This northern Flanders city of around half a million people was once one of the wealthiest in Europe — a fact locals still celebrate by calling it the “New York of the 16th century.” In 1986, a group of avant-garde students from Belgium’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts, known as The Antwerp Six, announced the city’s creative comeback and helped put Antwerp back on the international map. That late-20th-century cultural revival reshaped the city’s nightlife, bringing a wave of Michelin-starred restaurants, stylish lounges, vibrant nightclubs and distinctive bars.
Antwerp’s neighborhoods are made for walking, enlivened by a fashionable, self-assured population. The broad boulevards and the River Scheldt set the city’s tempo. Perched above the river, Zuiderterras is a glass-enclosed café on the quay that offers beautiful sunset views toward the left bank.
In the historic center, winding medieval cobblestone streets hide many contemporary treasures. Housed in a building more than 200 years old and neighboring the 14th-century Gothic cathedral, Cocktails at Nine is an elegant lounge where you can enjoy expertly mixed drinks — and even stay overnight if you wish.
Nearby, one of Antwerp’s most popular LGBT venues, Café DeLux, is known for its friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere. Locals there often recommend dining at Sjalot en Schanul, a cozy restaurant run by two warm hosts that doubles as a community hub and serves fresh, homey fare.
Step off the Meir, the city’s main pedestrian shopping avenue, and you’ll find Grand Café Horta. Built using elements salvaged from Victor Horta’s 1897 Volkshuis, the café is a lively brasserie where modern touches blend with classic Art Nouveau influences.
Open since 1964, Jazzcafé De Muze is a beloved institution and an essential stop for jazz enthusiasts; it has even inspired international music. For those drawn to fashion and design, Verso Café — set in a former bank building with a striking glass cupola — is a popular apéro spot.
On Thursday evenings, the galleries in the Zuid district, often called “Petit Paris,” stay open late for a nocturnal circuit of exhibition-hopping and casual grazing. Locals who enjoy refined cocktails frequently visit Sips, a bar founded by a former ocean-liner bartender that is known for its carefully crafted drinks.
For a leisurely walk after dinner, head to Eilandje, the island district undergoing rapid transformation. Once the city’s port, this area of 16th-century warehouses now hosts top restaurants and popular venues. Perched above the Museum aan de Stroom, the two-Michelin-starred Restaurant ’t Zilte offers fine dining with panoramic views, while FelixPakhuis Living remains a favorite for its atmosphere and cuisine.
In summer, the Lindner Hotel & City Lounge opens its rooftop Skybar above the penthouse, providing sweeping vistas that include Antwerpen-Centraal, the city’s architectural gem. Whether you prefer Champagne or a local specialty like Elixir d’Anvers, a toast on the terrace captures the spirit of a lively, stylish Antwerp.