There is always so much to tell about a city, that is why I separate my articles into 3 very useful parts:
Part 1: Top Places to See in Antwerp
Part 2: Best Places to Eat in Antwerp
Part 3: Transport and Accommodation in Antwerp
Antwerp Food: What to try and where?
It was just too hard to decide what are the best places to eat in Antwerp. Antwerp’s culinary scene is buzzing with many international cuisines, trendy restaurants and cute, cozy cafes. Every corner has a mouthwatering, stylish restaurant which draws you in. So I created this guide of what food you must try and in which places, as I have managed to try several of them 🙂
1. Belgian Waffles!
I felt like it is my mission to try waffles from every corner in Antwerp, and maybe one day I will do a full guide on waffle comparison. But so far my favourite waffles in Antwerp were next to Cathedral of our Lady, which is called La Gaufrerie. It is a small stall, but it is easy to spot by the big queue and by the amazing display of waffles they have on. The waffles are very reasonably priced, starting at 2€, and adding 1-2€ per topping. We got a strawberry nutella waffle, and it was so yummy, hot, fluffy, and with a lot of topping on top 🙂
The second best we tried were Australian Waffles. They also started from 2€ and each topping was 1 € extra. But I still question why they are Australian though 🙂
Lastly, we went to a highly reviewed and recommended on google traditional waffle restaurant Desire De Lille, and I have to say it was pretty disappointing. The waffles were overpriced, with around 10€ per waffle, that came cold and with a rude service on top. I would recommend you get two waffles instead from the places mentioned above 🙂
2. Chocolate
Of course we all know Belgium is famous for its chocolate, that is why you will see chocolate shops everywhere in Antwerp. There are a lot of world famous brands you can try in Antwerp, but I think nothing beats locally made chocolate.
‘Sjokolat’ was one of this hidden gem places we found for chocolate.The store is very small, but cozy and offers a huge variety of chocolate flavours: with flowers, tea, berries and much more. And the taste was soo delicious, it was the best chocolate we have tried in Belgium. The price was also very reasonable (in fact the cheapest we have found) and we paid 9.50€ for a box of 16 pralines. The only thing we regret is not buying more from here. Guess we must return 🙂
The Chocolate line is another must visit place. The shop itself is a unique experience: a magnificent baroque interior, the open kitchen, a light chocolate smell, chocolates in all shapes and colours, and a unique combination of flavours. The price is medium range, and we paid around 10€ for a box of 8 pralines. The chocolate was nice, but in my opinion was too liquid for my liking.
3. Fish and Chips at Bia Mara
Antwerp has a lot of fresh seafood, so don’t miss on trying it when visiting. Bia Mara offers traditional fish and chips with a twist on flavours! The fries are seasoned with seaweed salt, and you can even get a Vietnamese style fish with peanut sauce. The fresh fish comes daily to Bia Mara, so the tabloid always changes. Also the price is very reasonable with 12-15€ per meal. Must try!
4. Burgers at Manhattan’s Burgers
I am usually very picky about my burger, especially in chain-like restaurants. But in Manhattan’s Burger the burgers were perfect, on a tender brioche bun, with medium fried meat, juicy and full of sauce. It is great to go with a big company as they have plenty of space:) The price was around 15€ for a burger and fries.
5. Healthy Lunch at Foodmaker
Foodmaker is very popular amongst locals, and situated right on the main shopping street. Here you can make your own yogurt or a salad bowl from a range of healthy, fresh toppings. You can choose a small bowl for 4.50€ or a bigger bowl for 8.90€ to take away or eat in. There are also a lot of vegan options. Inside the place is super cozy, with two floors, panoramic windows and lots of plants.
Tip: You need to pay together in a restaurant
This came to us a bit of surprise, as here in Germany we are used to pay our bills separately in the restaurant. However, be prepared if you are travelling in a company, most of the places have only one bill per table. So one of the people will have to cover the bill and then do all the separating work later 🙂
To find out more about Antwerp’s best attractions and hotels, check out my other articles:
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