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

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Image by Niko Caignie

This is absolutely my new favorite in Antwerp! It’s not known by many people but a real treasure to cherish. Il Gallo Nero is an Italian restaurant owned by a Belgian – Italian couple. It’s Italian, but the Italian man handles the service, his wife takes care of the excellent dishes. You ‘ll find some great Italian dishes here with a touch of Belgian influences. The food is of great quality here.

What adds more to the charm is the nice man who serves you. He’s Milanese born and only speaks french & Italian (fluently). He explains everything he serves in a way only an Italian can. The food, the people: honest, nice and excellent quality.

And while you are there, take a moment to enjoy the nice scenery you’ve entered. Some nice paintings and some traditional Italian kitsch…this all served with carefully selected music by Italian crooners.

I tell you… if you only have one restaurant opportunity in Antwerp, this should be it. Cozy, romantic, …

Some more pictures

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Il Gallo Nero | Restaurants | Main meal € 30.00
Grote Pieter Potstraat 36 | Meir | +3232311960
Thu – Tue evening (reservation is always safe)

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Igor Daems

We take our French fries seriously. First of all, they are not a French but a Belgian invention. And secondly, they nowhere taste better than here. The secret: we bake them twice. If we want to eat fries, we go to a “frituur”. For dinner or late at night before we go home after a party or a night of heavy drinking at the bar. They always taste good.

My favourite frituur is De Smulpaep, run by two young guys who take their job very seriously. One of them is a French chef who puts his experience in top restaurants in France and Switzerland into practice in a deep fryer. Pretty uncommon.

We don’t just eat fries, we also order snacks on the side. And the homemade snacks are always the best. When I see a freshly made cheese or shrimp croquette lying behind the counter, I just can’t resist. The tartar sauce here is unbelievable. Almost haute cuisine and for only 9 euros you have a very decent meal here, a drink included.

De Smulpaep is located halfway between my work and my home. Very tempting!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
De Smulpaep | Snacks, Restaurants (Fries) | Fries,snacks & drink € 9
Varkensmarkt 2 | Meir
Tue – Fri 11:30 – 14:00 & 16:30 – 00:00, Sun – Mon 16:30 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Caroline D'hont

When I feel like a treat, I go to my favorite Thai restuarant in Antwerp: Mai Thai.

It’s located in the touristy neighbourhood, but when you step inside, you enter a white, silky world of Thai delight.

There’s only space for about 20 people, so go early or make reservations ahead. Upon entry you get welcomed by the pretty hostess. For me, it’s always hard to resist ordering a refreshing house-cocktail to go along with the free appetiser you get.

Although this restaurant isn’t pricey at all, you feel like you’re eating in a high-class resort. Every detail is being looked after: spotless table-wear, a pink orchid flower in your drink and excellent service.

The hardest part is picking your main dish: every Thai classic is present on the menu (about a hundred different dishes) and everything I’ve tasted here so far, tastes authentic and is equally delicious. There’s a wide variety of not-too-spicy dishes, if you’re not up to some fire.

After Antwerp, Thailand is my favorite place in the world. So you can imagine what a great combination ‘Mai Thai’ is for me!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Mai Thai | Restaurants (Thai) | Main meal € 15
Vlasmarkt 7 | Meir | +3232251687
Mon & Wed – Sat 18:00 – 23:00, Sun 15:00 – 23:00

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

You might not realize this but sometimes it does get cold and rainy in Antwerp. What’s more comforting than a bowl of hot soup to warm yourself? I like to go to Comme Soupe. This cute little soup bar is located on the beautiful square “Conscienceplein” in the historic heart of Antwerp, to me one of the most romantic places in the city.

Comme Soupe is owned by Charlotte, a charming girl who serves three kinds of soup every day. One soup of the day, one soup suggestion and a more “heavy” soup, most of the time with potatoes. For me it’s the perfect lunch, delicious and healthy. The menu changes very frequently (check the Facebook page) so you can come back here many times and never eat the same soup twice.

If you’re not a soup lover, there is also a selection of tasty sandwiches here. End your meal with a coffee and you have plenty of energy for the rest of your day.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Comme Soupe | Restaurants (Soup&Sandwich) | Soup of the day € 4
Hendrik Conscienceplein 11 | Meir | +322343533
Tue – Sat 11:00 – 18:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp