Cafe Kulminator

Antwerp, Belgium

This Belgian classic is one of the beer world’s greatest treasures.

What it is:

Located on a medieval back street, this tiny nook of a space is one of the first bars to begin cellaring beer. Over the decades, they’ve amassed an incredible collection of vintage Belgian beer that is still essentially unrivaled in the beer world today, drawing beer drinkers from around the globe.

Why it’s great:

The lights are low, there are candles burning, ancient hops vines adorn the walls, and cats doze in empty chairs. The place oozes cozy authenticity. Inside you’ll find Owners Leen Boudewijn and Dirk Van Dyck, an adorable white-haired couple, who (seemingly unbeknownst to themselves) are minor celebrities in the beer-geek world. Leen pours the beer, and Dirk (sometimes begrudgingly) fetches bottles from the cellar. There are roughly ten beers on tap, assuredly all impressive, but visiting beercationers know to go straight for the tome of a cellar menu. Easily mistaken for a book, its pages contain goodies that go all the way back to the seventies when they first opened. Try a few different vintages of Rochefort 10 to find your preference or sample bottles of lambic from long-since closed geuzestekerijen. Because, well … this is the only place in the world to do it. —Patrick Dawson Details Hours: 4 p.m.–midnight, Wednesday–sunday; 8 p.m.–midnight, Monday; closed Tuesday Address: Vleminckveld 32, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium