Fun and entertainment Antwerpen 6

Between current releases and cinema classics, the Lumière makes the big difference. It is a small cinema which has the particularity of being housed in the Museum of Photography. Here, you can feel the passion for cinema, far from the big impersonal complexes. Its two red-dressed rooms are very comfortable and the sound installations are particularly efficient. No popcorn or nachos here (but drinks served in glasses, please), we are here for the pleasure of cinema. The films are in V.O. with Dutch subtitles.

Like a New York-style coffee shop, this trendy espresso bar offers a range of carefully selected coffees from all over the world (Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Colombia...). The young, passionate owners decided to work with a nearby artisan roaster to roast the selected beans. Located just behind the Grand Place, it's a pleasure to settle in for a break. Also sandwiches with artisan breads, homemade cakes and breakfasts.

A micro-bar like a little piece of Argentina, with the same Latin good humor, and a pretty, colorful facade. The interior is tiny: a few stools, a shelf with imported products, especially mate. We lean in close to our neighbors to share a few empanadas and Quilmes beers, which flow freely in the evening, just like the cocktails. It's a great way to bond. But it's in summer that the bar gets lively, the terrace spreads out on the sidewalk and the outdoor sound transforms the street into an impromptu open-air party.

It's been a few years already for this "place to beer" which, as its name suggests, is dedicated to beer. With 333 bottled beers and 33 draught beers, Bier Central even ranks among the best national references. It's hard to choose, or maybe you'll have to make several rounds! But in addition to the 366 beers (one for every day of the year), they offer typical Belgian cuisine such as moules-frites with a local beer, Flemish-style carbonnade with beer, homemade shrimp croquettes..

In former warehouses, just a few minutes' walk from MAS, you'll find a waterside oasis, the Sommar, one of Antwerp's many zomerbars and one of the most successful with its chic touch. The space is immense, with views of the Scheldt and the cranes of the old port facilities. On one side we have the restaurant (different restaurateurs come and go during the summer) and on the other a lively mega-bar. Here, you can relax on a sofa or deckchair and toast the setting sun, before dancing until closing time... and continuing elsewhere.

A long counter, subdued lighting, shelves filled with spirits and other concoctions, a back space with deep chesterfields - this is the setting at Dogma, a cocktail bar in the heart of downtown. There's a hint of speakeasy about the place, but it's not hidden. The bar's creations, led by award-winning mixologist Didier Van den Broeck, change with the seasons, but they're always surprising (like the Aix-en-Provence with... goat's cheese). Let yourself be guided by the staff or the description (fruity, tiki, long...) and enjoy!

An electro-techno-house club par excellence, referenced by Resident Advisor, the club is in the basement with a rather Berlin feel, since here we're in the industrial setting of the harbor docks. The heavy bass can resonate without disturbing the neighbors until morning. Great label programming, lots of guests from Berlin, London, Paris... It's a truly underground venue. Remember to reserve your tickets when the live producers are scheduled, as the 400-person venue can sell out. For connoisseurs of electro nights.

The atmosphere is always lively in this multicultural bar, where you can move to the sound of soul, groove and Afro music. Concerts are held regularly, the place is very busy and rather hip, fun & cool. Some evenings feature neo-soul, r'n'b, hip-hop, funk and house DJ sets, while others are dedicated to the African rhythms of the moment (Congolese rumba, kizomba, bongo flava, coupé-décalé...), so you can dance the night away! And it's not unusual for the party to go on until dawn. Excellent cocktails are also available.

Welcome to the beach, Antwerp version! Ideal for sipping a cocktail at sunset or hanging out while a DJ plays his records day and night. Outside: sofas, deckchairs, poufs and umbrellas are spread out on a quay, on the sand, under palm trees, in front of the industrial cranes of the port. In this vast former warehouse, wooden furniture and plants soften the concrete in an "exotic-indus" atmosphere. There is a salsa dance floor, two restaurants (Pampelonne and Lambik) and Gusto (Mediterranean tapas)..

This is the city's best concert venue, and although it's not very big, it shines for its quality programming. Belgian, European and even international headliners perform here, including pop-rock, hip hop, world music, blues, folk, indie, jazz, swing, reggae/dub.... Don't hesitate to take a look at the program during your stay, you're sure to find a concert to your taste. The venue also organizes performances (music-cinema) and cultural events..

Even if you don't understand Dutch, the music is universal! Opéra Ballet Vlaanderen was born of the merger of the Antwerp Opera and the Ghent Opera in 1981. In addition to operas, it offers ballets, chamber music concerts... in short, everything classical. Antwerp's majestic neo-Baroque building dates from 1907 and seats almost 1,000. It is located near the Leien boulevards. The Opera's reputation and the quality of its performances are second to none: performances sell out months in advance. Don't forget to book.