Service is Stellar, best bartenders & drinks. Need more food, no vegan options. Ambiance is chill and date worthy.

The atmosphere in the bar is lively and very well organized and well staffed. The bartenders are skilled, friendly, and fun to watch. And the drinks are quite fantastic. There was a new menu in addition to the typical one. So I was able to try a few new cocktails. One of the best cocktail bars in Europe. Lots of fun. read more

We stopped here for a cocktail on a recent visit to Antwerp. The drinks did not disappoint. We sat inside at the bar of the bar which was a cozy, cool space. I had the Dahoud cocktail which was a smoked bourbon drink. Nice presentation in the video read more

Visited this place, and I must say the cocktails were very yummy and the ambiance was great! It's a great spot to grab a drink and relax!

Just as good as everyone says. Impeccable atmosphere, incredibly knowledgeable and friendly staff, and AMAZING cocktails. My fiancé and I each tried one cocktail with vodka and one with tequila. So balanced and great and amazing presentation. I can't say enough good things about this place, just go you won't regret it. An oasis and great experience all around. read more

Dogma Cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Antwerp, VAN

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Stopped in randomly as I passed through an alley on my walk back to where I was staying. Saw the lively crowd outside and the live lounge band inside and just had to go in. The cocktails are €15, but it's worth it for the vibe and to see all of the mixologists at work. They use a damn cleaver to shave ice! Didier (the owner) actually made my drink, and he was super friendly and approachable. He explained to me the rationale behind their Deconstructed Old Fashioned (which was delicious), and we joked about the Red Light District in Amsterdam and he provided me with an excellent cocktail bar recommendation for the next leg of my trip in Brussels. After the live band was done, they played jazzy versions of popular music over their speakers (songs like Wonderwall, Careless Whisper, and Thrift Shop). Their downstairs area is like stepping into someone's study and smoking room. Oh, and their cucumber water is mana on a hot day! read more

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A cocktail that is served with an easel of three "paints" that are actually flavors that you can add to your drink - this is easily the best cocktail I've ever had. I've had a lot of good cocktails but no place has EVER stood out like this place. They were fun, beyond unique, and delicious. The service and atmosphere was great as well. I can't wait till I end up back in Amsterdam so I can come back here read more

I tasted 5 different craft cocktails (of friends'), and all were just okay. Nothing special, and 3 of them were a bit off. One of the cocktails tasted like cherry flavored cough syrup! The ambiance was great though, very cozy with multiple sections set up. Each section had a set of chairs and/or sofa facing its own little table. There is even a downstairs area with some seating as well. The coolest thing about this bar is the secret second bar (that wasn't open when we went on a Thursday night). There is a bookshelf downstairs that can be opened. It leads down a secret passageway into a beautiful and spacious second bar! I would give this place a second shot, especially to check out the secret bar. read more

Dogma is my kind of bar. The cocktails are tasty. Atmosphere is nice with a cool bar and a dimly lit room in the back. I also had really friendly service. I also enjoyed the small touches: The refreshing absinthe flavored water that they serve when you arrive and the handwritten cocktail menu are pretty cool. The bartender Didier asked me what cocktail I loved the most, which is a negroni. So he suggested the house version, a so called winter negroni, made with coffee infused vermouth, campari and dark rum. The rum really paired well with the coffee infused vermouth. It was pretty good. While I was browsing the menu, the mai tai grabbed my attention. It follows the classic recipe with light and dark rum and it is made with homemade orgeat. It was pretty much the best mai tai I´ve tasted, seriously. They do not serve food at all, so eat something before you arrive :) read more

Dogma Cocktails - Winter negroni - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Antwerp, VAN

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I've been to many lounges and bars in my time and I have to say that nothing has ever compared to the experience that I just had at Dogma in Antwerp. The owner, Didier, presented us with drinks which only a master mixologist could have come up with. With each and every drink I was treated to homemade syrups infused with mandarin orange, raspberry, green tea, coffee bean, and more. I asked him how he came up with the idea for Dogma and Didier explained to me that his trips to North America inspired him to open a cocktail bar that offered at least 30% fresh ingredients in an atmosphere that was 100% chill. I watched as he greeted each new customer that entered the lounge, and thanked each customer that left. Over the course of 2 hours, he allowed me to sample each drink that he made as he explained the passion behind their inception. I was blown away at how methodical his approach to his profession was and it was clear that both him and his staff were doing something above and beyond that of a normal cocktail bar. If you are ever in Antwerp, Belgium, I implore you to stop by Dogma for a good drink and some great conversation. read more

