Bars & cafes – All our local tips

Our favorite Rotterdam local bars, cafes and pubs with and without wireless internet. This is where Rotterdam locals lounge and go out for a beer, wine, cocktails and other drinks… Rotterdam insider tips: always up-to-date!

Ballentent Rotterdam (by Frederik Santman)

It certainly is not hip, nor trendy, nor a lounge bar, nor a VIP place, it is just the place where everybody and anybody comes. It breathes the genuine Rotterdam harbour spirit, where the suit and tie types meet the artists, housewives and harbour labourers. On the walls many artifacts of the famous Holland America Line – their former head-office and departure pier just across the river -.

From the in and outside terrace all the action on the river can be watched at ease. Awarded twice as best harbour pub of the year, in part because of the famous meatballs and beer on tap  (take their do-it-yourself beertapping course from the website and impress friends like a pro).

Old fashioned harbour songs, singalongs, live music add to the easygoing congeniality of this old fashioned pub. Have a beer and have a ball!

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Ballentent | Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks
Parkkade 1 | Center | +31104360462
09:00 – 23:00 daily

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Bar Dancing de Camping Rotterdam (by Rene Schmalschlaeger)

If some random hipster is not hanging around at Tiki’s, he/she can probably be found next door at Bar Dancing de Camping. After closing of the Herr Zimmerman, tout hip Rotterdam gathered in this awesome place. The catch of ‘de Camping’ is that it is totally pink. And by that I mean, totally pink! Floor, furniture, bar, ceiling, walls, all pink! Furthermore it has totally black toilets and the DJ-booth sits in a caravan.

Things are changing a lot around ‘de Camping’, but by the time of writing I can really recommend dinner at the camping. Music may be a little loud during dinner, the food makes up for it. Dishes are basic, cheap but really delicious!

After dinner, go for a stroll and come back at eleven, because that is when the party starts! Treat yourself on one of the fine cocktails and enjoy the DJ’s that play an eclectic mess of electro and cheerful tunes. I cannot imagine you leaving this place without a smile and some inspiration for some fashion shopping the following day.

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Bar Dancing de Camping | Bars
Hartmannstraat 18a | Center
Nobody actually knows the opening times

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Café Pol Rotterdam (by Marieke Koets)

My boyfriend and I were on our way to my spots to take some new pictures. We passed ‘Pol’ and decided to have a quick drink, as we do more often. I hadn’t even gotten to the bar yet when we ran into a couple of friends of mine. This was at about half past five and at 9ish we left the place. Whoops… no new photo’s of old spots, but hey what a great way to spend the Sunday.

That’s what ‘Pol’ is about. One time you jump in for a quick cup of coffee to have a little rest after shopping at the market right next to it. And the other day you go in with the same idea, but you leave a bit more drunk and full from the ‘bittergarnituur‘.

On Friday’s this place is very popular for the Friday afternoon drinks. This is when, even in winter, their terrace outside is full with people. Thank god they have outside heaters!

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Café Pol | Bars, Coffee & tea | Beer € 2.00
Meent 46-48 | Center | +31104112335
Sun – Mon & Wed – Thu 11:00 – 01:00, Tue 10:00 – 01:00, Fri 11:00 – 02:00, Sat 10:00 – 02:00

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Cambrinus Rotterdam (by Marieke Koets)

Cambrinus is a good place to start your night out on the town. It is, just like Locus Publicus (check the Locus Publicus article) a pub that serves a lot of different beers, only this one is much bigger and the crowd here is much more varied (although students and graduates form the biggest part). It’s nice and close to the centre and at the end of the old harbour, so your evening could end anywhere.

Now that winter is kicking in, all the fun is inside. The great ambiance this pub has, make it a great place to hide form the cold.

You can also eat here, but I generally do that somewhere else in the old harbour. For me the Cambri, as people call it, is just for drinks.

