-
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.
-
Koningin Elisabethzaal
Flanders' philharmonic orchestra, De Filharmonie (www.defilharmonie.be), among others, plays at this concert hall next to Centraal Station.
-
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.
-
Mogador
It's back to black in this champagne bar in 't Zuid - a real gossip den for the bold and beautiful.
-
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.
-
Paeters Vaetje
On a bleak, rain-swept afternoon, there's no cosier spot to hole up than this snug bruin ('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.
-
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).
-
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.
-
Pier 19
Small cellar club on the edge of 't Eilandje that's done out in pristine white with a glass bar and laid-back lounge music. Attracts a 25 to 40ish crowd.
-
Advertisement
-
Popi Café
Big stylish café -brasserie near the river and popular with a gay/mixed bunch. A good first stop for sussing out the scene. Serves light meals.
-
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.
-
Space
Down near Centraal Station, this is the after-club club. Dancing starts when the streetlights go out.
-
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.
-
Theo
Not just a café and not just a chic footwear boutique but both. You can sip a decent coffee and nibble on Parisian Poilâne bread while checking out the soft-leather shoes for sale.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Advertisement
