Carefully curated list of Ramón’s favourite spots in town

You can find a list of Ramón’s favourite spots around town.

Some spots just around the corner and a more extensive list around the whole of Antwerp.

Enjoy the city!

Less than 10 minutes walking

Welcome to Zurenborg! The area surrounding Ramón is known for its coziness, stunning façades and the best restaurants and bars in town. In fact, the Dageraadplaats is one of the most renowned squares in Antwerp and it’s right in front of your doorstep. Below you’ll find Ramón’s owners rightful opinion, as we live in the area too.

Food & Drinks

We suggest you check for availability and make a reservation, unless stated otherwise.

These guys know how to serve you delicious and responsible Middle Eastern food. Make a reservation for lunch or dinner, order take-out or pass by their little corner shop to pick out your treat of the day. They have great wines, craft beers and non-alcoholic drinks too. We’ve put Humm first for a reason.

No-nonsense coffee bar with pastries and brunch, board games, kids’ corner and helpful staff. Come here if you’re into more of a second hand, ecological, DIY vibe (and less into the fashionable hipster vibe Antwerp is known for)

Great, but posh, but great bakery two streets from Ramón. Would not recommend to buy ‘pistolets’ here, as they’re small, dense and expensive, but you won’t get any better ‘koffiekoeken’ than here. So if you’re into pastries, this is your spot.

“Alle dagen (h)open” stands for the fact that this bar is open every day and is always hoping for a bright future. Make sure to stop by for an all ages, local and authentic vibe, a great variety of Belgian beers and some decent, affordable bar food. Live music on Sunday nights.

Small and cozy candle lit bar with an artistic vibe and jazzy music, often live.

Opened in 2024 by a couple lovely and ambitious youngsters with the right taste, both in interior esthetics and in food. Do make a reservation if you feel like having a romantic dinner, don’t if you’re just looking to have a glass at the big and beautiful bar. Tell your company to look at the passing trains outside, while you snatch the last bit of food from the refined plates you’re all sharing.

Damn good coffee to drink in or take away on a stroll through the neighbourhood. This corner house is where creative and trendy Antwerpians flock together, preferably on the sunny terrace. We love their branding and friendly staff. There’s always some new art on the walls and they serve delicious brunch plates too. Don’t come all too hungry though, as the plates are refined, but a bit spare.

Want to try classic Belgian fries, but vegan? Tastebuds offers delicious fries and vegan snacks. If you’d ask us, we love the mix of 5 vegan bitterballs and the peanut sauce loaded fries. The owners are trendy and friendly. Say hi from Ramón!
https://tastebudsantwerp.be/

Craving for pizza? We suggest you go to (or order at) Orso Pizzeria, just a couple houses from Ramón. It’s arguably the best pizza in town, and their base is gluten free. A little downside: you have to order with a QR-code. Big upside: Italians come here, staff is really helpful and the Italian chefs are happy to make a vegan version of your pizza if you ask them.

Nice little corner restaurant with a romantic Parisian vibe, a big terrace and friendly staff, just on the other side of the train tracks. Go here for a simple spaghetti, pad thai, or a (veggie) burger or be seduced by their more upscale evening suggestions.

Think of a brasserie that makes you feel at home right away with a beautiful cozy interior or a seat at the wonderful terrace. Expect worldly dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don’t go here if you have to be quick though, staff tends to take their time.

Fancy a little dancing? On Fridays and Saturdays you’ll find a party in Café des Arts, at the back of Antwerpen-Berchem train station, which is definitely more of a bar than a club. Expect to meet some strange but innocent individuals, between 25 and 75 years old.

Art & Architecture

Stroll through the most beautiful street in Antwerp, full of (unaffordable) art nouveau houses. If you’re into this type of architecture, go find the ‘Vier Seizoenen’ houses on four corners close to the Cogels-Osylei too. Which season is your favourite?

Post-war, modern art gallery with artists who work with interesting materials, bright colors and playful views on art. Opening hours during exhibitions Friday and Saturday from 2pm till 7pm. Thursday and Sunday on appointment.

