The 4 best bakeries in Antwerp

You can smell the baking bread long before you reach this smart white bakery near the railway viaduct. Created by the owners of Dôme on the opposite side of the street, it sells several varieties of bread, along with croissants and lemon tarts. They have a second location on Lange Gasthuisstraat where they also serve high tea. 

Founded in 1884, this traditional bakery has a beautiful interior with a tiled floor and marble counter. It is famous for its raisin bread, which is piled high in the window. It also makes biscuits and cheesecake. But the shop is small. Four people can just about squeeze inside. Everyone else must wait patiently outside in the rain. Dries Van Noten sometimes stops here on his way to the office, but even he has to wait outside.

Look for the neon sign. That’s Kleinblatt’s. For more than 100 years, people have been coming to this kosher bakery in the Jewish quarter for sesame seed bread, bagels and cakes. Kleinblatt also make delicious Sachertorte and cheesecake, along with special cakes for Jewish festivals.

A brother and sister took over this acclaimed Antwerp bakery in 2019. But they have changed nothing. You can still pick up an authentic sourdough bread baked the slow way using nothing more than flour, salt and water. Or cycle across town on a Sunday morning for a freshly-baked baguette and a bag of perfect croissants.