Antwerp is a magical city, the second largest in size Belgium and unique for its creative intuition that for years has elected it among the most modern cities in Europe. It is much easier to get around on foot in Antwerp than in Brussels or Ghent and the neighborhoods are full of narrow streets which will be a pleasure to explore.
If you decide to spend a few days, remember that a weekend, starting from Friday to Sunday, will be enough to observe this splendid town in detail. If you decide to spend a week in Belgium, I recommend that you divide your days in the most beautiful cities: Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent and Bruges. Belgium has always been known all over the world for its chocolate with names like Cote d'Or. Throughout Belgium you will find shops selling chocolate and ice cream with a small space with tables to taste the delicacies. The Belgian factories invented the praline, the first chocolate filled with creams or nougats and covered with white and dark chocolate, a delicacy.
In Antwerp I personally tasted many types of chocolate, but only two shops attracted my attention the most: Pierre Marcolini e Chateau Blanc. The first, Pierre Marcolini, is located at Huidevettersstraat 38-40 in a very elegant little shop where each chocolates are sublime packaged. Here you will find many specialties and you will be tempted to taste everything. His creations are real works of art. On his site you can find the complete list of the collections and their composition.
The second chocolate boutique, Chateau Blanc, is located in Torfbrug 1, near the Cathedral, open every day from 10 to 18. The environment is intimate and very friendly, the salesmen will make you feel at home and will show you everything more delicious they explain the compositions of each chocolate. If you pass in this place you cannot not buy the chopsticks with real chocolate cubes that melt in the cup of hot milk. They come in different "flavors" and are sold in packs of one, four and eight sticks. Excellent on cool winter days.
If you are in Antwerp and you want something salty you can't miss the French fries. In fact, the best are the Belgians, for several reasons: first of all they are produced with potatoes from Belgium or the Netherlands, however of excellent production, second reason because they are cut in strips of 1 cm which do not burn but remain perfect after cooking.
A unique place in the center of the Belgian city is by far the Frittur No 1, Hoogstraat 1. The counter from which you can admire the french fries produced instantly in front of you remains almost on the street, but to the side is a lounge with a window where you can stop and sit to enjoy your dish. The fries are abundant, excellent and with a lot of sauce, I recommend the mayonnaise that never tires and is also the favorite of the Belgian population. As for the price it is not that of the common McDonalds portion, but I assure you that even the quality has nothing to do with foods of that type.
You will struggle to finish the portion because it is really abundant. Another traveling place of fries is the Jabbe Dabbe Doe, a van that generally starts only on weekends but produces real quality fries. If you can find it you are really in luck.
