Restaurants
From Michelin stars to a bag of fries at De Ballentent — the restaurants we keep recommending ourselves in Rotterdam.
City Centre
Joelia
Chef Mario Ridder's restaurant at the Hilton — a luxury spot right in the centre.
Luxury dinner
The Millèn
Culinary dining with views over the centre, from one of the highest floors.
DateBusiness
Fitzgerald
Elegant cuisine paired with a strong wine list, just by the Oude Haven.
Wine lovers
Amarone
A reliable Rotterdam top spot for fine dining in the centre.
BusinessCulinary
Héroine
Creative, urban restaurant with a modern chef's menu, loved by foodies.
Foodies
Dudok
The classic Rotterdam apple pie spot, always busy and cosy.
LunchCoffee
Ayla
A great spot for groups, with mezze and cocktails.
Groups
Supermercado
A cheerful, busy restaurant that works great for groups.
Cocktails
Asian Glories
A Rotterdam dim sum classic in the centre.
Dim sum
Tai Wu
A big local favourite for dim sum, popular with families.
FamilyLunch
Hinoki Noodle Soup
A small, beloved ramen spot, perfect for a rainy day.
Rainy daysLunch
Mood Rotterdam
Popular for sushi and cocktails in the centre.
Group
Umami by Han
A modern Asian restaurant with sharing dishes.
Dinner
Backyard
A green, urban spot for a vegan lunch.
Vegan
Spirit Rotterdam
A vegetarian/vegan buffet, handy for a rainy day.
Healthy
Guliano
A popular Italian lunch spot on the Meent.
Lunch
Osteria Liz
A stylish Italian restaurant in the centre.
PastaWine
Due Tonino
Popular for pasta and wine, a favourite with friends.
Friends
Grace Rotterdam
A large, stylish restaurant on the Coolsingel.
CocktailsDinner
Celest
A view restaurant high up in the Zalmhaven tower.
ViewLuxury
Glasz
A must-have according to Ed — part of Rotterdam's special hospitality scene.
WineDateDrinks
River Bar
A must-have according to Ed — pure water and Rotterdam feeling on the Maas.
DrinksDinnerView
Bar Bù
A must-have according to Ed — belongs to both restaurants and nightlife.
DrinksCocktailsDinner
Tante Nel
A Rotterdam fries spot that fits the local food scene.
Quick biteLocals
RiF010 Surf Bar & Kitchen
Unique: surfing right in the city, exactly the Rotterdam nerve.
ActiveFoodWatching
Oude Haven & Blaak
Kyatcha Rotterdam
A sleek Japanese restaurant right by the water and museums.
Sushi
Kade 4
A terrace on the Oude Haven, great for groups.
Terrace
Apartt
A well-known Oude Haven spot, good from lunch to drinks.
TerraceGroup
Noah Rotterdam
By the water, combining dinner and a night out.
DinnerCocktails
Lot & Daan
A cosy brunch spot by the Cube Houses.
BreakfastLunch
21 Pinchos Rotterdam
Easy tapas and drinks around the Oude Haven.
Groups
De Buffel
A terrace on the Oude Haven with a real waterside feel.
DrinksTerrace
Harvest Coffee Brewers
Good brunch and coffee by the water at Glashaven.
Brunch
Vessel 11
A bright red British lightship from 1951, saved from the scrapyard and now the Netherlands' first British gastropub — with its own brewed beer and regular live music.
British cuisineLive music
Witte de With & Museumpark
Parkheuvel
A culinary Rotterdam classic on the Maas, with Michelin-level fine dining.
Luxury lunchAnniversary
Zeezout
One of the city's best fish restaurants, in the Scheepvaartkwartier.
FishWine
Aloha
In the old Tropicana building, with a view and a circular-economy story.
Terrace
De Ballentent
A genuine Rotterdam harbour pub, famous for its meatballs.
LunchLocals
Bazar
An iconic, colourful restaurant on Witte de Withstraat.
GroupsAtmosphere
Nieuw Rotterdams Café NRC
Good from lunch to late night, right in the nightlife district.
Start of a night out
Ballroom
Gin and tonics with meatballs — a typically Rotterdam mix.
Drinks
Ter Marsch & Co
A well-known burger spot right in the nightlife district.
Casual
Jaffa Shoarma
A legendary Rotterdam late-night bite.
After a night out
Warung Mini
A popular, no-nonsense flavour bomb on Witte de Withstraat.
Quick bite
Eetcafé Opa
Busy, simple and thoroughly Rotterdam.
GroupDrinks
Café Marseille
French bistro style right in the nightlife street.
MusselsWine
Soju Bar Rotterdam
A young, busy spot for Korean bites right before a night out.
Before going out
Euromast Brasserie
Dining with a high-up view over the whole city.
TouristsView
Louise Petit Restaurant
Beautifully located by the Veerhaven; classic, charming and Rotterdam-chic.
LunchDinner
Dudok In Het Park
A lovely spot in Het Park near the Euromast, different from Dudok in the centre.
LunchHigh teaPark
Kop van Zuid & Katendrecht
Putaine
Modern restaurant by the Floating Office on the Rijnhaven, with water, design and skyline.
Summer evening
De Matroos en Het Meisje
A Katendrecht classic with a chef's menu and plenty of atmosphere.