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Cambrinus | Bars | Beer € 2.00
Blaak 4 | Center | +31104146702
Sunny weather Sun – Thu 11:00 – 01:00, Fri & Sat 11:00 – 02:00 | Bad weather Mon – Thu 16:00 – 01:00, Fri 16:00 – 02:00, Sat 14:00 – 02:00, Sun 15:00 – 01:00

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Cantinero Rotterdam (by Marieke Koets)

This restaurant transforms into a dancing place for salsa, meringue, zouk and bachatta lovers. Cantinero hasn’t been in the city for a very long time, but has been doing some good business. It does help that two big dance schools offer their lessons upstairs. As with all salsa parties, it starts at 22:00 but only get’s a bit busy from 23:00 on.

Before showing your moves on the dance floor, you can enjoy some great tapas or some Mexican food here. There are also special menu’s for groups who want to do a dance workshop at Cantinero.

If you’re here just to dance, you might want to try one of their cocktails to loosen up the hips.

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Cantinero | Bars, Music, Restaurants (Tapas)
Coolsingel 18 | Center | +31102810014
Sun – Thu 16:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 16:00 – 05:00

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Cityharbours Oude Haven Rotterdam (by Rénia)

When people visit Rotterdam, they will automatically visit an area known as the Oude Haven (Old harbour) due to the Cube houses (check the kubuswoningen article). It’s between Haringvliet and the Wijnhaven.

In a way it’s a shame that a lot of the old Rotterdam was wiped away during WWII and on the other hand we wouldn’t have these contrast-rich areas like the these harbours.

The Old harbour is a peek into the past as it is the oldest harbour in Rotterdam with historic boats. I like the houseboats and the small wharf Koningspoort where people repair their historic boats. This is definitely worth a visit.

While the Oude Haven is lined with lots of cafes and terraces, the Haringvliet which dates from 1590 is a more tranquil area.

The Wijnhaven is divided in the past and present. The once highest building in Europe, the Witte Huis (White House) still stands firmly accompanied with a row of nice old houses. A lot of slim tall buildings with the new Red Apple building dominate this small piece of land on the other side of the Verlengde Willemsbrug. The Red Apple looks crooked and with a reason. The red lines are thinner towards the top as the view gets wider for the happy few. The name has a connection with the past; apples were transported by boat here.

There are plans for another tall building with the emphasis on slim and high. Construction work is never ending so it seems…

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Cityharbours Oude Haven | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing
Spaansekade | Center
Daily

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Club Vibes Rotterdam (by Club vibes)

To me this place is a little fun factory. Some of my friends don’t like this place because they find it so dark and they have met some annoying people here (a.k.a. guys dancing way too close in the hope to get some love or, better yet, resident permit out of you). I on the other hand have had the best nights out in this place and the most fun. The music is never the same, but they do have theme nights, like ‘Dirty Disco’ or ‘Karaoke night’.

Besides, the place has just gotten a bit of a make over and isn’t as dark as it used to be.

Don’t go too early to this place, it’s not the same if it’s not a bit busy. So have an other beer at ‘Stalles’ (check the Stalles article) or Parket’ and walk right on through to ‘Vibes’. And don’t take yourself too serious when you’re going here.

Just relax, be a bit crazy and have lots and lots of fun.

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Club Vibes | Bars, Music | Late entrance € 5.00
Westersingel 50a | Center | +31104361655
Thu – Sat 00:00 – 05:00

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Cocktailbar SOHO Rotterdam (by Renia Sastrowidjojo)

Not far from the market square and the central library there are some streets with quaint shops, restaurants, cafes and bars.

One of them is SOHO Bar which is located in the Pannekoekstraat and is partially sharing a corner with the Nationaal Onderwijs museum (National museum of Education).

When approaching from the museum side, you will see the all white interior in this tiny bar. During summer season it’s extended outside with a nice round terrace with white lounge seats, gas heaters and fleece blankets for when the drinks don’t keep you warm anymore.

They serve the usual but are also known for their cocktails. Having won an important Cocktail making award, they have to keep up their high standards. The cocktails don’t come cheap but indulge yourself with one or more when you have money to burn.

Spanish and Portuguese style tapas as finger food is also available when you’re starting to feel the munchies.

