Guidebook for Mechelen
Drinks & Nightlife
Our favourite places to enjoy a drink.
Cosy bar with lots of locals and friendly owners, our favourite :). Good place to taste some beers. Sometimes they have concerts in the basement. They also serve great food, with 1 vegetarian and 1 non-vegetarian suggestion.
8 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Zapoi
117 Onze-Lieve-VrouwestraatCosy bar with lots of locals and friendly owners, our favourite :). Good place to taste some beers. Sometimes they have concerts in the basement. They also serve great food, with 1 vegetarian and 1 non-vegetarian suggestion.
Cool bar with mostly younger crowd. They usually have a party or concert during the weekends. Check their Facebook page for events.
Ideal for sunny days, relax on their great terrace in the sun!
6 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
KUUB
3A MinderbroedersgangCool bar with mostly younger crowd. They usually have a party or concert during the weekends. Check their Facebook page for events.
Ideal for sunny days, relax on their great terrace in the sun!
Unwined
22 SteenwegCosy wine bar, with a wide variety of wines for every budget.
O'Fiach's
24 Grote MarktIrish Pub with gourmet burgers and fish & chips.
New name: Bar Makadam.
They have a lare selection of (special) beers. Take some time to discover them, while relaxing on their sunny terrace. They also serve lunch and snacks.
Makadam
11 Grote MarktNew name: Bar Makadam.
They have a lare selection of (special) beers. Take some time to discover them, while relaxing on their sunny terrace. They also serve lunch and snacks.
The Golden Fish
7 NauwstraatLocal bar in art-nouveau style. Terrace by the water.
Sightseeing
Climb up the tower and enjoy the view. Best done with sunny weather.
42 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
St. Rumbold's Cathedral
12 Onder-Den-TorenClimb up the tower and enjoy the view. Best done with sunny weather.
Memorial, museum and research centre on Holocaust and Human rights
27 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Joods Museum van Deportatie en Verzet VZW
153 Goswin de StassartstraatMemorial, museum and research centre on Holocaust and Human rights
Parks & Nature
Vrijbroekpark
65 Ridder DessainlaanBig city park, great to enjoy a walk or bring a pic-nic.
A nature reserve outside the city centre, but nice to discover by foot or by bike.
16 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Mechels Broek
A nature reserve outside the city centre, but nice to discover by foot or by bike.
Sinte Mettetuin
SchaalstraatCosy park hidden in the city centre.
Food Scene
Café de Wei
6 NauwstraatCafé that serves simple but good food. Also recommended for vegetarians.
La Boya
16 Gebroeders VerhaegenstraatMoroccan restaurant that serves tajines and tapas-style dishes.
Funky Jungle
7 Onder-Den-TorenVegetarian/vegan restaurant
The city brewery with amazing beers! Also good if you want to try the Belgian cuisine. Their specialty is 'stoofvlees', a typical beef stew made with Carolus beer. Also in vegetarian option with seitan!
21 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Het Anker
49 Guido GezellelaanThe city brewery with amazing beers! Also good if you want to try the Belgian cuisine. Their specialty is 'stoofvlees', a typical beef stew made with Carolus beer. Also in vegetarian option with seitan!
Graspoort
28 BegijnenstraatIt's recommended to make a reservation.
Great brunch buffet during the weekends! Also good lunch options during the week.
8 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Sister Bean
26 VismarktGreat brunch buffet during the weekends! Also good lunch options during the week.
Stop here for breakfast or a delicious high-tea! During weekends, brunch needs to be booked in advance.
6 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Foom
2 Sint-KatelijnestraatStop here for breakfast or a delicious high-tea! During weekends, brunch needs to be booked in advance.
Niki's bakery
16 GuldenstraatWorld kitchen with a nice and quiet terrace in the park.
7 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
ViaVia Joker Reiscafé Mechelen
50 ZandpoortvestWorld kitchen with a nice and quiet terrace in the park.
Bar Klak
5/6 SchoenmarktCoffee bar with terrace
Bokes & Co (Tapas)
53 KorenmarktSpecialized in 'bokes'; open sandwiches. Cozy retro-inspired interior
l'Artista
5 BegijnenstraatModern Italian restaurant with cosy patio.
Noen
24 LeermarktGreat place for breakfast, lunch, coffee & cake!
Fine dining in a modern-chique setting. Food sharing concept, ideal if you want to try many of their great dishes.
6 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Cosma Food House
24 BefferstraatFine dining in a modern-chique setting. Food sharing concept, ideal if you want to try many of their great dishes.
Marcello
32 BorzestraatBest pizza in town!
Arts & Culture
If you are interested in World War 2 and the Holocaust, this is a must-visit. Very interesting museum on this topic.
27 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Joods Museum van Deportatie en Verzet VZW
153 Goswin de StassartstraatIf you are interested in World War 2 and the Holocaust, this is a must-visit. Very interesting museum on this topic.
Mechelen Cultural Center
5 Minderbroedersgang Check their website for their current programme.
NONA builds bridges between visitors and artists, the local and the international, art and education and encourages interaction between maker, medium and visitor. Each season NONA organizes a varied programme of Flemish, Dutch and international art that walks the tightrope between popular and elitist.
kunstencentrum nona
27 Begijnenstraat NONA builds bridges between visitors and artists, the local and the international, art and education and encourages interaction between maker, medium and visitor. Each season NONA organizes a varied programme of Flemish, Dutch and international art that walks the tightrope between popular and elitist.
Newly renovated city museum, step into this majestic and magnificent Renaissance palace in Mechelen, the capital of the Burgundian Netherlands. In this museum they look back at the city’s glorious history and look ahead to the future.
8 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Museum Hof van Busleyden
65 Frederik de MerodestraatNewly renovated city museum, step into this majestic and magnificent Renaissance palace in Mechelen, the capital of the Burgundian Netherlands. In this museum they look back at the city’s glorious history and look ahead to the future.
Shopping
Lily
120 Onze-Lieve-VrouwestraatBruul
BruulThe main shopping street
Boekhandel De Zondvloed
70 Onze-Lieve-VrouwestraatThe best book shop in Mechelen!
UMA Multibrand Boutique
82 Onze-Lieve-VrouwestraatSupergoods
116 Onze-Lieve-VrouwestraatEco-friendly lifestyle shop
Plastic-free grocery store. They have local & organic fruits and vegetables, cheeses, bread, nuts, oils,...
Kabas Verpakkingsvrij
17 KeizerstraatPlastic-free grocery store. They have local & organic fruits and vegetables, cheeses, bread, nuts, oils,...
L'eef store
46 Onze-Lieve-VrouwestraatModern clothing for women
Poulain Carmin
10 GeitestraatClothing boutique with modern, colourful brands.
CKS Mechelen
7 GeitestraatBelgian fashion brand, for women and kids.
Z’IS
7 Graaf van EgmontstraatLittle boutique with cool clothing selection, friendly owner.
Groceries/essentials
Delhaize Mechelen
21 Oscar van KesbeeckstraatBio-Planet Mechelen
68 BattelsesteenwegCarrefour express - Mechelen Brusselsepoort