A restaurant inside a museum with seven centuries of art on its walls: that is Madonna Antwerp, in the KMSKA, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, in the Bruisende Zuid district. When guests ask me where to have a museum lunch in Antwerp, this is where I send them. The museum stands on Leopold de Waelplaats, and the entrance to Madonna is on the right side of the building, reached via the Beeldhouwersstraat. As the KMSKA holds the world's largest collection of James Ensor and Rik Wouters, a table here fits naturally into a day among the paintings.
The kitchen combines rich tradition with fresh ideas. Dishes are simple and built around pure flavours, they follow the seasons and rely on local products, and vegetarian options are clearly marked on the menu. Please note that tables cannot be reserved, which keeps Madonna open to every museum visitor.
The terrace lies in the KMSKA gardens. Each Thursday evening, KMSKA Late fills the Keyserzaal with live music, and Madonna's pop-up bar serves cocktails or mocktails. For groups of 12 to 40 people, a private room is available.
Getting here is easy. Antwerpen-Centraal and Antwerpen-Zuid stations are close, tram and bus stops are within walking distance, and you can park at Q-park Steendok.
