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Antwerp cuisine understandably focuses on fish, presented with few frills in even the finest restaurants, often poached or steamed, and reasonably priced. From the chilled whelks and periwinkles (marine snails) picked out of their shells with pins, to piles of tender little grijze garnalen (small shrimp), to the steamy white flesh of the mammoth tarbot (turbot), the scent of salt air is never far from your table. The ubiquitous mosselen (mussels) and paling (eels), showcased in midpriced restaurants throughout the city center, provide a heavier, heartier version of local fish cuisine. Bought live from wholesalers, the seafood is irreproachably fresh.
Antwerp has a high number of restaurants for a city its size. Many of the traditional places, both formal and casual, are clustered in Oude Stad. There are plenty of tourist-focused restaurants on the Grote Markt, but if you look along the smaller streets around the square you'll find some excellent local favorites. Het Zuid, meanwhile, is known for trendier cafés and restaurants. Peak dining hours are generally from noon until 3 and from 8 pm to 11 or midnight. Since the dining scene is quite busy, it's best to make reservations.
It's worth visiting here for the location alone, in the Vlaeykensgang (the oldest alley in the city), where time seems to have stood still. The cozy dining room has the look and feel of a private home. The lunch menu includes a large selection of salads and omelets, as well as more substantial bistro fare in the evening. Try for a table in the courtyard.
In an old yellow-painted brick farmhouse just east of the center, the leafy front terrace and rustic interior both provide a charming setting for enjoying this small restaurant's generously portioned and innovative takes on Belgian and European classics. The beer list is short but outstanding, as is the wine list—unsurprising as the same family also runs the wine store next door.
This modern café-restaurant with a prime spot on the main square serves pan-European dishes, but with a notable Italian slant that also spills over into the wine list. The long, narrow design of the sleek interior feels a little like dining in a train carriage, but grab a spot on the terrace and you can contemplate the strapping features of Celtic warrior Ambiorix as you eat.
This busy café-bar is found deep in the hipster spawning grounds of Mechelseplein, and while the menu is limited to a half dozen Flemish and French crowd-pleasers (beef carbonnade/stoofvlees, vol-au-vent, and the like) and burgers, it executes them extremely well—and at a good price. High, ornate ceilings, a long bar, and closely packed tables help perpetuate the communal vibe that carries most evenings along. It's a very chill spot, and the beer selection is pretty good.
In fine weather the front terrace of this lively café-restaurant has a to-die-for view of the Zimmertoren, while the bright, modern interior has high ceilings and a mezzanine above to create a sense of space. The extensive international menu of pasta, salads, and steaks in generous portions also finds room for a few Belgian classics, including oven-baked witloof (Belgian endive) in a creamy sauce.
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