Guidebook for Rotterdam
Food Scene
Our favorite places to eat and get groceries
Absolutely the best sandwiches in the neighborhood, French & Mediterranean with a Dutch twist.
14 Einheimische empfehlen
La Cabane de Fabian
152A BergwegAbsolutely the best sandwiches in the neighborhood, French & Mediterranean with a Dutch twist.
A well known spot for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, and for a reason! If you want to be sure of a seat, you have to be early
49 Einheimische empfehlen
Lof der Zoetheid
1 NoordpleinA well known spot for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, and for a reason! If you want to be sure of a seat, you have to be early
Angelo Betti
6B SchiekadeSimply the Best Pizza, a Rotterdam staple.
We are lucky with this place almost around the corner. Owned and operated bij a couple for over 20 years. Very very hospitable, nice traditional Turkish dishes for a good price. It is very popular, so getting a table can be difficult (there is a nice bar across the street if you have to wait a bit)
14 Einheimische empfehlen
Restaurant Sahlan
56A RodenrijselaanWe are lucky with this place almost around the corner. Owned and operated bij a couple for over 20 years. Very very hospitable, nice traditional Turkish dishes for a good price. It is very popular, so getting a table can be difficult (there is a nice bar across the street if you have to wait a bit)
If you are hungry and you want to eat fast, serves fries and snack food. Ask about their big burger...
Snackbar Rodi
38A RodenrijselaanIf you are hungry and you want to eat fast, serves fries and snack food. Ask about their big burger...
Delicious pastries made right there. They also sell good bread from the ' Vlaamsch Broodhuys' . They have a few tables where you can enjoy a coffee and something sweet.
28 Einheimische empfehlen
Urban Bakery BV
217-219 VoorburgstraatDelicious pastries made right there. They also sell good bread from the ' Vlaamsch Broodhuys' . They have a few tables where you can enjoy a coffee and something sweet.
Unmissable landmark and food heaven. For the daring and adventurous: we love to get a 'broodje haring' at one of the fish stalls. It has a good selection of meats and sweets.
304 Einheimische empfehlen
Markthalle
298 Dominee Jan ScharpstraatUnmissable landmark and food heaven. For the daring and adventurous: we love to get a 'broodje haring' at one of the fish stalls. It has a good selection of meats and sweets.
Every first Saturday of the month this square hosts a very nice farmers market (Rotterdamse Oogstmarkt) with local products and wonderful food. One some other Saturdays a mini version of the market pops up.
9 Einheimische empfehlen
Noordplein
NoordpleinEvery first Saturday of the month this square hosts a very nice farmers market (Rotterdamse Oogstmarkt) with local products and wonderful food. One some other Saturdays a mini version of the market pops up.
This small brewery makes some of Rotterdams most popular beers. The entrance is somewhat hidden, since the building is in a courtyard. It has a lot of atmosphere. Even if you don't visit the brewery: ask for this beer when you are in a bar/pub. It will not disappoint.
20 Einheimische empfehlen
brewery Noordt
46 ZaagmolenkadeThis small brewery makes some of Rotterdams most popular beers. The entrance is somewhat hidden, since the building is in a courtyard. It has a lot of atmosphere. Even if you don't visit the brewery: ask for this beer when you are in a bar/pub. It will not disappoint.
Our number one place close to the station for a late breakfast and a nice coffee.
39 Einheimische empfehlen
Booon
31 ProveniersstraatOur number one place close to the station for a late breakfast and a nice coffee.
Osteria Liz
2-A BerkelselaanGreat Italian cuisine around the corner
Lovely French cooking at a surprising location. A reservation is necessary but difficult to obtain (the website only has a phone number) absolutely worth the effort!!!!
35 Einheimische empfehlen
Mevrouw Meijer
37B Gerard ScholtenstraatLovely French cooking at a surprising location. A reservation is necessary but difficult to obtain (the website only has a phone number) absolutely worth the effort!!!!
Lovely cheese store, good value for money, the owner has products from all over Europe. It certainly beats the quality at the grocery store
Kaas bij Sijens
41B BenthuizerstraatLovely cheese store, good value for money, the owner has products from all over Europe. It certainly beats the quality at the grocery store
This is currently our absolute favorite coffee and breakfast place. Cosy atmosphere inside, small terrace outside. Nice french toast (wentelteefjes). It made the list of best coffee shops in the World.
58 Einheimische empfehlen
Man met bril koffie
70 VijverhofstraatThis is currently our absolute favorite coffee and breakfast place. Cosy atmosphere inside, small terrace outside. Nice french toast (wentelteefjes). It made the list of best coffee shops in the World.
Italian and bistro classics with a flare and taste that satisfies all of the senses. *Other locations are also nearby.
15 Einheimische empfehlen
Mangiare
150 Van OldenbarneveltstraatItalian and bistro classics with a flare and taste that satisfies all of the senses. *Other locations are also nearby.
Drinks & Nightlife
Diverse bar and stage with something going on most nights of the week (closed on Sundays and Mondays). Also has good a decent restaurant and an additional pizza menu. Very nice atmosphere. Crowd may vary according to the night and staged performances. Wednesday night often has an open stage for young musicians.
