Restaurant Maritime

The story

Restaurant Maritime Antwerp – Seafood Institution Since 1958 with Award-Winning Wine List

Antwerp's Seafood Address Since 1958

On the Suikerrui, steps from the Cathedral and the Schelde, Restaurant Maritime has been one of Antwerp's most enduring addresses for over six decades. The place began in 1958 when Christiane Van de Voorde, then just 26 years old, took over a modest café and quickly turned it into a destination. Pots of mussels flew across the counter to passengers arriving directly from the Flandria boats, sometimes so many that plates were passed hand to hand between tables.

The restaurant passed through three generations of the Weeda family — sons Guy and Marc, then Guy's son Glen, who took over at 30, later joined by his brother Ken. It was Guy who introduced Burgundy wines to Maritime, a choice that still shapes the wine philosophy today. In early 2024, the restaurant entered a new chapter when Serge Verboven and Helena De Ridder, already behind Antwerp classics Au Vieux Port and Marcel, took ownership.

The Kitchen

Mussels and fish remain the soul of the menu, alongside prawn croquettes, oysters and lobster. For those who prefer meat, a well-chosen cut is always available, and during game season the kitchen carves pheasant and hare at the table. The seafood focus is consistent and uncompromising — this is a restaurant that knows exactly what it is.

The Wine List

Serge Verboven brings a long-standing passion for fine wine to Maritime, and the results show. The list spans more than 200 carefully selected references, with a clear emphasis on wines that pair with seafood. Burgundy holds a place of honour, but Bordeaux, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Piedmont and Tuscany are all well represented. A strong selection is offered under €70, and wines by the glass are always available. Top bottles are poured in Grassl and Spiegelau glassware. Sommelier Jens De Ridder, who trained at the respected Restaurant Pazzo, guides guests through the list.

That commitment to wine has earned recognition: in 2024, Wine Spectator granted Maritime its Award of Excellence — a distinction already held by Verboven's other Antwerp establishments, and a natural extension of the same standard applied here.

The Room

Maître Johan, a familiar face at Maritime for many years, leads a team whose welcome is described simply as warm and the service as impeccable. The setting is classic and atmospheric, the kind of room where a business lunch and a relaxed dinner with friends feel equally at home.