Antwerp: Food Tasting Tour with Waffles, Fries & Beer

4.90

(131 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the smell of fresh waffles to hit me before I even saw our group at Antwerp Grand Market Square. It was a bit drizzly, not that anyone seemed to care — people ducked under umbrellas, laughing, steam rising from their paper cones of fries. Our guide, Pieter, waved us over and immediately started talking about how Belgians take their fries seriously (he said “frites,” which I still can’t pronounce right). He handed out hot samples from a nearby stall — crispy outside, soft inside — and I swear, the mayo was tangier than anything back home.

Walking through those narrow streets, Pieter pointed out little details I’d never have noticed on my own: the gold trim on shopfronts, the way locals greet each other with a nod or a quick “goeiedag.” At one point he stopped by a chocolate shop where the owner popped out to say hi. She gave us tiny pralines — so rich I had to close my eyes for a second. There was this moment when someone in our group tried to ask for more in Dutch and totally butchered it; everyone cracked up, even the shopkeeper. The whole thing felt easygoing, like we were just wandering with friends who knew all the good spots.

By the time we reached the last stop for beer tasting, my jacket smelled faintly of sugar and rain. The bar was warm inside; glasses clinked and someone played something soft on an old radio in the corner. Pieter explained why Belgian beer is so different — honestly most of it went over my head but sipping that cold amber ale after all those sweets just made sense somehow. I still think about that first bite of waffle: crisp edges, caramelized sugar sticking to my fingers.