Josephine's- Make room for cocktails!

Josephine's living room 

Now if you have just moved to a new city- or you are visiting for your birthday, then it is relatively difficult finding a good place to go for dinner and drinks that has a good vibe, interior, price and of course quality of food.

I was turning 22 in Antwerp and had only just moved to the city, so I knew that finding a place to celebrate would be vital.( Not as vital as a super sweet 16 show - but hey I like to make an effort! I wasn't going to have a massive pink pony or car wrapped up with a bright bow standing outside waiting for me whilst Antwerp watches in horror- or should I? hmmm)

Again like most of my quests, I found Josephine's by chance, another secret gem in the heart of Antwerp's south.

A gorgeous living room feeling with hints of vintage perfume bottles decking out the bar area. Marie Antoinette furniture, tea pots and retro china wear along the wall. Very girly and very chic. The food is Belgium with a twist. Beautiful meat and fish dishes and an amazing dessert ( as you can probably tell by now I have a sweet tooth) Chocolate brownies with caramel ice cream and earl grey droplets hmmmmm izzz niiiiccce!!

Perfumed Martinis

Cocktails at Josephine's are fabulous! I would seriously recommend the 'Folly Bergere'           ( looks like a swimming pool in a martini glass) ( The bar men know me by now- even when I enter they know that I will end up sitting on a sofa until about 2 or 3 am after a couple of Folly Bergeres!) If you like something a little more refined then try the perfumed martinis. Amazing mixture and perfect to cleanse ones palette before one dines!!

This is a must see When In Antwerp.

For more information see: http://www.josephines.be/



Address: Gentplaats 1

B-2000 Antwerp

Elsa- Did Cinderella's slippers have studding?

I have always been a firm believer in the fact that shoes and handbags are the make or break of an outfit. Think about it- a very plain outfit (i.e. T shirt and jeans- Less is more concept) can be totally re-worked by adding some killer heels or an outrageous bag.

People who know me, understand that I always wear weird and wonderful shoes, not to everyones taste but they never fail to get a mention. It is my one Lady Gaga moments when I get stopped on the street and people want to have a good look. The ' OOs' and ' Ahhhs' make me very proud! Wearing shoes that don't have a normal heel or  are see through or are bright colours so that you need sunglasses to see my feet.

Therefore Elsa is a store which immediately caught my attention located on Nationalestraat in Antwerp.

See through shoes from Elsa

A very traditional styled boutique, with the most incredible creations. Shoes that are see through, shoes with more studding than an outfit from Cher, shoes which change shape, shoes with multiple skins, shoes with neon soles, shoes that have invisible heels, plastic shoes, leather shoes... I could go on.

If you are in Antwerp for a weekend of shopping and fun and you want to bring something home that no one else will have then definitely pop into Elsa. If you are someone who likes attention when out and about, then go into Elsa. If you dare to be different go into Elsa. If you want to be Avant Garde then go into Elsa. If you want all of the above.....Go into Elsa!

One of the brands at Elsa - United Nude

This is a must see When In Antwerp.



For more details see: http://www.elsa-antwerp.be/
Address: Nationalestraat 17, 2000 Antwerpen

Claude’s Salon de The- Let them eat Cake!

Well I am British- and technically we can scrutinize that only the best experience with afternoon tea only exists on our island. However I think every Brit should eat their words. I found Claude’s by chance whilst walking around the city on a hot day in summer. I remember sitting outside and admiring the surroundings from outside, little 

did I know what would be awaiting me on the inside.

A flash of duck egg blue and pink mixed with shabby chic, Marie Antoinette interior. What used to be an old 20’s butchers shop (old tiles on the ceiling) is now the most beautiful miniature Salon de jour, perfect for ladies who take tea or generally want to feel as feminine as possible.

You can have a lovely lunch during the day, rustic sandwiches, fresh soups and salads but nothing compares to the homemade cake and macaroons that follow. My favourite being the chocolate and caramel but the cheesecake is out of this world and I have heard some say that it challenges the cheesecake of New York. (Oh dear writing about this makes me hungry!)

What makes this experience whole is the fact that Claude himself greets you with the utmost hospitality and makes you feels truly looked after.

The inscription on the outside window ‘Let them eat cake’ said by Marie Antoinette at the height of revolution- Well Marie, if you are referring to the cheesecake from Claude’s – I totally concur.

This is a must see When In Antwerp.

Address: 79 Scheldestraat, 2000 Antwerp 

Label's Inc- the Aladdin’s Cave of Couture

Lore Ongenae- Window May 2011

Situated just off the bustling Nationalstraat in Antwerp's centre this is a much understated shop, with an eye-catching window.

Now imagine you had been transported into Arabian nights- Aladdin's cave of precious gems and riches reaching out as far as the eye can see-this is better!

I remember the first time I entered this store not having much of an expectation until I started milling through the rails of clothing to find that my hands were touching Dries van Noten, Marni, Balmain, Westwood, Margiela and the list goes on...I felt that I had just raided Lady Gaga's or Gwen Stefani's closet- something about this experience

made me feel as if I was partly dreaming and part of a top secret fashion raid!

From major fashion names to collaborations with the prestigious fashion academy and exhibitions of world renowned designers, Labels Inc. is every fashion hunter’s dream. They always have new stock so you ‘have’ to keep going back as you will always find something new and exciting.( I say have to- my heart says yes and my credit card says no- but who listens to plastic?!)

There are very few stores in which I say immediately 'Yes' to an item of clothing, however I think Label's Inc has cracked this habit of mine, as now when I see something that grabs me- I think 'Ha! Nicholas Kirkwood- you thought you could take me for hundreds-but now I pay 70% less! Gotcha!' Well something along those lines.

Even my boyfriend, who is the careful one with cash (and German), went a bit OTT in this store, trying everything on and placing it straight onto the front desk with no questions or queries.

Window at Labels Inc. 

Recently opening up a pop up store in the picturesque setting of Bruges, this is a must see When In Antwerp.

For more info on Labels Inc see: http://www.labelsinc.be/

Address: Aalmoezenierstraat 4, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium