Guidebook for Rotterdam
Food Scene
A bar/ restaurant in a former tropical swimming pool... you have to see this! Try the fried mushroom balls... The mushrooms are organically grown on coffee grounds in another part of the pool.
66 lokale inwoners raden aan
Aloha Rotterdam
102 MaasboulevardA bar/ restaurant in a former tropical swimming pool... you have to see this! Try the fried mushroom balls... The mushrooms are organically grown on coffee grounds in another part of the pool.
French style brasserie with a nice terras and divers public. It's a restaurant as well, but I mainly go there for a glass of wine...
36 lokale inwoners raden aan
Brasserie Pierre
38A PannekoekstraatFrench style brasserie with a nice terras and divers public. It's a restaurant as well, but I mainly go there for a glass of wine...
The best chicken in town! Roasted on charcoal, sprinkled with garlic or piri-piri sauce... yummy! The tiny space has some tables, but it's mainly for take-away.
7 lokale inwoners raden aan
De Kip Gallery
6a HoogstraatThe best chicken in town! Roasted on charcoal, sprinkled with garlic or piri-piri sauce... yummy! The tiny space has some tables, but it's mainly for take-away.
Popular tapas restaurant; great food, nice atmosphere. In weekends often fully booked.
9 lokale inwoners raden aan
De Hemel Op Aarde
205A Oostzeedijk BenedenPopular tapas restaurant; great food, nice atmosphere. In weekends often fully booked.
Very famous, 25 year old restaurant in typical Rotterdam-style: nothing fussy, just very good food! Specialised in fish and clams (Mosselen) Nice location at a marina.
9 lokale inwoners raden aan
Brasserie Kaat Mossel
85 AdmiraliteitskadeVery famous, 25 year old restaurant in typical Rotterdam-style: nothing fussy, just very good food! Specialised in fish and clams (Mosselen) Nice location at a marina.
Great, unique and popular initiative from a friend of mine, Bob Richters. Local kids can walk in during the afternoon to cook and serve a nice and ridiculously cheap dinner: three courses for €7,50
hotspot hutspot krootwijk
8 Goudse RijwegGreat, unique and popular initiative from a friend of mine, Bob Richters. Local kids can walk in during the afternoon to cook and serve a nice and ridiculously cheap dinner: three courses for €7,50
Fantastic location, directly at the Kralingse Plas and next to a traditional windmill. Local public from the wealthy neighbourhood Kralingen.
33 lokale inwoners raden aan
Restaurant De Tuin van de Vier Windstreken - Restaurant in Rotterdam
354 PlaszoomFantastic location, directly at the Kralingse Plas and next to a traditional windmill. Local public from the wealthy neighbourhood Kralingen.
De Bakkerswinkel
223A OostpleinPerfect spot for a Sunday brunch...
Tante Nel (Auntie Nel) is a Snack-Bar in the pure meaning of the word... Eat French fries with mayonnaise, or Dutch 'bitterballs' with mustard, while drinking a Gin-tonic...
9 lokale inwoners raden aan
Tante Nel
53 PannekoekstraatTante Nel (Auntie Nel) is a Snack-Bar in the pure meaning of the word... Eat French fries with mayonnaise, or Dutch 'bitterballs' with mustard, while drinking a Gin-tonic...
Take a plate, fill it with healthy, honest food -you'll know exactly what ingredients are in the dish- let it weigh at the counter and pay per kilogram :-) Really, really good food!
29 lokale inwoners raden aan
Spirit Rotterdam
9 MarinierswegTake a plate, fill it with healthy, honest food -you'll know exactly what ingredients are in the dish- let it weigh at the counter and pay per kilogram :-) Really, really good food!
Another gem, recently opened in Het Industriegebouw, just around the corner. Tradionatal Mexican food in a fantastic interior with a lot of blue and pink and a nice terrace.
18 lokale inwoners raden aan
Alfredo's Taqueria
204 GoudsesingelAnother gem, recently opened in Het Industriegebouw, just around the corner. Tradionatal Mexican food in a fantastic interior with a lot of blue and pink and a nice terrace.
An American Diner, situated in Het Industriegebouw. Became a hotspot from day one. Open from 8am for 'Breakfast All Day'; eggs-any-way-you-like, pancakes, oatmeal & granola, fresh juices... The coffee is always brewed fresh and served at your table.
