Antwerp Entertainment

  1. Atthis

    Meeting place and bar for Belgium's longest-running lesbian group. Celebrates 30 years in 2008.

    Read more about Atthis

  2. 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.

    Read more about Bar Tabac

  3. 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.

    Read more about Bierhuis Kulminator

  4. Boots

    Has the distinction of being the country's most disreputable nightclub, with rooms devoted to fulfilling almost every imaginable sexual fantasy.

    Read more about Boots

  5. 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.

    Read more about Bourlaschouwburg

  7. 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).

    Read more about Buster

  8. Café Beveren

    This time-worn treasure is a favourite with sailors, students and retro fiends for its antique jukebox and organ.

    Read more about Café Beveren

  9. 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.

    Read more about Café d'Anvers

  10. 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.

    Read more about Café Hessenhuis

  11. Café Hopper

    One of the city's most popular jazz venues, located in 't Zuid. There's usually live sessions on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It's small, so come early if you want to get your foot in the door.

    Read more about Café Hopper

  12. Advertisement

  13. Café Local

    Styled like a crumbling Cuban backstreet, Café Local is a mecca for salsa and world music, as well as disco - check the agenda online and expect to pay between around €5 to Euro10 admission.

    Read more about Café Local

  14. 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 Monday to Saturday, from Sunday). Tickets are discounted on Mondays.

    Read more about Cartoons

  15. Chez Fred

    Little resto-bar with an outside terrace good for watching the brocante (bric-a-brac) shoppers.

    Read more about Chez Fred

  16. Crossroads Café

    The city's chief exponent of the blues, this unpretentious café features regular live concerts (from to most Sundays) by local or visiting bands. There's also a free concert at most Mondays. It's about 1km from the Grote Markt; tram 7 (direction Mortsel) stops at the front.

    Read more about Crossroads Café

  17. De Muze

    This venerable café winds over three wooden storeys separated by curtains of fairy-lights. Musos (mainly local) take to the stage from Monday to Saturday and at on Sunday, during which time drinks cost an extra around €1 .50, with proceeds going to the performers. Gig schedules are posted on the door.

    Read more about De Muze

  19. De Nieuwe Linde

    Cheap beers and local artworks hung on the walls and painted on the ceiling make this a popular hangout for artists and writers. There's good background music, if you can hear it over the animated conversations.

    Read more about De Nieuwe Linde

  20. 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.

    Read more about De Roma

  21. 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.

    Read more about De Vagant

  22. 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.

    Read more about Den Engel

  23. 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.

    Read more about deSingel

  24. Advertisement

  25. Elfde Gebod

    The eyes of dozens of statues of saints and other religious figures watch you while you drink beers at the shrine-like 'Eleventh Commandment'.

    Read more about Elfde Gebod

  26. 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 .

    Read more about Fish & Chips

  27. FotoMuseum

    Golden oldies screened nightly.

    Read more about FotoMuseum

  28. Het Paleis

    This venue is an ugly cement eyesore built in 1980 and commonly called the Bunker.

    Read more about Het Paleis

  29. Kaaiman

    Alternative types flock to this small club occupying a converted red-brick garage in 't Eilandje. Music is eclectic with a lean to house and drum'n'bass.

    Read more about Kaaiman