Grote Markt, Cathedral and Groenplaats inside the medieval core. Brown cafes, frites stands and Antwerp's oldest beer halls.
Top-rated food tour in Antwerp
Tasting Tour: A Taste of Antwerp (Fries, Waffles, Beer & More)
Order The bún noodle bowl with grilled pork and a glass of natural wine from the Vietnamese-leaning list.
BÚN in Antwerp is a Vietnamese bar and restaurant on Volkstraat, listed in the Michelin Guide for fine-dining Vietnamese on Belgian organic produce.
Order The hand-cut steak tartare to start and the dame blanche to finish, both house signatures.
Brewers' Kitchen on Oude Beurs is a small Belgian-French dining room where the chef pairs seasonal plates with craft beers from local breweries.
Order The Belgian dish of the day; the kitchen rotates a stoofvlees, a fish plate and a vegetarian option.
Marolus in Antwerp is a lunch restaurant on Hendrik Conscienceplein, a tree-lined square between the cathedral and the Carolus Borromeus church.
Order The brunch plate with eggs and the in-house granola; the kitchen runs it from open until 16:00.
Berlin in Antwerp is an all-day brasserie on Kleine Markt. The kitchen serves breakfast through to late-night plates, popular for unbookable weekend brunch.
Order The Holstein entrecôte with bone marrow; the veal kidneys are the chef's enduring signature.
InVINcible in Antwerp serves traditional Gallic bistro fare on Haarstraat. Located in Historisch Centrum. Kitchen leans french-belgian bistro.
Order The Menu Benoit, a three-course tasting at 57.5 euros with optional wine pairing.
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.
Order The omakase tasting menu; the kitchen leans on the garden, beehives and greenhouse on the hotel grounds.
Hertog Jan at Botanic in Antwerp is Gert De Mangeleer's two-star room inside the Botanic Sanctuary, opened in 2021 after his three-star Zedelgem chapter.
Order The tasting menu of the season; the kitchen leans heavily on producers from the Flemish countryside.
Nathan in Antwerp holds one Michelin star for modern French cuisine inside a small Lange Koepoortstraat townhouse. Located in Historisch Centrum.
Order The tartine of the day with a glass from the long Belgian beer list.
Witzli-Poetzli in Antwerp is a bohemian artists' cafe-restaurant on Blauwmoezelstraat in the shadow of the cathedral. Candle-lit, vintage, late-running.
Order The rabbit stew in beer sauce or the Flemish carbonade.
Elfde Gebod sits in a 16th-century building beside the cathedral, walls covered in religious statues. Located in Historisch Centrum. Priced at €€.
Also on this listBÚN Bar & RestaurantMarolusBerlinCaminoBistrot Benoit
Order Kenyan and Ethiopian espresso
Caffènation in Antwerp is the original specialty-coffee bar in Belgium, founded 2003. The Mechelsesteenweg HQ pulls espresso to a relaxed seating area.
Order Flat white, filter coffee
Cuperus Koffie on Paardenmarkt is the city-centre Horsey bar of the Antwerp specialty roastery. Sleek 2017 fit-out, in-house roasting. At Paardenmarkt 28.
Also on this listBerlin
On this list, shown aboveCaffènationCuperus Koffie
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.
Drink De Koninck Bolleke on tap
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.
Drink Belgian Trappist and abbey ales by the bottle
Paeters Vaetje in Antwerp sits in the cathedral's shadow on Blauwmoezelstraat. The list runs deep across Belgian abbey, Trappist and lambic styles.
Drink Bolleke De Koninck on draft, plus Westmalle and Chimay
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.
Drink Belgian beer on tap
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.
Also on this listWitzli-Poetzli
Try Belgian frites cooked in beef fat
Fritkot Max in Antwerp on Groenplaats has cooked Belgian frites in beef fat since 1842. Located in Historisch Centrum. Open daily 11:00-22:00.
Try Belgian frites with sauce
Frituur No. 1 in Antwerp on Hoogstraat is a classic frite counter near the cathedral. Hand-cut potatoes, double-fried in beef fat, paired with Belgian sauces.
Try Belgian frites, frikandel, bitterballen
Frituur 't Stad in Antwerp on Melkmarkt serves frites, frikandel and bitterballen from a corner counter a block from the Cathedral. Open daily 11:00-22:00.
't Oud Arsenaal in Antwerp has poured Belgian beer from Maria Pijpelincxstraat since 1924. Located in Historisch Centrum. At Maria Pijpelincxstraat 4.
The Antwerp Christmas Market runs across Grote Markt, Groenplaats and Handschoenmarkt from early December to early January. Glühwein, frites, speculoos.
Vrijdagmarkt in Antwerp is a Friday auction market on the square of the same name. The lots run furniture and antiques; the surrounding cafes serve lunch.
Bites and Walks in Antwerp runs sustainable walking food tours through the old city. Five-tasting routes cover fish, meat, sweet, savory and a drink stop.
Winedering's Antwerp beer and chocolate tour pairs three Belgian beers with chocolate pairings at authentic local pubs. Led by a beer sommelier and chocolate.
nom eat in Antwerp runs a 100 percent vegan Asian food walking tour. The full route starts in an Asian supermarket and covers three Vietnamese.
Discover Belgium runs scheduled food-tour programmes in Antwerp at four tiers: Silver, Gold, Diamond, Deluxe. The route covers three restaurants for appetiser, main and dessert with matched drinks and a guide.
Taste the City Tours in Antwerp runs a walking tour through the old city with stops for shrimp croquettes, stoofvlees, Antwerpse handjes, Belgian chocolate.
Bierpassie Weekend turns Antwerp's restored Handelsbeurs off the Meir into a beer hall for three days each June, with brewers pouring more than 200 Belgian specialty beers. Entry and the beer talks are free.
Also on this listAntwerp Christmas Market
XperienceBelgium runs hands-on Belgian cooking classes in Antwerp under a professional chef. The two-hour workshop covers Belgian classics with all.
On this list, shown aboveFritkot MaxFrituur 't StadFrituur No. 1MarolusBerlin
On this list, shown aboveBerlin
On this list, shown aboveBerlinFritkot MaxDen EngelWitzli-PoetzliFrituur 't StadDen Bengel
Café d'Anvers in Antwerp sits in a 16th-century former church in the red-light district. The nightclub has run since 1989 with house and techno across two rooms.
Also on this listDen Engel't Oud ArsenaalWitzli-PoetzliCafé Quinten MatsijsPaeters Vaetje
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