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This is an amazing place to have a drink with a few friends, it's cosy, clean and fun. Each part of the place has his own music with gives it that extra touch. Only sad part is that it is full most of the time so don't go too late in your evening/night read more

I absolutely love this cocktail bar! The atmosphere is very warm, cozy and made us feel at easy from the moment we walked in. The bartenders are all very friendly and give you the needed explanation if you ask. The handwritten cocktail menus are totally in line with the interior, a very cool 20's vibe. The absinth flavored water they serve at arrival is a fun twist, we ordered the Cobra's fangs, Dahoud and a Pineapple spiced rum and the cocktails were all spot on! I would highly recommend this bar if you like a great cocktail where you can taste the love and personality the bartenders put in their craft! We are definitely coming back ;) read more

Dogma Cocktails - Dahoud, Cobra's fang and Pineapple spiced rum - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Antwerp, VAN

Awesome city, awesome bar.. Great service. Highly recommend when in Antwerp.. Great food also, just across the street. (didn't try the horse, though.. read more

You walk in and you imediatly get a vibe you wanna drink. It's amazing. The interior is well thought and very cosy. I would take a date here or a small group of 5. The owner Didier is a well articulate and charming bartender and the host Olivier makes me at ease. Cocktails are without the doubt the best i've ever had and presented with not only detailed oriented but also flavorful. If you're ever in Antwerp, come by and have drink here! I rarely give 5 stars and this is one of the few. read more

I went here last weekend with my best friend and this place is absolutely one to remember for my next visit! The bar has a fantastic 20's setting and is very cozy and romantic. Service provided by the bartenders is excellent and the cocktails served are stunning! I have never seen such beautiful elaborate cocktails in my life. I've seen a lot, but nothing like this. Ever. The feel/style can be best described as speakeasy. Will be back soon! read more

Superb place to visit! I was in Antwerp for one night and had heard good things about this place. Went with a friend since it was on our way home from dinner. We ended up staying much longer than intended because we were led to a live music speakeasy in the basement on a whim! The cocktails were just great and the music was almost better! Beautiful decor and atmosphere with super nice bartenders and servers. Loved every minute! read more

The most wonderfully intricate cocktails! Spoil all your senses with Didier's incredibly tasty creations! A must if you don't want just an average cocktail! read more

Dogma Cocktails - My green dragon- incredible! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Antwerp, VAN

Seemed like a great spot. The secret is the relatively new speakeasy downstairs. My colleague and I came here and the crowd was having a great time. We were going to leave just because it was so crowded but the server asked if we were interested in checking out the speakeasy. Your led to a bookshelf (of course) that opens into this cavernous room. Definitely a little more chill. The speakeasy part is relatively new and you were only limited to six drinks. I'm giving them four stars because we had a good time and and def see potential but until it gets a little busier and a larger drink selection it's not truly there yet. read more

We were greeted in a friendly way with a smile. Nice lounge music playing and a lot of people around 20-35. The waiter brought a free drink (perfumed water) and gave us the cool looking cocktail menu. Beer is available in bottles. My friend said the place looks so cool he wishes his living room looks like that. read more

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Terrific find on our visit to Antwerp - very hospitable staff and most importantly fantastic cocktails and ambiance.

For those that can look beyond the very 'hipsterish' facade of the Dogma with suspender-wearing bartenders, electronic swing music and only 3 hand-written menus in the form of a little leather-notebook, this place will delight with something very different - simply expertly made cocktails. We went there for a quiet night out in antwerpen after discovering the charming Wijngartenstraat on a walk earlier. In front the smell of caipiringa greets you from lime filled barrels. The location itself is very cozy - the mainly brown wooden interior reminds of the old absinthe bars of the 1800s and blends in perfectly with the lowly dimmed atmosphere. We ordered the Tall Dragon, the 'Almost regular Cosmo' and for me a Carte Blanche to the Barkeeper. After inquiring for my general taste the waiter / Barkeeper served me a Dahoud, after filling my glass with cigar smoke and attaching a in cognac preserved orange peel to the glass. The cocktails were excellent, nothing less, and you can tell that the staff knows what they are doing. The prices ranged from 12 to 15 Euro, which certainly above what you might be used to paying for a cocktail, but I would still say that it was worth it - the drinks were unusual, the ambiente was very comfortable and the everything blended together to a nice experience. Not for everyday certainly, but surely for a special night out or for those seeking something beyond your standard cocktail bar experience. All in all I can only recommend the Dogma wholeheartedly and will surely return. A big kudos to the staff for doing such a good job! read more

