The 10 Coolest Cafés And Hangout Spots In Antwerp

On the docks of Antwerp’s harbour on the river Scheldt is the MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) and on the its ground level is Café Storm, with a terrace and a view across the river and offering fast, healthy snacks and delicious drinks. The café is the perfect spot after climbing through the MAS to the rooftop for a panoramic view of Antwerp, as well as a bird’s eye view of Belgian artist Luc Tuymans’ 1,600-m² mosaic, ‘Dead Skull’, below on the museum square.

Het Geluk is the theatre café of Het Paleis, a theatre for the young and the young at heart. Described as a child-friendly café, Het Geluk is the place to enjoy a hot chocolate and tasty sandwich with your family before seeing one of the performances or just a great local spot to enjoy a light brunch or lunch. The café is nestled under the giant roof of the theatre square, where a weekend food market takes place providing ample opportunity for people-watching and offering the tastiest exotic fruit and vegetables.

Kornél café is not only a coffee bar but a co-working space. Populated by neighbourhood artists and philosophy professors, the café offers a meeting point for people to exchange ideas, build relationships and for the freelancer to get out of the house and work in a studio-like space. The café is lively with many activities, hosting regular art exhibitions, tastings, documentary screenings, lectures and book club meetings. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate are all on the menu, as well as vegetarian breakfasts.

Located in Antwerp’s trendy Zuid area, Wasbar is a café that gives people the chance to do their laundry in style. Mixing the concept of a café with a Laundromat, you can enjoy a drink and a chat here while waiting for your washing to rinse and spin. This is the second such cafe: the creators of Wasbar opened the café in Antwerp shortly after their success in Ghent. Washing machines and dryers are all named after men and women, with signs that will tell you that: ‘Jacob is doing the drying this time.’

Caffe Mundi takes pride in overseeing the complete coffee making process. From choosing the best beans from Brazil to roasting and grinding them in store, they ensure only the finest quality brews are served to their loyal and ever-growing customer base. The interior is intimate and convivial, with a light wooden bar and monochrome stools and fixtures. With delicious homemade cakes and a selection of hot soup and large, fresh sandwiches, Caffe Mundi is the perfect place to take a moment to regroup and mull over the day.