Must-see restaurants in Rotterdam

  • Fenix Food Factory

    Rotterdam

    Almost everything in this vast former warehouse is made locally and sold by entrepreneurs making their mark on the food scene. They include Booij…

  • Urban Espresso Bar

    Rotterdam

    Could this be Rotterdam's best cafe? The coffee here is definitely a cut above most of its competitors (Giraffe beans, expert baristas), as is the food …

  • De IJsmaker

    Rotterdam

    Fresh flavours reign supreme at this artisanal ice cream parlour on Witte de Withstraat and only quality produce is used – the simply spectacular…

  • Pierre

    Rotterdam

    Like many locals, we love visiting Pierre at all times of the day. At breakfast, the croissants are buttery; at lunch the baguettes have delectable…

  • Parqiet

    Rotterdam

    The wild flowers in Kilner jars, terrace seating and striped deckchairs on the front lawn all contribute to the charm of this cafe in a former coach house…

  • Tante Nel

    Rotterdam

    Differing from traditional patat (fries) stands in a number of crucial ways, Tante Nel has pleasant street-side seating where its many and varied regulars…

  • CEO Baas van Het Vlees

    Rotterdam

    Meat lovers should be sure to book a table at Rotterdam's best steakhouse. Working in their open kitchen, chefs cook spectacular cuts of beef to order. We…

  • AJÍ

    Rotterdam

    Good-quality Asian food is hard to source in Rotterdam, so we were thrilled to discover this chic bistro serving dishes inspired by Asia and the…

  • Op het Dak, Inside

    Op Het Dak

    Rotterdam

    Perched on top of the Schieblock office building, Op Het Dak ('On the Roof') is a pavilion with indoor, deck and garden seating amidst one of Europe's…

  • Angelo Betti, facade

    Angelo Betti

    Rotterdam

    Serving a flavourful array of soft, rich gelato, Angelo Betti has come a long way since its humble beginnings as an ice-cream cart in 1922. Four…

  • Restaurant Frits

    Rotterdam

    Inside a pretty Delfshaven canal house, with an intimate split-level, dark-timber interior, Frits serves an astounding-value eight-course surprise menu…

  • O'Pazzo

    Rotterdam

    Generations of Rotterdammers have grown up eating the tasty Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked by Italian pizzaioli (pizza makers) in O'Pazzo's huge tiled…

  • HMB

    Rotterdam

    Nestled in the shadow of the mighty Erasmusbrug, this sleek restaurant on the ground floor of the iconic De Rotterdam building serves artistically…

  • Tosca

    Rotterdam

    This old-fashioned place has everything you want from a neighbourhood bistro: friendly staff, well-priced food and lovely surrounds including a grapevine…

  • FG Food Labs

    Rotterdam

    François Geurds' food lab sits under timber and silvery pressed-tin ceilings within Station Hofplein. This is where the FG staff experiment with dishes…

  • La Zia Maria

    Rotterdam

    There is limited table seating at this old-fashioned and aromatic deli, but if you don't manage to snag a sit-down spot, it's still a fabulous place to…

  • Bertmans

    Rotterdam

    Asian accents are as pronounced as those from the Mediterranean in the menu at this popular neighbourhood cafe overlooking the serpentine De Rotte canal…

  • 't Ouwe Bruggetje

    Rotterdam

    This long-operating restaurant has an atmospheric timber-panelled interior, as well as seating by the iron-framed drawbridge out front and on a floating…

  • FG

    Rotterdam

    He's cooked with luminaries including Heston Blumenthal and is certainly Rotterdam's best-known chef, but we're not convinced that François Geurds' menus…

  • Bazar

    Rotterdam

    Sampling menus from across the Middle East and North Africa, Bazar dishes up versions of Turkish kebaps, Egyptian falafel, Moroccan couscous, Persian…

  • Dudok

    Rotterdam

    Ask any Rotterdammer to nominate their favourite sweet treat, and there's a good chance they will opt for the apple pie served here. A cinnamon-spiced…

  • Lof der Zoetheid

    Rotterdam

    Its name means 'In Praise of Sweetness', and this stylish cafe certainly serves delicious sweet stuff. Sample the goods in the daily afternoon tea, which…

  • Dertien

    Rotterdam

    An Instagrammer's paradise, this industrial-chic eatery serves dishes that are utterly gorgeous to look at. Utilising local produce and often featuring…

  • By Jarmusch

    Rotterdam

    If there's one thing that can be said about Rotterdam, it's that it is never predictable. So it's hardly surprising that locals have embraced this…

  • Asian Glories

    Rotterdam

    Modern Cantonese, Szechuan and Beijing dishes dominate the menu at this upmarket eatery. Its chefs are good at what they do – the Peking Duck is excellent…

  • De Ballentent

    Rotterdam

    Rotterdam's best waterfront pub is also a great spot for a meal. Dine on one of two terraces or inside. Mussels, schnitzels and more line the menu but the…

  • Hopper

    Rotterdam

    Roasting its own coffee using single-source beans and offering both espresso and AeroPress styles, this industrial-chic cafe has its own on-site bakery,…

  • Zino's Urban Bistro

    Rotterdam

    This neighbourhood eatery is particularly favoured by vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free diners, as there are always suitable choices on the small but…

  • Supermercado

    Rotterdam

    On Rotterdam's most happening strip, this taqueria serves tacos, ceviche, nachos and empanadas that wouldn't cut the mustard in Mexico but seem to satisfy…

  • Rolph's Deli

    Rotterdam

    A haven off the wind tunnel that is Otto Reuchlinweg, this friendly deli offers all-day breakfasts and lunch options including salads and sandwiches. The …

  • Picknick

    Rotterdam

    Known for its generous 'Picknick platters', this casual cafe near Markthal has a particularly alluring breakfast menu offering globally inspired dishes…

  • Tai Wu

    Rotterdam

    The hallmarks here are gargantuan servings and brusque service, the first making the second forgivable. The cuisine is largely Cantonese, with a few…

  • Zeezout

    Rotterdam

    One of the few restaurants in the city centre to open on Sundays, Zeezout (Sea Salt) is located in the quiet residential Scheepvaartkwartier neighbourhood…

  • Kaapse Kitchen

    Rotterdam

    Located in the Fenix Food Factory, this open kitchen is operated by the Kaapse Brewery. Each week, a different chef serves up global dishes made with…

  • Yokohama Ramen Saito

    Rotterdam

    Adopted Sciedammer Toshimi Saito makes her slurpable Yokohama-style ramen noodles using flour milled in the town's De Vrijheid windmill.

  • Koen

    Rotterdam

    Koen's head ice cream maker was trained in Italy and it shows: this is excellent artisanal gelato, made with fresh seasonal produce.

  • Bertmans

    Rotterdam

    Branch of the popular Noord cafe.

  • Vroesenpaviljoen, facade

    Vroesen Paviljoen

    Rotterdam

    Nestled between the trees of the bustling Vroesenpark, this wooden-framed, glass-fronted pavilion has a menu offering everything from sandwiches to…

  • Ayla, bar and rising seats

    Ayla

    Rotterdam

    A mere castanet's click from Rotterdam Centraal, this busy tapas bar is open for lunch and dinner, offering sandwiches, tapas and a few desserts. Its…

  • De Kade

    Rotterdam

    Fast-food style Surinamese and Chinese dishes are served at this no-nonsense establishment close to Centraal Station. We suggest avoiding the bland and…

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