On a rainy Saturday we made our way to Dogma. The under dog cocktail bar that became a solid hotspot of the Antwerp scene. The endearingly talented owner/mixologist Didier Van den Broeck came a long way. I remember the days when the menus were handwritten. There was something mysterious, warm and relaxing about the atmosphere. It didn't feel like they were trying too hard. He wanted to open a place where he can show his talent and serve the drinks he loved drinking. With the quality ingredients, service and ambiance he believed Antwerp deserved. Lovely I thought and I frequently stopped by until I changed jobs and traveled a lot, missing out on Antwerp nightlife.. Cut to 4 of us stepping in 2 years later, we are seated downstairs where a couple months ago a fire started which forced to close down Dogma for a while. Today there was no mark left of the fire. Everything looked like I left it a while back. We sat down, ordered our first round of drinks. Mind you the prices are steep. But I think reasonable for a bar of this concept and caliber. Time for second round but all of us find it a bit difficult to choose a drink that didn't feel "TOO EXTRA". My friend speaks to one of the waitresses, who was dressed in all black and was pouring the complimentary infused water which is supposed to cleanse your pallet and maybe, hydrate you while they roll their eyes and be obnoxious? I dunno. He asks her if we can order drinks from her, but tells her jokingly he was confused who to ask because all the waiters wear a uniform with suspenders and she was not. She gets offended. Why wouldn't she be good enough to serve drinks? Her job is not only serving water, ya know?! OK. Passive aggressive much. Right away it was clear that it was not her day or maybe she was .. born this way? We get our drinks and watch the groups of people disappearing behind a bookshelf. I don't know if it was the stomach ache I was getting from the utterly obnoxious drink called AIX-EN-PROVENCE (incl goat cheese cream) or I was just tired, I couldn't figure out the whole fuss of people, the door that looked like a bookshelf...noise of steps up and down the stairs. It was a lot. So we asked what the door was? No answer, ignored. I think we asked again. Somebody said it's another floor with more tables or maybe another bar?? OK, another bar might mean different drinks menu? Maybe we'd like that one more? My friend stands up and walks up to the bookshelf and says wow this is pretty and touches a book. And the door pops open. Surprised, he backs up and signs the girl (who was already rolling her eyes every time she passed by) and says: "Sorry I did not realise it would open, is there a private party? Can we have a look?". She says: "NO, it is a speakeasy. And you touching that door is already reason for you to be banned." - Two things go through my head.. 1) Oh, of course!! It is a speakeasy, DOH! seen it done it. London, NYC, PARIS... oh I remember the time I walked thru the fridge in London after whispering the secret code. 2) BANNED?. Now now.. I understand the sudden "fame" might have gotten to their heads but ... Sister, really? This is not the CIA headquarters. 1 second later she runs upstairs. Presumably to tell her colleagues how stupid we are. Down comes the other waiter (one wearing suspenders..) I ask him politely: "Hey, is there a secret code? It looks so cool, can we get down?"... "No!" he says. "Your friend touched the bookshelf now none of you can ever enter again. The whole table. Ever. Sorry. Don't mess with our things.".. OK. Now I understand that you try too hard with your obnoxious cocktails, your whole schtick with the outfits and what have you but listen. We are a group of well traveled, kind, down to earth and friendly people. Most of us are above 33 yo. Do not speak to us like we are kids....nobody messed with your things or broke anything. You obnoxiously acted unfriendly and rude, so this is what you get. An intrigued customer who wanted to go down to the other bar. But, was not informed about the rules. And please don't do what Cocktails at 9 did for years, don't act like you invented any of the concepts you are selling. Calm it down a notch and be friendly to your customers. Speakeasy's were cool in 2010 but bad attitude isn't cool in 2019. The era of millenials and GEN Z.. where there is another cool bar around the corner you probably read about on YELP and your sudden fame can die out with one negative instagram post. Be kind to your customers. Don't take it too serious. After all you are serving goat cheese with booze. After that we stood up, paid and left. Never to be seen again. Banned from Dogma. Now that goes on my tombstone! read more

