The Best Restaurants In Antwerp's Het Zuid Belgium

Antwerp’s Het Zuid neighborhood is one of the city’s most trendy areas. Het Zuid, meaning ‘the south’, has been an upcoming area since being revived in the 1980s. Now, the neighborhood offers visitors dozens of monuments, museums, galleries and shops, not to mention mouth-watering restaurants to boot. Here are our favorites.

1. Il Magnifico

Bistro, Restaurant, Italian

Il Magnifico is an Italian bistro that has been in business for 70 years and has provided Antwerp’s Het Zuid locals with mouthwatering dishes since first opening its doors. Il Magnifico has a modest ambiance with Italian-themed paintings on the walls. Don’t miss the grilled octopus, ravioli with tomato sauce, cucumbers and herbs, or the linguini with half pesto sauce and half pecorino scampi sauce.

2. Brasserie Bizie Lizie

Brasserie, Restaurant, Belgian

Brasserie Bizie Lizie is a stylish yet warm and cozy restaurant located in Antwerp’s Het Zuid. The restaurant has four very different dining rooms, letting visitors choose which type of atmosphere they would prefer, whether it is an ethnic chic feel, trendy silver mirrors or classic cozy woods. The restaurant is well known for its modern take on Belgian and French cuisine. Try the fish soup with garlic toast and rouille, beef carpaccio with parmesan, or the cod fillet; they are all fantastic!

3. Lucy Chang's

Restaurant, Chinese

Visitors looking for an alternative to Belgian food should look no further than Lucy Chang’s. This centrally located restaurant is known for its delicious Chinese cuisine. The décor is Asian-inspired with traditional tapestries adorning the walls and statues of Buddha scattered throughout the rooms. Don’t miss the rice noodle soup with chicken and prawns, wok-fried Asian vegetables with oyster sauce, or the Laos sesame chicken salad.

4. Wijnbistro Patine

Bistro, Restaurant, Belgian

This charming bistro is known for serving some of the best food in Antwerp’s Het Zuid. Wijnbistro Patine is French-inspired with antique wooden tables, silver serving dishes and glass plates. The restaurant’s old-fashioned ambiance is reminiscent of a classic French home, while the menu is also French but with an international twist, with suggested wine pairings for every dish. Try the veal empanadas or the pumpkin soup; they are both delicious!

5. Finjan

Restaurant, Mediterranean, Vegetarian

Offering arguably the best Mediterranean cuisine in Antwerp’s Het Zuid, Finjan is the ideal restaurant for daytime and late night cravings alike. Sit outside and enjoy the streets of Het Zuid, or inside in Finjan’s large dining room, decorated with expansive windows and antique Middle Eastern lamps and bowls. The restaurant serves traditional Mediterranean dishes such as falafel, pita bread and shawarma, making it a great option for vegetarians.