We enjoyed our visit to Pure! Ghent so much that we decided to stay in Belgium and visit Antwerp and Brussels. We were swamped with recommendations for great local Antwerp spots before we even got there. The chefs in Antwerp work with organic, fairtrade products, and sustainably caught fish and they grow their own vegetables and herbs. They know how to make some delicious veggie and vegan dishes. Whilst scouring the streets of Antwerp we also discovered a raw food café and superfoods. The Pure! food in Antwerp is accessible for everyone, varied and tasty.
Want to see more of Belgium? Take a look at Pure! Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, and the Belgian Ardennes and Flemish coast.
Antwerp is one of the most visited cities just across the border with the Netherlands. You can enjoy shopping, but for me, the best idea is to enjoy good food and drinks at pure restaurants, on a sunny terrace. Visit the newly opened Mercado, the first food market in Belgium. Stroll along the river Schelde and visit ‘t Eilandje. And enjoy! Read more »
The Biologisch Dynamische Bakkerij (biodynamic bakery) has three shops spread across Antwerp. They all serve the same tasty organic bread, baked by Zonnemaire. The first picture was at the Mechelsesteenweg. The other bakeries are at ‘t Eilandje’ and the Volksstraat. Read more »
We’ve saved the best for last. Seppe Nobels is the chef at Graanmarkt 13 and he likes veggies to be the stars of the menu. We were surprised with a tasting of several delicacies like mussels, grilled lettuce, beets and goat cheese. Oh, and did I mention the delicious organic white wine? Read more »
After enjoying dinner at De Broers van Julienne we decided to also visit her sister, Juliette. It’s a deli store in Antwerp where you can order take away or sit and eat at one of the tables. Painted in pastels Juliette is like the little sister. Everything is homemade, but not necessarily organic. Read more »
If you are a fish lover, Fiskebar is the closest you can get to heaven. Situated at the upmarket district ‘t Zuid, Fiskebar serves tasty fish and seafood, but not all fish is sustainable. We advise you to check your choice via an App or website before you order. We chose one of our all-time favourites: shrimp croquettes. Read more »
Welvaert is a project of artist collective Timecircus. Situated close to the MAS museum, it explores sustainable living in a city. You not only go to Antwerp for good food, you can also enjoy numerous great museums in Antwerp like the aforementioned MAS, or the house of Rubens, the Photography Museum, Fashion Museum or the Museum of Contemporary Arts. In the last one you can even order fair trade coffee, tea, juice or wine. facebook.com/WelvaertWelton
Via Instagram we got the tip to check out Normo Coffee. So we did. Jens, the owner, explains that everything starts with taste. This governs all his choices when selecting ingredients. Not always with an organic or fair trade certification, but without pesticides and he pays a fair price.
At Lombardia in Antwerp, almost everything is organic, except for the tropical fruit. The owner Alain has known the restaurant since he was 6 years old, when his mother owned it. On the wall you will find photos, tweets and Facebook posts from Sting, Moby, Jamie Cullum and Ian Thomas. Read more »
Owner Katja at Starfish & Coffee has a knack for cozy interiors. In her colourful lunchroom she prepares cakes, cookies and brownies. Read more »
Yummie! The food in the Broers van Julienne (Julienne’s Brothers) window looks very tasty: their delicious cakes are real eye-catchers. They have plenty of homemade food and organic products to go. Read more »