99 Einheimische empfehlen
BIRD (podium, club, restaurant)
24 RaampoortstraatDiverse bar and stage with something going on most nights of the week (closed on Sundays and Mondays). Also has good a decent restaurant and an additional pizza menu. Very nice atmosphere. Crowd may vary according to the night and staged performances. Wednesday night often has an open stage for young musicians.
The busiest and most lively location for a night on the town. Lots of restaurants and bars to choose from.
324 Einheimische empfehlen
Witte de Withstraat
Witte de WithstraatThe busiest and most lively location for a night on the town. Lots of restaurants and bars to choose from.
Competing with the vibe of the Witte de With is this street: but on a not so large scale (the street where all the record shops are). A few spots worth checking out are: Rotown, a Rotterdam staple catering to the music scenesters as the place also hosts live music. Next to is the Stalles Cafe also known to kick out the jams on any given night.
A few steps down the way is also Cafe Boudewijn, specializing in Belgian and Dutch Beers. If you’re into beer this place is a must visit.
7 Einheimische empfehlen
Nieuwe Binnenweg
Nieuwe BinnenwegCompeting with the vibe of the Witte de With is this street: but on a not so large scale (the street where all the record shops are). A few spots worth checking out are: Rotown, a Rotterdam staple catering to the music scenesters as the place also hosts live music. Next to is the Stalles Cafe also known to kick out the jams on any given night.
A few steps down the way is also Cafe Boudewijn, specializing in Belgian and Dutch Beers. If you’re into beer this place is a must visit.
Here you will feel like a local, this Café has been around forever. It is an 8 min walk
28 Einheimische empfehlen
Café de Bel
61-B Gerard ScholtenstraatHere you will feel like a local, this Café has been around forever. It is an 8 min walk
Shopping
Visit the market on Tuesday or Saturday to see the real diversity of Rotterdam. It can get very busy, but is a great spot to see Rotterdamers do their grocery and other shopping. We love to eat the 'kibbeling' (fried & battered fish) as a quick lunch.
21 Einheimische empfehlen
Binnenrotte-Markt
101 BinnenrotteVisit the market on Tuesday or Saturday to see the real diversity of Rotterdam. It can get very busy, but is a great spot to see Rotterdamers do their grocery and other shopping. We love to eat the 'kibbeling' (fried & battered fish) as a quick lunch.
Paradise for anyone who likes too cook. Around the corner in the 'Zwaanshals' there are a lot of different boutiques
20 Einheimische empfehlen
Kookpunt
29 NoordpleinParadise for anyone who likes too cook. Around the corner in the 'Zwaanshals' there are a lot of different boutiques
This store has a large selection of new and used vinyl. Their selection also spans into movies and tv series. What makes this place special is that it has two floors with even more records upstairs.
Specialties: new releases, used vinyl and box sets
De Plaatboef
81-A Nieuwe BinnenwegThis store has a large selection of new and used vinyl. Their selection also spans into movies and tv series. What makes this place special is that it has two floors with even more records upstairs.
Specialties: new releases, used vinyl and box sets
This shop almost always has something special. Be prepared to spend money if you go here. What’s great about it is that you can listen to records before you buy them. I highly recommend this one of you’re serious about music outside of the typical new release stuff.
Specialties: used vinyl, jazz, african and world music, new wave and prog rock.
vinylspot
162 JosephstraatThis shop almost always has something special. Be prepared to spend money if you go here. What’s great about it is that you can listen to records before you buy them. I highly recommend this one of you’re serious about music outside of the typical new release stuff.
Specialties: used vinyl, jazz, african and world music, new wave and prog rock.
Essentials
Our grocery store only 3 minutes away. This Albert Heijn is open seven days a week. There is a drug store as well, and a few other useful stores. The Turkish store has a nice selection of olives and other snacks, and very affordable vegetables.
15 Einheimische empfehlen
Eudokiaplein
EudokiapleinOur grocery store only 3 minutes away. This Albert Heijn is open seven days a week. There is a drug store as well, and a few other useful stores. The Turkish store has a nice selection of olives and other snacks, and very affordable vegetables.
Parks & Nature
Right next to the 'big' park is this rather tranquil enclosed garden. It has an intimate atmosphere, even some locals don't know about this place. The It has its own entrance and opens at 8;30 and a closing time of 16:30 so be on time.
8 Einheimische empfehlen
Historische Tuin Schoonoord
8 KievitslaanRight next to the 'big' park is this rather tranquil enclosed garden. It has an intimate atmosphere, even some locals don't know about this place. The It has its own entrance and opens at 8;30 and a closing time of 16:30 so be on time.
Sightseeing
If you get a chance and want to experience something close to what the Dutch countryside may look like, this is the place to go. Close to Rotterdam you will find a polder and windmills. Ideal for cycling or a good hike. Sundays are busy.
Rottekade
RottekadeIf you get a chance and want to experience something close to what the Dutch countryside may look like, this is the place to go. Close to Rotterdam you will find a polder and windmills. Ideal for cycling or a good hike. Sundays are busy.
Entertainment & Activities
The best arthouse movie theater in town, with a great restaurant too. Very smart programming with current and classic movies. See their website for current information: https://kinorotterdam.nl
48 Einheimische empfehlen
KINO Rotterdam
129-133 GouvernestraatThe best arthouse movie theater in town, with a great restaurant too. Very smart programming with current and classic movies. See their website for current information: https://kinorotterdam.nl