The reborn northern docks around the MAS museum. Three-star Zilte sits on its top floor; harbour-side bistros line Napoleonkaai and Rijnkaai.
Hiro in Antwerp is an informal Japanese izakaya on Napoleonkaai overlooking the MAS. Chef Prakash Lamichhane runs the open sushi counter and a craft-sake list.
Signature: Sushi, Japanese-inspired small plates
Order: The omakase counter seat; the chef builds plates around the day's fish and a short list of Japanese-inspired hot dishes.
Tip: Sit at the counter to follow the knife work. The basement room is louder; reserve upstairs for a quieter dinner.
Bocadero in Antwerp is a beach-bar brasserie at Rijnkaai 150 on the Eilandje waterfront. Outdoor seating, casual plates and a long summer aperitivo.
Signature: Fish and chips, Bowls, Burgers
Order: The fish and chips; the harbour terrace fills mid-afternoon on sunny days.
Tip: Open seasonally with shorter winter hours. Reservations only on the indoor side; the beach is first-come.
Felix Pakhuis on Het Eilandje is a brasserie set inside a restored Sint-Felix warehouse on the Scheldt quay. The menu runs brasserie classics with an Italian streak; the Sunday brunch is the room's signature.
Signature: Vitello tonnato, Brasserie classics, Sunday brunch spread
Order: The vitello tonnato to start, then whatever fish is on the day's main list; reserve ahead for Sunday brunch.
Tip: Closed Monday to Wednesday. The waterfront terrace fills first on warm evenings, so book a fortnight out for outdoor seating.
Zilte in Antwerp holds the country's only three Michelin stars under Viki Geunes. The dining room sits on the ninth floor of the MAS museum with a panorama over the harbour.
Signature: Seasonal tasting menus, North Sea seafood courses
Order: The full tasting menu; the kitchen builds it around North Sea catch and Flemish produce of the week.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book eight weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner. Lunch is the more accessible entry point.
The Jane in Antwerp moved in October 2025 from its chapel in the Groen Kwartier to a harbour-side address on Limastraat. The 2026 Michelin Guide promoted the room to two stars with chef Nick Bril still in the kitchen.
Signature: Seasonal tasting menu, Open-kitchen plates
Order: The tasting menu; portions stay small, plating stays graphic, the pacing follows the open kitchen.
Tip: Reservations open the first of each month for two months ahead. The room runs Wednesday evening through Saturday only; closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtime.
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.
Signature: Beef cheek, Tripe, Classical meat preparations
Order: Anything off the meat menu; tripe and braised cheek are the chef's signatures.
Tip: Closed Saturday and Sunday. Lunch is the better-value entry, around 50 euro for three courses.
Bistrot L'îlot in Antwerp is Sander De Saegher's seasonal bistro on Eilandje, opened end of 2017 after his Graanmarkt 13 sommelier years.
Signature: Seasonal small plates, Natural-wine pairings
Order: The four-course seasonal menu with the natural-wine pairing.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The bistro seats only 30, book ahead even on a Tuesday.
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.
Bocadero in Antwerp is a beach-bar brasserie on Rijnkaai 150 on the Eilandje waterfront. Casual plates and a long summer aperitivo.
Signature: Fish and chips, Burgers, Beach-bar bowls
Order: The fish and chips; the harbour terrace fills mid-afternoon.
Tip: Open seasonally with shorter winter hours. Reservations only on the indoor side.
Felix Pakhuis on Het Eilandje is a brasserie inside a restored Sint-Felix warehouse on the Scheldt. Brasserie classics with an Italian streak; the Sunday brunch is the room's signature.
Signature: Vitello tonnato, Brasserie classics, Sunday brunch spread
Order: The vitello tonnato, then the fish main; come on Sunday for the brunch spread, or weekday lunch for a quieter sitting.
Tip: Closed Monday to Wednesday. The waterfront terrace fills first on warm evenings.
Black & Yellow Coffee Bar near the MAS pulls Mok beans roasted in Brussels. The compact Nassaustraat counter opened in 2017 and seats six.
Signature drink: Mok espresso
Tip: Take coffee to-go for the MAS rooftop. The bar runs out of seats by 11:00 on weekends.
Black & Yellow Coffee Bar in Antwerp on Nassaustraat opened 2017 near the MAS. The compact espresso bar pulls Mok beans roasted in Brussels.
Tip: The bar seats six. Take coffee to-go for the five-minute walk to the MAS viewing deck.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Brazil, Mok blends
How they serve: Espresso, Filter
Bar Brut in Antwerp on Londenstraat pours Belgian natural and biodynamic growers in Eilandje. The Pakhuis-district bar leans heavily into sparkling and biodynamic.
Signature pour: Belgian sparkling growers' flight
Wine focus: Belgian natural growers, biodynamic
Food: Bistro tapas
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. The flights of three are the better introduction to the cellar.
Frituur 't Eilandje in Antwerp serves frites in the Eilandje quarter near the MAS. Hand-cut potatoes, beef-fat fry, classic Belgian sauces.
Try: Belgian frites with stoofvlees
Tip: Open until 22:00 most nights; the harbour walk pairs well with a cone in hand.
Bocadero in Antwerp on Rijnkaai sets out a summer beach bar with picnic tables, fish and chips and a long aperitivo on the Eilandje waterfront.
Try: Fish and chips, casual plates
Tip: Indoor reservations only. The beach is first-come; arrive before 16:00 for a deck chair.
Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie in Antwerp on Eilandje brews Antwerp Seef, a historical local style revived in 2012. Tours run by reservation on weekends.
Tip: Reserve the Friday evening tour to taste straight from the tanks. The brewery is two blocks from the MAS.
The Wednesday and Friday morning weekmarkt on Sint-Jansplein is the closest food market to Eilandje and the old town. Belgian produce, cheese, bread and a handful of cooked food stalls anchor a no-frills neighbourhood scene popular with the surrounding apartments.
Tip: Friday is the busier of the two days. Buy bread early; the bakers clear out by mid-morning.
Antwerpen Proeft in Antwerp is Belgium's largest culinary festival each May at Waagnatie on Rijnkaai. Star chefs, top kitchens and street-food stalls share the floor.
Tip: Tickets sell out for the weekend. Friday evening is the quieter sitting.
The HAP food truck festival rolls into Park Spoor Noord in Antwerp on the touring summer circuit with international street food, Belgian craft beer and live music across three days. The next Antwerp edition is the June 2027 date confirmed by Visit Antwerp.
Tip: The park sits five tram stops north of Centraal. Cash and card both work at most trucks. The festival skips some years at Park Spoor Noord; check hapfestival.be for the current touring calendar.
Food For Foodies in Antwerp runs hands-on cooking workshops at a north-district atelier on De Coninckplein. The rotating programme covers themed cuisines from around the world.
Tip: Check the current schedule on the operator site; themes rotate weekly.