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by Jarmusch
An American Diner, situated in Het Industriegebouw. Became a hotspot from day one. Open from 8am for 'Breakfast All Day'; eggs-any-way-you-like, pancakes, oatmeal & granola, fresh juices... The coffee is always brewed fresh and served at your table.
The one and only authentic Neapoletan pizzeria in town! Always striving for the perfect dough and succeeding better every week. Open till they are 'out of dough', so try visiting after 21.00 to meet Rotterdam-Italians. Great place to visit on your own - have seat at the bar to watch the excellent pizzaioli at work or have a chat with the friendly staff. Just go for the basic pizza Marguerita with a glass of white wine and you'll feel like in heaven!
18 lokale inwoners raden aan
Old Scuola
1 AchterkloosterThe one and only authentic Neapoletan pizzeria in town! Always striving for the perfect dough and succeeding better every week. Open till they are 'out of dough', so try visiting after 21.00 to meet Rotterdam-Italians. Great place to visit on your own - have seat at the bar to watch the excellent pizzaioli at work or have a chat with the friendly staff. Just go for the basic pizza Marguerita with a glass of white wine and you'll feel like in heaven!
Tiny little restaurant with authentic Thai kitchen, with every day a new, freshly cooked menu based on ingredients of the season. Very friendly staff make you feel like a welcome 'friend of the family'.
De Kleine Ondeugd
348 OostzeedijkTiny little restaurant with authentic Thai kitchen, with every day a new, freshly cooked menu based on ingredients of the season. Very friendly staff make you feel like a welcome 'friend of the family'.
A little further from the apartment, but definitely worth the 20 minutes walk, you'll find Bertmans - a perfect place for breakfast or lunch. They serve a lot of vegetarian and vegan dishes as well as special food for people with certain allergies. On sunny days you can sit at the wonderful terrace at the little Rotte river, which gave Rotterdam its name.
33 lokale inwoners raden aan
Bertmans
15 ZaagmolenkadeA little further from the apartment, but definitely worth the 20 minutes walk, you'll find Bertmans - a perfect place for breakfast or lunch. They serve a lot of vegetarian and vegan dishes as well as special food for people with certain allergies. On sunny days you can sit at the wonderful terrace at the little Rotte river, which gave Rotterdam its name.
Drinks & Nightlife
Typical Dutch "brown café", as we call it. Diverse, local public - mostly regulars. Especially lively on Fridays.
Café De Pui
221 a-b Oostzeedijk BenedenTypical Dutch "brown café", as we call it. Diverse, local public - mostly regulars. Especially lively on Fridays.
Over 200 kinds of special beer, easy going atmosphere, often crowded and so nearby you can crawl home if you tasted too much ;-) Also a great location to watch soccer during championships.
16 lokale inwoners raden aan
Bierlokaal Locus Publicus
364 OostzeedijkOver 200 kinds of special beer, easy going atmosphere, often crowded and so nearby you can crawl home if you tasted too much ;-) Also a great location to watch soccer during championships.
Another beer café, but very different from Locus Publicus... Bokaal is very trendy, opened in 2014 and is since day one crowded with people... Huge, sunny terrace in one of the nicest areas in town.
80 lokale inwoners raden aan
Bokaal Rotterdam
11 NieuwemarktAnother beer café, but very different from Locus Publicus... Bokaal is very trendy, opened in 2014 and is since day one crowded with people... Huge, sunny terrace in one of the nicest areas in town.
Fantastic bar/restaurant/concert hall situated on a fire red historic light ship. The kitchen is British, so have your traditional Fish'n'Chips here before discovering a promising live act downstairs.
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Vessel 11
101 WijnhavenFantastic bar/restaurant/concert hall situated on a fire red historic light ship. The kitchen is British, so have your traditional Fish'n'Chips here before discovering a promising live act downstairs.
Sightseeing
Blaakse Bos
Blaakse BosThe famous cubic houses, just opposite the Market Hall, are worth a visit!
The Luchtsingel is a wooden walkway that connects several areas around Central Station, Blaak Station and former train station Hofplein: De Hofbogen.
Inspired by The High Line in NY, the Hofbogen is one of those new, projects that add to the city's flair. Restaurants, shops and creative businesses situated underneath a former railroad track.
