Archives for “Bars” tag

As a member of the board of the gay umbrella organization located above Den Draak, I’m a frequent visitor of the place. During summer, I like to go there with my girlfriend in the evening, we take our game of scrabble along, shoes off so I can put my feet in the sand of the small beach they put out on the terrace. I’ll have a glass of wine or one of the many cocktails they serve. I’m fond of gin tonic and fortunately, so is the owner. So every now and then, they’ll have something special on the board. 

Every last Saturday of the month they have an eighties – nineties party which I like to attend. What I like is that it starts early: don’t be afraid that you’ll be the only one there at 22:00. It’s very much ‘come as you are’ so I don’t need to spend a lot of time thinking about what to wear. All my straight friends love it and most of the time I won’t be home before 5 in the morning even though I started out for just one drink. If I have a hangover, I might as well come back for a lazy Sunday. Reduction on the bottle of cava, the best medicine for a headache and sometimes they’ll have a live band playing while you recuperate.

Oh, and they also have the cutest bartender of the whole town working there. Just so you know!

Literally, around the corner from my house . I love to go here on a day off, to enjoy the sunshine and read a book on the terrace. The waitress makes sure my table is never empty (they have some kind of hibiscus tea you can drink either warm or cold, jummy!).

In the evening, I gather up some friends and we play one of the available boardgames, accompanied with some pretty good salsa and tortilla chips or big slices of garlic bread. I like the atmosphere, my friends like the fact that the owner has ‘Karmeliet’ (strong blond beer) on tap. Everybody’s happy .

During Spring and the beginning of Summer, around the time school’s out, you will find kids running around here and at the playground in front, and the parents having a drink and a chat.

Around dinnertime, tables fill up with neighbors and other locals and plates filled with salads, hamburgers and lasagna are served. They have a fixed menu and a daily specials board, but if you want something on that board, be sure to come in early. Everything on the menu is fresh and when they’re out, they’re out. And although the kitchen is tiny, the wait is never long. 

Antwerp’s Damplein used to be a very grey and desolate square next to the railway where you would only go if you wanted to buy a cheap table or chairs at Belgica Furniture. But the coming of Park Spoor Noord changed things. Coffee bar Zum and restaurant Caravan were the first to see the potential of this square next to Park Spoor Noord. Bar Zeppelin is the latest newcomer.

Like Bar Leon (Check the Bar Leon article) in Borgerhout they serve an interesting mix of excellent beers, cocktails and great coffees. That makes it an ideal stop no matter the time or occasion: there is always a great drink to be discovered. Also great and quite unique for Belgium: they serve you free tap water. There is plenty of reading material and free wifi so don’t worry you won’t be bored. And when the sun shines, you can take your drink, magazine, laptop, … outside. I’m already curious what the next thing will be on this rapidly changing square …

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 of 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.

I love France. Paris, The Cevennes, Montpellier… And whenever it’s been a while since I went there for a short break or a real vacation, I have Patine to help me remember. The warmth, the wine, the food, the atmosphere. It’s all there.

I like to gather here with friends, and – depending on the number – order wine by the glass or by the bottle. The selection in white and red win is huge and each wine gets his own description on the menu. Makes choosing a little bit easier. With each order you get a little bowl of marinated olives which are – according to most people – ‘The best in town’.

I haven’t had dinner here, I heard they serve decent quiche and pastas, but breakfast is more than OK. Eggs are prepared exactly the way you want. If you like soft boiled eggs, ask for a ‘sop-eike’. Their croissants could be imported from France. The choice in spreads is ehm, grand .

Especially good in summer, on a Sunday, when you can sit outside and watch the city come to life. Especially funny if the waiter recognizes you as the group who stayed late and almost helped close up the place .

Last but not least… Pie! Blueberry, raspberry, apple cinnamon, chocolate, … Entirely home-made. The perfect breakfast dessert .

The picture was taken around the beginning of April. It was cold, it was dark and we longed for wine on a terrace. They put on the heathers for us .