A shopper's guide to Antwerp

Whether you are looking for vintage, designer labels, avant-garde or high street, Antwerp is a shopper’s paradise. Here are  three itineraries

Antwerp for glamour seekers

If you want to get as much shopping done in one day as is humanly possible, best to start out at shopping mall Stadsfeestzaal. The mall in itself is a sight to be seen: gilded in gold and featuring a floating champagne bar and futuristic bistro. It is situated right between the high street (Meir) and chic shopping street Hopland, so exit via the latter if you want to forego the big retail chains. That puts you in the ideal position to check out Donum, a store that is sure to satisfy all of your design and interior needs. Continue down Hopland, straight into the Schuttershofstraat, to discover some of the fanciest boutiques in Antwerp. It is where Gucci, Burberry and Jimmy Choo set up shop, and where you can find chich Belgian brands Delvaux and Natan.  This street also comes highly recommended by shoe lovers, who get their designer footwear fix at one of the two Coccodrillo locations (one for men, one for women); or at Suela. Marc Jacobs, Prada, Lanvin, Robert Clergerie… You name it, these boutiques carry all of your favourite designer brands. Make one more stop at the men’s flagship store of Antwerp-based label Essentiel, where you can find the brand’s entire colourful collection and score original gifts for him, before you head on to the Graanmarkt. This plaza – too often overlooked – houses the elegant Graanmarkt 13, the place to find chic home objects and fashion by Alexander Wang and Isabel Marant, to name a few. Around the corner, the owners of Graanmarkt 13 have also opened up a small but beautiful boutique for Santa Maria Novella, the famous Italian cosmetics brand.

Where to stay: Les Nuits is a swanky hotel perched on top of equally fancy furniture and interior design store Flamant. Some rooms have open bathrooms, and all are beautifully decorated and feature Kiehl’s amenities. Hotel Les Nuits, 12 Lange Gasthuisstraat, 2000 Antwerp, tel 03.225.02.04, www.hotellesnuits.be.

Where to eat & drink: Antwerp’s lucky enough to have not one but two places to get the perfect cocktail: Cocktails at Nine lies in the shadow of the magnificent cathedral and feels sort of like a speakeasy, while Sips is your glamourous chance to see and be seen.

Cocktails at Nine, 9 Lijnwaadmarkt, Antwerp, tel 03.707.10.07, www.cocktailsatnine.be;; Sips, 8 Gillisplaats, Antwerp, www.sips-cocktails.com

Antwerp for the fashion forward

Antwerp’s in-crowd mostly steers clear from the streets mentioned above, and can be found a little more down to the South of the city centre. The Nationalestraat is where the heart of Antwerp’s fashion scene beats: it is lined with Dries Van Noten’s flagship boutique; Modepaleis, housing the fashion museum, the Flanders Fashion Institute and the Antwerp academy’s fashion department; and many more designer shops.

Make sure to turn into the Sint-Antoniusstraat to discover Walter Van Beirendonck’s concept store. It’s not just his own designs and those of his partner Dirk Van Saene that make this a must-see: the designer makes sure to include new and upcoming Belgian talent in his selection. Book afficionado’s better schedule a visit to Copyright, to pick up an exclusive or inspiring tome on fashion photography, travel, design or art history, while vintage lovers turn to Jutka & Riska and Labels Inc. For the most exclusive international fashion in the city, step into Sien to admire the work of Givenchy and Proenza Schouler, or spend a few hours browsing the elegant racks of Renaissance, filled with Carven, Markus Lupfer and Viktor & Rolf.

Where to stay: If you’re looking for a bed & breakfast that offers just a little bit more, Room National is your place to be. With only three rooms, that feel more like mini apartments – luxurious and warm – you’re guaranteed a personal experience. Room National Bed & Breakfast, 24 Nationalstraat, Antwerp, tel 0475.23.47.03, www.roomnational.be

Where to eat & drink: During the day, hang out with actors, musicians and other creatives as they enjoy the perfect espresso and pastrami sandwich at New York inspired Caffe Internazionale, or check out the people watching at the nearby Vitrin.

Caffé Internazionale, 21 Volkstraat, Antwerp, www. caffeinternazionale.be; Vitrin, 14 Marnixplaats, Antwerp, www.vitrin.eu

Antwerp for hipsters

Those on the hunt for quirky boutiques and an inspiring shopping experience, head straight to the Kloosterstraat. The street is a must for fans of vintage and antiques: our favourites are Viar, Hot & Cold, New & Old and retro design heaven Fiftie-Fiftie.

But it’s also where Antwerp’s best concept stores are hiding. Quite literally, in the case of Ra13: it’s a huge shop, but you’d easily walk past it. Go in to discover edgy and avant-garde fashion by local and international designers, and stick around for lunch in the bistro in front. Concept store Your is easier to spot on its corner, and is your one-stop shop for crazy gadgets, cool gift ideas, affordable brands and a hair cut. Why not?

Where to stay: Hipsters having trouble to find a cool place to sleep – because hotels feel to big and bed & breakfasts too small – should head over to Soul Suites. The apartments available for short-term rent are spacious, decorated with vintage design and each have their own character. Of course free Wi-Fi is included, so you’ll be able to tweet about your stay! Soul Suites, 14 Marnixplaats, Antwerp, tel 0471.28.57.16, www.soulsuites.com

Where to eat & drink: A favourite among fishionado’s (sorry) and hipsters alike, Fiskebar on the trendy Marnixplaats is always fully booked in advance. If you’re arriving late to the party, try the neighbouring Fisketapas for a quick, more informal bite. Fiskebar, 12-13 Marnixplaats, Anwterp, tel 03.257.13.57, www.fiskebar.be

Essential information

Getting there from Brussels

By train: Several trains leave from Brussels (Central and South stations) to Antwerp every hour. Some take longer than others, so make sure yours is an express train (IC), which will take you to Antwerp Central Station in about 40 minutes.

By car: Taking the A12 highway into Antwerp’s centre (exit Antwerpen Centrum)  will take you right under the new Court of Justice, straight onto the city’s beautiful boulevard ‘de Leien’. If you take the E19, the best way to enter Antwerp is to also head south, so when you pass through the Craeybeckxtunnel, enter the R1 by following Ring Antwerpen and take exit 5a (Het Zuid/Antwerpen-Centrum).  Next, you can park your car in one of Antwerp’s many paying parking lots, or you can try and find a free spot on the Zuiderdokken (enclosed by the Vlaamse Kaai and Waalse Kaai).

Elsewhere in Antwerp

True to form, provocative and unique Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck presents a retrospective like you’ve never seen before. ‘Dream the World Awake’ at the fashion museum runs until February 19, 2012 (www.momu.be).

You may want to pop over to the museum of photography (from October 15 until January 29, 2012; www.fomu.be), to admire photography legend Peter Lindbergh’s celebrity portraits and Belgian Frank Philippi’s post-war photography oevre. The MoMu and FoMu are also collaborating on a dazzling expo about New York ‘Fashion and Art’ magazine Visionaire.

But whatever you do, do take time to climb all of the escalators in Antwerp’s newest addition to its cultural scene: the MAS (Museum aan de Stroom; www.mas.be). The view from the rooftop terrace is free and offers a breathtaking bird’s eye perspective on Antwerp.