When my guests ask where to have lunch at a museum in Antwerp, I send them to Madonna Antwerp, the restaurant inside the KMSKA, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, in the Bruisende Zuid area. The museum stands on Leopold de Waelplaats, and the entrance to Madonna is on the right side of the building, reached via the Beeldhouwersstraat. The museum holds seven centuries of art and the world's largest collection of James Ensor and Rik Wouters, so a table here fits naturally into a day among the paintings.
The kitchen mixes rich tradition with new ideas, with simple dishes that focus on pure flavours. It follows the seasons and uses local products, and vegetarian options are marked on the menu. Tables cannot be reserved, which keeps Madonna open to every museum visitor.
The terrace lies in the KMSKA gardens. Every Thursday evening, KMSKA Late brings live music to the Keyserzaal, with cocktails or mocktails at Madonna's pop-up bar. A private room hosts groups of 12 to 40 people.
Antwerpen-Centraal and Antwerpen-Zuid stations are nearby, tram and bus stops are within walking distance, and parking is available at Q-park Steendok.
