Stylish City Guide to Antwerp, Belgium
- Feb 24
- 4 min read
I'm always surprised by how much my three years of high school French comes back to me when I'm in Paris. I ordered haricots vert with dinner this week as though that's something I say all the time, and I like to practice French with my Uber drivers. So I'm excited that I'll be going to Belgium for the first time this summer and can see how far my French gets me there too. I'll share more about this trip later, but since one of the cities I'll be visiting is Antwerp, here's a city guide that may spark your interest too!
Article below from 2/5/2026 by Blane Bachelor can be found HERE.
Belgium’s fashion-forward port city pairs runway cred with historic streets and a vibrant dining scene.
For more than five centuries, the world’s diamond capital has drawn travelers for business, but it’s not just precious stones that make Antwerp sparkle. This port city on Belgium’s Scheldt River has turned heads as a fashion hub, thanks in part to the Antwerp Six from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, including Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester, who shot to worldwide acclaim in the 1980s. (This spring, a new exhibition at MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp celebrates their legacy.) Dozens of boutiques, galleries, and antiques shops mingle with centuries-old architecture on Kammenstraat and Kloosterstraat, and the city flexes on the culinary scene too, with unpretentious fine dining, plus cozy wine bars and bistros galore, such as newcomers Nectar and Millésime. And in a country known for its beer, be sure to raise a glass of Antwerp’s beloved Bolleke, the malty, caramelly specialty of De Koninck brewery.
Eat
Book well in advance for Cobra, which has drawn a stylish crowd since opening in 2023 with its Parisian vibe and shared plates such as grilled sardines, steak tartare, and caramelized carrots with honey labneh.
Cella opened in a repurposed warehouse near the Scheldt River in trendy Eilandje. Standouts include bone-in rib eye and meats grilled over a live fire, as well as brown-butter scallops with cauliflower and asparagus. If the weather is nice, head to the patio for unbeatable water views.
Vaulted ceilings, mosaic floors, and low-lit interiors make for a grand entrance at Fiera in the restored Schippersbeurs. The menu nods to the building’s heritage in globally themed dishes like the Lima (sea bass ceviche) and the Reykjavík (snow crab with curry and smoked egg yolk).
Drink
A 1505 guildhall with original stained glass windows and intricate woodwork is now Antwerp’s most striking wine bar, Wijnbistro Goddaard, with a 700-strong list and a rotating by-the-glass menu. It’s only open on Fridays and Saturdays (until 1 am) and is popular with sommeliers after work, so make reservations.
Quinten Matsijs is one of Antwerp’s oldest cafés and its most beloved bruine kroeg, or brown bar. Order a Bolleke and bask in the gezelligheid: a sense of coziness and conviviality important to Flemish culture.
Shop
A staple of the local fashion scene, Antwerp Six member Ann Demeulemeester’s flagship, just steps from the KMSKA – Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, stocks a diverse selection of men’s and women’s pieces reflecting the designer’s bold, androgynous-leaning styles, plus shoes, accessories, and home goods.
Morobé may be best known for its namesake’s footwear, many styles with woven detailing, but the Theatre District boutique is also home to splurge-worthy handbags, belts, and jewelry.
Grab a tin of Antwerp handjes – small, hand-shaped butter cookies topped with sliced almonds, the city’s unofficial symbol – at one of three locations of family-owned Philip’s Biscuits. The beloved treats are inspired by the local legend (also depicted in Grote Markt’s Brabo Fountain) about an evil giant and the Roman soldier who slew him and threw his severed hand into the Scheldt.
Stay
Design throughout the 108-room Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp reflects its history as a medieval hospital and monastery, while its three-floor spa and four restaurants – including Hertog Jan’s omakase-inspired menu – helped earn its rep as the city’s modern temple for wellness and fine dining. Make reservations for afternoon tea in the historic monastery kitchens at the gardens’ entrance, as well as for the spirited Sunday brunch, which starts with Champagne and oysters shucked to order. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 hotel credit.
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