30 July 2025
Chances are you’ve seen the colorful ceramic tiles by Dutch design label Palet by now. Since launching in 2021, they’ve been slowly popping up in the kitchens of design lovers, and in some of the world’s most beautiful hotspots. Take Antwerp for instance, home to five standout locations. Get inspired by the wall piece at Bar Pêche, the beige/green round bar at The Prep Kitchen or see how the tiles work in a custom-made bench like at Polly.
Especially for the readers of Petite Passport, we’ve mapped out a route to Antwerp’s coolest Palet Hotspots, plus 3 reasons why you need to visit each one. Let’s go!
Polly is named after Paulien, the sister of owner Kato Avondts, and is in Zurenborg, just outside the city center. The café opened a year ago and serves coffee and homemade drinks. You’ll spot Palet tiles around the stainless-steel bar, on the narrow window counter, and in a custom-made bench.
3 reasons to go there:
1.If you want to feel welcome. Regulars call it their second living room. The staff is friendly and always open for a chat.
2.If you want to try something the owner missed in other cafés: the Polly’ke. A small glass with cappuccino and latte.
3.If you like places that make everything themselves. Try the Foamy Coconut Soda this summer: refreshing coconut water with milk and coffee cream.
Check out: www.instagram.com/polly.antwerp
Despite what you might assume, Amber isn’t a person – it’s a nod to the hue of orange wine. Amber Bottle Shop has a clear focus on natural wine. Palet tiles are clearly visible, in a shade close to Yves Klein blue. The bench flows seamlessly into a bar with taps, all tiled in the same color. Even the coasters are made from Palet tiles.
3 reasons to go there:
1.If you want to try seriously good Apéro bites. Amy, one of the three owners, worked at top restaurants like Pure C in Cadzand and The Jane in Antwerp, and makes sure all dishes are made with the best ingredients. Try the Sardinillas with Pan Guttiau (super thin flat bread) or pizza by Luca Fabozzi, a young Neapolitan chef known for his sourdough pizza that rises for 72 hours.
2.If you have a taste for distinctive wines. In addition to importing bottles from Alsace and South Africa, they stock a carefully chosen range of natural wines. Think Pierre Frick, often called the godfather of biodynamic wine. Or Drap, a young Belgian label by Emily Maeyens, whose brewing background [ed.: she worked at Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen] brings an extra layer of depth to her wines.
3.If you want to discover young artists. During the annual To Be art route in Antwerp, owners Ties, Thomas and Amy pick one artist to exhibit. Noa Verborgh from Antwerp not only designed the menu and logo when Amber Bottle Shop opened the doors, but now also exhibits her artwork there.
Check out: www.amberbottleshop.com
Lander Matthieu also runs catering company Baroque Baroque, and as the name implies, it’s anything but hyper-modern. So, he decided to do the opposite at his first café The Prep Kitchen, which embraces an industrial aesthetic. Everything is made from stainless steel, a few Thonet Cesca chairs add character, and there’s a round bar made of beige/green Palet tiles.
3 reasons to go there:
1.If you enjoy the combination of high-quality specialty coffee (from Antwerp’s Andy Roasters), specialty matcha (from Antwerp’s Kukai), and brunch. There’s a big prep kitchen in the back, so everything is homemade – except the Fritz Kola.
2.If you’re done with avocado toast. The menu features other dishes like the popular Breakfast Waffle with saffron, vanilla and red fruit. A vegan bagel with spicy cashew cream. And a Beef Coppa Dierendonck on sourdough bread with Kalamata tapenade and meat radish.
3.If you like to check out the interior. The communal table is from Galerie Paradis in Paris, they use vintage Villeroy & Boch tablewear for contrast, and the small lamps come from Zara Home. And the striking bar? Made with Palet tiles, of course.
Check out: www.theprepkitchen.be
Bar Pêche is an intimate corner restaurant tucked away in a quiet side street off the Britselei, with space for only 16 people. That’s why they kept the interior simple: the only striking item is the peach-inspired wall panel made by Palet above the blue bench. Be sure to take a closer look at the handwritten menu with its elegant drawings: in a time where everything is digitally, this feels like a warm and genuinely personal welcome.
3 reasons to go there:
1.If you love simply good food. Chef Semmy Roumans worked at Veranda before he and Esger Van Lysebetten opened Bar Pêche. He cooks with seasonal ingredients. Don’t expect a long list, just three starters, three mains and three desserts. All described without frills, like ‘yogurt, peach, beet’ or ‘whiting, shrimp, hollandaise’.
2.If you always check the dessert menu first. Although dishes change with the seasons, one thing always remains: the Dame Blanche. A guest favorite, and thanks to its modern twist, a dish not to be missed.
3.If you enjoy pairing your meal with wine. Bar Pêche offers a wide selection of both classic and natural bottles, sourced from regions including Catalunya in Spain and Hessische Bergstrasse in Germany.
Check out: www.barpeche.be
Ruby is a lovechild of the founders of Amber Bottle Shop, who supply the wine, and the founder of De Baron, a well-known brown café on Marnixplaats, who brings in the craft beer. Look closely to find the Palet tiles, as they are tucked away in the back corner, where the kitchen is located. From the ceiling to the walls: you can spot the ceramic tiles in a red-wine tone, a subtle reference to the café’s name.
3 reasons to go there:
1.If you’re into gezelligheid (a Dutch term loosely translated as cozy atmosphere). You can play board games such as the Flemish version of Yahtzee, checkers and there’s even a couple’s questionnaire lying around, but it’s also the good music that draws people in. As does the outdoor terrace, tucked into a side street just off the busy Marnixplaats.
2.If you like brokkelkaas (crumbly cheese): the highlight of the menu, which consists of small, but honest dishes. Almost all ingredients come from local food makers.
3. If you like to drink. The Negroni is a favorite, as are the craft beers. They also serve wine on tap from DJUCE, a Swedish company that does natural wines in cans, bags, and taps. Less CO2, better for nature, and definitely worth trying.
Check out: www.instagram.com/rubyantwerp
More info: www.palet.shop
This article was made in paid collaboration with Palet.
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