Bart's Best of Rotterdam: tips for a weekend of culture, things to do & food
Our golden oldies and new favorite spots in Rotterdam. From coffee until late, including food, accommodation, and to-dos for a weekend you won't want to leave. Because yes, things move fast in Rotterdam. Perhaps faster than anywhere else. New businesses are popping up and old classics are standing firm.
Therefore: Barts Best of RotterdamA good selection of restaurants where you'll want to linger, lunch spots you'll want to make reservations, places for drinks that work dangerously well, nice hotels, and things you just have to do in between. Less talk, more action.
Generate more Rotterdam tips you can find here.
- Hotel New York – A classic that just always works. Sleeping in Hotel New York It feels like sleeping right in the middle of Rotterdam's story. Spacious rooms, a view of the water, and a location that makes it perfect for rolling into the city. Even better if you make the most of the terrace and restaurant while you're there.
- Hotel âme – Soft, calm, and just a little different. Hotel âme is perfect for those who love a serene atmosphere and a relaxed start to the day. Plus, it is the place for the best coffee in Rotterdam and has the coolest concept store.
- Morgan & Mees – Stylish without being stiff. Morgan & Mees Feels warm and inviting. Beautiful rooms, a nice atmosphere, and a restaurant where you can just as easily sit down even if you aren't staying there. Ideal if you like having everything under one roof.
- Man With Glasses Coffee Hotel – Quirky and creative. This hotel has the same energy as the coffee people you might already know. Here you sleep among makers, coffee lovers, and city dwellers. Man With Glasses Coffee Hotel
A must for food and architecture lovers: Markthal Rotterdam. Whether you are visiting Rotterdam for a day or staying for a whole weekend: Markthal Rotterdam is a place where you can always go. The architecture of the building is grand and unique, and you can just stick around there.for breakfast, coffee, lunch, a tasty snack, or something sweet. There are numerous Asian stands, including favorites: Indochine Café (formerly Saigon Caphe), located in the base of the Markthal. Here you will find an extensive Vietnamese menu including cake with shrimp or beef, rice paper rolls with soft shell crab, grilled duck breast or tofu, and main courses such as lemongrass chicken curry, stir-fried beef tenderloin, and braised pork belly.
At The Spices Cuisine they have the tastiest herbs from more than thirty different countries. And have you lost track? Then go to 21 Pinchos Tapas Bar, awarded as the best tapas bar in the Netherlands (2016/2017). A piece of Spain in Rotterdam.
Erikucha Arepera It is also very popular, the home of Venezuelan arepas. Whut? A street food from Venezuela and c Based on warm, soft, yet crispy bread. Gluten-free and filled with delicious, traditional fillings.
From Mediterranean to Asian cuisine – and of course our own Dutch delicacies – you will discover flavors from all over the world here. Delicious!
- Kunsthal Rotterdam – The Kunsthal It is one of those places where you go in without expectations and almost always come out surprised. Sometimes you stay for hours, sometimes you take in one exhibition and find that is completely enough.
- Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot – The Depot This is not a museum like you are used to, and that is precisely what makes it so fun. This is literally the storage building of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, and here you get a glimpse behind the scenes. Add to that the mirrored building and the view from the top, and you understand: this is perfect for a spontaneous visit.
- Fenix – Fenix It is grand, impressive, and moving without becoming heavy. This museum revolves around migration, departure, arrival, and everything in between, a subject deeply intertwined with Rotterdam itself. Expect personal stories, large installations, and exhibitions that truly draw you in. Combine this with a walk through Katendrecht, and your afternoon will be well spent.
- Restaurant Tiel – A distinctive restaurant for true foodies. The menu is idiosyncratic, technically strong, and constantly evolving. The wine list is solid, and the atmosphere shifts with the evening. Tiel
- Breeding – Young and energetic. A neo-bistro with French techniques and global influences. Compact menu, good focus, and a bar where you can easily linger. Broil
- Lucia – Italian restaurant on the Zaagmolenkade for lunch, dinner, and drinks. Antipasti, pasta, and well-prepared meat and fish dishes in a sleek yet warm interior. Lucia
- Bar Berta – Spanish as it is meant to be. Full of flavor, no fuss, and plates you want to share. Always cozy and always good. Bar Berta
- Bar Bù – Bar Bù It is small but seriously good. A Chinese-French cuisine with many dishes to share, full of flavor and with clear finesse.
- Mrs. Meijer – Mrs Meijer It is a neighborhood restaurant in the best sense of the word. The kitchen cooks with attention to the season and the ingredients, without frills but with clear craftsmanship. Perfect for long evenings when you don't have to go anywhere.
Do you want to hop over all the new restaurants in Rotterdam? Then check out this list en believe us, there really is something that makes you happy.
