Antwerp is fortunate that so many different ethnic backgrounds have made the city their new home. With such a melting pot, you can find just about every cuisine you can possibly imagine in this wonderful city.
From Michelin-star restaurants to small curry houses, if you crave it, Antwerp has it. With that being said, there are a lot of excellent restaurants to choose from so here is a small selection of some of the best restaurants in Antwerp. Scroll to the bottom for the map.
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- Discover the best frites in Antwerp
- Discover the best Belgian Beer Cafes in Antwerp
16 Best Restaurants in Antwerp
1. Kartini | Oude Koornmarkt 61, 2000 Antwerpen
Small, intimate and spectacular, Kartini is an incredible restaurant that serves out-of-this-world Indonesian food.
It’s so small that I walked past if for the first 4 years of living in Antwerp and it never registered with me that it was even there. And for that, I am so sad, because Kartini might just be my favourite restaurant in all of Antwerp.
Kartini sits around 40 people (could be even less) and serves Indonesian food by the truckload. Come with an appetite and you’ll be well satisfied. The menu item to get in Kartini is shared between 2 people and features 15 typical Indonesian dishes from Gado Gabo, and Satay to Nasi Goreng.
Make sure you visit the bathroom for a low-down on the history of Kartini. It’s really cute.
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 5.30 pm- 10 pm
Closed: Sunday & Monday
2. Mandraki | Kaasrui 13, 2000 Antwerpen
One of my favorite Greek restaurants is close to Antwerp’s historic center and a stone’s throw from the impressive Cathedral. Mandraki is a small and wonderful Greek restaurant with incredible staff who are lively and so inviting.
The food in Mandraki is seriously excellent and if you’ve been missing Greek food after your last vacation to Santorini, or are in search of delicious dishes then look no further than Mandraki.
Closed: Tuesday & Wednesday
Open: Thursday – Monday 5 pm – 10 pm
3. Dansing Chocolat | Kloosterstraat 159, 2000 Antwerpen
I’ve already mentioned Dansing Chocolat on my brunch recommendations for Antwerp, but I thought I’d add it in here too. I really love Dansing Chocolat. It’s one of my comforting places to go if I need some really excellent comfort food.
The staff in Dansing Chocolat are really welcoming and fun, and aside from the great hearty food like baked camembert, stoofvlees, or salads you can get here, the establishment is stunning.
You’ll find a collection of mismatched furniture, homely decor and lots of foliage. One of the best spots in Antwerp for a bite to eat or just a drink.
Closed: Sundays
Open: Mondays – Saturdays 11 am – 11 pm.
4. Tawan Tai | Van Arteveldestraat 3, 2060 Antwerpen
Looking for excellent Thai food? Thankfully Antwerp has a great selection of excellent Thai restaurants with Tawan Tai being one of the stand-out stars.
Located near Antwerp Central Station, the area is not the greatest but Tawan Tai more than makes up for it with its really excellent cooking and dishes.
If you’ve been looking for authentic Thai food, you cannot beat and has been featured several times in the esteemed Gault & Millau Guide.
Opening Hours: Thursday – Monday: 12 pm- 8.30 pm
Closed: Tuesdays & Wednesdays
5. Mission Masala | Dendermondestraat 68, 2018 Antwerpen
Mission Masala is one of the best restaurants in Antwerp serving mouthwateringly delicious Indian cuisine. Its limited menu allows the restaurant to focus on what they excel at – creating Indian-inspired dishes with a twist.
Must-try dishes include their mouthwatering delicious ‘Boom Ting Butter Chicken’ and ‘Oh my Gobi’. They also do some banging co*cktails too.
We LOVE the decor in its cosy restaurant and during the summer months (when the sun actually shines), Mission Masala’s outdoor area is a fun way to spend an evening. Its popularity allowed its owners to set up an additional restaurant in Ghent. Make sure to book in advance.
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 6 pm-10 pm
Closed: Sunday & Mondays
6. Tamo | Volkstraat 44, 2000 Antwerpen
Tamo is hands down the prettiest restaurant on this list, if not all of Antwerp. It has one of the cosiest outdoor dining areas, complete with fairy lights and flowers. Its interiors are also incredibly pretty and give Bali boho vibes.