More than 10 minutes walking

Welcome to the rest of beautiful Antwerp, known for its vivid fashion scene, international harbour, great bars and restaurants, beautiful museums and surprising little corners we’d like to share with you.

Food & Drinks

We suggest you check for availability and make a reservation, unless stated otherwise.

A little outside the city buzz, in a residential area near the Te Boelaerpark, lies wine and food bar Rocco. Two visual artists started this wonderful place in 2023 and it was an instant hit. Expect delicious sharing plates and natural wines without the snobbism. Come early, because they don’t take reservations. Do order the bread with smoked butter. Thank us later.

Classy neighborhood bistrot with a French twist. Elegant interior, knowledgeable staff, seasonal menu. Ideal for a romantic night out.

Our favourite bar in the Antwerp ‘Zuid’ area, as it is warm and authentic, welcomes all ages and serves a great spaghetti bolognese or veggie spaghetti. Make sure to order your food before 9pm though, as they’re pretty strict on the kitchen’s opening hours. Best terrace in town when the sun’s out.

What if you inherit the interior of an old fashioned bar in the traditional butcher’s district of Antwerp, including white lace curtains on the windows? Well, you just leave ‘em like that. This restaurant combines the best of many worlds. A very vintage meets modern upscale interior, finger licking sharing plates, pasta to die for and funky wines and beers. Don’t leave without admiring the toilet.

Lovely restaurant with seasonal dishes “with heart” and a maître (who is also a friend) that goes out of his way for you. As it is almost impossible to make a reservation here for dinner (the restaurant is small and annoyingly popular) we suggest you try to make one for lunch. While entering, take a look at the beautiful tiles of Studio GdB.

Camion is a low key, plant based breakfast and lunch place in Antwerpen-Zuid. We suggest you try the américain sandwich. Celebrating something? Its sister restaurant Camionette serves an upscale all vegan menu with paired natural wines (or non alcoholic drinks). All this in a warm, modern setting in the middle of the PAKT area, a green oasis in the city with restaurants, creative businesses and a rooftop vegetable garden, only 13 minutes walking from Ramón. Very welcoming, very refined. Do make a reservation.

A summer bar where Antwerps art scene meets great beers and modest prices, with a sunny terrace and views on the water. This is an alternative place, right in the middle of the upscale ‘Eilandje’ area and we love it for being different.

This is our favourite bar in the Antwerp student area and it’s been there forever. Other than many other student bars, this is a true rock ‘n roll place, with great music, a sociable atmosphere and a big terrace on the Ossenmarkt, the main square in the University area. During the day, it’s just a nice place to have a drink, inside or outside on the terrace, though we do have some blurry memories of dancing on the tables until 7am. Mostly crowded during Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Art & Architecture

This state of the art museum with masterpieces of Belgian masters such as Peter Paul Rubens, James Ensor and Rik Wouters was closed for 11 years due to renovations. It opened again in September 2022 and showcases the best of the Flemish art scene throughout the ages. Nocturnes with surprising tours on Thursday nights (except during July and August).

Antwerps Photo Museum showcases interesting expos in a beautiful warehouse building that doubles as a cinema.

Antwerp wouldn’t be able to call itself a fashion capital in Europe without a fashion museum, right? You’ll find MoMu in the midst of the most important shopping streets (look out for ‘Kammenstraat’ for streetstyle brands and ‘Schuttershofstraat’ for high-end boutiques). Make sure to check the exhibitions on show before planning a trip.

Parks & Recreation

Believe us, this is the coolest minigolf you’ll ever play at, with a view on the Antwerp skyline. Minigolf Beatrijs lies on the other side of the Scheldt, right next to the pedestrian tunnel. A couple of minigolf tracks are designed by Antwerp visual artists, there’s chickens walking freely here and in the beautiful concrete building amidst the tracks you’ll find delicious dishes made with locally produced biological vegetables. Open from mid February till the end of October. Live music on Fridays at 7pm. Check website for opening days and hours.