Archives for “Antwerp” tag

Nothing beats a good swim when you need to clear your head. I consider myself very lucky to be living very near to probably Belgium’s most beautiful swimming pool “De Veldstraat”. When you approach the building you can see, feel and smell the hot steam escaping from the manholes. It was built in 1933 in Art Deco style and was very popular until it slowly ran down and ultimately closed in 2005.

But a massive renovation later and De Veldstraat is open again. And it’s very impressive. They restored as much as possible in its original state so you really feel like swimming in a monument here. In 2009 it was chosen as Flanders’ top monument.

There’s not only a 33 meter swimming pool here (which was the Olympic standard at the time) but also a hot tub complex and hammam. What I think is very handy: you don’t have to put your clothes in a locker, you just lock your personal changing room. Be sure to bring tight swim wear (speedo-type) because they will not let you swim in shorts. 

Vinyl and coffee lovers, check out this place, Coffee & Vinyl. It is located in the South district and very close to this amazing art deco building. They offer a wide selection of LP’s and singles, old and new.

After your treasure hunt you can find yourself a seat (I prefer the cozy little corner) and admire your purchases while drinking an excellent coffee or hot chocolate. All the drinks have funny and musical names like Flat Barry White, Sun Ra, Creamy Jay Hawkins… They also serve an excellent fresh homemade Ice-T.

If you get hungry, they serve nice snacks too. Read the paper or one of the magazines lying around and then hurry home to listen to your record. And, they are open on Sunday! I don’t know a nicer way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon. 

Antwerp is a shopper’s paradise, from international brands to fashion designer stores: it’s all here. The Meir is the main shopping street and always very crowded. It’s also the connection street between the Central Station and the historic city centre so, like it or not, you will eventually have to walk down this street.

If you’re fed up with the crowds and you feel like a rest then Escobar is just the place for you. They take the word ‘unwinding’ very seriously here. The people serving you are a bit slow but they are also very friendly. The music they play here (old swing, soul and jazz) takes you back in time. They serve an excellent cappuccino Escobar with apple crumble and fresh cream. I always have the same sandwich here: the one with bacon and feta cheese. Add the lecture of a weekend newspaper and I’m ready to face the shopping crowd again. 

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!

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 adds even more value to the terrace.