It’s a good thing that the food also tastes as good as the restaurant looks. We love the cool outfits the servers wear and their co*cktails are some of the best we’ve ever tasted.
Tamo is one of the best restaurants in Antwerp serving Thai food. Make sure to sample their starter sharing platter complete with spring rolls, yummy peanut dipping sauce and prawn dumplings. Try the Jungle Duck for mains, and make sure to order a mai tai to chase it all down.
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 5.30 pm – 10.30 pm
Closed: Monday & Tuesdays
7. Black Smoke | Boomgaardstraat 1, 2018 Antwerpen
If you have some craving for some slow-cooked meats, Southern US-style cooking, then look no further than Black Smoke. This is a meat-lovers paradise and Black Smoke is fantastic at what it does.
Black Smoke’s ‘Pulled Pork’ is out of this world delicious, as are their BBQ ribs which come in two flavours, 666 Honey Rib flavour or Kansas Wet Style. The Kansas Wet Style is a more traditional BBQ sauce, but with a Black Smoke twist as the BBQ sauce is infused with beer from the De Konnick brewery downstairs.
During the summer months, the rooftop of Black Smoke is used as an additional restaurant and is one of the best dining experiences in the entire city. Black Smoke also have a fantastic selection of aged spirits that are recommended with certain dishes. Their co*cktails are also pretty superb too.
Opening Hours:
Thursday – Saturday: 5.30 pm – 11 pm
Sunday: 12 pm – 2.30 pm & 5.30 pm – 11 pm
Closed: Mondays & Tuesdays
8. Umami | Luikstraat 6, 2000 Antwerpen
Almost slightly hidden, Umami is one of the best restaurants in Antwerp serving high-quality Sushi. Sushi chefs expertly prepare incredible flavours, and from every seat in the restaurant, you can observe the skilled chefs assemble delicate bites of deliciousness.
The sharing platter of sushi, which includes 24 pieces, is a fantastic way to sample your way across the menu.
If sushi isn’t your thing, there are other wonderful dishes such as the Chargrilled Chicken Yakatori or the King Prawns cooked in Chorizo Oil and Calabrian Chili. Umami is a fantastic restaurant with a ton of character and ambience.
And when you’ve finished your meal you can head to Minus-1 their late-night bar until 2 am.
Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday 5.30 pm – 11 pm
Sundays: 11.30 am – 3 pm & 5.30 pm – 11 pm
9. Maven | Luikstraat 4, 2000 Antwerpen
Located right next door to Umami is Maven, a carnivore’s dream. Or a vegans nightmare. Maven Nobel Meat Craft is a collaboration of incredible butchers, Luc De Laet and Wim Van der Borght (they also happen to be my favourite butchers in Antwerp).
Their passion led to the creation of Maven, an incredible restaurant that serves only the finest cuts of meat in Europe.
If you are serious about steak then this is one of the best restaurants in Antwerp. Their selection and cuts of meats change over time, and you can also discuss your meat selection with the onsite butcher. Holsteiner, Kobe and Swami are just a sample of some of the meats you can expect to find at Maven.
Make sure to add a side of their Truffle Fries, which are quite honestly some of the best fries in the world.
Opening Hours:
Monday – Sunday 6 pm-11 pm
10. Elfde Gebod | Torfbrug 10, 2000 Antwerpen
One of the quirkiest restaurants on the list, Elfde Gebod is quite unlike anywhere you’ve ever been before. The entire restaurant, including the restrooms, have religious statues everywhere.
Its location right beside Antwerp Cathedral adds to its bizarre charm, and aside from the religious icons watching your every move, the food here is pretty great.
One of their specialities is their mussels which are also one of their most popular dishes. And of course what are Moules without their side accompaniment, frites, which in Elfde Gebod seriously noteworthy.
For a bizarre restaurant with some of the kookiest settings, you are guaranteed a good meal and a ton of photos taking it all in.
Opening Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 6 pm – 10 pm
Friday – Sunday: 12 pm – 10 pm
11. Tapabar | Pelgrimstraat 22, 2000 Antwerpen
Located on Pelgrimstraat, a 2-minute walk from Antwerp Cathedral, Tapabar is easily one of the busiest and most popular restaurants on this fun and lively street. For those craving Spanish tapas, which let’s face it, is one of the best ways to share a meal or have a bit of everything, Tapabar has some of the best tapas in Antwerp.
