Best restaurants in Rotterdam: where a local eats and drinks in the city
- Chris Wotton
Published: September 29, 2026 at 4:59 PM
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From barbecued quail in a renovated train station to a spot even Mick Jagger couldn’t get into, here’s Chris Wotton’s guide to eating your way around gritty, down-to-earth Rotterdam
Chris Wotton is a British food and travel writer and cook based in Rotterdam. Here, he shares his local favourite picks of where to eat and drink in the city, from the bakeries to know to the coolest drinks spots.
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For more travel inspiration, check out our guide to the best restaurants in Amsterdam and discover our favourite foodie city breaks by train.
Best restaurants in Rotterdam
Brunch in Vroesenpark
Go Dutch and start your day on two wheels – it’s an easy cycle from the city centre to leafy Vroesenpark (or take the metro to Blijdorp). Tucked away in the park itself, Vroesenpaviljoen is one of my favourite brunch hideaways whatever the weather. Try the chorizo fried eggs with fenugreek and coriander oil, and soothing ginger and lemon verbena tea. vroesenpaviljoen.nl
Jordy’s Bakery
It’s hard to name a Rotterdam bakery with a more loyal local following than Jordy’s. They have four branches around the city, or you can pick up a cheesecake brownie or Dutch-style puff-pastry sausage roll from their stall at the Rotterdamse Oogstmarkt Saturday farmers’ market for a real local vibe. jordysbakery.nl
Neighbourhood lunch at De Wilde Mossel
This lively spot has a wall of draught beers from its own Eurobrowers brewery in nearby Schiedam, plus natural wines on tap. The rotating bistro menu is etched onto the tiled bar splashback: try the sourdough kimchi toastie, beef-fat chips or a Dutch 12-uurtje of soup, croquette, egg salad and bread. There are also €1 oysters every Sunday. cafedewildemossel.nl
Coffee on Botersloot at Nine Bar
Botersloot is only just off the tourist trail near the Markthal, yet its local feel makes it one of my favourite little streets in the city. Make a beeline for compact Nine Bar and watch it all go by with excellent iced coffee, sandwiches and homemade cakes (crumbly, gooey pistachio cookie, anyone?). If there’s a sunny spot outside, grab it. nine-bar.com
Spanish small plates at Bar Berta
In the historic Maritime Quarter, one of the few parts of Rotterdam to retain its pre-war character, Bar Berta serves a short tapas menu in a tiny, atmospheric space. Perch at the bar to watch the chef prepare ribeye a la plancha or the daily shellfish special – although the summer terrace is pretty irresistible too. Share a few dishes with something Spanish from the natural-heavy wine list. barberta.nl
Rum cocktails at The Rumah
Named after the Indonesian word for ‘home’ by the veteran Rotterdam bartenders behind it, The Rumah is a cosy, centrally located cocktail bar where rum is the spirit of choice. There’s a deliberately relaxed neighbourhood vibe – settle in with one of their inventive tropical creations or my choice, a really strong and well-shaken daiquiri. therumahrotterdam.com
Pizza and sunshine at Westkop
Holland isn’t famed for endless sunshine, but Westkop’s leafy terrace in the museum quarter gets more rays than anywhere in Rotterdam. Tuck into pizza from fresh homemade dough (I love the bright pinoli, with pine nuts and rocket). There are 25 draught Benelux and Italian beers, plus views of the mirrored Boijmans Van Beuningen art depot opposite. dewestkop.nl
Mediterranean shared dining at L’Ouest
Just a short walk from Centraal Station, polished yet informal L’Ouest is proof you don’t have to leave Rotterdam’s centre for a loved-by-locals spot. You’ll often find me on the pavement terrace with a glass as the tram trundles by, but don’t mistake this for just a wine bar: its Mediterranean-inspired shared dining includes a surprisingly affordable five-course surprise menu. louest.nl
Bistro Mus at Station Bergweg
Set in a renovated former railway station, this laidback food hall brings together a dozen local foodie names. In summer, take your drinks up to the terrace on the old Hofplein railway viaduct itself. For something more intimate, there’s Bistro Mus, where Italian peasant cooking meets local Dutch produce for a low-waste seasonal menu. Try the barbecued quail with raspberry glaze or the Sunday family-style meal. stationbergweg.nl
Old-school Rotterdam at Bierhandel De Pijp
Tucked behind a battered door just off my favourite street, Nieuwe Binnenweg, you could easily walk past Bierhandel De Pijp. Inside is an unpretentious slice of old Rotterdam: long communal tables, brown walls plastered with faded photos, and traditionally uniformed waiters serving French-Dutch dishes from a blackboard menu. Look through the famous peephole on the way in – it was once used to turn away Mick Jagger. bierhandeldepijp.nl
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