4 Best Bars in The Meir, Diamantwijk, and Centraal Station, Antwerp and the Northeast

Sometimes the name says it all. Just a five-minute walk from Centraal Station, the selection here runs the gamut of craft ale and Belgian favorites, with a dozen draft brews on tap. Its minimalist interior is more cocktail joint that your typical "brown café," but friendly, knowledgeable staff make exploring a bottle list 300-strong a delight.

Belgium's first "ecological" venue lies under the train tracks. As well as club nights, it also runs lectures, vinyl fairs, and workshops, but most come for the music. Nights run the spectrum from deep house to future jazz every Friday and Saturday, so check out the website for upcoming events.

Taking its name from a neurological disorder linked to alcohol abuse, this quirky, artsy café-bar has cultivated a loyal following among the in-crowd of hipster-drenched Mechelseplein. There's live music some nights.

This typical brown café (old-style bar, all dark wood and nicotine-stained walls) has been operating since 1929, and little has changed. It's been in the same family for three generations and serves up a good selection of beers, particularly some unusual gueuze and kriek (lambic beers) at a decent price—much to the delight of its dedicated locals.