Barts Best of: Antwerp for a weekend away
We don't mind visiting Antwerp a few times a year... Here's a extensive restaurants in Antwerp list (of course only good and fun and tasty) but here is a summary with Barts Best of Antwerp, with our favorite hotels, restaurants, lunch spots and shopping tips in a row. You're welcome.
Any tips? We get it! Then your best bet is to purchase our up-to-date e-book, including Google Maps, with all the in-the-know addresses in Antwerp. To the ebook
- Hotel Pilar – one of the nicest hotels in Antwerp in one of the most beautiful and nicest locations in the city, that is Hotel Pilar. But don't rule out the food bar either. You can enjoy contemporary food in a beautiful setting all day long. Plus: the best place for breakfast! Hotel Pilar
- SHWAY – SHWAY has several nice apartments in Antwerp, three locations to be precise. All have their own charm, but all more handsome than handsome. SHWAY
- August Hotel – A 'contemporary retreat' as the owners themselves say. Either one special hospitality project with hotel, bar, restaurant, wellness and shop. August Hotel
Our favorite luxury hotel from the moment? That must be Hotel Botanic Antwerp. Read more here about that beautiful hotel.
And when we go we'll take the Travelteq Weekender. What? Travelteq. We are smitten on the orange variant. A practical and sturdy bag: ideal for a weekend away or a business tripsIt can be taken on the plane as carry-on luggage, and thanks to the two large zippered pockets and clever interior compartments, everything stays in its place. If you do take a suitcase, the strap on the side ensures that it fits perfectly on your suitcase. The brand has been around for a while (since 2009), but will have a complete range in 2024. rebranding A fresh start, back to basics. And those basics? Good materials, classic styles, and the perfect bag. The bags are made from Italian Vachetta leather combined with the Partex nylon that Travelteq uses as standard in its bags. And you get a lifetime guarantee (!).
If you're looking for a smaller, more compact bag, you've come to the right place. They also have the Overnight bag for an overnight getaway or the Briefcase for a workday. Travelteq
Read more here about our favorite wellness hotels in Antwerp (these are also perfect for a solo trip)
- Hotel Flora – Color predominates throughout the hotel, and that is really delicious. Color, and art. Hotel Flora
- Boulevard Leopold – Just off the paved paths of Antwerp, but a chicken ride away by bike. Here it is a bit back to the past, thanks to the grayed green one ton sur ton furnishing of a monumental building. Boulevard Leopold
- And you – Yust is the place to be if, in addition to a weekend of shopping in Antwerp, you would also like to meet new people and discover food, art or music. And you
- Cobra – Popular? Yes. Pricey? Yes. But we like the classic artistic rock 'n roll vibe We succeeded so well here, and the menu is understandable (and delicious) that we definitely consider it a favorite.
- Fish a' gogo – Minuscule restaurant with simple but high quality super fresh seafood and finger food. Fish a'gog
- Le John – A classic if you ask us. The restaurant is located in an old school building and you always have a great evening there. Le John
- Camino – Small but nice restaurant with Belgian-Vietnamese cuisine. Camino Antwerp
- Bistrot l'ilot 'a casual bistro that's seasonally spontaneous'. Bistrot l'ilot
- Osaka – A wine bar with small snacks that vary daily. And not only the food is delicious, also the sleek interior. Osaka
- fair – mainly because of the picture-, picture-, picture-beautiful case (and the rest is also excellent, but at a price)
Not enough restaurants? Then read the article about all our favorite restaurants in Antwerp, believe us, there really is something that makes you happy.
- Cafématic - Bee Cafématic you can relax inside or outside on the terrace with a cup of coffee and a tasty sandwich. Cafématic
- Whale – A cozy and no nonsense brunch and lunch address in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Antwerp, Zurenborg. Whale
- Tinsel – One of our longest running favorites in Antwerp. The dishes are more than tasty, the prices are good, the atmosphere is cozy and the service is friendly. Tinsel
- Mario – An Italian sandwich shop with a hidden lunch restaurant on the top floor. You should know! Mario
- Album “A seasonal album of everything we like: sourdough, coffee, breakfast dishes, lunch and quality drinks”. Album
- Domestic Bakery – This is the right place for authentic breads with thick crust, crispy buns and baguettes, sweet brioches and more. Domestic Antwerp
You should definitely not skip lunch between shopping, just relax for an hour or two and then continue. Read all about the best ones lunch spots in Antwerp and then the fuel is fine. (Or check this list, for the best coffee from Antwerp)
Whether you can do a little shopping in Antwerp? Does Lee Towers have glasses? Skip the famous Meir (aka Amsterdam's Kalverstraat) and head to the Schuttershofstraat for the city's most beautiful (luxury) shops. And you can go straight to the Lombardenvest for the nicest, unique brands out there. And if you do that, go from Schuttershofstraat to Lombardenvest, you will also pass the beautiful new store of Marie Stella Maris, right at the beginning of the Lombardenvest: you can't miss it! (at the weekend there is always a stall with shrimp croquettes in front of the door - also recommended). Inside, the shop is exactly what you want Marie Stella Maris hopes, and then in the best possible way: light, fresh, and with all the delicious Marie products clearly and clearly displayed. Although the highlight is of course the r bar in the back of the store: bring your own empty (glass) Marie Stella Maris bottle to the store and refill it with your favorite product. Very good for both nature and your wallet.
After a day full of shopping and soaking up culture, a visit to the Mind Oasis is the luxurious break that completes your day (and that you have earned). How does it work? With a range of scientifically based and multi-sensory treatments, such as a Brain Massage or Hydro Massage, you will feel reborn in about 20-55 minutes. During a Hydro Massage, you lie on a waterbed that simultaneously massages your body. Beside you hangs a tablet with which you can adjust the intensity of the massage, music, and scent. Above you hang red light therapy lamps that boost collagen production (creating a rejuvenating effect). During the Brain Massage, you lie in a separate cabin on a zero-gravity chair that brings your brain into a deep, relaxed state – comparable to the restorative effect of deep sleep (theta state). Sounds good, right? So, in no time at all, you'll be loaded with new energy to continue your day out. After all, the hustle and bustle of daily life can lead to stress, overstrain, and insomnia. It is Rituals' mission to help you let your mind and body unwind completely.
- Bakery Funk – small, blue, cool. One of the few places in Antwerp where you will find a line on the weekend, and we understand why.
- Polly Antwerp – also because of the location: where you will find PAKT, Hotel August and The Jane. And also a lovely coffee shop where it is also good to work outside the door.
- Andy Roasters – Good coffee, good place.
Even more great hotels in Antwerp you can find here.
- pact – PAKT is a collection of fine restaurants and other young, creative companies on an industrial, wildly attractive, raw, car-free square.
- The Island – You can no longer call the 't Eilandje district unknown in Antwerp, not least because of it MAS, or the Museum aan de Stroom. And not only MAS can be found there, so can it Red Star Line Museum.
- ZOO – In Antwerp you will find the oldest zoo in Belgium and one of the oldest in the world. Trust us when we say that the kids will be grateful to spend an afternoon wandering around ZOO Antwerp.
- Paulette in the City – For all your color at home, you can find Paulette and her colorful stuff at Sint-Jorispoort number 20, an extension of the Lange Gasthuisstraat, in the heart of the city. Paulette
- Museum of Fine Arts – An institution and more beautiful than ever since its reopening.
- Drinks on Saturday at the Theatre Square is the MOST fun.
Antwerp with the kids? Certainly possible! Read all the fun (en kid-proof) what to do in the Belgian capital here.
