Behind ‘t Fornuis is Johan Segers, a Michelin-starred chef who wows guests with dishes made from seasonal ingredients (and a lot of love). There’s no set menu here, as Segers chooses daily ingredients and then creates gastronomical specialties that bring out the best in each.

Experience a two-, three-, or four-course meal at lunchtime, or a five-course meal for dinner, at Album, where seasonal produce and fresh fish take center stage, accompanied by fresh pastas, fine cheeses, and other rotating menu items. Artichokes with North Sea shrimp and sea buckthorn have appeared, as well as mackerel and oysters with celeriac and Buddha’s hand.

“My favorite place for lunch and dinner with local and international friends is always Arte Restaurant,” says Indagare insider Boris Vervoort. “It’s owned by a Sardinian/Belgian family, and they serve Italian food in the best possible way: casual, authentic, and real.” Dishes include scampi tagliolini, beef with green pepper sauce, gorgonzola, and Béarnaise, pizzas, veal, tuna tartare, and plenty more. Take a peek at the lengthy dessert menu, which includes panna cotta and zabaglione.

At the Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp, Bar Bulot by Hertzog Jan is a cosmopolitan brasserie serving primarily seafood. The design inside is clean and contemporary, with white tablecloths and blue velvet banquettes. There is an à la carte and a tasting menu on offer, with highlights being the signature brandade with cod, a poached farm egg, mousseline sauce and Zeebrugge brown shrimps and the scallop appetizer. This is a hot spot in Antwerp, and it works well for lunch or dinner.

With its cheeky French bulldog mascot, Billie's is a great local spot to explore the Antwerp beer scene. The cozy pub space features a downstairs bar with high-top tables and limited outdoor seating, and there is also a loft upstairs with smaller tables. A rotating menu of on-tap beers spotlights Belgian producers as well as international favorites like Brooklyn's Other Half Brewery, and there's a fixed menu of primary Belgian bottled beer. You can also order typical bar snacks like fries, wings, sausages and croquettes. A five-minute walk from the bar, Billie's also operates a beer shop, where you can also sample your purchases in a back garden.

Housed in a historic building on the cobblestoned Graanmarkt, Bourla's relaxed and charming atmosphere holds appeal for travelers and locals seeking a good meal in a cozy place. The interior has an old-school vibe with crystal chandeliers, burnt orange walls and a piano that is opened up on select evenings. Seating is also available street-side beneath the trees and white umbrellas. While the traditional cuisine—like rib roast and stuffed tomato—is certainly a draw, this is also a spot where travelers may just sit outside to enjoy a coffee, a glass of wine or a Belgian beer.

Indagare insider Boris Vervoordt prefers Caffenation for a cup of coffee in Antwerp. The roastery focuses on the entire journey of the coffee bean, from where it’s grown and harvested to who is selling it. The company strives to provide information on bean traceability, transparent pricing and in-season beans. You can also buy coffee and other coffee-centric items on their website.

Indagare insider Boris Vervoordt calls CRU “a fresh market offering the best quality and locally cultivated food grouped under one rooftop.” And with 10 different types of culinary crafts represented, including butchers, cheesemongers, fishmongers, greengrocers, a catering department, and a bakery with sourdough bread, you’re sure to find everything you need for a great meal here. They also sell flowers and beverages.

Down the block from the Sapphire House in a fabulous old trading hall, this restaurant has a great bar and tables in an interior courtyard space. The atmosphere is festive, and the delicious is inspired by the cities of the world.

Fiskebar prides itself on working exclusively with European fish and shellfish and collaborating with local farmers. Plates include sea bass, lobster, oysters, whelks, mussels, shrimp and more. Don’t skip dessert, which can include things like tonka ice cream with coffee shoyu butterscotch and crème brûlée with passion fruit.

Goossens is a small, traditional bakery in Antwerp known for a variety of its breads and pastries, particularly its raisin bread. Arrive in the morning before many of the items sell out.

Located in the Botanic Sanctuary hotel, in the center of Antwerp, Hertog Jan is a tranquil escape from bustling city life currently holding two Michelin stars. They serve a Japanese omakase (chef’s choice) menu, where fixed dishes shine with seasonal products like wild turbot, Breton lobster ragout, and duck with beurre rouge. Set in a greenhouse with an herb garden and beehives, Hertog Jan has an intimate and relaxed atmosphere that’s great for leisurely lunches and dinners.

This Michelin-starred restaurant is the brainchild of chef Nicolas Misera, who focuses on fish and shellfish dishes in a restaurant bedecked in white tablecloths and china. Fine dining options are à la carte, and an open kitchen plan allows diners to peek at the creations the chef thinks up. Nicolas strives to tell personal stories with his food, giving guests a glimpse into his life and upbringing with each and every dish.

One Antwerps most famous myths is that of the giant Druon Antigoon, who once demanded a toll to cross Antwerp’s Scheldt river and cut off the right hand of those who could not pay, tossig it in the river—until a Roman soldier, the cousin of Julius Caesar and did the same to the giant. So, the symbol of Antwerp and the unofficial ‘official’ icon of the city became the giant’s hands, which is also the shape of the Antwerpen cookie, and while they can be found all over the city, Philip’s Biscuits makes the best. The cookies are topped with sliced almonds and made from sugar, butter, flour and eggs.

The restaurant at Huis de Colvenier bases its dishes on fresh products sourced straight from the market. Choose from three to seven courses, and talk with chef Patrick about what works best for your palate and wine selections. Langoustines, asparagus and lamb are always available, but you’ll also find daily choices like foie gras, fish and game. Ask to check out the wine cellar, where you’ll peruse more than 20,000 bottles of wine and enjoy aperitifs while going over the menu with the chef.

Putting a spin on the street food of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Shuk serves from-scratch Middle Eastern fare like fresh hummus and falafel, fire-roasted eggplant, sabich pita and weekly specials like chraime (spicy fish stew) and ktitzot (meat or veggie patties). “Lunch is always at Shuk for the best Middle Eastern mezze,” says Tania Beasley-Jolly, an Indagare insider. “It was started by old friends, Molly and Ika Zaken. They met in Paris many moons ago as two young chefs. I leave very full and fueled!”

Steps from the Cathedral of Our Lady and off the busy street of Oude Koornmarkt, Sir Anthony Van Dijck is down a small alleyway and set in the historic Vlaeykensgang building (dating to 1557) was brought back to life by the renowned designer Axel Vervoordt. Travelers must ring the bell (possibly a few times, as it is quite busy), but once inside, it feels like being let in on a secret. Sir Anthony Van Dijck is known for working with local and seasonal ingredients; the menu is classic French-Belgian with an elevated touch. The additional private dining rooms off the main space make it ideal for either a romantic dinner or a group and the restaurant serves both a tasting and à la carte menu. It is a must in Antwerp.

Inside the former chapel of a military hospital, The Jane offers a tasting menu that typically includes fish and shellfish and one or two meat courses, followed by two dessert courses. The set menu is available at lunch and dinner, and it usually takes about four hours to experience the full tasting. All tables have views into the open kitchen, and there’s a lengthy wine list for pairings.