The Accidental Discovery
I arrived in Antwerp an hour before a meeting, hungry and looking for somewhere new to try. I spotted Brandbar on Google Maps and walked over from the train station, about 20 minutes at my pace.
From the outside it already looked promising. Cozy design, good vibes. Inside: small, maybe 10–15 people max, with a few more seats outside. A guy with a laptop in one corner, two girls chatting in Dutch in the other. Not busy. Exactly what I needed.
The Food
The menu is almost entirely vegan, which surprised me. I was expecting meat somewhere. I'm not vegan, but I decided to lean in and ordered the chimichurri croque.
Best decision. Crispy bread, punchy herby sauce, all veggies inside, and genuinely delicious. I did not expect to enjoy it that much, but it was completely worth the money.
The Coffee
When I visit a café I hold the coffee to a high standard. Pubs and restaurants can get away with mediocre coffee, but a specialty café cannot.
This one passed the test. The cappuccino was smooth, not too acidic, strong enough without being aggressive. Perfect flavor. I was drawing on my iPad and didn't even notice I'd finished it.
The Lemonade
With 30 minutes still left before my meeting, I ordered the homemade lemonade. The guy at the bar warned me it was a bit sour — I said "I'll try it" and I did.
Best lemonade I've had. I ended up having to take it away because I lost track of time.
Verdict
Small, cute space with warm, attentive service. Paid 25€ for everything and I'd do it again without hesitation.
Will absolutely be back to try something new on the menu.
