THE ANTWERP ROUND OF MAY

When I was twelve, my parents traded Utrecht for a nearly invisible, so small, village in Zeeland. It took some getting used to, but not for long, because soon I discovered Antwerp and that was the perfect compensation for village life. Shopping? We did that there. Going to the movies? Just a short drive. Going out? Exactly, in Antwerp.

When my brother later moved there, it was a real celebration. At least once a month, we would spend a weekend in Antwerp, we celebrated Christmas there, shopped until our credit card was battered, and tried all the little restaurants. Well, almost all of them.

I almost ended up at the ballet academy (School of Arts) in Antwerp, so Antwerp and I go way back together.

Now I go about four times a year for a weekend of shopping, sleeping, and eating really well. Just like two weekends ago. And because I kept getting reminders from lovely readers asking if I wanted to share my favorite spots, I immediately scheduled this post.

My favorite round is the perfect day menu.

Sleeping

I do this at Hotel O. Why? You can here read that.

Morning juice

Last night, you of course had a wonderful dinner. Maybe at Umami on the Vlaamse Kaai, for delicious Eastern food and the trendiest people. This morning, you’re not very hungry and you head to Fruxino on the Vlaamse Kaai. They have the tastiest juices. And salads. And quiches. But with a juice, you can hold out for a while. Breakfast = a waste of your time.

Shopping

Immediately turn left into De Burburestraat. There you will find Hospital Fashion on your right. An extremely large store with Missoni, Paul & Joe, McQueen, Paul Smith, and Burberry. They sell a very nice Antwerp shoe label called March 23 that is both very fun and very affordable. There’s also a men’s department, so your sweetheart will be happy too. And oh yes, they serve you a delicious cup of coffee or a glass of Cava. Even at 10:30 in the morning.

Snack

Because the same goes for lunch; = a waste of time, you skip that for now. Of course, you will have lunch, but first, you need to have a few bags dangling from your arm.

Trying on clothes is, in my opinion, also a kind of sport (just like blow-drying hair, another exhausting activity) so you need to satisfy your hunger first. I do that at Dellafaille, which is opposite Fruxino. You can recognize it by the line of Flemish people (not tourists) that leads far outside the store. Order ‘koffiekoeken’. I initially thought that was a special type of cookie, but it’s the general term used for tasty treats to have with coffee. Croissants, cream rolls with chocolate glaze. I’m not much of a sweet tooth, but this is so delicious.

You can have a coffee at the bar and nibble on some koffiekoek. Also, take a look at the breads and the homemade jam. Everything is equally beautiful. And delicious, of course.

Shopping II

Walk through the Nationalestraat towards the center. Then you’ll pass Baby Beluga on your right. Another store where I always find something. See by Chloé, Paul & Joe, and always some of my own discoveries that I didn’t know yet. I thought of it this and this for example. Nice, right?

A little further towards the center, you’ll find on the left, next to restaurant De Modenatie, the shopping heaven Renaissance. Acne, Paul & Joe, Isabel Marant, and those lovely headbands from Maison Michel. And shoes from my favorite Aquazzura.

Usually, I’m already set and I wander a bit where the wind takes us (usually that’s to Graanmarkt 13 where they sell Marni and Isabel) and buy gifts.

There are so many good restaurants in Antwerp, and at the same time, there is only one where you really must eat

Lunch

Usually, I have shifted lunch time, but in Antwerp, you can always find a place to sit. At Ferrier 30, for example, next to the hotel on Leopold de Waelplaats, you eat delicious Italian food. Ellemieke Vermolen once recommended it to me and she knows where you eat. Or should eat.

Massage

In Museumstraat, around the corner from the hotel, there is a great Thai massage salon. Book a Thai massage of an hour and a half and you’ll be a different person. You can also book together with your loved one. No, no, no happy ending, rather unhappy because the massage is so hard that I often get the giggles (“I’m paying for this”, I think) but it really works relaxing.

Eating

There are so many good restaurants in Antwerp, and at the same time, there is only one where you really must eat. The Jane. Rarely have I eaten so well in such a sexy and cozy ambiance.

Tip: Book well in advance. About three months.

Tip 2: Keep your Google Maps handy because not every taxi driver knows the way to The Jane.

If you need a guide, let me know. I’ll be right there.