Antwerp, the Belgian city of 500,000 that abuts a beautiful river, might not lie on the regular circuitry for European fashion respites. But while London, Milan, and Paris have their coolness, playfulness, and grandeur, respectively, Antwerp offers something entirely different in terms of sartorial magnetism: dark-horse originality, with radar-skirting chicness to boot.
That’s not to say Antwerp is entirely off the grid, just that it takes planning: a trek away from the conveniences of its larger sister cities, accessible predominantly by train, or car, from Brussels. And in order to facilitate that planning, we asked Peter Pilotto’s Christopher De Vos and **Peter Pilotto—**who graduated from the local Royal Academy of Fine Arts, considered among the globe’s strongest fashion design schools—to provide a list of their favorite haunts in town. From the Antwerp Six to coffee stops, see below for the Pilotto boys’ picks:
Photo: Courtesy of @kymtje1/8Breakfast at Tinsel, Brunch at De Foyer
A good day for Pilotto and de Vos starts at Tinsel, a tiny, casual café steps from the Scheldt River that adamantly accepts “no reservations.” If still hungry, follow that up with a grand brunch or high tea at De Foyer, located in an extraordinary rotunda at the Bourla Theater, “the most stunning setting,” according to Pilotto.
Photo: Courtesy of Kari Field Iverson / @kfiverson2/8Shop the Antwerp Six
A visit to the city isn’t complete without stopping by at least one of the Antwerp Six’s stores. To clarify, the Antwerp Six is a group of fashion designers who graduated from the local Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the eighties. They are credited with putting Belgium on the map in terms of sartorial prowess. The Pilotto boys recommend: **Ann Demeulemeester’**s woodsy-industrial vault on Leopold de Waelplaats, **Dirk Van Saene’**s shop (with Coccodrillo—“one of the best shoe stores in the world”—underneath), and **Dries Van Noten’**s urban bohemian grotto. (No doubt a necessity should you be after any of Van Noten’s color-soaked, nymphish seventies spring collectsion.)
Photo: Courtesy of Ly D. Dao / @___ly___3/8Keep Shopping
Past its marquee sextet, Antwerp also offers plenty of other strong, unique retail perusals. Renaissance, a boutique-cum-restaurant in the same building as the MoMu Fashion Museum and the Royal Academy, stocks Peter Pilotto amongst other leading young international brands. And don’t miss Ganterie Boon—“the most incredible glove store and a true Antwerp gem.”
Photo: Courtesy of @erikvernieuwe4/8Dine at Ciro’s
Hometown favorite Ciro’s is a must-try dinner spot. “Quite seventies and a bit stuck in time,” say De Vos and Pilotto, “but a favorite of many artists.” Brave the all-Flemish menu and be adventurous—each dish is consistently highly ranked across the board. You can’t go wrong.
Photo: Courtesy of @yazuyugi5/8Drink
For a Hoegaarden or Stella Artois, De Vos and Pilotto recommend the classic Antwerp drinking holes Café Hopper, in the city’s southern region, and Witzli Poetzli. For something a little funkier—“a fun place,” the duo says—stop into Homey, which, insider-secret, also sells delicious homemade ice cream.
Photo: Courtesy of Sophie Engelen / @sophie_engelen6/8Coffee at De Biologische Bakkerij
Pop in for a quick bite at this miniscule owner-operated bakery, which features what is perhaps Antwerp’s best selection of teas, breads baked in-house, jams, and Belgian pastries.
Photo: Courtesy of @deconinckjoke7/8Lunch at Le John
The “stylish” Le John is reflective of the design sensibility that seems to be innate in this Belgian metropolis (call it Scandinavian clean–meets–Gallic chic). The sea bass carpaccio, served with sorrel and nasturtium, fits that description as well.
Photo: Courtesy of Sasha Tsyrlin / @tsyrlin8/8Stay at Hotel Julien
Much like Le John, Hotel Julien is one of Antwerp’s gems whose design reflects such sophisticated, eclectic modern taste (don’t let the sixteenth-century exteriors fool you) that you may be inclined to take home a piece of furniture. If so, it wouldn’t be the first time. Hotel Julien kindly offers that they’d “be happy to talk to you about this too.”