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Cocktailbar SOHO | Bars, Snacks | Tapas from € 3.50
Pannekoek 53 | Center
Sun &Tue – Wed 16:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 16:00 – 02.00

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De Oude Sluis Rotterdam (by Marcel Schouwenaar)

There is one great difference between Rotterdam and most other cities in the Netherlands, and that is the lack of an old city centre.

During the WW2 bombings in 1940 the whole of the city centre in Rotterdam had been destroyed and rebuild in the following decades. To get a glimpse of how Rotterdam looked like in days past, go to Delfshaven.

Take the Caland-line subway to Delfshaven and head East towards the canal. Here you will find an Amsterdam like canal with traditional Dutch architecture and some nice bars like Soif and De Oude Sluis.

If you want to spend time at a real traditional Dutch bar, a ‘kroeg’, De Oude Sluis is one of the best places to go. At first it seems very cosy and has a nice selection of beers, but the real gem is located at the back of the café. There is a room, suspended above the canal. Although designated for smokers, for non-smokers it is worth to withstand the smoke and enjoy the view and excellent selection of beers.

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De Oude Sluis | Bars | Beer € 2.75
Havenstraat 7-A | Delfshaven
until 02:00 daily

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De Witte Aap Rotterdam (by Marieke Koets)

In this small pub you can find all kind of people, a reason for me to go there. The vibe is just really nice , even though it can be very crowded inside. This pub is open till late, so you might see the sun come up when you were just going to have one drink!

Since smoking isn’t aloud inside anymore, De Witte Aap has build a permanent terrace with heater on the pavement right in front of the pub. A very smart thing to do I think. Smokers happy, the pub is extended and it always looks as if there are lots of people there.

The coolest thing is the art inside. Every month the pub offers an artist to show’s his of her art here.

The Lonely Planet has voted De Witte Aap the best pub in the world, fair enough.

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De Witte Aap | Art & culture, Bars | Beer € 2.30
Witte de withstraat 78 | Center | +31104149565
Sun – Thu 13:00 – 04:00, Fri – Sat 13:00 – 05:00

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Furore Rotterdam (by Marieke Koets)

From the same owner as Stalles (check the Stalles article), Parket and The Vibes (check the Vibes article) there is Furore, located between the Centre and Crooswijk.

The food here is a delicious experience around the world in mini size. For about € 20.00 you get to choose 3 courses each and you get to do this 4 times in a row. Might not seem like much, but trust me at the end of round 3 you’ll be stuffed.

Besides dinner they just launched a lunch card, on which- next to a BTL and salads- you can opt for a ‘City trip’, ‘Weekend out of town’ or a ‘Trip around the world’. Nice for people with a travel bug but without money!

Since I live almost around the corner, I also like to come in just for a drink or two. When you’re having a drink you get some nuts, chips or olives on the side, nice! The place hasn’t jet developed to be a bar as well, but I think it’s only a matter of time and sun since their terrace is nice too.

Furore is not just for food and drinks, there have been salsa-nights, bands playing, comedy nights and film evenings. There is always lots to do.

In summer it was still up and coming. Now, it’s there!

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Furore | Bars, Restaurants (Worldly) | Dinner € 19.50
Jonker Fransstraat 237 | Crooswijk | +31102262883
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 02:00, Sun 12:00 – 01:00

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Hotel New York Rotterdam (by Frederik Santman)

In the last century at the end of the Wilhelminapier the Holland America Line had its head office and passenger terminal for the regular line service to New York. The company now operates mostly from the USA and the historic building is now being dwarfed by the surrounding towers built on this peninsula.

However the hotel New York will keep its open view to the West over a wide terrace and grass field with cross paths named after famous Manhattan streets; here thousands of immigrants once left for a future in the Americas.

Entering from the terrace you pass the seafood section, where the famous seafood platters are made up, and you face a very large multi-level high ceiling café and restaurant area with over a hundred tables still in the century old ornamental style. It is always busy and it hums with the activity of brisk walking waiters and a broad mix of people, hotel-guests, locals, tourists and day trippers.

