3 Best Sights in Antwerp and the Northeast, Belgium

De Groote Witte Arend, in a secret courtyard near the Jordaens house, is in a former convent. The background music tends to be Vivaldi or Telemann, the atmosphere is genteel without being snobbish, and there's a good selection of draft beers and tasty sandwiches.

This place has gobs of atmosphere; it's crammed with more than 400 plaster saints and angels salvaged from old churches. Het Kathedraalcafé is tucked into a tiny street between the Grote Markt and the cathedral and serves traditional, hearty Vlaamse fare with a large selection of Trappist beers. It also has a pleasant terrace.

This crowded former warehouse is dominated by a series of shiny vats used to brew the café's three house beers; the Antwerp Blond (5.1%) is a particularly dry, flavorsome pint. The building's conversion is slightly sterile (its vast, redbrick bar can seat around 350), but the ales and 60-minute tours can't be faulted. Prices are set for groups of 10, but phone ahead and you might be able to squeeze onto the end of another tour; a personal guide is €125.