Antwerp Pubs

 Antwerp is a fine place to drink - and Belgian beer is the best in the world

There are many bars in the city centre, mostly dark and tiny affairs exuding a cheerful vitality. Some of them regularly feature live music, and on sunny evenings, the pavement cafe - bars on Groenplaats and Handschoenmarkt make delightful places to watch the world go by. Opening hours are elastic, with many places only closing when the last customers leave - say 2 or 3 am - and almost all of the bars are open daily. The favourite local tipple, incidentally, is De Koninck, drunk by the "bolleke", or small, stemmed glass.
Almost all the interesting pubs are in the old city. Antwerp's pubs have survived better than those in many large Belgian towns - especially those in the South, like Liëge, totally controlled by Interbrew. Most of the pubs in the city centre have remained a good deal of character and been spared the bland renovations that have struck Belgium like a plague. In Belgium prices are quoted "all inclusive" in bars and restaurants. No additional tipping necessary but tips can be given if you want to reward exceptional service.

Antwerp Beer

Antwerp is home to the De Koninck brewery and this beer, "bolleke" as Antwerp people call it, is found on draught in most pubs. Unlike the rest of Belgium, where pils is king, the standard beer here is a pale ale. And very pleasant it is, too. It could be self-deception, but this beer tastes best in its home city. Every visitor should try at least a bolleke or two. Beer prices are very reasonable. De Koninck and witbier are seen as ordinary draught beers here and priced accordingly: they are barely more expensive than pils.

Antwerp Pubs - Our all time favourites

1. DE PROF

On the corner of Vekestraat and Grote Kauwenberg
This is the homr pub of ESN. A lot of activities will be organised in this cosy pub.
Wim is our great bartender.

2. DE VAGANT

Corner Pelgrimsstraat and Reynerstraat
A famous city centre bar with adjoining shop and restaurant, renowned for serving liqueurs and jenever - Belgian gin. But what a choice: there are more than 200 jenever selections in the bar and over 400 in the shop - plus a choice of 1,000 miniature bottles to buy or try - just in case you get thirsty. Choose a stool in the bar, order a round for your friends and discover whether you prefer this stuff to vodka or scotch.

3. HET ELFDE GEBOD

Torfbrug 10
Translated in Flemish as the 11th Commandment, which, judging from the nightly scene in here, means eat, drink and be merry. The decor is gorgeous, gaudy, pseudo-religious artifacts, you'll find statues of angels, pictures of Christ and various church memorabilia on the walls. Expect interesting locals to be propping up the bar, among them gorgeous young artists and weird eccentrics. Arty, hearty and full of fun - it beats the other ten commandments

 4. KULMINATOR

Vleminckveld 32-34
The beer selection is unbelievable. Just the new beers would make it an outstanding beer pub. What tips it over into the sublime is the unrivalled choice of old beers. Forgotten beers from long-closed breweries, beers never officially sold , anything you could dream about and more. It would take several weeks to exhaust the possibilities of 550 different kinds of beer, including EKU-28, known as the strongest beer on earth. Some of the beers are 30 years old!

5. PELGROM

Pelgrimsstraat 15
This pub is situated in a mediaeval basement. The interior is purely brilliant. Curved brick roof cellars, long wooden tables with built in seats. Lots of flickering candles punctuate
the dark atmosphere. Immense character! Classical music playing in the background. If you wait a nice quiet night with the girlfriend/boyfriend or with some friends, and still
have a decent selection of 50 beers - this is the place to come. This is a very romantic spot !!

6. PATERS VAETJE

Blauwmoezelstraat 1
Pater's Vaatje is nice and easy to find, being right next to the cathedral (you can't miss it: big building, one spire not quite finished yet). It's in a typical 17th century Antwerp house and there are plenty of signs of its age inside. The beer list is pretty good: about 100 kinds of mostly Belgian beer. Try them all and call an ambulance :) Overall, a pleasant and intimate cafe well worth a visit.

7. CELTIC IRELAND

Groenplaats
Like most pubs nowadays, this one not only offers a wide range of beers but also good food. Lots of wooden furniture and the trimmings, candle-lit tables and the obvious Irish attributes create a great atmosphere. The bartenders have Guinness and other Irish ales on draught. Quite a few Irish whiskies are also on hand. Typical Irish dishes such as Irish lamb stew are on the menu.

8. DE MUZE

Melkmarkt 15
The Muze is the place to be if you like live jazz music: almost every evening there's a concert. The mood of this unique pub in the old centre of Antwerp attracts a happy crowd of all ages. With its bare brick walls, large counter and intricate architecture, this old building radiates a charming warmth that few pubs have. Many Antwerp artists come here to muse upon the spectacle and have a few good beers, for example draught Grimbergen Trappist beer, to help them along. The owners also serve various hot and cold snacks.

9. DE NEGEN VATEN

Zand 1
In the early evening De Negen Vaten is a trendy cafe that serves food. An extensive list of tapas and some typical Spanish dishes (paella, gambas, sardines, etc.) set the tone. But from around ten the premises becomes an increasingly happier drinking spot revolving around the theme of Spain, and where Spanish sparkling wines and local Antwerp beers go hand in hand. Sangria, Malaga, Sherry, Porto and other specialities are poured from nine barrels. And after midnight the atmosphere reaches a crescendo because then there is dancing to salsa, merengue and flamenco music. An ideal spot if you cherish your Spanish or South American holiday or home memories.

10. HESSENHUIS

Falconrui 53
During nightime , after closing the museum and when the old ladies with their coffee slurping habits are gone.. the place turns into a sparkling gay-club. It is one of the more classy places to go. A little bit of dancing , socializing ... on a lot of loud modern happy disco. Very crowded in the weekend. For gay people it is always happy hour here.

11. CAFE AU LAIT

Oude Beurs 8
The interior and decoration have an African style and you always find a very interesting mix of different people. Good for a drink and a dance on groovy beats. The music is garage, groovy, drum & bass.

12. CUBA BELLA

Grote Pieter Potstraat 8
La Cuba Bella opened its doors in November 1998 and quickly became one of the most visited Salsa locations in Antwerp. It nicely decorated interior testimonies for its link with Cuba: pictures, posters and other wall decoration items give it a warm atmosphere. Cuban Music completes the scene. Although Cuba Bella opens in principle at 18h00, do not expect people to show up early in the evening... However around mid-night most of the time the dance-floor is quite full.

13. POOL PLANET

Rooseveltplaats
This groovy, loungy place has everything for the demanding student. Every schoolday free omelet breakfast for students, Wednesday cheap spaghetti day, high speed internet, a bottle of wine for your birthday and dozens of pool-and snookertables.

near UA Campus Drie Eiken

't Kaf - Universiteitsplein 1
Den Brosser - L. De Koninckstraat 39
De Buis - Marie Josélaan 29

near Lessius

Den Echo - Lange Nieuwstraat 9
Den Doedelzak - Sudermanstraat 12
Den Tolk - Pompstraat 1
't Leste Lesuur - Pompstraat 9
't Hofke - Oude Koornmarkt 16