Image by Ysabel Jongeneelen

A couple of years ago the neighborhood around the falconplein was a different world. It was a square with dubious shops ran by the Russian mafia and Georgian gangsters. They say it was possible to buy grenades under the table, and the smuggling in fake products and girls from the east were big business then. The falconplein was/is also at the edge of the red light district.

When the city decided to ‘clean up’ the square in 2007 this was very successful. Not so adventurous anymore but today it is a more pleasant square where crime isn’t longer the most important thing.

On the first and the third Sunday of every month there is a market for biological products. And on the square you can find the nice café Bartilia. It is called Bartilia because of the former trees that stood on the square. They were all limetrees (‘Tilia’). When they redesigned the square all the lime trees had to go.

The owners of Bartilia wanted to make a statement and they named the cafe after the trees. Bartilia is a cosy cafe for young and old, but especially for the young. In weekends it can be busy but it is always nice to be there. It is allowed to smoke in there. The atmosphere is good.

On Sunday it is nice to combine the market with a coffee in Café Bartilia. But be careful, sometimes the café opens a little bit later than planned…

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Bartilia | Bars, Coffee & tea
Falconplein 43 | Eilandje | +32484157995
Autumn/Winter 15:00 – 03:00 daily | Spring/Summer 11:00 – 03:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by ysabel jongeneelen

The Witzli-Poetzli is a very small café in the center of citycenter. It is next to our great cathedral. In the summer there’s an unique terras in the shadow of the cathedral. In the winter it is a cosy place where people come to drink coffee and read a newspaper.

In the narrow street of the Witzli are no cars allowed and there are practically no shops. It is a passing-through-street. A lot of people pass by and from the Witzli-Poetzli you have a perfect view! In winter there’s a lot of wind in the street, so you can see very funny situations that happen to by-passers.

The former owner – Guido – died very suddenly in December 2008, a couple of weeks after a fight in his cafe. This was a enormous shock for a lot of people in Antwerp. And of course: what would happen to the Witzli?! Antwerp wouldn’t be te same without! We are very lucky that a former barman took over the café and that he keeps the Witzli like it was.

I visit the Witzli-Poetzli a lot. It is the most ideal spot to meet friends or to rest after a walk in the city. But the most important reason is their white coffee (café au lait). Normally I never drink white coffee, but it is such a genius form of it that I always drink it when I come there.

Don’t leave Antwerp without tasting the Witzli-coffee!

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Witzli-Poetzli | Bars, Coffee & tea
Blauwmoezelstraat 8 | Meir
From 10:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Ysabel Jongeneelen

I often go to café/restaurant K. Zeppos. The name comes from a Belgian tv-programme for kids: Kapitein Zeppos. It played in the years 1964 till 1968 and was very successful.

When you enter the café you see a very big picture of the actor that played Kapitein Zeppos (Senne Rouffaer).

K. Zeppos is a very ‘practical’ café/restaurant. It’s in the middle of the city, but not in the heat of the tourist-zone. It has an enormous terrace on a big square in summer and in winter it is very comfortable inside. Good atmosphere, nice food for an okay price. It’s not cheap, but also not very expensive. Only their tea is way too expensive. That’s why I never drink tea in the K. Zeppos.

It’s a perfect meeting-place for little groups. If I want to see a bunch of my friends we think easily of K.Zeppos. Especially if some people have to eat. You can eat classic Belgian food, but they have also meals from all over the world. And it’s no smoking… It’s a good place where I like to come from time to time..

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K. Zeppos | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Intern.) | Main meal from € 15.00
Vleminckveld 78 | Meir | +3232311789
From 10:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Ysabel Jongeneelen

Since 2003 Antwerp has a super popular coffee bar very close to the Meir, our little shopping paradise… Caffénation is a bit hidden, but that doesn’t mean it is not noticed. It’s a small place where coffee is the sacred wonder thing. The owner is in love with coffee (they say he even attends coffee tastings). They sell a lot of original coffees with a creative touch. If you want a latte art, caffè machiato, single blend ristretto, decaf soy cappuccino or iced vanilla latte; they have it. They also have soy milk. And they don’t forget tea lovers and chocolate lovers. They sell for example a drink with Maltezers.

You can drink your coffee on a sofa or at a big table with a newspaper or a magazine. When you leave you can also buy some coffee. A talk with the owner makes you believe it is not possible to survive without coffee.

I love to come there. It has everything a what a coffee lover like me wants. But I’m not the only one that likes it there. There’s also the rest of Antwerp. It’s a great place for a quick meeting with a friend, for a little pause after shopping. I never stay long. It is one of the very hot spots in town and sometimes that’s a pity…

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Caffènation | Bars, Coffee & tea | Espresso of the week € 1.80
Hopland 64 | Meir | +32486323015
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 19:30, Sat 09:00 – 20:00, Sun 12:00 – 18:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Ysabel Jongeneelen

A very black coffee, a magazine or newspaper, a free hot-spot to work a bit, good music and a pleasant atmosphere. One of my favorite places on the South side of the city is Revista (Spanish for magazine). It is a very good place to meet friends and be the first to arrive, way to early.

