Antwerp is a port city on Belgium’s River Scheldt, dating to the Middle Ages. In its center, the centuries-old Diamond District houses thousands of diamond traders, cutters, and polishers. Antwerp’s Flemish Renaissance architecture is typified by the Grote Markt, a central square in the old town. At the 17th-century Rubens House, period rooms display works by the Flemish Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens. In our opinion, the design, food, and fashion-forward city is one of the most underrated cities in Europe. It is also the of the “Antwerp Six” — the group of fashion designers who graduated from Antwerp's Royal Academy of Fine Arts, whose members include Walter Van Beirendonck, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, Dirk Bikkembergs, and Marina Yee.

STAY

AUGUST A former Augustinian convent turned hotel, designed by legendary Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen in his first-ever hotel project. The property also includes a restaurant, bar, spa, shop, and gardens. Jules Bordetstraat 5, 2018 Antwerpen; august-antwerp.com

HOTEL FRANQ This luxury boutique hotel in a converted townhouse in the center of the city offers a true gastronomic experience at its restaurant. Plus, most rooms come with an extra-long king bed, so you’ll have an exceptional night of sleep before you. Kipdorp 10/12, 2000 Antwerpen; hotelfranq.com

HOTEL PILAR An eclectic, beautiful hotel that seeks to create a whole experience from top to bottom. It’s a haven in the southern part of the city. There is a popular bar and bistro on the ground floor. Leopold de Waelplaats 34, 2000 Antwerpen; hotelpilar.be

HOTEL JULIEN Tucked away in the heart of the old city center, close to Grote Markt, and overlooking Antwerp’s Cathedral. The design reflects sophisticated, eclectic modern taste (don’t let the sixteenth-century exteriors fool you). Korte Nieuwstraat 24, 2000 Antwerpen; hotel-julien.com

DINE | DRINK

THE JANE Don’t forget to reserve a table at this Michelin-star restaurant. It’s housed in what used to be the chapel of a military hospital and offers one of the best wine lists in the city. Paradeplein 1, 2018 Antwerpen; thejaneantwerp.com

LE JOHN Le John is reflective of the design sensibility that seems to be innate in this Belgian metropolis. Order the sea bass carpaccio, served with sorrel and nasturtium. Kasteelpleinstraat 25, 2000 Antwerpen; lejohn.be

FRITES ATELIER A fantastic lunch spot with the best chips in town, jars of specialist mayonnaise and a glass of wine if you wish. Korte Gasthuisstraat 32, 2000 Antwerpen; fritesatelier.com

CORDOBA Widely hailed as the best breakfast in Antwerp, this menu features local ingredients for delicious dishes that are just begging to be shared. Napoleonkaai 1, 2000 Antwerpen; cordoba-foodbar.be

THE CHOCOLATE LINE Pick up a box of chocolates from one of Belgium's top chocolatiers, Dominique Persoone. Meir 50, 2000 Antwerpen; thechocolateline.be

IN DE ROSKAM Stop by this spot for a delicious cup of coffee, next to the Fashion Museum. Vrijdagmarkt 12, 2000 Antwerpen; roscam.cafe

DOGMA An elevated cocktail bar. Try the deconstructed Old Fashioned or the Elixir d’Anvers, an Antwerp liquor that’s been around since 1863. Wijngaardstraat 5, 2000 Antwerpen; dogmacocktails.be

THE GILDED Sometimes you need a cozy place to hide away and drink endless glasses of champagne with your friends— this is your spot. Melkmarkt 37/39, 2000 Antwerpen; deguldeschoen.be

TINSEL A tiny, casual café steps from the Scheldt River with great coffee and delicious breakfast food. Sint-Paulusplaats 30, 2000 Antwerpen; tinsel.be

DE FOYER A grand brunch or high tea spot, located in an extraordinary rotunda at the stunning Bourla Theater. Komedieplaats 18, 2000 Antwerpen; bourlaschouwburg.nu

KOLONEL COFFEE A light-filled café with beautiful interiors and delicious coffee. Montignystraat 51, 2018 Antwerpen; kolonelcoffee.be

BUTCHERS COFFEE Housed in a former butcher shop, surprise, surprise. Kasteelstraat 57, 2000 Antwerpen; butcherscoffee.be

MIRLO’S A pastel-colored cafe with healthy menu options. Verbondstraat 1, 2000 Antwerpen; mirlos.be

COPPER Enter throaugh a navy blue and dusty pink velvet curtain. Order the avocado toast. Belegstraat 80, 2018 Antwerpen; copper-antwerpen.be

CIRO’S A must-try dinner spot for traditional Flemish food. A bit seventies and stuck in time, but a favorite of many artists. Amerikalei 6, 2000 Antwerpen; ciros.be

CAFE HOPPER In the city’s southern region, and a great spot for an outdoor aperitivo. Leopold de Waelstraat 2, 2000 Antwerpen; cafehopper.be

WITZLI POETZLI A charismatic bar in the heart of Antwerp, offering a specific selection of drinks and music. Blauwmoezelstraat 8, 2000 Antwerpen

DE BIOLOGISCHE BAKKERIJ Pop in for a quick bite at this tiny bakery, which features what is perhaps Antwerp’s best selection of teas, freshly baked bread, jam, and Belgian pastries. Mechelsesteenweg 72, 2018 Antwerpen; bdblapin.be

NATIVE BIO BISTRO A healthy vegan/vegetarian restaurant with organic and local produce. Antwerp-based chef Benjamin Somers embraces sustainability wherever possible, not only in the menu, but in the eco friendly, reclaimed furniture and interiors as well. Order the pumpkin salad. Muntstraat 8, 2000 Antwerpen; native.bio

BAKKERIJ GOOSENS An old school bakery. Korte Gasthuisstraat 31, 2000 Antwerpen; cityzine.be/hotspot/bakkerij-goossens

STANDARD A trendy pizza spot. Regine Beerplein, 2018 Antwerpen; standardpizza.be

RAS A scenic waterfront restaurant. RAS/Zuiderterras, Ernest Van Dijckkaai 37, 2000 Antwerpen; ras.today

VITRIN A bar on Marnixplaats where you'll find the cool local set having drinks most evenings. Marnixplaats 14, 2000 Antwerpen; vitrin.eu

CAMINO A low-key restaurant with Asian-inspired street food and an outdoor terrace. Muntstraat 4, 2000 Antwerpen; caminoantwerp.com

RESTAURANT VERANDA Talented Chef Davy Schelleman’s seasonally inspired restaurant. Lange Lobroekstraat 34, 2060 Antwerpen; restaurantveranda.be

ALBUM Famous for its breakfast dishes, sourdough bread, natural wine, charcuterie, and cheese. Order the pulpo with carrot. Vlaamsekaai 6, 2000 Antwerpen; albumantwerpen.be

LE PRISTINE Respected Dutch chef Sergio Herman’s restaurant, designed by Space Copenhagen. When you enter, it feels as if you’re in Manhattan. Lange Gasthuisstraat 13, 2000 Antwerpen; lepristine.com

CAFFENATION A specialty coffee roastery. Mechelsesteenweg 16, 2000 Antwerpen; caffenation.be

BOURLA The restaurant within the famous Graanmarkt with outdoor tables and an old-school atmosphere offering a traditional menu. Graanmarkt 7, 2000 Antwerpen; bourla.be

PHILIP’S BISCUITS Pick up the famous “Antwerp Handjes” cookie as a souvenir. Korte Gasthuisstraat 39, 2000 Antwerpen; philipsbiscuits.online

DE KONINCK Modern brewery offering self-guided interactive tours, tasting sessions & a courtyard terrace bar. Mechelsesteenweg 291, 2018 Antwerpen; dekoninck.be

ART | CULTURE | ACTIVITIES

RUBENSHUIS Rubenshuis is Peter Paul Rubens’s former home and studio, which now functions as a museum filled with many works from the artist and his pupils. Purchased in 1610, Rubens had the Flemish townhouse renovated and extended on the basis of designs by Rubens himself. Wapper 9-11, 2000 Antwerpen; rubenshuis.be

MUSEUM AAN DE STROOM The Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) is the largest museum in Antwerp. It is an impressive sixty-two-meter tall rusty red tower block, with corrugated glass, that has become an icon of the city. Designed by Willem Jan Neutelings, of Neutelings Riedijk Architects, the MAS building resembles a giant jigsaw puzzle. Don’t miss the view from the terrace! Hanzestedenplaats 1, 2000 Antwerpen; mas.be

KANAAL BY AXEL VERVOORDT Kanaal by Axel Vervoordt is a unique and visionary project, 18 years in the making, designed by Belgian architects Bogdan and Van Broeck, Coussée and Goris, and Stéphane Beel. It was restored into a 55,00 square meter cultural and residential world of apartments, offices, studios, a restaurant, a bakery, and exhibition spaces just outside the city. Kanaal has restored new life into a former malting distillery built in 1857 and inside you will also find the home of the May and Axel Vervoordt Foundation, showing his designs and their exceptional collections of art (including pieces by Anish Kapoor). Stokerijstraat 19, 2110 Wijnegem; kanaal.be

THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Check out some of the most innovative modern art from artists around the world. Whether it is a painting, a model, or an interactive installation, you won’t regret an afternoon spent here. Leuvenstraat 32, 2000 Antwerpen; muhka.be

CENTRAL STATION Central station is more reminiscent of a palace than a train station. Koningin Astridplein 27, 2018 Antwerpen; belgianrail.be

MODE MUSEUM The famous fashion museum MoMu, which is also a big part of the city’s fashion heritage, is a must-visit for anyone interested in clothes. Nationalestraat 28, 2000 Antwerpen; momu.be

FOMU A large photography museum in an old warehouse that hosts innovative and original exhibitions as well as a permanent collection. Waalsekaai 47, 2000 Antwerpen; fomu.be

MIDDELHEIM MUSEUM An outdoor sculpture park. Middelheimlaan 61, 2020 Antwerpen; middelheimmuseum.be

VERBEKE FOUNDATION A bizarre private museum that houses exceptional artworks. It has quite a morbid atmosphere but it’s truly unique. Westakker 1, 9190 Stekene; verbekefoundation.com

CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF ANTWERP The Cathedral of Our Lady is a Roman Catholic cathedral, started in 1352 and, although the first stage of construction was ended in 1521, has never been 'completed'. In Gothic style, its architects were Jan and Pieter Appelmans. It contains a number of significant works by the Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens, as well as paintings by artists such as Otto van Veen, Jacob de Backer and Marten de Vos. The belfry of the cathedral is included in the Belfries of Belgium and France entry in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Groenplaats 21, 2000 Antwerpen; dekathedraal.be

PLANTIN-MORETUS MUSEUM The Plantin-Moretus Museum is a printing museum, which focuses on the work of the 16th-century printers Christophe Plantin and Jan Moretus. It is located in their former residence and printing establishment, the Plantin Press, at the Vrijdagmarkt in Antwerp, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. Vrijdagmarkt 22, 2000 Antwerpen; museumplantinmoretus.be

ROYAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS ANTWERP The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp was founded in 1810, and houses a collection of paintings, sculptures, and drawings from the fourteenth to the twentieth centuries. This collection is representative of the artistic production and the taste of art enthusiasts in Antwerp, Belgium, and the Northern and Southern Netherlands since the 15th century. The neoclassical building housing the collection is one of the primary landmarks of the Zuid district of Antwerp. The majestic building was designed by Jean-Jacques Winders and Frans Van Dijk, built beginning in 1884, opened in 1890, and completed in 1894. Sculpture on the building includes two bronze figures of Pheme with horse-drawn chariots by sculptor Thomas Vincotte, and seven rondel medallions of artists that include Boetius à Bolswert, Frans Floris, Jan van Eyck, Peter Paul Rubens, Quentin Matsys, Erasmus Quellinus II, and Appelmans, separated by four monumental sculptures representing Architecture, Painting, Sculpture, and Graphics. Leopold de Waelplaats 1, 2000 Antwerpen; kmska.be

MAISON GUIETTE Maison Guiette, also known as Les Peupliers, is a house designed by Le Corbusier in 1926, and built in 1927. It was the studio and living quarters of René Guiette, a painter and art critic. One of the Franco-Swiss architect's lesser-known works, it is an early example of the International Style. Rene Guiette asked Le Corbusier to design a house modelled on the 1925 Pavilion de l'Esprit Nouveau. Guiette drew lifelong inspiration from the house using gouache and experimental photography. In July 2016, the house and several other works by Le Corbusier were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Populierenlaan 32, 2020 Antwerpen; fondationlecorbusier.fr

SHOP

GRAANMARKT 13 A high-end concept store and restaurant in a spectacular old townhouse. The Graanmarkt 13 concept was the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Tim Van Geloven (a lawyer) and Ilse Cornelissens (an ex-economist), and made a reality by famed Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen. Combining all of Tim and Ilse’s loves—design, fashion, and food, the Graanmarkt 13 townhouse was reborn as a restaurant, a concept store with a beautifully curated selection of clothing and homewares, and an incredible design apartment. Graanmarkt 13, 2000 Antwerpen; graanmarkt13.com

ESSENTIEL There are multiple locations around the city for this popular European store, making it convenient to stop in during your other activities. Find the coolest trends of the season for both men and women at reasonable prices. essentiel-antwerp.com

DRIES VAN NOTEN Located in the city center, this stunning building is the site of the first-ever brick-and-mortar Dries Van Noten. No trip to Antwerp is complete without checking out the city’s most celebrated designer. Nationalestraat 16, 2000 Antwerpen; driesvannoten.com

ROSIER 41 If you’re looking to pick up a few designer pieces that you might not be able to find in the States, then be sure to check out this shop. You can find everything from Margiela and Raf Simons to Jil Sander and Dior. Rosier 41, 2000 Antwerpen; rosier41.be

ANN DEMEULEMEESTER A woodsy-industrial vault on Leopold de Waelplaats. Leopold de Waelplaats, 2000 Antwerpen; us.anndemeulemeester.com

RENAISSANCE A boutique and restaurant in the same building as the MoMu Fashion Museum and the Royal Academy, and stocks Peter Pilotto amongst other leading young international brands. Lange Gasthuisstraat 16, 2000 Antwerpen; princess.eu/store/renaissance/

GANTERIE BOON An incredible glove store and a true Antwerp gem. Lombardenvest 2, 2000 Antwerpen; glovesboon.be

LUDDITES A charming book store with a coffee shop and bar upstairs. Hopland 34, 2000 Antwerpen; luddites.be

ST. VINCENTS Housed in an old printing house with a pared-back interior that is part concept store, part cafe, part exhibition space. Kleine Markt 13, 2000 Antwerpen; stvincents.co

BERNADETTE A mother-and-daughter brand with a range of printed silk dresses and shirts. bernadetteantwerp.com

LABELS, INC One of the best stores on Nationalestraat, which houses many boutiques. Find second-hand bargains from Dries and Margiela, and other desirable brands such as Loewe, and Comme des Garcons. Nationalestraat 95, 2000 Antwerpen; labelsinc.be

KLOOSTERSTRAAT Kloosterstraat is the place to find stores selling high-end, mid-century antiques. 2000 Antwerpen; kloosterstraatantwerpen.com

WUNDERKAMMER A unique mix of Stationery (from iconic brands to up-and-comers), Books, and Homeware. Kleine Markt 14, 2000 Antwerpen; wunderkammer.be

DAY | WEEKEND TRIPS

GHENT A port city at the confluence of the Leie and Scheldt rivers. During the Middle Ages, it was a prominent city-state. Today it’s a university town and cultural hub. Its pedestrianized center is known for medieval architecture such as the 12th-century Gravensteen castle and the Graslei, a row of guildhalls beside the Leie river harbor. Don’t miss a visit to see the Ghent Altarpiece in St. Bavo’s Cathedral. Stay at the Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel or the moody 1898 Post Hotel and enjoy craft cocktails in the cozy Cobbler Bar. Dine at Oak, a minimalist, white, villa-like restaurant with wood plank floors, autumnal tones, and candlelight, tavern Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant, or Ona, or Cafe Theatre. Shop at Galerie St. John, a Baroque chapel-turned-antique shop that now draws worshipers of gilded clocks, Chinese screens, painted porcelain, exquisite glassware and Art Deco silver sets, Antiek-Depot, a two-level hodgepodge of toys, games, industrial lighting and midcentury furniture, elaborate women’s hats by Ria Dewilde at Sjapoo, and minimalist leather handbags by Mayenne Nelen at Mayenne. Shop. Visit the Design Museum where those innovative objects (designed by Frank Gehry and Birgit Kraner, respectively) and hundreds of others are on view. Housed in an 18th-century townhouse, the museum uses period rooms of parquet floors, painted wallpaper and chandeliers for its temporary exhibitions, and more modern spaces for “Object Stories,” its permanent collection of (mostly) 20th-century design icons and iconoclasts. Classics like an Art Deco silver set by Philippe Woolfers, an S-shaped chair from Verner Panton, and a red plastic Olivetti typewriter by Ettore Sottsass shine alongside fabulously freaky items like Shiro Kuramata’s steel mesh love seat and Kraner’s fishy fashions. Leave time to view the Renaissance religious art of Hieronymus Bosch at the M.S.K. Museum of Fine Arts. For a taste of the 21st century art, head to the S.M.A.K. contemporary art museum across the street.

BRUGES Bruges, the capital of West Flanders in northwest Belgium, is distinguished by its canals, cobbled streets, and medieval buildings. Its port, Zeebrugge, is an important center for fishing and European trade. In the city center’s Burg square, the 14th-century Stadhuis (City Hall) has an ornately carved ceiling. Nearby, Markt square features a 13th-century belfry with a 47-bell carillon and 83m tower with panoramic views.

BRUSSELS The City of Brussels is the largest municipality and historical center of the Brussels-Capital Region, as well as the capital of the Flemish Region and Belgium, and the administrative center of the European Union, as it hosts a number of principal EU institutions in its European Quarter. Stay at the Hotel Amigo by Rocco Forte near the Grand-Place and Mannekin-Pis sculpture.