De Ware Jacob

A little off the beaten path, this beer café offers a great selection of Belgian beers.

What it is:

De Ware Jacob is a cozy, venerable, one-room beer café in central Antwerp, not far from the Cathedral or the waterfront, with advanced taste in ales from artisanal Belgian producers. Lots of wood paneling, a couple of benches, mirrors, tile floors, and a nautical theme set the tone. It’s been years since smoking was allowed, but the ancient nicotine patina is preserved for posterity. Nonintrusive music favors blues, jazz, and soul.

It’s a living picture of a Low Countries’ brown café—old, comfortable, well-wooded, and totally unpretentious—exactly the kind of place to settle in for a while, wallow in atmosphere, and get to know some of the best beers from smaller, independent Belgian producers, including newer upstarts that have yet to blip on the international radar. Antwerp-area breweries tend to feature prominently on the prolific bottle list, while the five taps virtually always include St. Bernardus 12 and Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux. —Joe Stange

Why it’s great: Hours:

3 p.m.–12 a.m., Tuesday–friday; 2 p.m.–1 a.m., Saturday; 2 p.m.–12 a.m., Sunday; closed Monday.

Vlasmarkt 19, Antwerp, Belgium facebook.com/dewarejacob/

Address: Web: