Innovative fusion | DOJO 2.0 in Antwerp

18-4-2024

DOJO 2.0, led by chef and entrepreneur Dennis Ekisola, opened its doors after the success of his first restaurant DOJO. The restaurant is located at 7 Samberstraat in Antwerp and is open for dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and for lunch on Tuesday and Friday. If you want to enjoy his extraordinary cuisine, with a fusion of Japanese and European culture and a touch of science fiction, you must make a reservation.

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HIRO izakaya | Grungy Japanese izakaya opened in Antwerp

22-3-2024

Opening – Antwerp is getting a new addition with the opening of Hiro izakaya. This brand new izakaya restaurant from chefs Bart Huybrechts and Thomas Van de Weyer opened its doors on the Napoleonkaai with a view at the MAS museum and brings Japanese izakaya, with an extensive sake menu.

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BANKS Antwerp now part of the Carlton Hotel Collection

3-7-2023

Expansion – The Carlton Hotel Collection is expanding. The four-star BANKS Antwerp, located in the historic heart of the city, is the latest addition to the international hotel company. With its quirky character and unique location, the hotel fits perfectly within the collection. Carlton takes over both ownership and day-to-day operations. After fifteen years, owners Carla Bartels and Daan Terlingen hand over the baton on July 1. That day Roelof Meijering will start as hotel manager in Antwerp. BANKS Antwerp is the second hotel of the Carlton Hotel Collection in Belgium, bringing the total number of hotels to thirteen.

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Restaurant COBRA opened at the Leopoldplaats in Antwerp

8-5-2023

Opening – One glance at COBRA’s ingredients and you know this will inevitably be Antwerp’s newest place to be. COBRA opened its doors in the heart of Antwerp last week, bringing atmosphere, style and a huge terrace to Leopoldplaats. Expect a stylish bar with top-level dishes you can combine and share. And no less than two large terraces on one of the sunniest spots in town. Cobra is open and ready to welcome its guests!

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Camionette brings plant-based fine dining restaurant to PAKT site in Antwerp

19-8-2022

Opening in Antwerp – Camille and Boqion from Camion opened their second branch – plant-based fine dining Camionette – on the PAKT site on Friday 1 July. What initially began in 2019 as a plant-based lunch and aperitif business soon turned into a full-blown restaurant. They soon came up against the limits of their small premises, especially the very small kitchen, so after three years it is time to move to a place where they can once again expand their culinary ambitions. From now on, Camion will continue as a low key breakfast and lunch bar, while at Camionette you can go in the afternoon as well as in the evening for all sorts of sharing dishes or a nice glass of natural wine at the bar.

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Sapphire House Antwerp

19-5-2022

Opening – Sapphire House Antwerp, the long awaited Marriott hotel in Antwerp, opened its doors this week. The five star hotel is the first hotel in the world that is completely plant-based. This five star hotel is located on the 16th century site of the Antwerp Stock Exchange and was carefully renovated with the idea to protecting international cultural heritage. Sapphire House Antwerp has 139 rooms, all unique and with their own character, a plant-based bistro PLANTn, a lively cocktail bar, and a gym. It promises to be a unique hotel experience for every guest…exactly like nothing else.

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Hawaiian Poké Bowl opens branch in Antwerp Tower

24-1-2022

Hawaiian Poké Bowl is opening their 20th location in Belgium in the foodstreet of the brand new Antwerp Tower. To celebrate that twentieth poké location in just three years as it should be, this will be the flagship store of the healthy restaurant chain. The imperial location for that milestone is the busy Keyserlei. As one of the fastest growing players within healthy casual food concepts, here for the price of one bowl you not only get a healthy, fresh and nutritious meal, but also a vacation feeling!

The organization behind Hawaiian Poké Bowl has plans for 20 branches in the Netherlands in the next 3 years. And they are developing sustainable packaging for their take-out and delivery. 

Reading time: 2 minutes

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Thai’s Streetfood restaurant Pitaya opens in Antwerp

21-10-2021

Thai’s Streetfood restaurant Pitaya, the restaurant chain specialized in Thai cuisine, opened its first restaurant in Antwerp, next to Operaplein in the newly renovated Antwerp Tower. After three successful openings in Brussels and Wallonia, it is now Flanders’ turn. And they will open in the Netherlands as well in the coming years.

Inspired by the Thai capital, the first Pitaya restaurant opened in 2010 in Bordeaux, France. The Antwerp restaurant is number 122 on their list! Most of the restaurants are located in France. Alpha Seed, the investment company that manages Pitaya’s license for the Benelux, is planning further openings in Liège and Charleroi this year. Pitaya now manages 5 restaurants in Belgium. The goal is to reach 70 in the Benelux in 7 years: 30 restaurants in Belgium, 35 in the Netherlands and 5 in Luxembourg.

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Expansion of the organic breakfast and lunch shop CIRCUS in Antwerp | CIRCUS Winebar

14-10-2021

Opening – The organic breakfast and lunchbar CIRCUS in Antwerp will add a new culinary act to their place starting the 21^st of October. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday they dim the lights in their business to focus the spotlight on natural wines. Managers Inge Dreezen and Lien De Naeyer couldn’t find a wine bar in Antwerp with the focus on natural wines. That is why, in line with their organic menu, they decided to take a new and logical step towards an expansion to a natural wine bar during the evening. A step that fits perfectly within their organic path. CIRCUS wine bar is open from October 21.

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MOOY Bakery in Antwerp | Your ‘stairways to sweet treat heaven’

3-8-2021

Disclaimer: this article is more interesting for Dutchies and those living in Belgium.

Opening in Antwerp – With MOOY Bakery, the popular pink lunch spot ‘MOOY Food & Drinks’ is introducing a completely new concept across the street from the current store. Here they serve milkshakes, cupcakes, cake slices and fancy sweet & savory toasts! All sweet tooths can gather here! Owner Yana Lamon starts with one establishment, with the aim of being able to expand it later or even develop it as a franchise concept. The stairway to sweet treat heaven? You can climb it from this summer at the Lombardenvest 33 in Antwerp.

Looking at the images, the concept reminds us a bit of the very popular and Instagrammable EL&N cafes in London. And if MOOY Bakery will be as busy as this chain is in London, it can expand quickly! Nice to visit if you go shopping with friends in Antwerp. The cake slices look deliciously sweet!

Reading time: 2 minutes

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