a drink or a bite at the street, Antwerp

Zomerbar is only open for 2 months of the year during the summer (mid-July through mid-September). The locals here are doing their best to take advantage of the summer weather and long days.

Worked by volunteers, the drinks at the bar and the food from the kitchen are very cheap relatively speaking. The drinks that come in glass/cups are surcharged 1Eur extra, but that is returned as a deposit when you give back the glass/cups.

There is a playground for children, some hammocks for those looking to relax horizontally. Otherwise there are several tables and wooden stumps to sit on.

Dress Code: The dress code is completely casual. But remember that it is outside, so dress for the weather. The ground is also very sandy, so choose your footwear properly.

Hot Summer evening? A small pub that is not big enough for the crowd? No problem... the street becomes the pub.
Hundreds of youth gathered in the narrow street along the Cathedral that you could hardly pass.
My visitors, one of them came from Los Angeles, was astonished that this was possible: having a drink like this on the street and the youth so well behaving.
I think this picture will have an ever lasting impression on him :)

This is not really a nightlife spot, its more for during the daytime till around midnight. At De Groenplaats you have a variety of pubs, cafes and restaurants. The best time to enjoy De Groenplaats is when the sun is shining and you can have a drink or a snack in the open air. While you are sitting there you can have a lot of fun by watching the people or enjoing the music of the street musicians.

I stayed at a hotel near the Berchem station and found the area pretty lively, if spooky, almost every night. Great pubs and fish restaurants line up with dubious looking kebab houses and peep show theatres. Take a bit care, go where the locals go and you'll get great food and drinks for cheap.

All this drinking makes you hungry, so what better place to call that Antwerp's No 1 chip shop.
Standing near the corner just off Grote Markt (the square with Brabo's statue) it's ideally situated for a (very) late night snack.

Dress Code: Come As You Are

Hot spot, new since 15/8/2004 with great music. During the day: bar and in the weekend + going out! Checkout the website!