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Luchtsingel Bridge
LuchtsingelThe Luchtsingel is a wooden walkway that connects several areas around Central Station, Blaak Station and former train station Hofplein: De Hofbogen.
Inspired by The High Line in NY, the Hofbogen is one of those new, projects that add to the city's flair. Restaurants, shops and creative businesses situated underneath a former railroad track.
Ten years ago, nobody would visit the Zwaanshals ("Swan's Neck") for fun, but after its transformation it is really worth a visit! Local entrepreneurs in "Food, Fashion & Design"
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Zwaanshals
ZwaanshalsTen years ago, nobody would visit the Zwaanshals ("Swan's Neck") for fun, but after its transformation it is really worth a visit! Local entrepreneurs in "Food, Fashion & Design"
The most famous street of Rotterdam when it comes to nightlife! Popular hotspots like De Witte Aap, BAZAR and NRC café, as well as designer shops and art centers make the "Witte De With" a must-visit!
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Witte de Withstraat
Witte de WithstraatThe most famous street of Rotterdam when it comes to nightlife! Popular hotspots like De Witte Aap, BAZAR and NRC café, as well as designer shops and art centers make the "Witte De With" a must-visit!
Spectacular architecture, nice atmosphere and great food. Visit the hall on Tuesdays or Saturdays to enjoy the traditional market outdoors as well...
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Markthal
Verlengde NieuwstraatSpectacular architecture, nice atmosphere and great food. Visit the hall on Tuesdays or Saturdays to enjoy the traditional market outdoors as well...
Everything Else
Het Industriegebouw is an icon of the rebuilding of Rotterdam. Realised in post-war Rotterdam, designed by the legendary architects Hugh Maaskant in collaboration with Willem van Tijen. Het Industriegebouw is a unique community driven business building. Here you’ll find a lot of newly opened and interesting shops and restaurants like Groos (the best gift shop and gallery with all things from Rotterdam), Old Scuola (better pizzas than in Naples), Alfredo’s Taqueria (Authéntica Comida Mexicana) and By Jarmusch (the all day breakfast diner). Recently opened: Bar Restaurant Héroine!
Het Industriegebouw
66 GoudsesingelHet Industriegebouw is an icon of the rebuilding of Rotterdam. Realised in post-war Rotterdam, designed by the legendary architects Hugh Maaskant in collaboration with Willem van Tijen. Het Industriegebouw is a unique community driven business building. Here you’ll find a lot of newly opened and interesting shops and restaurants like Groos (the best gift shop and gallery with all things from Rotterdam), Old Scuola (better pizzas than in Naples), Alfredo’s Taqueria (Authéntica Comida Mexicana) and By Jarmusch (the all day breakfast diner). Recently opened: Bar Restaurant Héroine!
Parks & Nature
A nice get-away near the center is the Kralingse Plas. It has a little beach and plenty of green space to relax. On warm summer days, the park is full of multi-cultural families with BBQ's and picknick baskets. Very nice atmosphere.
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Kralingen Lake
A nice get-away near the center is the Kralingse Plas. It has a little beach and plenty of green space to relax. On warm summer days, the park is full of multi-cultural families with BBQ's and picknick baskets. Very nice atmosphere.
If you want to get away from hectic city life, the beautiful arboretum will provide for the desired rest...
14 lokale inwoners raden aan
Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum
86 HoningerdijkIf you want to get away from hectic city life, the beautiful arboretum will provide for the desired rest...
Arts & Culture
If you're lucky you can attend to an auction at the VENDU Notarishuis, a more than 200 year old auctionhouse. They organize nine auctions every year: Two art & antiques sales, two design sales and five general sales.
Vendu Rotterdam
54 KipstraatIf you're lucky you can attend to an auction at the VENDU Notarishuis, a more than 200 year old auctionhouse. They organize nine auctions every year: Two art & antiques sales, two design sales and five general sales.
Essentials
Slijterij Goudsesingel
231A GoudsesingelIn case you forgot something...the night shop! Opening hours 4 pm - 2 am
The only reason I recommend this one is that it's the nearest supermarket - less than 100 meters away. Don't expect too much from it though ;-)
23 lokale inwoners raden aan
Dirk
27 DamstraatThe only reason I recommend this one is that it's the nearest supermarket - less than 100 meters away. Don't expect too much from it though ;-)