From 9 February to 1 March 2026, food lovers can once again savour the very best of Antwerp’s gastronomy during the third edition of Smaakmeesters Deluxe or Taste Masters Deluxe, the city’s flagship culinary festival.
For three weeks, diners are invited to enjoy a refined lunch or dinner in 48 leading restaurants across Antwerp, with menus available from as little as €50 per person. Reservations open today.
As the culinary capital of Flanders, Antwerp boasts an exceptional concentration of high-end dining addresses, including 13 Michelin-starred restaurants and a wide range of international cuisines at top level. Smaakmeesters Deluxe is designed to guide both locals and visitors through this rich gastronomic landscape, offering an accessible introduction to restaurants that have earned Michelin recognition and/or a minimum score of 12/20 in the Gault&Millau guide.
What is Smaakmeesters Deluxe?
Smaakmeesters Deluxe is a city-wide gastronomic festival organised by the City of Antwerp, bringing together the finest restaurants under one accessible concept. Participating venues offer specially curated lunch and dinner menus, typically three to five courses, allowing guests to experience high-end cuisine at fixed, transparent prices.
According to Nathan Van Echelpoel, chef at Restaurant Nathan: “Good food brings people together, which is why we are delighted to take part in Smaakmeesters Deluxe.
When and how does it work?
- Dates: 9 February to 1 March 2026?
- Duration: Three weeks.
- Reservations: Available from today via http://www.smaakmeestersdeluxe.be.
- Menus: Lunch and/or dinner, depending on the restaurant.
- Extras: Every guest receives an added treat, such as an aperitif, amuse-bouche or a small goodie bag.
Restaurants are grouped into six price categories, making it easy for diners to choose the culinary experience that suits them best. Prices range:
- From €50 to €120 for restaurants with one Michelin star or high Gault&Millau scores.
- €150 for two-Michelin-star restaurants.
- €180 for three-Michelin-star restaurants.
- This structure ensures that fine dining remains approachable without compromising on quality.
Who is it for?
Smaakmeesters Deluxe is aimed at Antwerp residents, Belgian food enthusiasts and international visitors alike. Whether you are discovering a Michelin-starred restaurant for the first time or revisiting a long-time favourite, the festival offers a rare opportunity to explore the city’s culinary excellence at a more accessible price point.
Koen Kennis (N-VA), Antwerp’s Alderman for Retail and Tourism, comments: “I am proud to once again announce an exceptional selection of restaurants. Each of them contributes daily to Antwerp’s reputation as the culinary capital of Flanders. Smaakmeesters Deluxe is the ideal opportunity for residents and visitors to experience these gems at an accessible price.”
Participating restaurants
The 48 participating restaurants for Smaakmeesters Deluxe 2026 are:
- August,
- Bar & Bistro Monroe,
- Bien Soigné,
- Bizie Lizie,
- Black Smoke,
- Brasserie Appelmans,
- Briquet,
- BÚN Bar & Restaurant,
- Café Commercial,
- Cena,
- Cuichine,
- Decan,
- DOJO 2.0,
- Essenz,
- Fiera,
- Fine Fleur,
- GLASS,
- Harvest.,
- Hertog Jan,
- Het Reigershof,
- In De Balans,
- J’AMI,
- L’Amitié,
- Le Oui,
- Le Pristine,
- Les Années Folles,
- Madonna,
- Marcel,
- Maritime,
- Materia,
- Minerva,
- Misera,
- Nathan,
- Restaurant Au Vieux Port,
- Restaurant Minerva,
- Soixante,
- The Butcher’s Son,
- The Jane,
- The London,
- U Eat & Sleep,
- Veranda,
- Zilte.
… along with several other acclaimed culinary addresses.
Together, they represent a broad spectrum of cuisines, from classic French and Belgian gastronomy to Italian, Asian, Japanese, Nikkei and modern signature cooking.
What’s next?
In addition to the Deluxe edition, the regular Smaakmeesters festival will return in autumn. This smaller sibling event focuses on tastings, local products and accessible bites, with restaurants, bars and culinary hotspots across Antwerp offering samples and regional specialities.
For now, all eyes – and taste buds – are on Smaakmeesters Deluxe 2026, where Antwerp once again proves why it holds its title as Flanders’ culinary capital.