't Oud Arsenaal

CRooney5787

California

4.16/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $

I love 't Oud Arsenaal. It's a fantastic little bar located across from the Horta, not far off the Mier. It's also extremely close to the Ibis hotel.

The owner is a nice guy, who is fed up with the smoking ban. This pub is almost like a living room to to the regulars. They have been coming often, for decades, smoking and enjoying their beer. The owner claimed he was closing on the 1st, When the smoking ban went in effect. However, i think he's on a month long vacation. Hopefully on August first, he will open again.

The prices are great, and i like the atmosphere. I think it's a must visit, if you're in Antwerp.

07-18-2011 14:30:18 | More by CRooney5787

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This is Stefan's (owner/brewer Musketeers) favorite pub. Once inside I totally get it. It is a dive kind of place with all the charm of a Belgian bar, with old signs and years of wear. A great selection of beer, including Westmalle Extra. I also got a chance to try the Chouffe Liquor and a mix of champagne and geueze, which was awesome. Played a old Belgian pub game and I sucked at it. Nice outdoor area as well. The owner was a really cool guy that hooked us up and I really recommend the place to anyone that gets to Antwerp.

09-30-2011 00:13:18 | More by OWSLEY069

jrallen34

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -26%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 2 | $$

Decently rated and less than a hundred meters from my hotel I had to stop by here...As I walk in I'm immersed in huge cloud of cigarette smoke which is always nice. A very small place, old but cool beer mementos on the wall. The customers are regular locals, clearly out of place. The bartender was nice but didn't speak enough English to offer suggestions if needed. The draught and bottle list was nothing special at all. They had all the staple Belgian beers you would expect at any decent Belgian bar. A cool place to hang out for A drink and see some locals but not one beer that isn't on tap at 100 other places.

11-23-2010 19:38:09 | More by jrallen34

ministoat

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev -3.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

This bar has a really great vibe, and sitting here felt like one of the 'proper' belgian pub experiences. The beer list was decent, but the one beer that we wanted was sold out...this was a bit disappointing as the Guldenberg was on our list of beers to try! pesky belgians drinking them all before we get there...

We ended up with two Beersel's which were a great start to our holiday, and would certainly recommend this place. Service was friendly and prompt.

Also opposite 't Oud Arsenaal is the "Horta" recommended in GBG, but to be honest it's more a posh restaurant..have an extra one here!

05-29-2009 18:50:01 | More by ministoat

ViveLaChouffe

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Oud Arsenaal has been in business since 1924 and little appears to have changed since then. Wonderful atmosphere, tons of old beer signs, many from breweries no longer in existence. Cozy brown bar feel, very neighborhood pub inside.

All beer served in its proper glass. Almost standard for all Belgian bars.

Service was very friendly and prompt. We were there on a SUnday morning/early afternoon but the place was still quite busy. Our server was more than helpful explaining the monthly specials since my Dutch is just not that good!

The beer list is not enormous but the highlights are very good. Nine beers on tap with upwards of 40 bottles when I visited. A highlight for me was the Boon Faro Pertotale, my first faro on draft/cask and it was delcious.

Rodenbach was on special for the month of October and came with a little bowl of prawns. Good stuff.

A must stop in my opinion. Come for the atmosphere, stay for the beer!

10-27-2008 00:00:44 | More by ViveLaChouffe

BeerBelcher

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -7.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Oud Arsenaal was probably the least beer-y of the places I visited in Antwerp, but it was a lot of fun. It had a very lively pub atmosphere, we sat with locals, and had a great time here despite a beer list that is a touch small by beer-geek standards.

This bar hosted a charming, older crowd that was still rowdy (and very friendly) and a decor that reminded me of a grandmother's house - wallpaper and warm orange light. More macro brew (Stella) than other places I visited. Cozy booths and a wood-burning stove. This place was packed, with everyone drinking Rodenbach, which came with a bowl of these tiny brined shrimp.