Revista has a big assortment of magazines and newspapers, national and international. The also offer music (USA imports) for sale. It is easy to stay and let the hours pass by. It feels like my living room on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. Even when it’s Thursday morning.

They sell fresh soup and sandwiches, so you could really stay there for days. But it closes at 20:00 so eventually you’ll have to leave…

I like it very much because I live nearby and I like places that make me feel at home. But after three coffees I have to drink something else, because the coffee is way to black for me… But they have a great sandwich (the one with Serrano ham I can really recommend!)

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Revista | Bars
Karel Rogierstraat 47 | Zuid | +327727880
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 20:00, Sat 10:00 – 20:00, Sun 11:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko Caignie

This Café located in the South part of the city is probably the most famous café… Opinions vary about this spot, it’s just personal taste. But when you’re looking for a spot to enjoy some jazz this is one of the better options in Antwerp.

I ain’t much of a jazz lover but I can appreciate the soft sound while enjoying a beer. Gigs are organised twice a week on Sunday starting from 16:00 and on Monday evening. Occasionally there are more concerts, check their website for more details.

Besides the jazzy atmosphere of this café, its terrace is one of the best to capture the most sun during the day. The view on the Musée Royal des Beaux-Arts (see the Royal Museum of Arts article) adds even more value to the terrace.

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Hopper Café | Bars
Leopold de Waelplaats 2 | Zuid | +3232484933
Daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko Caignie

This is actually not one of the spots I visit often, but every once and a while when a friend is visiting from out of town I take them here. The view from the second floor café/brasserie is just breath taking.

The food is good, service is good but the view is the thing you should come for. From behind the big windows you have an excellent view over the river and the left bank of Antwerp.

There is also a big terras outside, but most of the time it’s quite windy, I prefer the inside.

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Zuiderterras | Bars, Snacks | Meal € 20
Ernest Van Dijckkaai 37 | Sint Andries | +3232341275
09:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Igor Daems

If you like the Antwerp music scene (dEUS, Zita Swoon, Mauro, Tim Vanhamel …) then you should visit Plaza Real. It’s a small bar in Borgerhout, owned by Klaas Janzoons, the violin player of dEUS. A great place to have a few beers before you head to a party. And sometimes you don’t have to go very far for that party: the “Pekfabriek” is literally around the corner. A place where all the cool people hang out and dance.

They don’t make a lot of promotion for their parties so best is to check with the barman of Plaza Real when and where the next big party will be. If it’s that night, you will easily notice it though because the whole and otherwise quiet street will be filled with bikes. That’s not all, the studio and rehearsal room of dEUS (Vantage Point) is in the same building.

So if you want to try to spot these guys, like for an autograph, Plaza Real is the perfect place to install yourself with your copy of their latest album Keep You Close and hope for the best. Good luck!

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Plaza Real | Bars | Beer € 2
Kattenberg 89 | Stationsbuurt
21:00 – open end daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Caroline D'hont

When this bar/restaurant opened about 3 years ago, it was exactly what the neighbourhood needed: a cosy, relaxed, non-smoking place where you can grab a bite, read the newspaper and chat up with friends.

Everyday there’s a new menu with about 5 dishes: a couple of classics, pasta, a vegetarian dish and something oriental. Tasty, honest, not too pricy, almost like how your mother would make it, but with a surprising twist to it! As a late-night snack, you can always grab spaghetti or a fresh bowl of soup.

As for drinks, you’ll have a hard time making your choice: a couple of local beers on tap, as well as a monthly special, great wine and cava. A must-try is ‘roomer’: a flowery liquor that will enlighten your senses. For great karma, drink an organic tea or fruit juice.

The owner always carefully picks the music, a great way to discover new things. He’s even started a graphic novel collection.

This place can be very relaxing as well as really crowded. Either way, I always feel right at home here!

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Café Stanny | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Home-made) | Main € 10
Stanleystraat 1 | Zurenborg | +3232895467
Mon – Sat from 12:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Caroline D'hont

This is one of the oldest -over a century old- bars in Antwerp. The old harbour used to be here, and every bar had its own organ for the sailor’s entertainment. And guess what? All the other bars have disappeared, but ‘Café Beveren’ still exists, including a magnificent 75-year old organ, called ‘De Cap’.

For those who have no idea what an organ exactly is; it’s a magical auto-instrument playing saxophone, drums, piano… all at the same time! True, that’s a really crappy description, so you should definitely go check it out yourself! And while you’re at it, order a simple beer (‘een pintje’ or even better: just raise your pinkie finger and the bartender will know what you mean) and enjoy the atmosphere.

The sailors are long gone, you should go about 2 kilometres up north for that, but this bar is still a magnet for people from every layer of society. So don’t be surprised if your camera shows pictures of you dancing with an 80-year old granny the night before. ‘De Cap’ does that to you, and maybe also the pinkie-ordered beers .

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Café Beveren | Bars, Music | Een pintje (beer) € 1.80
Vlasmarkt 2 | Meir | +3232312225
Thu – Mon from 13:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp