LOST iN - Antwerp
LOST iN is a city portable city-guide with an eye for aesthetics. As each guide is written by someone who has been familiar with the city for their whole life, the aim is for the reader to experience the place in the exact same way. Hidden bars in dark alley’s, that one recommended cocktail that’s no longer on the menu, the name of the flower-lady you should ask for and the best days to go out for breakfast - preferably Mondays, for example, as it that one bar then does discounts on the weekend’s leftovers. As I have lived in Antwerp for my whole life, famous for its fashion, galleries and up-and-rising artists, I had the pleasure to deliver a LOST iN city-guide. One thing about Antwerp is that in order to experience the city’s vibrancy and unique crowd, it is best to have an established friend by your side who knows their way around. Which is the main reason why I wrote the guide as if it were simply copy-pasted from the notes on my phone and the majority of the recommendations are inspired on weekends spent with friends. Find some outtakes below, but head over to the LOST iN-app for the full guide.
Food
1. Camino
The chef has got his inspiration from Asian food trucks but the menu has that extra bit of refinement – perhaps combine the pimped-up eggplant with kimchi and an organic wine. The graphic aspect to it is just as important, so dine in between neon lights and loud music.
Muntstraat 4
Sint-Andries
2. Camion
Taste their weekly updated menu based on fresh and local produce. Plant based good stuff - don’t worry, you'll hardly notice. Sharing the small, colourful plates with your company is the house rule.
Paleisstraat 7
Harmonie
3. Table Dance
In Table Dance, the line between a club in Berlin and a sophisticated restaurant in SoHo is very thin. The concept is exceptional (only open on weekends, often resulting in a party) and so is the food. The menu changes weekly, so pick something that makes you frown at first. Be surprised!
Sint-Paulusstraat 25
Schipperskwartier
4. Middle Eats
Combine grooves with greens. The menu consists of Middle-Eastern dishes created by the chefs' experiments in the kitchen - kohlrabi like you've never tasted it before. The playlist (Middle-Beats on Spotify) tops off your evening with tunes straight from Egypt and Israel.
Graaf van Egmontstraat 2
Zuid
Shop
1. Komono
‘Rocco Track’ and ‘Janis Paradise’ - sunglasses get reinvented with crazy names, colours and shapes. The three designers from Antwerp opt for collaborations with other Belgian brands, illustrators, painters or models in order to provide a platform for all.
Kammenstraat 46
De Wilde Zee
2. HAVEN
You can buy a surfboard in the middle of the city, as long as it's sunny in your head. Find the perfect wetsuit, immerse yourself in a selection of selected clothing brands from warm places all over the world or simply listen to the fascinating surf-stories of the owner.
Volksstraat 18
Zuid
Museum
Your museum visit and walk in the park can go hand in hand. The greenery is the backdrop to a permanent collection of sculptures, and there is also a small pavilion with varying exhibitions. In the museum cafe MIKA you can make a pit stop for the fresh soup of the day.
Middelheimlaan 1
Middelheim
Bar
1. Vitrin
The pink neon light, the Matisse-inspired menu and the wooden walls reveal the artistic atmosphere of this bar. Pick an elegant Hugo with prosecco, lime and mint to fit into the trendy setting.
Marnixplaats 14
Zuid
2. Hopper
The name of this bar was stolen from, ofcourse, the famous painter and the weekly live concerts teleport you back to the late 20th century. The cocktails are minimalist but classy, just like the luscious curtains and wooden chairs.
Leopold De Waelstraat 2
Zuid
Clubs
8. Bar Rodin
The owner of this bar was the founder of one of the first electro clubs in Antwerp. This concept, however, is more sensual. The historic building with its wooden floor, velvet chairs and red lighting creates an intimate atmosphere. Plenty of corners to sit back and relax for a while.
Lange Nieuwstraat 94
Meir
9. Pekfabriek
You enter this place through a small alley, well hidden from the mainstream crowd. The building used to be a real pitch factory, and still has that rough edge, as many call it a small piece of Berlin in Antwerp. Experience an African Boogie Night or get to know Antwerp’s upcoming DJ’s.
Kattenberg 93
Borgerhout
12. Café Le Tour (summer only)
This small café that seems to float on the water is surrounded by swimmers and sunbathers, and opens its doors every year during the Tour De France. Go for a swim and stay for the dish of the day at Kamping Kontiki next door.
Noordkasteel 1
Noordkasteel