1238 Restaurant
Wouter Van Tichelen
Named after the year of the venerable monastery’s foundation, the Botanic’s stargazing 1238 Restaurant is set in a perfectly peerless location: taking up an entire façade of the inner courtyard of the Monastery Garden, a modern conservatory provides an impeccable architectural foil for the Botanic’s historic building fabric. The garden’s serenity adds to the unruffled dining experience and peaceful ambience, while the elegant interior exudes a sense of restrained luxury.
The boundary between inner and outer worlds is blurred …
It’s the heart of the Botanic.
In a bustling city centre.
The Botanic Taste
Light, timeless and stylish, dishes are based on the classic foundations of French and Belgian cuisine. The focus on fresh, local ingredients prepared with an expert’s understatement results in covetable options such as crab with double cream, blackcurrant leaf vinegar and chilled nori bouillon – an evocation of the North Sea with international panache and a soupçon of the countryside that surrounds Antwerp.
The Tastemaker
The expert in question is Wouter Van Tichelen. After learning his craft at the renowned Ter Duinen school and consolidating his metier under a number of Michelin-starred chefs, Wouter ran his own restaurant, De Koopvaardij, earning a Michelin star within a year. Wouter’s ethic is to work exclusively with fresh, local produce for pure, elegant flavours, operate a zero-waste policy … and always put you, our guests, first.
Every dish is the result of passion, craftmanship and teamwork
The Tastemaker
The expert in question is Wouter Van Tichelen. After learning his craft at the renowned Ter Duinen school and consolidating his metier under a number of Michelin-starred chefs, Wouter ran his own restaurant, De Koopvaardij, earning a Michelin star within a year. Wouter’s ethic is to work exclusively with fresh, local produce for pure, elegant flavours, operate a zero-waste policy … and always put you, our guests, first.
Every dish is the result of passion, craftmanship and teamwork
MICHELIN Guide 2022
‘A knockout restaurant flanked by an equally striking bar. Take a seat in the cosy, romantic conservatory overlooking the indoor garden of the luxurious Botanic Sanctuary Hotel. Each detail is a masterclass in understated elegance, providing the perfect foil for Wouter Van Tichelen’s vision of culinary excellence: Franco-Belgian repertory of first-rate produce, gutsy sauces and a zest of modernity.’
Stargazing
Named after the year it all began – 1238 Restaurant blends culinary luxury with a sense of place and time.
Set in a timeless conservatory, the restaurant combines the historic atmosphere of the monastery with the freshest local products to provide a calm dining experience in the centre of the bustling city of Antwerp.
Good is never good enough for Wouter Van Tichelen whose aim is to always improve, setting new standards of excellence.
Wouter Van Tichelen’s professional history spans award-winning restaurants and culminates in a culinary love story: 1238 Restaurant.
On Sundays and Mondays, when 1238 is closed, our incredible caterer creates a delectable 4-course dinner for hotel guests at €75 per person.
Book your table
1238 Restaurant
Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp
GPS address: Leopoldstraat 26, 2000 Antwerp
Belgium
Email info@botanicantwerp.com
Booking Policies
Please inform us of any allergies or dietary requirements in advance.
Please inform us of special occasions or birthdays in advance.
The menu is served per table, and cannot be mixed with the á la carte options.
World Renowned Chefs
The Revival of Hertog Jan in Antwerp: 2 MICHELIN stars for Chef Gert de Mangeleer & Joachim Boudens
Jacob Jan Boerma & Thomas Diepersloot at the Botanic with MICHELIN-starred restaurant Fine Fleur!
Now at the Botanic: A second Bar Bulot by Hertog Jan in Belgium!
Wouter van Tichelen at 1238 and Henry’s Bar showcases the best of Belgian cuisine!
Johan van Raes heads our exclusive event catering!