As a local, I love to browse around Antwerp among the tourist. Sometimes, you happen to find a hidden gem, like Dogma. I never thought Antwerp had a speakeasy like Experimental Cocktail Club. But I was wrong. By the time I've visited Dogma, it has been open for 8 months. The interior gives you the feeling that you are walking in a twenties speakeasy with light jazz music playing on the background. The owner, Didier, welcomes you in a what appears to be "Leonardo Dicaprio in Gangs Of New York"-outfit. He's very passionate about his work and the only thing he want to do is shake and make condiments for his cocktails. This is a very important factor for him. If he can't make it, he won't serve it. After giving us a complimentary water with a bit of Absinth in it to quench our thirst, he gives us his handwritten bible/menu. Since I like a bartender to make something for me. I ask him to do something with rum. He mixed me up a perfectly balanced rum & brandy cocktail with a hunch of pine nuts. The taste and the drink last long. A very well spend 13 EUR in this unique decor in the center of Antwerp. read more

A great bar with a nice way to display the list of cocktail - nice atmosphere in the evening but... Be ready, the drinks are strong :)

Relax in style in one of the leather couches, with a well crafted cocktail or an straight drink. The place is cosy, the service friendly and drinks are excellent. So definitely a bar worth visiting! read more

You can smell the cool just walking down the street. The cocktails are good but not very original, and the bartenders do not seem knowledgable or customer-oriented. Nice, but I will probably go somewhere else next time. read more

Dogma is really a place that you have to go to at time you need a good cocktails. It's a bit pricey but totally worths the money. The place is so cozy aswell that you can choose it as a meeting place to meet friends or a date. read more

Cute, cool and cozy. Friendly, attentive wait staff. We visited twice during our time in Antwerp. Would definitely recommend!

This is a great place to have a drink, tasty cocktails, great service. Didier and his team are indeed professionals.

When it comes to cool, Antwerp is not just in the running, it's a leader in the race. In the 1980s a brave group of artists, named the Antwerp 6, voyaged to London to present their fashion collections. The world was forever changed, and Antwerp's reputation changed from busy port city to international fashion and design hub. Since the 80s, the legacy of the Antwerp 6 has stayed with the city; people are hip, cool, modern, and ready to share their opinion. With such an eclectic youth population, Antwerp is the scene for many popular parties, restaurants, and bars. The multitude of options makes the decision where to go all the more challenging. However, it is my opinion that any stay, regardless of the length is incomplete without a stop to sip and speak with the alluring owner (and chief bartender) of Dogma Cocktails. As an American living in Paris, I am no foreigner to a craft cocktail; however, I feel that the industry has become overrun by hype. Fancy names, associated with celebrities or romantic destinations have replaced the true artform of mixed drinks. With Dogma, this is NOT the case. First and foremost the art of the cocktail is preserved in the perfect balance of sweet and sour. Like a fine wine, subtle hints of different flavors are present in each sip. Before I tell you about the delicious recipes, let me set the scene for my visit. Walking in on a rainy evening in mid-fall, I am met with a cool prohibition-esque lounge. Actual candlesticks perched atop of antique candelabras are dripping wax, which makes you want to stay and sip all night in the dark and comfy lounge. Upon sitting at a corner table, I am met by a jolly bartender dressed in suspenders who hands me a small leather-bound notebook of handwritten recipes, and states, "Would you like the see the menu, Madame?" Already, I am hooked and know my decision to come into this bar was the right one. A blend of Hendrick's, cucumbers, rosewater, and a few other secret ingredients, my first cocktail, the Tall Dragon, does not disappoint. As I am alone, I decide to move to the bar in hopes of hearing the story of the establishment. From start to finish, my cocktail experience was one of the best ever--not just is Antwerp or Europe, but in the world. The owner is beyond passionate, which makes the experience. As I pay my bill and prepare to return dismal rain that awaits me outside, the busy owner takes a break from slicing limes to jot down his favorite cocktail spots in my neighborhood of Paris. How nice?! Dogma is worth going to for any resident, tourist, or curious passerby of Antwerp. Cocktails are fantastic; drinks are reasonably priced, and service is excellent. Even now as I sit in a restaurant a few doors down, I wonder if tomorrow (my last night in Antwerp) is too soon to go back! read more