EBG Rating: 7.6/10

Choice/Quality of Drinks:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Style/Décor:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Atmosphere/Character:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Amenities/Events:
❤️❤️❤️
Value For Money:
❤️❤️❤️

Description:
Het Souke is a tiny brown café in the heart of historic Antwerp run by a beer sommelier and tour guide Erwin Liekens since 2025. The pub received a renovation during the Covid era which included among other things, the removal of a patina of tobacco on walls and ceiling.

The pub began in the 1960s as “Half Time” popular with nearby basketball players, evolving to “Souke” in reference to French sou coinage, the price at the time for a half a glass of Jenever.

It is a charming little place with a flamboyant sign on the front window, above which is historic Stella signage, dressy furnishings with patterned table covers, chandelier, half-screen net curtains in front of which are full robed curtains.

In typical Belgian café fashion the bar is studded with clean glasses of different shapes and sizes waiting to receive their next measure of beer. A total of 50 are on offer including bottles, with house beer and occasional guests on draft.

The size of the place is somewhat prohibitive however and it may take multiple visits before you are invited to take your place. Not only do they have to keep regulars happy, they also take reservations. This may not fit in with your idea of a looser bar crawl, nevertheless, if you enjoy being camped in a pub for a whole evening with friends it is an excellent option.

While bright and airy in summer, the pub’s charms really become more distinct in autumn and winter, a redoubt from the world outside.

If only there were pubs like this on every corner – at least in central Antwerp there is a small patch where you can actually say there is.

(Added October 2026)