Its lively atmosphere, whether sitting at the stools by the kitchen, or upstairs in a cosy alcove means that bookings are essential for dining here. Its popularity is primarily due to its excellent dishes, and its prices are pretty great too. The location helps too.
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Friday: 6 pm – 10 pm / Saturday & Sunday: 3 pm – 10 pm
Closed: Monday & Tuesday
12. t’Hofke | Vlaaikensgang 6, 2000 Antwerpen
A real hidden gem in a part of Antwerp that you wouldn’t necessarily even see, t’Hofke is down one of the quaintest and most adorable hidden alleyways in the old town.
Access is via either Pelgrimstraat or Oude Koornmarkt, look out for signs for the 15th-century alleyway.
t’Hofke offers traditional Flemish dishes, such as Stoofvlees and of course, one of the most famous Belgian dishes, croquettes. The food is really nice, but the real star is the restaurant and its surroundings. How often do you get to say that you dined in the oldest alleyway in Antwerp?
Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday: 12 – 3:30 pm, 6 – 11 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 12 – 11 pm
13. Satay | Wijngaardbrug 8, 2000 Antwerpen
For those craving the flavours of South East Asia, look no further than Satay. It takes some of the most famous street food from the region, Pad Thai, Teriyaki Beef, Gado Gado Chicken and of course the infamous Chicken Satay to a whole new level.
Expertly grilled and flamed you can even order as many satay sticks as you crave, which let’s face it, you can never have enough of.
Satay often pops up across the city in some of the summer bars, so keep your eyes peeled for some of the best South East Asian street food in Antwerp.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday & Wednesday: 6 pm – 9 pm
Thursday – Saturday: 12 pm – 3 pm & 6 pm – 9 pm
14. Camino | Muntstraat 4, 2000 Antwerpen
Another Asian-inspired addition to the list, but Camino is a bit different than the rest. With its ever-changing menu, you’re guaranteed to never experience the same dish twice. Hidden away, Camino turns into a real paradise when the sun shines during the warmer months of the year.
Their large terrace means that reservations are required and you’re not necessarily guaranteed a table outside. But that’s ok since the food is crazy good. Camino makes a perfect choice for those seeking Korean dishes with a twist.
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 12.30 pm – 3pm & 5.30pm – 10pm
Closed: Sunday & Monday
15. Le Pristine Cafe | Lange Gasthuisstraat 13, 2000 Antwerpen
Le Pristine Cafe is the brainchild of Dutch chef Sergio Herman. And whilst it may not have a Michelin Star (yet) like his other notable restaurant, The Jane; Le Pristine Cafe is a more accessible experience and aims to embrace a relaxed Italian trattoria serving pizzas pasta, and co*cktails, making it a superb gateway for a casual fine dining experience.
This is a perfect restaurant for anyone looking for a special occasion to celebrate. Reservations open weekly for Le Pristine Cafe and they occasional have walk-in availability. For those seeking a more refined culinary experience, consider Le Pristine which is the main restaurant located in the same building.
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 12pm – 10pm
Closed: Sunday & Mondays
16. De Arme Duivel | Armeduivelstraat 1, 2000 Antwerpen
De Arme Duivel is a small cosy restaurant near the Meir that is like a warm hug. It serves very traditional Belgian dishes with staples such as Vol au Vont, Stoofvless and even the lesser-seen, horse steak.
For the ultimate Belgian comfort food, De Arme Duivel is delicious and its cosy interiors are inviting, especially on cold Antwerp winter evenings.
Opening Hours:
Mondays – Saturdays: 12 pm – 2.30 pm & 5.30 pm – 10 pm
Closed: Sundays
Conclusion
Whatever your craving, Antwerp has you covered. And the great thing about a city like Antwerp is that every year more and more new restaurants are opening up and challenging our tastebuds. Are there any cuisines that Antwerp doesn’t have yet that you’d love to see? Drop a comment on your favourite restaurant in Antwerp.
Meet Missy…
Missy spent the first 2 decades of her life living in her native Dublin, Ireland. Before a life living overseas called to her, and she spent the next decade living in China, Laos & Belgium. She now splits her time in Antwerp, Belgium, and wherever the sun is currently shining. You can follow Missy’s real-time travels on her Instagram.