There weren't any curiosities in the beer department here - just the usual suspects which would be the envy of most American beer bars. I had a Rochefort 10 during my visit.

Pretty good proximity to Kulminator - the two stops are an easy combo. This wasn't the best beer experience I had in Antwerp (that was the Waagstuk), but it was easily the most fun.

10-24-2008 16:40:34 | More by BeerBelcher

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

4.56/5  rDev +9.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

After spending about 5 hours at the Kulminator on a recent Friday night, we headed over to the Oud Arsenaal to meet up with some friends that we met at the Kulminator. We were suprised to see how small the bar was but how charming it was as well. Although in Belgium, it had the feeling of an English pub as it was very sociable inside.

When we arrived we initially didn't see our newly met friends but after a few minutes we recognized a few faces and were introduced into about a half dozen others. We initially went into the bar for a beer or 2 and ending up staying until after 1pm or maybe 3 hours or so.

While there, talking and all that, I had a Rodenbach Vin de Cereale which was great, a Lindeman's Cuvee Rene Kriek and maybe a few others that I can't remember at this moment. The bartender was very friendly and helpful in recommending beers and describing them.

At one point he came out from behind the bar to let everyone know that the next night at 6pm he was going to open a 1999 Bush Millenium Magnum for the crowd but unfortunately most of us were heading to a Christmas beer fest the next day so we didn't make it back.

Although the space is small, the atmosphere is great, the place is filled with all kinds of old brewery signs and all. The selection was pretty damn good as well. Go if you can.

12-19-2007 20:26:46 | More by ggaughan

Estarrio

Massachusetts

3.94/5  rDev -5.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

This is a nice stop if you are in the area. 't Oud Arsenal is a local bar, where the local working folk come to drink. It is small and busy but has quite a bit of local charm.

The selection was decent but not mind-boggling. I tried my first "green Duvel" here and enjoyed my standby Hommelbier.

We were here about a week before Zythos and a number of members of Onder 't Schuim were in the bar. It was rather interesting to exchange pleasantries and ideals with the beer advocates of Belgium.

Service was quick, accurate and attentive. I'm well aware that the tipping standards are different in Belgium, but this is the only place where employees literally chased me down to give me my change.

03-08-2007 02:03:02 | More by Estarrio

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.86/5  rDev -7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$

A Friday afternoon (before the Zythos fest) and the place is full of locals and Brits, who like me are over for the beer fest.

My wife and I stand at the bar until a table becomes free.

There are 7 well used, formica (dull, dis-coloured red) topped wooden tables, the tiled floor is old and its colours are begining to fade, just like the table tops. The yellowing walls hold up old metal brewery adverts from years ago. The locals are as yellow and old as the bar its self, its a proper Belgian pub!

The regular De Koninck on tap was very good, there was also the De Koninck Winter Brew and De Koninck Excelsior (cherry beer), I tried both and they were also in fine fettle.

A blackboard high up one wall lets you know what is on special offer, I think there were about 6 on the list on my visit.

We liked it

03-05-2007 21:35:06 | More by BlackHaddock

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.66/5  rDev +12%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

We searched for Oud Aresenaal on the previous day but did not visit when we did not see any food since that is what we were after. It was a bit on the painful side to find since it was dark and we did not have a great map. The next day it became obvious where we had lost our way. At any rate, it was not that difficult to find, just down the way from the Reubens museum.

It's not a very large place so we took our place outside. American music from the 50's, 60's, and 70's was playing in the background. The inside was small with a bar area and only a few tables.

The taps number only about four, but the beer list was impressive.We had an excellent waiter, Pieter, who knew both English and beer and later we found out he was one of the owners. He took time to entertain every question and meet every request. We had a great time at Oud Aresenaal and I would certainly return, especially if the service remains the same. Very nice!

Visited on September 12, 2006.

10-16-2006 22:03:30 | More by GCBrewingCo