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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Normo | Coffee & tea | Greta coffee € 3
Minderbroedersrui 30 | Meir
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 19:00

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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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?

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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 Tinneke Voet

The Botanical Garden and its 2000 noteworthy plants have their origin in the herb garden belonging to the medieval St. Elisabeth Gasthuis, which is still a hospital today.

I often have to go there for my work and I don’t mind that at all. The Botanical Garden is situated in the shopping heart of the city (behind the Meir, Huidevetterstraat, Schuttershofstraat) and gives you the opportunity to step out of the busy shopping area into a quiet, calm world of plants and flowers.

People of Antwerp often go there to eat their sandwiches or read the newspaper. Even in winter, it’s lovely to just walk through the garden to escape from a busy day of shopping. And don’t forget to drink a coffee in ‘het Gebaar‘, the establishment in the garden that won a lot of patisserie prices!

It’s a hidden treasure and my favourite spot in Antwerp. I fall in love with it every time I’m there.

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The Botanical Garden | Coffee & tea, Relaxing | Free
Leopoldstraat 24 | Meir
08:00 – 18:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Tinneke Voet

When I go shopping at ‘Wilde Zee’, I have to get an ice cream from Bieke (summer, winter, it doesn’t matter!). Bieke is the most famous ice cream shop in town!

Hallelujah, you won’t believe how good this tastes. They make everything fresh, all year long. My favourite one is Banana!

And when you don’t feel like eating ice cream, have a waffle… they’re yummy too!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
‘T Bieke | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Ice cream € 1.00
Korte Gasthuisstraat 8 | Meir | +323231659
Mon 11:00 – 19:00, Tue – Sat 10:00 – 19:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp