Entertainment in Antwerp
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Paeters Vaetje
On a bleak, rain-swept afternoon, there's no cosier spot to hole up than this snug bruin eetcafé ('brown eating café'), with glowing lamps illuminating its dark timber main room and upper-level mezzanine. Dishes are simple and inexpensive, and the beer selection choice.
reviewed
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Oud Arsenaal
This is one of the city's most congenial brown cafés, located on a pedestrianised street opposite the Grand Café Horta, in an area that has undergone massive regeneration in recent times. Popular with stallholders from the weekend Vogelmarkt and elderly locals during the week, it will be interesting to see if a pint-sized pub like this can hold out against the fashion nudge. Beers are among the cheapest in town and it's one of the few everyday pubs in Belgium to stock Westvleteren Trappist beer.
Catch it while it lasts.
reviewed
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De Roma
Antwerp's last old cinema and concert hall. It dates from 1928, and in the '70s was a popular venue for international artists - AC/DC, Lou Reed and James Brown all played here. Recently returned to life thanks to determined community effort, it now screens a varied line-up of off-beat films, Hollywood hits and kids' matinees. It's located east of Centraal Station in Borgerhout, a suburb that's chiefly home to Moroccan immigrants, and is rarely visited by tourists.
Tram 10 or 24 stops out the front.
reviewed
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Bar Tabac
Tiny bar that looks like it was plucked from an obscure village in rural France and plonked in 't Zuid. The odd thing is it has been going for years and is always packed. The décor's no more than a faded Michelin map and two old cigarette vending machines, plus a hotchpotch of old metal tables and chairs. In summer there's a terrace section for relaxing on crusty cinema seats; in winter everyone's jammed inside. 'Drunk Wednesdays' see beers going for around €1 and a DJ spinning tracks.
reviewed
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Red & Blue
Bills itself as 'the biggest gay disco in Benelux' (that is, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg). Saturdays attract hot-blooded gay boys from far and wide, while regular Café de Love parties are for lesbians 'and their male soul mates'. The website also links to the club's mixed-crowd fixtures, such as Studio 54, and We Love Thursdays. On Friday night it draws a mixed crowd to the sounds of house, techno, rap and soul.
reviewed
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Zuiderterras
Modern landmark café-restaurant located at the southern end of the riverside promenade. Designed by the city's eminent contemporary architect, bOb (sic) Van Reeth, it mixes black, white and metal, and the enormous plate-glass windows provide superb river views. In summer a terrace fans out onto the walkway and it makes a superb place to while away an hour or two watching Antwerpenaars wandering the quayside.
reviewed
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Bourlaschouwburg
Beautiful old theatre with a rounded façade topped by statues of nine muses, composers and writers. Built in the 1830s for the city's French-speaking elite by architect Pierre Bourla, it eventually fell into disuse and was on the brink of demolition only a decade or so ago. It's now home to Het Toneelhuis theatre company. This company also commonly plays at a second venue, Studio Tokio on Museumstraat in 't Zuid.
reviewed
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Pelgrom
From the street you'd never guess it was here. But heading past a flickering open fire and down a narrow flight of stairs brings you into this cavernous cross-vaulted medieval cellar spanning several rooms, with long candlelit tables. If you're lucky you may catch the house magician; Pelgrom also serves 'medieval'-style feasts (around around €18 for a main).
reviewed
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Vlaamse Opera
A stunning building and a fitting place to hear a performance by the highly regarded Koninklijke Vlaamse Opera (Royal Flemish Opera). Built in 1907, the building's majestic façade is unfortunately diminished by the mirrored monstrosity built next to it in the 1960s. Still, the marbled interior is sumptuous and the quality of the performances superb.
reviewed
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Café d'Anvers
Well over a decade old and still going strong, this legendary club does funk and house, disco and soul in a refurbished church in the city's red-light district. Many of Belgium's top DJs started here, and more are breeding. Every Friday night in July and August the club puts on Free Vibes, free dance nights featuring new, resident and visiting DJs.
