Entertainment in Antwerp
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A
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 €10 admission.
reviewed
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B
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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C
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 .
reviewed
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D
Het Paleis
This venue is an ugly cement eyesore built in 1980 and commonly called the Bunker.
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.
reviewed
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F
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 €18 for a main).
reviewed
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G
Metropolis
Twenty four-screen monstrosity.
reviewed
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UGC
Seventeen-screen cinema complex near Centraal Station.
reviewed
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Het Paleis
This venue is an ugly cement eyesore built in 1980 and commonly called the Bunker.
reviewed
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Chez Fred
Little resto-bar with an outside terrace good for watching the brocante (bric-a-brac) shoppers.
reviewed
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Atthis
Meeting place and bar for Belgium's longest-running lesbian group. Celebrated 30 years in 2008.
reviewed
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Mogador
It's back to black in this champagne bar in 't Zuid - a real gossip den for the bold and beautiful.
reviewed
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Space
Down near Centraal Station, this is the after-club club. Dancing starts when the streetlights go out.
reviewed
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Café Beveren
This time-worn treasure is a favourite with sailors, students and retro fiends for its antique jukebox and organ.
reviewed
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Koningin Elisabethzaal
Flanders' philharmonic orchestra, De Filharmonie (www.defilharmonie.be), among others, plays at this concert hall next to Centraal Station.
reviewed
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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'.
reviewed
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Boots
Has the distinction of being the country's most disreputable nightclub, with rooms devoted to fulfilling almost every imaginable sexual fantasy.
reviewed
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R
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.
reviewed
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S
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.
reviewed
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T
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.
reviewed
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U
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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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W
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.
reviewed
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X
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
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Y
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