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

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 Niko Caignie

Normo is not just one of the many coffee bars, baristas in Antwerp, it’s becoming “The Coffee Bar”. This bar is actually the bigger version of the the owner’s previous bar a little bit further down the street: “Bar Choq”.

They moved to this new and bigger location, so that they can expand their bar in many different ways. More focus on burning their own coffee beans (the machines for doing that are in the bar and look great) and the genuine coffee experience… Talk to the owner, he will explain his plans to you, and feel his passion and joy for making great coffee.

Everything in this bar is perfectly in balance: nice atmosphere, excellent music choice, quick visitors and locals working mobile office, old & young match perfectly here. 

But in fact, even if this would have been a crappy, dark room with no windows, bad music, … even then I would come here to get me some great coffee shots … because that is what makes this coffee bar just outstanding: their great skills in making coffee in so many different ways. 

So if you’re in Antwerp and you just want to make one coffee stop, Café Normo would be it! And my personal favorites are the Muskat or a Wonka. Just try it!

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Normo | Coffee & tea | Greta coffee € 3
Minderbroedersrui 30 | Meir
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 19:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko Caignie

In a small alley next to the St Vincentius Hospital you can find this quiet and cosy day time lunch-bar. It’s quite new but that doesn’t change its charm.

The interior feels warm and cosy. The food is homemade with care and you just take it out of the counter and pay at the counter.

A very down to earth place and ideal for a relaxed lunch or just to read your newspaper during lunch.

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22b | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Lunch) | Meal € 10.00
Sint-Vincentiusstraat 22B | Zurenborg | +32475674930
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko Caignie

When I’m looking for a decent yet quick meal, I go to Lunch Cafe Walrus.

It has a very good kitchen with honest prices. The service is mostly with a smile and you just get what you want here: something to satisfy your hunger!

Whether for breakfast – brunch – lunch or dinner … they’ve got what you need! Don’t expect haute cuisine, but expect to be satisfied!

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Walrus | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Belgian) | Meal from € 15.00
Jan van Beersstraat 2 | Zuid | +3232383993
Mon – Fri 12:00 – 22:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 22:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko Caignie

A new hangout! This cosy coffeebar just opened and I admit, I’ve only been there once so far, but I immediately loved it. Most coffee bars are small, noisy and mostly stuffed with people. This one is bigger, has 3 separate spaces to sit, on three different levels, and a small terrace. I like that, ’cause sometimes you just want to sit nice & quietly and do that thing you do…

What is also nice is the fact that there are always small exhibitions: from photography, paintings, to ceramics & sculptures … so you’ll never end up getting bored by the interior.

A nice coffee lady behind the bar with a friendly honest smile.

Try “de kabouter” (The leprechaun) as your first coffee, it’s a delicious coffee with cinnamon and pear.

Worth a visit!

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De Dikke Kat (Fat Cat) | Coffee & tea | Drinks € 3
Kasteelpleinstraat 26 | Meir
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 18:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Igor Daems

What do you think of when I say I Belgium? Belgian chocolate, yes. Belgian beers, yes. Belgian waffles, oh yes! They remind of my childhood when my grandmother treated us them together with a hot chocolate after a long walk in the city or at the seaside.

Waffles come in all shapes and sizes and all of you have them in your own country. But there’s only one perfect waffle: the Brussels Waffle of Desire de Lille. 

This waffle is very light. And it’s also super crispy. Have one with fresh cream or with sugar. And yes, you should be covered in sugar after eating. it’s meant to be like that. You can take away at the corner of Schoenmarkt or you can sit down a little further in Schrijnwerkersstraat.

Don’t be scared by the amount of grandmothers sitting here enjoying their waffle (or pancakes or other delicious stuff). After all, it’s the grandmothers who know best, right?

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Desire de Lille | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Waffle & coffee € 5
Schrijnwerkersstraat 16 | Meir | +3232336226
Sun – Thu 09:00 – 20:00, Fri – Sat 09:00 – 22:00

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 Igor Daems

After having been the barwoman in café De Welkom, Femke decided to do something completely different. A few steps away from Park Spoor Noord (see the article) she opened a new place and she called it ZUM. In a fastly changing neighbourhood, ZUM for me is the ideal place for breakfast or lunch. I like the personal details here: the little chocolate balls you can add to your cappuccino, the cool postcards on the wall, the homemade muffins and pies, the smiling faces of the people serving you …

If I need a place to spend a lazy afternoon (like the day after a wild party), I come here and order the antiox Arizona iced tea and a blueberry muffin. If I’m not meeting friends, I bring a book and install myself for a good read. ZUM has free wifi so sometimes I even get some work done.

If you’re hungry try the “bokes”. Slices of freshly baked bread with all kinds of toppings, the yummie Belgian way to eat bread. Be careful, if you don’t keep an eye to the beautiful clock hanging on the wall, you might end up spending the whole afternoon here.

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ZUM | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Breakfast&Lunch) | Main meal from € 10
Viaduct Dam 1 | Eilandje | +323450336
Tue – Sun 09:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp