Places for Reading, Writing and Observing in Antwerp — Belgium
It feels like time to write about the city that’s closest to my heart: Antwerp. A place I lived in for years — wandered, got lost, grew up in. The city where I fell in love for the first time. Where I had my heart broken. Where I lost myself, and found myself again. Where I fell in love once more. A city I’ve left more than once, but always return to. Because it still moves me. Because it calms me. Because, truthfully, I can’t say anything else: this is home.
Antwerp is a small city with a big heart. It’s a place that keeps offering something new — if you’re willing to look closely. At the facades above your head, the quiet moments in cafés, the stories carried by the streets and the people who live in them. It’s a city where you can slow down, where you can read, write, wander, and observe. A place that holds a certain calm, and lets time stretch out just a little longer.
Witzli-Poetzli
This was one of the first places I ever fell in love with — not just because of the setting, right in front of the cathedral, or the stunning interior with its rich, shifting colors. But because of the story it holds. This bar has a long history, a quiet legend of artists and writers gathering here, spending long nights drinking, dreaming, losing track of time. Looking toward the future, in all its fragile possibility, or into the wreckage of their pasts. It’s the kind of place where time seems to loosen its grip — where you can simply be, especially when you’re in love.
I spent countless hours here with my first love, deep in conversation about the world, about how we might change it — make it softer, better. But in the end, it was the world that changed us. And so our conversations here slowly faded out. But every ending leaves space for new beginnings, new lovers, new memories. Now, with my partner, we sometimes return; dropping in for a drink when we visit friends in Antwerp, letting the city hold us for a moment. It’s also the perfect place to gather those you love, to raise a glass to a birthday, a finished novel, a small victory — whatever calls for celebration. They play the best music here, too. The kind that fits the moment, that makes time blur just a little more.
This place will always live in my heart as a quiet, steady presence — a place to reflect, to write, and to imagine the unimaginable.
© Cornichon
Cornichon / Feyenoord
If you’re looking for a quiet spot to focus, with good coffee and a central location not too far from Antwerp Central Station, Cornichon is your place. It’s a small café where you can read, write, and cross off those last few things on your to-do list before the rest of the day begins. I’ve written many words here over the years. And when the weather allows, they’ve got a little terrace outside where you can watch the world pass by.
The reason I’m mentioning Feyenoord alongside it is because, more often than not, I end up there with my partner after a morning/afternoon at Cornichon. Especially when the sun is out — their slightly run-down terrace catches the light just right. At first glance, this café might not seem very charming. There aren’t many young people here, and its outside doesn’t exactly scream “cosy.” But (!) they serve a Bolleke (De Koninck beer) for just 3 euros, and another beer for as little as €2.80 — where else can you still find that in a city? Inside, the atmosphere is soft and welcoming. The people are kind, and the bartender is a character in his own right (P.S. it’s cash only here).
Two very different spots, but they make the perfect pair: one to start the day with focus, and one to end it slowly — letting time stretch a little longer than you meant it to.
Cornichon: Pijlstraat 13, 2060 Antwerpen, België
Feyenoord: Van Stralenstraat 1, 2060 Antwerpen, België
© Bar paniek
Bar Paniek
This is one of the best places to spend your time during the summer months (it’s closed in winter). Just outside the city center, in the Eilandje district, you’ll find a bar by the water — where drinks are affordable, shoes come off, and you sit surrounded by plants, as if you’ve suddenly stepped out of Antwerp and into another world.
With a view of the water, the high-rise buildings, and the setting sun, it’s the kind of place that invites you to start writing or reading. Or simply to be still. It’s perfect whether you come alone, or with friends or a lover; a place where time stretches gently, and the hours seem to linger just a little longer.
© Beestenbos
Het Beestenbos
Not necessarily the best place to read or write — especially on busy weekends when the café is buzzing — but absolutely one of the best spots to observe, be with friends, and feel the rhythm of the city. This lively spot, tucked into a cozy square in the heart of Antwerp, is full of movement. Inside the café, people sometimes dance. Outside, locals gather to laugh, talk, and sip their drinks in the sun.
It’s the kind of place where you get to know the soul of a city, not through landmarks, but through its people. I’ve spent many summers here myself, laughing, dancing, losing track of time. They also often host cozy concerts featuring local artists, adding to the warm and vibrant atmosphere. It’s a small but spirited corner of Antwerp I keep returning to.
Sint-Andriesplaats 17, 2000 Antwerpen, België
Nachtegalenpark
A quiet, lovely park to read, write, or simply observe — alone or with friends. Not much more to say than that. It’s one of those places where the city’s noise fades into the background. I’ve always been drawn to its name “Nachtegalenpark,” or “Nightingale Park.” It feels like a whisper, a soft song carried on the breeze. The very name evokes a secret melody, as if the nightingales themselves are singing quietly among the trees, hidden but alive.
In the heart of Antwerp, this park is a small sanctuary where time loosens its grip. Tall trees shade winding paths, and the subtle sounds of nature mingle with distant city life. It’s a place for reflection, for quiet inspiration, a gentle pause in the rush of the everyday.
© Café Tati
Café Tati
If you’re a fan of director Jacques Tati, known for his whimsical, gentle comedies like Playtime, Mon Oncle, and Jour de Fête, this is the place to be. When I first discovered this bar with my first love, we were instantly enchanted by its atmosphere, both inside and out, and by its unique interior. Tucked away on a small square just outside the city center, this bar is wonderfully authentic, and you’ll mostly find Antwerp locals here.
After going through a heartbreak, my friends told me I needed to give this bar new memories and moments. So, it became our spot for many dates, turning it into a legendary place for us. Now, I return here with my current partner with love, because this bar holds a certain kind of magic. And of course, it’s also an ideal place to write, read, and observe.
Victor Jacobslei 69, 2600 Antwerpen, België
CronopiO
A small bookstore where you can also enjoy wine and coffee, with a few cozy tables outside and a few inside, CronopiO is a lovely spot to spend time. It’s perfect for browsing the latest books, sipping a glass of wine on the little terrace, and either diving into a book or watching the world go by. This is a place best enjoyed alone or with one other, to brainstorm, be surrounded by literature, or simply cuddle up and unwind.
Kasteelpleinstraat 21, 2000 Antwerpen, België
Take 5 Minutes in Paris
I only discovered this place later on, through a friend, even though I had lived in Antwerp for years. At first glance, you might think they only have a small terrace outside, but once you walk through the bar to the back, you find a charming, hidden garden that instantly transports you somewhere else — away from the city. Just like the bar’s name suggests: Take 5 Minutes in Paris. And that’s exactly what it feels like. This is the kind of place where you should pull out your notebook and let your thoughts flow, writing down everything that’s inside you.
