Information for: Antwerp
Belgium’s ‘second city’, Antwerp is a stylish destination. It boasts an array of brilliant shops, selling everything from vintage clothing to classic and affordable antiques. It also has great restaurants, cafes and bars. Keep your eyes open for famous design houses and streets sparkling with a girls ‘best friend’ – diamonds!
Hotels located in: Antwerp
Hotel Julien
Understated and quiet this chic guest house/townhouse is sandwiched between 2 beautiful 16th century buildings. The very picture of modern minimalist hotel design in a great Old City location and right in the heart of the action. Not overly fancy but very comfortable. If you can ask for the room in the roof where you [...]
Korte Nieuwstraat 24Tel No: +32 3 2290 9600
De Witte Lelie
Discreetly luxurious hotel dressed all in white. It is situated in the cultural centre of the city. This boutique hotel has only 10 rooms in this unassuming option. Small and quiet this is the hidden treasure amongst the hotels in Antwerp.
Keizerstraat 16Tel No: +32 3 226 1966
Hilton Antwerp Hotel
Located in a good central location where everything you’ll want is nearby. A Hilton offering with an in-house bar restaurant and lounge. Safe reliable and familiar option for this functional accommodation.
GroenplaatsTel No: +32 3 204 1212
Kasteel Solhof
Small and luxurious, this 4-star offering is set in a countryside manor about 10 minutes from the centre of the city. Providing a gentle alternative to the city centre hotels. This hotel comes highly recommended.
Baron Van Ertbornstraat 116Tel No: +32 3 877 3000
Hotel Rubens
Smart 4-star boutique offering in an ideal central location. Best for business but good for a city break as well. The Rubens offers a mixture of deluxe rooms and small number of suites.
Oude Beurs 29Tel No: +32 3 222 4848
Hotel Agora
One of 3 Dema Hotels in Antwerp this is a new-build offering in the centre of the city. It’s not expensive so you’ll get quite a lot for your money in this modern and trendy 4-star option.
Koningin Astridplein 43Tel No: +32 3 4775 0438
Culture & Entertainment Located in: Antwerp
Cafe d’Anvers
With a cavernous interior that was formerly a garage and a cinema, this is the top club in the city if not the country. Combining a futuristic sci-fi element with a decadent, bordello-esque decor it can be pricey but is trendy and very popular at weekends.
Verversrui 15Tel No: +32 3 226 3870
Den Engel
One of the oldest pubs in Antwerp, Den Engel is in a great location in the main square at Grote Markt. Well known and very popular (with great beer of course!) this is an ideal spot to start your night – and is probably as traditional as a Belgian pub can get.
Grote Markt 3Tel No: +32 3 233 1252
Kelly’s Irish Pub
Highly popular Irish Bar which is great for a more laid back evening. With plenty of live music and live sports on-screen. The lively and unpretentious crowd enjoy the classic Irish/British pub food which is on offer.
De Keyserlei 27Tel No: +32 3 201 5988
De Vagant
Famous city centre bar with adjoining shop and restaurant. This place is renowned for serving gin and nothing else on tap – with over 200 different formulations. Located in the Old City location definitely worth visiting – even if you’re making this just a quick stop before moving on. If gin is not your favourite [...]
Reyndersstraat 25Tel No: +32 3 233 1538
Sips
Intimate American-style Cocktail Bar with top bartenders and first-class drinks in an upmarket haunt. With a private club atmosphere, Sips Bar has got a bit of Manhattan about it and is perfect for drinks purists.
Gillisplaats 8Tel No: +32 3 257 3959
Restaurants Located in: Antwerp
Zuiderterras
Uber-cool and contemporary, Zuiderterras towers over the River Scheldt. Offering fantastic views along with a great fish menu it’s well worth a visit.
37 Ernest Van Dijckkaai
Heckers
Treat yourself after a hard days shopping, Heckers is the perfect retreat. Uniquely they offer a surprise menu where the chef will prepare your meal according to the wine you have chosen.
13 Kloosterstraat
Rooden Hoed
Antwerp’s oldest restaurant has been in business for over 250 years and attracts locals and visitors alike. It has an Old City location. Enjoy the classy atmosphere but with affordable prices for some upmarket Belgian dining.
Oude Koornmarkt 25Tel No: +32 3 233 2844
Het Pomphuis
Lofty industrial conversion serving contemporary food. Predominantly French cuisine with modern fusion influences. Cool and trendy this restaurant enjoys a unique setting at the entrance of the port.
