Just on the edge of the exciting city center of Antwerp stands a brasserie that exudes nostalgia and authenticity. Mampoko is a brasserie located in a beautiful restored corner building serving bistro cuisine all day long for any kind of customer and hungry soul.

Mampoko sounds like a subtle reference to the colonial-inspired interior, with a lot of woodwork and some remarkable posters and elegant low hanging lights. I like walking in here, always elegant, busy and cozy.

They offer food and drinks all day round. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, whatever you need. They have a fixed menu that offers classics like steak, spaghetti, salads, curries etc, and a wide range of suggestions always neatly noted on a big chalkboard. I like to spend my Sundays here ordering a continental breakfast that includes: mild cheese, ham, chorizo, truffle salami, a soft-boiled egg, a croissant and a basket of bread with sweet toppings. 1o euro (without drinks) is very fairly priced!

But my all-time favorite has to be the goat cheese salad (it’s a thing Belgians like to eat I guess). The cheese is of very high quality, the vegetables are very diverse and the dressing blending in with some nuts and delicate fruit just make the dish complete. Very flavorsome!

In summer, it’s nice to sit on the terrace as well.  They have sun the whole afternoon but the tall trees nearby make it breezy enough to enjoy that last glass of wine!