reviewed
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Café Hessenhuis
Popular café in the old Hessenhuis building, an historic 16th-century warehouse that was rediscovered by a group of artists in the 1950s and given a total makeover. The café's cool, modern interior attracts a trendy mixed clientele during the day, but evenings tend to be exclusively for gay men.
reviewed
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Koninklijk Ballet van Vlaanderen
The Royal Flanders Ballet, founded in 1960, is the nation's only classical dance company. It moved to 't Eilandje in the late 1990s, and its impressive home - a purpose-built palatial grey building - harmonises perfectly with the area's maritime architecture. The ballet performs both here and at the Vlaamse Opera.
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De Muze
This venerable café winds over three wooden storeys separated by curtains of fairy-lights. Musos (mainly local) take to the stage from 22:00 Monday to Saturday and at 15:00 on Sunday, during which time drinks cost an extra around €0.50, with proceeds going to the performers. Gig schedules are posted on the door.
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Crossroads Café
The city's chief exponent of the blues, this unpretentious café features regular live concerts (from 17:00 to 20:00 most Sundays) by local or visiting bands. There's also a free concert at 20:00 most Mondays. It's about 1km from the Grote Markt; tram 7 (direction Mortsel) stops at the front.
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Fish & Chips
Antwerp's club scene begins with smooth lounges featuring in-house DJs and ends with high-octane house parties. The scene melds permanent with one-off in a mix that holds both mainstream and alternative. Trance and experimental electronica are big - pick up fliers at Fish & Chips .
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Stereo Sushi
Hipsters head to this anime-adorned, fuchsia-tinged place for platters of sushi before grooving to DJs like the Milkshakerz and the Breakbeatles. Just how strict the door policy is depends on how busy things are, but glamming up is de rigueur here in any case.
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Zuiderpershuis
This cultural centre in 't Zuid specialises in music, dance, theatre and workshops from non-Western cultures. An impressive calendar of events includes at least three artists or groups performing weekly. There's also a popular café attached to the venue.
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De Vagant
The tiled floors and old metal advertising posters on the wall evoke a classic neighbourhood café, but De Vagant's main draw is its staggering 200-plus varieties of jenever, listed in a vinyl-bound menu, with a daily special chalked on the blackboard.
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deSingel
This striking, concrete box houses two concert halls, which between them form Antwerp's main venue for classical music, international theatre and modern dance. From Centraal Station or Groenplaats, take tram 2 in the direction of Hoboken to the deSingel stop.
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Bierhuis Kulminator
Beneath a vine-draped ceiling, this cluttered pub is a veritable library of Belgian beers, with over 750 varieties catalogued in a menu so long the categories (including vintages from the 1970s) are colour-coded. On-tap specials are listed on the blackboard.
reviewed
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Buster
Buster's mixed-bag programme includes Tuesday's live concerts (mainly jazz and rock; around €10) as well as its traditional Thursday jam sessions (free). Stand-up comedians and actors trying out material also do stage time here (in Dutch or English).
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Cartoons
Catch art-house and quality foreign films on this alternative cinema's three screens before or after a drink or snack at the cosy on-site café (open from 17:30 Monday to Saturday, from 15:30 Sunday). Tickets are discounted on Mondays.
reviewed
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Petrol
Reggae, electronica, drum 'n bass and more make this pumpin' venue a perennial favourite, as does the relaxed dress code, which keeps things (pretty much) pretension-free. It's about a 2km walk (or quick taxi ride) from 't Zuid.
reviewed
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Den Engel
Located in a guildhall and one of the city's oldest watering holes. A reasonable number of tourists dilute the locals - join them in downing a bolleke (little bowl) of De Koninck (The King), the city's favourite ale.
reviewed
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King Kong Bar
With art installation-like decor throughout its lounge-style rooms, this slick bar epitomises Antwerp's sense of style. Finding the bathrooms takes you on a magical mystery tour up two flights of creaking wooden stairs.
reviewed
