The best of Antwerp
Now that summer, filled with tropical destinations and sunshine, is over, it’s time to look a little closer to home again. Antwerp is the perfect base for a weekend getaway. Heading towards our southern neighbours this month? Then don’t miss Smaakmeesters – Antwerp’s ultimate culinary festival.
During Smaakmeesters, the centre of Antwerp is transformed into one huge food market. Until 31 October, you can visit no fewer than 116 restaurants and specialty shops – from bakeries to cocktail bars – to enjoy their signature dish. From coffee and pastries to an elaborate dinner or simply a dessert. You name it, they’ve got it. I went ahead of you and put the following places to the test all across Antwerp.
Noordzee Fishbar van A
Anyone visiting Antwerp would do well to get a shrimp croquette as soon as possible. Something about a good start being half the work? Anyway; this ultimate Flemish snack is ubiquitous here, but take it to the next level and head to Noordzee Fishbar van A on Handschoenmarkt. Amid the tourist cafés and souvenir shops, you can get not only that fantastic croquette, but also oysters, mussels, razor clams and dishes such as fish soup and smørrebrød with gravlax or smoked mackerel salad. Add some bubbles or a beer, and that perfect kick-off to your weekend is a fact.
Handschoenmarkt 17/19/21
Dansing Chocola
If you want to avoid an afternoon slump after that mountain of croquettes and shellfish, you’d do well to take a good long walk. That works out nicely, because although the historic centre is absolutely beautiful, you’ll find the best restaurants and cafés in Antwerp South. On Kloosterstraat, besides vintage shops and galleries – definitely pop in – you’ll also find the authentic Dansing Chocola. The interior of this restaurant resembles the set of a retro television series, while outside you could imagine yourself on a Spanish or Italian square. In short: the ultimate spot for a beer or two in the autumn sunshine. After all, it’s October and 22 degrees, so what more could you want? We’re sticking with Antwerp’s finest and opting for Seefbier and some Bollekes Keuning – the Antwerp beer De Koninck.
Kloosterstraat 159
Sum Sum Zuid
After a long terrace session, we walk on for another five minutes or so to Sum Sum Zuid. Here we start with a super-fresh basil cocktail and a load of not-so-traditional dim sum in Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean styles. Nicely eclectic. We go for the steamed Chinese dumplings with pork, cabbage and Sichuan sauce; the Japanese fried chicken gyoza, the crispy Korean mandu and the crab rangoon; deep-fried Chinese-American wontons filled with crab, cream cheese and Worcestershire sauce.
We actually want even more dumplings, but decide to continue with a few more substantial dishes. The dinner menu is a kind of hit parade of Asian dishes that have made their way into the kitchens of trendy mainstream restaurants in recent years. In that spirit, we decide to go all the way and order the spicy dan dan noodles, the pork belly bao and General Tso’s rotisserie beef rib.
The pork belly in the bao is wonderfully tender, but if I’m honest, the noodles and the ribs are a little disappointing. The dan dan noodles are somewhat boring and far from spicy. The sauce on the ribs is heavenly, but the meat itself is anything but tender. Final verdict? Next time I’ll stick to the cocktails and dumplings – a winning formula if you ask me.
Leopold de Waelstraat 3
More about Antwerp
The FavorFlav editorial team regularly visits Antwerp. Read all about the best lunch spots from editor Nadia here, and be sure to check out Marjan Ippel’s ultimate weekend tips too. And do you have any tips that we really shouldn’t miss? Let us know via Facebook! For more information about Antwerp, also visit Visit Antwerpen. You can easily book your train journey with NS International.