- Parqiet Parkcafé – As soon as the sun comes out, you'll want to sit here. Right in the middle of the park, a relaxed crowd, and a menu that perfectly suits being outdoors. Parakeet
- Riverbar – If you want to indulge in a bit of luxury during lunch, then River bar Your place. Large terrace by the water, beautiful view, and an atmosphere that immediately gives you a holiday feeling.
- Loos – Loos is and remains a classic. Always good, always open, and always a nice place to pull up a chair for lunch. Spacious establishment, a familiar menu, and a terrace where you can comfortably sit for a while. Ideal if you want to settle in somewhere without having to think too much, because at Loos, you’re basically always in the right place.
- Mecca – On the Noordsingel and always lively. The fully vegetarian cuisine is inspired by the Middle East and plays with flavor without being complicated. Homemade drinks, plates full of color, and a terrace along the water make this a place where you want to linger. Mecca
- Kula – A feel-good spot through and through. A sunny terrace from morning till evening, its own yoga studio, and a community vibe you'll find almost nowhere else. The menu is full of light and healthy dishes such as colorful bowls, flatbreads, and salads. Kula
- Louise Petit Déjeuner – French simplicity without any stiffness. Good coffee, nice sandwiches, and a pace that slows down naturally, especially when you sit outside. Louise Petit Breakfast
- Pierre – Pierre is the perfect lunch stop after a morning of shopping. Located on Pannenkoekstraat, it is exactly the place to unwind.
- Hotel New York – The terrace keeps winning. Water, ships gliding by, and dishes you never regret ordering. Tip: hop on the water taxi afterwards to explore the city further! Hotel New York
- Bar Thirteen – Unique, intimate, and seasonal. Lunch here feels just a little different, with good drinks and dishes that change with the time of day. Plus, you get to sit wonderfully in the sun on the terrace! Bar Thirteen
You should definitely not skip lunch between shopping, just relax for an hour or two and then continue. Read all about the best ones lunch spots in Rotterdam and then the fuel is fine. (Or check this list, for the best coffee from Rotterdam)
- Harvest Coffee Brewers – Always to Harvest when in Rotterdam. The coffee is strong, the brunch excellent, and the pastries dangerously good. You can tell that the people behind Harvest bring experience from the top of the gastronomy world. The atmosphere remains relaxed, and the location by the water near the Erasmus Bridge makes it easy to stay longer than planned.
- The Petitjean – Small, charming, and always slightly chaotic. The blue and white awning makes you instantly happy, and the scent of croissants does the rest. Perfectly laminated dough, Spandauers that change daily, and a display case that is hard to say no to. Inside it is compact, outside always cozy. Le Petitjean
- La Baguetteria – A place where you actually can't walk in without taking something with you. French pastries with Italian influences, made fresh every day. Grab a coffee and something sweet and take a walk along the Rotte. Simple and always good. The Baguetteria
- Nice – Oh, another gem of a place. Different from the norm, hip, and with menu options that are finger-licking good. The foundation (the coffee!) is good—excellent, we might even say. In addition, they serve Nice delicious lunch and breakfast dishes.
- Walking across the Erasmus Bridge – During the day, everything feels sleek and grand when you walk on the bridge, and it is probably a bit windy. In the evening, it is the lights, the water, and the city that you can admire. You are off again in no time, but in those few minutes, you really do feel completely Rotterdam.
- Rotterdam Harvest – Every Saturday, the Noordplein comes to life a little longer. The Rotterdam Harvest It is the place where you arrive with a bag and go home with more than planned. Local makers, good products, and plenty of tasty treats to eat right away. Ideal to start your weekend.
- Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum – Getting out of the city for a bit without really being away. Trompenburg It is green, quiet, and beautiful all year round. Perfect for a walk in between, especially when your head is feeling full. Rotterdam at its softest.
- Water taxi – Choose not to take an Uber for once, but a water taxi to your favorite restaurant. Trust us: this will be the highlight of your evening. Extra tip from us: go for a comfy outfit or a sleek hair look, because that ride can be quite bumpy.
- The Otter – Behind Rotterdam Central Station sits this confident French bistro. Good wines, fine dishes, and a terrace that catches the sun as if it were made for it. The otter
- Café De Wilde Mossel – House-brewed beers, a relaxed atmosphere, and a place where you can easily hang out with friends. Café De Wilde Mussel
- Bar Bend – Everything flows into one another here. Coffee turns into wine, lunch into drinks. Approachable, unique, and always lively. Bar Bend
- Bar June – Wine and cheese in the starring role. The perfect spot for a date night. Bar June
- Bar La Soirée – Hidden speakeasy with a romantic, intimate atmosphere. Here, it is all about attention, craftsmanship, and an evening that feels just that little bit special. Bar La Soirée
Are you looking for the perfect date night spot in Rotterdam? We've got you!
& Rotterdam with the kids? Definitely possible too! Read all the fun things (and kid-proof) what to do here.