Date night
Tres
An intimate chef's counter at FENIX, for a pure culinary experience.
Special evening
Hotel New York
The historic HAL building with seafood — pure Rotterdam emotion at Kop van Zuid.
LunchView
HMB Restaurant
Beautifully located on the Maas, with a real skyline feel.
Dinner with a view
Loetje aan de Maas
An easygoing classic with a view of the water and the bridge.
Groups
FENIX Food Factory
Local makers, beer and food under one roof, with genuine FENIX atmosphere.
Casual lunchDrinks
Kaapse Brouwers
A Rotterdam craft beer icon on Katendrecht.
BeerDrinks
West & Delfshaven
Old Dutch
Old Rotterdam class — traditional and polished.
BusinessTradition
Wester Paviljoen
A lively local meeting spot on the Nieuwe Binnenweg.
DrinksLunch
De Kade
A local staple with a real West-Kruiskade vibe.
LunchCasual
Deli Tasty
A local stop for sandwiches and snacks on West-Kruiskade.
Quick bite
Takumi Rotterdam
Loved for its comfort food on West-Kruiskade.
Ramen
Zainab Roshni Mahal
A no-nonsense curry house, full of flavour, a local favourite on Nieuwe Binnenweg.
Curry
Restaurant Indonesia
A classic near Historic Delfshaven.
Delfshaven dinner
Stadsbrouwerij De Pelgrim
A brewery right in Historic Delfshaven, with its own brewed beer.
BeerHistory
Stroop Rotterdam
A cosy spot in Historic Delfshaven, also good for kids.
LunchKids
Bij Loes Delfshaven
A small local spot in a historic setting.
CoffeeLunch
De Machinist
An old engineering school where culture and food come together.
FilmDrinks
Deli Bird
A local Thai favourite in Delfshaven.
Casual Thai
Black Smoke Rotterdam
BBQ in a raw, industrial setting.
GroupMeat
Biergarten Rotterdam
Raw and outdoors, with burgers and music.
Summer drinks
Bistro du Bac
A Delfshaven gem: small, atmospheric and with great food.
DateNeighbourhood gem
Mees
A well-known spot on the Westzeedijk, good for lunch and dinner.
LunchDinner
Bar Simon
A local favourite with neighbourhood feel and great drinks energy.
WineNeighbourhood drinks
Brutus
Raw, creative Rotterdam edge — fits both gems and nightlife.
ArtEventsFood
Keilecafé
A raw harbour edge with locals, music and food.
SummerGroups
Weelde Kantine
Festival feel and creative Rotterdam near Marconiplein.
SummerEvents
Noord & Hofbogen
FG Restaurant
François Geurds' Michelin restaurant, known for creative cooking.
Foodies
FG Food Labs
The playful, lab-like sibling of FG Restaurant, for an experimental culinary experience.
Chef's menu
Rotonde
Vegetables take centre stage here — a sustainable, local favourite in Noord.
VegetarianSustainable
BIRD Kitchen
Food and music under the Hofbogen.
Live music
Man Met Bril Koffie
A coffee roastery and local favourite in Noord.
Breakfast
Lof der Zoetheid
A homey, local and distinctive coffee and cake spot.
CoffeeCake
Bertmans
A popular, healthy brunch spot in Noord.
Brunch
Mooie Boules Rotterdam
Food, drinks and pétanque all in one, ideal for a rainy day.
Rainy daysGroup
Tosca
A small, beloved neighbourhood spot in Oude Noorden.
DateLocals
Mevrouw Meijer
An intimate neighbourhood favourite in Oude Noorden.
Date
Restaurant Destino
Strong Spanish cuisine in Oude Noorden.
Tapas
The Rumah
A flavourful neighbourhood spot in Oude Noorden.
Rice table
Station Bergweg
A new, urban food spot around the Hofbogen, a local gem.
LunchCasual
Kralingen
Fred
A sleek, modern Michelin restaurant of top-tier quality.
Fine dining
Calaboose
An atmospheric restaurant that's different from standard Indonesian fare.
Date
Sate Lounge
A local favourite for satay and Indonesian comfort food.
Casual
De Tuin van de Vier Windstreken
On the Kralingse Plas, a classic Rotterdam terrace.
SundayFamily
De Schone Lei
Beautifully located on the lake, with the skyline in the distance.
LunchTerrace
Zalmhuis
A beautiful spot on the water, part of Rotterdam's fish and luxury scene.
FishLunchWaterside dinner
De Majesteit
A 1926 paddle steamer that survived a bombing and appeared in an Elvis Presley film — today Rotterdam's most unusual party venue on the water.
Dinner cruiseSpecial occasion
Hillegersberg
CEO Baas van het Vlees
A well-known steakhouse in chic Hillegersberg.
MeatBusiness
Restaurant Three
A stylish, popular spot in Hillegersberg.
CocktailsDinner
De Prins van Terbregge
Just outside the bustle, beautifully located on the Rotte.
LunchDinner
Müller & Co
On the Bergse Plassen, with genuine Hillegersberg vibes.
SummerLunch
Lommerrijk
A classic spot on the Bergse Plas.
EventsLunch
Beyond the city
Beach House Rotterdam
Sand, water and a real beach feel, right in Nesselande.
Summer