SiberiastraatTel No: +32 3 770 8625
Cityzen
Trendy resto-bar hotspot with a huge terrace for outdoor dining. This restaurant overlooks the Marnixplaats. Situated on the trendy Zuid (South) Cityzen serves an excellentrange of International cuisine.
Marnixplaats 6Tel No: +32 3 257 1810
Dome
This michellin star restaurant was originally built in 1893. Very classy this historical and Monumental building boasts a art nouveau dome and offers the high-end dining experience you’d expect from an upmarket restaurant.
Grote Hondstraat 2Tel No: +32 3 239 9003
Light of India
Been serving Indian original food for nearly ten years now. Good location in the heart of the city. Pretty small but with an earned reputation for great food. Real Indian atmosphere that includes Indian music and entertainment.
E. Van Dyjk Kaai 19-20Tel No: +32 3 231 4144
Gin-Fish
Michelin-starred seafood restaurant which is small trendy and very cosy. Offering a set menu every day you don’t have to worry about what to choose. It is expensive but definitely worth it.
Haarstraat 9Oude Stad
Tel No: +32 3 231 3207
Sporting/Leisure/Beauty Located in: Antwerp
Dries Van Noten Store
Indulge in the faded grandeurat the flagship store of one of Belgiums top designers.
16 Nationalstraat
Walter – Gallery & Clothes Shop
The world famous store of Walter Van Beirendonck who is one of the famous Antwerp designers. One of Antwerps most interesting stores to visit, ‘Walter’ doubles as an art gallery and clothing shop where the writing is literally on the wall.A must see!
Sint Antoniusstraat 12Tel No: +32 3 231 7732
Step by Step
This extremely girl friendly shop stocks many much loved designers such as Vaness Bruno and Isabel Marant.
18 LombardenvestAnn Demeulemeester
Antwerp is internationally renowned for it’s fashion designers. Ann Demeulemeester is one of the best. Very minimalist visit her (very hushed!) store.
38 VerlstratTel No: +32 3 830 5272
Mani d’Oro
Antwerp has a reasonable number of spas and beauty centres. This is one of the smartest non-hotel options. Mai d’Oro is small and a little off the beaten track but that shouldn’t put you off at all. All the main treatments are provided by professional staff who mostly speak English. Set within pleasant surroundings. For [...]
Quellinstraat 43Tel No: +32 495 835 177
Bossenstein Golf & Polo Club
If you fancy playing some golf take a trip out of town to Bossenstein Golf and Polo Club. With 27 holes which surround the impressive Bossenstein Castle, a hotel and a restaurant, Bossenstein provides the perfect escape from the city and all less than 30km from Antwerp.
Maas en Moor 16Broechem
Tel No: +32 3 485 6446
Klimax climbing gym
One of Belgium’s largest indoor climbing hallsLocated in the town of Breendonk about 20 mins from the cityEquipment and instructions availableOver 2000 sq metres of climbing
Cyriel Verschaevestraat 15Breendonk
Tel No: +32 3 866 5392
Franco’s Power Gym
Fitness gym on the outskirts of the city. Fully-equipped for strength-building and cv. One-day memberships available. A sound option if there’s no gym in your hotel.
Vordensteinstraat 133Schoten
Tel No: +32 3 658 9781
Entertainment located in: Antwerp
National Maritime Museum
The oldest building in Antwerp is also home to Belgium’s only Maritime Museum. With a collection that ranges from a uniform button to boats the museum charts the history of seamanship in Belgium and is pretty much a visitors ‘must do’ while you’re in the city. It is open daily excluding Mondays.
1 SteenpleinTel No: +32 3 201 9340
The Rubens Gallery
The city&rsquos most famous son Peter Paul Rubens didn&rsquot starve in a garret but lived in style in an impressive 17th-century mansion now filled with his works – many of them originals. Well worth a visit.
9-11 WapperModeNatie
Antwerp’s amazing Fashion Museum incorporating Yohji Yamamoto&rsquos largest store.
28/2 Nationalestraat
Diamond Museum
Highly impressive and world famous Diamond Museum that will leave you drooling. Full tours are available with numerous examples on display. A ‘must do’ if you have time to kill during the day.
Koningin AstridpleinTel No: +32 3 202 4890
Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst
Located in the south of the city, Antwerp’s Museum of Contemporary Art is a fascinating museum for Avant-Garde Art. In an old revamped warehouse their wonderful collection offers a progressive view of various art forms, while the exhibitions highlight selected themes throughout the year. On the roof you’ll find a bar with an attractive patio [...]
Leuvenstraat 16Tel No: +32 3 238 5960