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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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..

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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 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 .

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Café Beveren | Bars, Music | Een pintje (beer) € 1.80
Vlasmarkt 2 | Meir | +3232312225
Thu – Mon from 13:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Caroline Dhont

I’m an absolute foodie, and that also includes drinks (a drinky would sound bad, wouldn’t it?). My favorite place to go for drinks, is Cocktails at Nine. It’s a cocktail bar, and also a bed & breakfast (called Linnen at Nine). The interior is very cocktailbar-ish, with posh leather couches, an open fireplace, dimmed lights and loungy music. I.e. the perfect atmosphere to completely sit back and relax.

The cocktails are rather highly priced, but you get top quality for it in return! Think of how many times you’ve had a crappy mojito for about 5 euro’s. So in return for two lousy drinks you get top notch. If Michelin stars existed for bars, Cocktails at Nine would definitely get a star! So for 10 euro you’re rather well off. Anyway, all I’m trying to say is, you get good value for your money.

The sexy bartender, Piotr, really loves cocktail shaking. It’s really cool to see him prepare the drinks with the greatest of care. So no Tom Cruise-bottle throwing, but state of the art cocktailc raftswork. He told me all the juices they use are freshly squeezed. There are lots of cocktails on the menu, all the classics, and just as many self invented ones, but if you would like another one, I’m sure they’ll be able to prepare it for you. One of my favorites is pineapple mojito, but also the Superiocho, a fresh lemongrass cocktail Piotr invented for a worldwide Bacardi contest, in which the cocktail became second!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Cocktails at nine | Bars | Cocktail € 10
Lijnwaadmarkt 9 | Meir | +3237071007
Mon – Fri 18:00 – 01:00, Sat – Sun 15:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Caroline D'hont

If you’re up to some Belgian food in a stylish atmosphere, this is the place to be!

‘Berlin’ is right in the city centre, and ideal for breakfast, lunch or dinner, i.e. a break from shopping. You can try typical Belgian specialties here, but you can tell the cook isn’t afraid to be influenced by -well- the world. For the many times I’ve eaten here, I was always very satisfied by the food. I once ate a roasted cherry tomato soup and to be honest, I sometimes still dream about it…

On Friday and Saturday evenings this place turns into a meeting place for the young & clubbing. The DJ gets you ready for the party. There are few cocktails on the menu, but they’re oh so tasty!

After a rough weekend you can go have a ‘lazy Sunday’-special: an all-you-can-eat menu to get rid of your hangover.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Berlin | Bars, Restaurants (Belgian) | Main meal € 15
Kleine Markt 1 | Meir | +3232271101
09:00 – 02:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Igor Daems

When in Belgium, you have to try the Belgian beer. There’s no other way. It’s what we do, boys and girls, young and old, poor and rich. It’s our culture. One of the best places to start your discovery is Paters Vaetje. After your visit to the Cathedral (another must-do in Antwerp) make a right and you will find this bar easily.

Look for a free seat outside (look out, it’s always windy here) or inside. When outside, enjoy the view on the passing people. When inside, admire the authentic interior. But before admiring anything you’d better start by having a look at the menu. They serve more than 100 kinds of Belgian beer here. And all beer is served in their original glass. So if you want to test the lovely girls working here ask for something obscure and see how quickly they find your glass. By the way, the singer of Intergalactic Lovers works here. Check them out, they are a great band. 

Although I usually drink a Bolleke, the typical Antwerp beer, here I often order The Karmeliet Tripel. In 2008 this was chosen the best beer in the world and they have it on draught. 

So try a beer and then another and after that you will find yourself talking to the people next to you. Be it a tourist, a local, a student or a business man: when we have a beer together, we are all equal.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Paters Vaetje | Bars | Draft beer € 2
Blauwmoezelstraat 1 | Meir | +3232318476
Sun – Thu 11:00 – 03:00 Fri – Sat 11:00 – 05:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp