Renowned more for mussels and frites than fine dining, the Belgian city of Antwerp provides visitors with a rewarding possibility of splendid dining experiences.  One of the most sophisticated is found at Fine Fleur, where contemporary cuisine combines flavours, textures, and colours in a delightful set menu that changes every month.  Not to be outdone by the food, Fine Fleur’s ambience, service, and location in the historical centre of Antwerp make it a must for connoisseurs of haute cuisine.

Although Antwerp is a highly charming city with many interesting sights, it remains somewhat off the radar for rushed visitors heading toward the more celebrated medieval towns of Ghent and Bruges.  Leave those places to the tourist masses while comfortably seated at one of Fine Fleur’s tables in the chic dining room at Lange Gasthuisstraat 41B on the grounds of the Botanic Sanctuary complex.  Dedicated staff do an outstanding job of enhancing a lunch or dinner with their polished professionalism and good humour.  The best table in the house is the chef’s, separate from the main dining room.  Hidden from the view of other patrons, the chef’s table gives a ringside seat and full view to the elaborate dance of restaurant operations.  It is well known that restaurant kitchens must function with maximum orderliness, and Fine Fleur’s amiable staff display an admirable level of well-coordinated cooperation.

At Fine Fleur, special attention is given to the presentation of the culinary spectacle.  Only the most creative minds would come up with the very original ways in which foods can be used to appeal to the eyes, nose, and palate.  Not content with using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients in traditional ways, Fine Fleur’s chef and his team surprise patrons with their ingenuity in turning the unexpected into the superb.  Even something as simple as a tomato is made into an elegant appetiser, preceded by an amuse-bouche and an equally appealing main course and dessert.

It would be a shame to leave Antwerp without visiting some of the city’s excellent museums. From the sublime Museum Plantin-Moretus, visitors will see the history of the Golden Age of Flemish culture in paintings, furniture, books, and, not to mention, the building itself. Follow up with a visit to the DIVA Museum to glimpse silverware and diamonds. The city has long been famous as a diamond trading centre; over centuries, Antwerp established itself as the world’s diamond capital, a status it still retains.

Rounding out a post-lunch or pre-dinner afternoon of culture, glamour, and delight is Chocolate Nation.  You would be forgiven for spending an entire day here in the world’s largest Belgian chocolate museum, with its displays, tasting room, and shop.  Octave is the name of Chocolate Nation’s café, and no doubt the exclamations of pleasure will go up an octave or two upon tasting the various chocolate items on the menu here.  The very convenient Antwerp City Pass, a valuable tool for pursuing an excellent visit around Antwerp, includes entry into these and other museums and transport on the city’s public transport network.

By Robert La Bua – Global Travel Connoisseur

BIO:

Robert La Bua is a luxury travel columnist, writer, and television guest renowned for his discerning eye and polished perspective on the finer things in life. For over 14 years, he has contributed to Destinations of the World News—the United Arab Emirates’ leading luxury travel magazine—where his byline is synonymous with elegance, insight, and excellence. As the writer of the Global Travel Connoisseur column, Robert reports on exceptional destinations, premium flights, five-star hotels, and extraordinary experiences tailored for the most affluent of travellers. With an unerring taste for quality and a truly global point of view, his work continues to inspire those who believe travel should always be an occasion.

=====================================