Tomorrowland opens restaurant MESA in Antwerp

Tuesday, 18 September 2018 - In the lively Sint-Andries district in Antwerp, just steps from the Nationalestraat, the waterfront and the Grote Markt, you'll find MESA. A restaurant where you can taste the whole world in an exceptional setting created by the team behind Tomorrowland. MESA is the product of a passion for travel, good food and togetherness, and that's exactly what you’ll feel and taste at MESA. 

Architect Dieter Vander Velpen, who also designed the adjacent Tomorrowland offices in the former State Police headquarters, wanted to create a natural, inviting look & feel for MESA, where everyone can feel at home. The ground floor was opened up in order to give it more height, creating a wonderfully airy space. The finishing was done with sustainable materials for a stylish, timeless appeal.

The absolute eyecatcher that strikes you as soon as you walk in is the extra tall bar shelving that extends up to the rafters. The bar is made of vintage oak, repurposed from old train cars, and is a unique piece. On the wall is a large world map cut from blue steel.

From the rear of the restaurant, there is a view onto the patio with a green sculpture by landscape designer Jan Bleys. It functions as a buffer between the restaurant MESA and the offices of Tomorrowland. On the first floor, you can pull up a chair at the ‘Chef’s Table’, with a view of the open kitchen made from wrought iron.

Many of the design elements at MESA come straight from the Tomorrowland creative team. For example, the Tomorrowland x Staub cocottes are used for serving and the dishware was designed in collaboration with Studio Mattes from Herk-de-Stad.  

In the kitchen, too, you'll find the flavours, aromas and colours of the world. The Chefs have put together sensational recipes from the four corners of the earth, inspired by the ‘Tastes of the World’ cuisine at Tomorrowland. 

The MESA menu features dishes from a dozen different countries, prepared with ingredients from passionately dedicated growers, farmers and producers, sourced according to market availability and made with respect for traditional preparation methods. 

For the ceviche, the chefs travelled to Peru to learn the authentic preparation technique locally. The dishes are designed for sharing so, per table, you can order a sharing menu for groups of four or more. You can choose to share 4 dishes at 55 € per person, or 3 dishes at 45 euros per person. 

Highlights of the menu include the Taco de Pastor (Mexico), Mjadra – a dish made with sea bass from Lebanon, stuffed aubergine (France), smoked eel from the Oosterschelde (the Netherlands), spicy squid with padron peppers from Spain and gambas worthy of India’s finest. As dessert: Chocolate Sao Tomé (Brazil) and Amalfi Lemon (Italy).

To go with your meal, you can try a matching cocktail. Mixologist Paul Morel developed cocktails to go with the dishes that have a perfectly paired flavour palette. For example, the Secret Garden, a Peruvian ceviche, would be paired with a Pisco Sour (7.5 euros).

MESA seats a total of 50 diners. 

MESA - The Tomorrowland Restaurant
​Kloosterstraat 99
​2000 Antwerp
​Belgium

Reservations are available online.