand. The brewery still operates from the original building; tours end with a freshly poured glass. The annual Bollekesfeest in August pours Bolleke across Grote Markt for three days each year.
Common allergens: Gluten
Tip from the editors. The bolleke glass is short and rounded for a reason: it concentrates the aroma. Drinking it from anything else lessens the experience.
This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.
De Koninck in Antwerp has brewed Belgian pale ale on Mechelsesteenweg since 1833. The Bolleke poured in its short stem glass is the city's everyday beer.
Tip: The brewery tour ends with a freshly poured Bolleke. Reserve ahead for weekends.
Den Engel on Grote Markt 3 stays open until 01:00 weekdays and 03:00 weekends. The brown cafe has anchored the corner since 1903 in a 14th-century building.
Try: Brown-cafe nibbles and Belgian beer
Tip: Weekend last orders around 02:30. The terrace fills before the bar.
Why locals love it: 1924 brown cafe with unchanged interior, antique wallpaper and two cats curled on a potbelly stove. Weekend opens at 07:30 for the regulars.
Tip: Closed Mon-Tue. The Saturday early-morning sitting fills with locals before tourists wake.
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