ANTWERP, MARRAKECH & MADEIRA IN RED

Last month I wrote an article for Dutch magazine Red. Theme: you’ve booked your summer holiday but want to get away again. For 1 night (Antwerp), 1 weekend (Marrakech) and 1 week (Madeira). 

In Antwerp I recommend (among others) Ra, Graanmarkt 13, Felix Pakhuis, Cargo Zomerbar, Sleep in the City and Soul Suites. In Marrakech you have to stay at P’tit Habibi. And if you want to go to Madeira I like to redirect you to the website of Eliza was Here who has an extreme cool offer of Estalagem Ponta do Sol.

Check out: www.red.nl

NEW SPOT: CLOSET ANTWERP

3 reasons to go there:

1. It’s the new concept store in Antwerp
2. If you love young designers – that’s what they sell in the Closet.
3. If you’re shopping at the are called ‘t Zuid.

Check out: www.closet.be

TRIED & TESTED: DE BURGERIJ ANTWERP

Most striking feature:

Their burgers.  Okay, you can choose a salad or a wrap but the menu mainly consists of burgers. I tried the Dolce Vita burger with tomato, pancetta and provolone. It’s always a hard thing to eat a burger like a lady – especially if they’re this big. So don’t go here on a first date. We sat outside on their terrace: a lovely place to spend the afternoon in the sun. This square in Berchem, outside the center of Antwerp, is filled with terraces and has a local vibe to it. And for us Dutchies – it’s just off the highway so you don’t need to drive into the center (good to know if you’re driving from France back to the Netherlands and need a quick burger stop).

Check out: www.burgerij.be

TO GO: ONTRAFEL ANTWERP

The MoMu (Fashion Museum Antwerp) is all about tricot the couple of months. In it you will find pieces of Vivienne Westwood, Sonia Rykiel and ofcourse Missoni – all of them are knitted. Must see for fashionista’s who love to crawl into a warm tricot sweater. Like myself. Till August 14.

Check out: www.momu.be

TRIED & TESTED: YOUR ANTWERP

Most striking feature:

The Kloosterstraat is getting better by the day. There’s RA for the early adopters and now there’s Your Antwerp for mainstream visitors. Your Antwerp is a concept store. In it you will find lot of fashion items (men and women), beauty stuff, a hair dresser, a dj and a lot of cool gadgets. Books of Facehunter and the Sartorialist, funny gifts and accesories. Oh and they sell the Life Story book (from Suck Uk) with enough pages to tell your life story.

Check out: www.your-antwerp.com

TO SEE: HUNGRY EYES ANTWERP

Interested in culinary photography? Go to the Fotomuseum in Antwerp and visit the exhibition Hungry Eyes. You will see the work of three photographers. I like this picture of Dimitri Tsykalov – a Russian photographer who turns fruit into skulls. He also turns meat into weapons. Bizarre. Till June 6 2011.

Check out: www.fotomuseum.be

TRIED & TESTED: A.PUUR.A GHENT

Most striking feature:

Although I don’t have kids I can get all ‘oh’ and ‘ah’ about some kids apparel. Like these Bobo Choses baby star pants. But I also spotted some cool lamps, notebooks, cards, books and other great things to buy for yourself or a friend. And I adored their creative window.

No website, address: Onderbergen 56, Gent, Kammenstraat 89, Antwerp

NEW SPOT: HOTEL O ANTWERP

3 reasons to go there:

1. If you don’t want to drive home after a dinner at Nero.
2. If you choose a minimalistic black hotel.
3. If you want to get cozy with your lover choose for their Sensual Room (pictures).

Check out: www.hotelhotelo.be

TRIED & TESTED: HANGAR41 ANTWERP

Most striking feature:

In Antwerp I never pay to park my car. I just park it at the huge parking lot opposite Hangar41. This restaurant is a good stop for a quick drink or lunch before you go wandering in the area called ‘t Zuid. But you can also finish there before going home. It’s not new, in fact, I’ve been there a couple of years ago as well. But is stays good because of the simplistic interior. A lot of black, simple light bulbs above the bar and good dishes like a sandwich with grilled chicken.

Check out: www.hangareenenveertig.be

TRIED & TESTED: VITRIN ANTWERP

Most striking feature:

The windows. This is a perfect spot to watch everything happen on the Marnixplaats. This is a huge roundabout where you will find several great restaurants like Fiskebar and Osterbar. Vitrin is a place where you go for a good cappuccino (the best in the neighbourhood), a lunchbreak or to read new and good magazines like Monocle. If you’re in Antwerp with your Bugaboo (and child in it), you can simply park it inside. And in summer you can sit outside on a huge wooden bench.

Check out: www.vitrin.eu