8tea5 Antwerp — Restaurant in Antwerp

“I came for boba. I left with purpose.”

It was a Tuesday—gray skies, deadlines looming, the kind of day that hangs heavy on your shoulders. I wandered into this little boba shop on the corner, hoping for a small comfort. Just a sweet drink to numb the monotony.

The chime above the door sang like a whisper of hope. The air was warm, filled with the scent of jasmine and brown sugar. I ordered a brown sugar milk tea with tapioca, not expecting anything more than a sugar rush.

Then I took the first sip.

Time. Slowed. Down.

The ice clinked gently in the cup as if applauding the liquid gold inside. The tapioca pearls—soft but firm, like life’s most precious moments—danced across my tongue. Each one a memory I hadn’t lived yet. The milk tea, smooth and rich, held secrets. Comfort. Forgiveness. Maybe even love.

I sat down. I didn’t mean to stay long. But I stayed. And stayed. I watched people laugh. Strangers held the door for each other. A kid shared their drink with their sibling. The world wasn’t falling apart. It was just…quietly beautiful. And I had been too tired to see it.

That boba didn’t just hydrate me—it healed me. It reminded me I’m alive. That joy can be found in chewy pearls and brown sugar swirls. That peace might come in the form of a plastic cup with a fat straw.

So yes, the tea is good. But more than that?

This place reminded me of who I am. And somehow, who I want...

My recent visit to 8tea5 Antwerpen left me with mixed feelings. While the tea itself was enjoyable, several aspects of the experience, particularly concerning the staff and an unusual charge, have left a sour taste.

Firstly, it was evident that the staff needs to significantly improve their ability to work under pressure. The service felt flustered, and this seemed to contribute to a less than pleasant interaction. Regrettably, the way the staff spoke to us was quite off-putting and certainly did not enhance our visit.

However, the most baffling part of the experience was being asked to pay an additional €0.60 for ice! In an age where ice is a standard inclusion in most beverage services, this felt frankly insane and completely unreasonable. It's a small charge, but it speaks volumes about the perceived value offered.

While the quality of the tea was indeed nice, the combination of the less-than-stellar customer service and the absurd charge for ice means I will definitely not be returning to 8tea5 Antwerpen. There are many other establishments where one can enjoy a good tea without feeling nickel-and-dimed or...

Friend ordered a drink that must have been made incorrectly because it tasted exactly like water. She flagged this to the employee who was apathetic and not truly interested in looking for a solution.

She left a review and the owner called her a liar and told her to 'check her taste buds', leaving no room for the possibility that his employee simply made a mistake. Furthermore attempting to use the fact that it was 15 minutes before their closing time as a justification. A customer expects the same level of service regardless of whether it's at the start, middle or end of the opening hours. If you are unable to guarantee that then you need to close earlier to allow your staff to have sufficient time to clean and close up.

Absolutely terrible customer service and illogical from a business point of view. I'll personally never go back and will advise everyone else to...