The huge reading table is a favorite reading or meeting place for friends, partner or blind date ( here I met my wife ).

These days the ever more glamorous hyper-modern cruise liners will regularly moor up along the nearby passenger terminal, but Hotel New York still makes you feel like and long for the old times.

This place offers everything food and drink-wise, whereas the view on the river and the city skyline is mesmerizing day and night.

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Hotel New York | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Grand cafe)
Koninginnenhoofd 1 | Center | +31104390555
07:00 – 00:00 daily

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La Luna Rotterdam (by Marieke Koets)

I’ve had my first salsa lessons at La Luna and therefore still have good memories of this place. I still like coming here, but since Cantinero (check the Cantinero article)  is in town (which is much bigger), La luna hasn’t been having getting the big crowd they have before. Unfortunately they also stopped their salsa classes. But this little salsa club hasn’t lost her charm.

Inside the dance floor takes up the most space, but there is also a bar and even an indoor smoke area. Don’t get confused with discotheque Electric next to/under La Luna. You don’t really what to spend your evenings there unprepared.

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La Luna | Bars, Music
Mauritsweg 46 | Center
Thu – Sat 17:00 – 04:30

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Level Rotterdam (by Marieke Koets)

Level is situated in the upcoming area around the Meent and this describes the place a bit as well. It’s decked out very trendy and lots of people come here to be seen. All the others come for the cocktails, especially the “Porn star”. I’m not the biggest cocktail drinker, but even I like some of the ones they make here.

During summer the front, which is fully made out of glass doors, opens up. This way the terrace is an extension of the bar. Plus they have heaters to keep you warm when the sun goes down.

Before 21:00 when the place turns into a crowded cocktail bar, Level is a restaurant. They have nice food and they serve that food pretty, but that’s also what you pay for! Their chocolate dessert for chocolate lovers is to die for though!

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Level | Bars, Restaurants (European) | Chocolate desert € 7.50
Pannekoekstraat 76A | Center | +31102800788
12:00 – 01:00 daily

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Locus Publicus Rotterdam (by www.locus-publicus.com)

A very old student pub on the corner of Oostplein with a nice fireplace -good for the cold winters- and a range of special beers. The bartenders, only male and student, have a good knowledge of all those beers. The locus is a pub made to really enjoy your beer. It’s not too big and the pub rules tell you to switch off your phone.

This place is good for relaxing when it’s not that crowded, but on Thursday and Friday evenings it can get quite busy. People who come here are students or those who used to be.

I was here for a beer (or 2) again just before Christmas and got a little surprise. There is a massive set of stairs build in the corner all the way up to the attic. This is where some functions are being held. Anyway, big improvement. Don’t know how they did it, but the Locus feels even more like a cosy house then ever!

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Locus Publicus | Bars | Small beer € 2.00
Oostzeedijk 364 | Kralingen | +31104331761
Mon – Thu 16:30 – 01:00, Fri 16:00 – 02:00, Sat 16:30 – 02:00, Sun 20:00 – 01:00

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Paddy Murphy's Irish Pub Rotterdam (by Marieke Koets)

This place is always nice to go to, but on Mondays it’s the best. With every drink you buy you get a free bingo ticket. Around 01:00, when you have enough tickets to have a good shot at a price, and enough to drink to minimise that same chance, the party begins…..LET PLAY BINGO!!!!!

A part from the bingo, there are several other things they organise, like a big Queensday party and of course St. Patrick’s day festivities.
Plus they have a sports channel tv in a seperate part of the pub. There’s also always nice live music and friendly people to chat to.

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Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub | Bars | Pint € 4.00
Rodezand 15 | Center | +31104110078
Mon 16:00 – 04:00, Tue – Thu 16:00 – 01:00, Fri 16:00 – 02:00
Sat – Sun 16:00 – 03:00

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Restaurant Z & M Rotterdam (by Frederik Santman)

Facing the Veerhaven, close to the river with a great view of the Erasmus Bridge and the regularly visiting ocean-liners moored on the Wilhelmina Pier Rob and Emmy – versatile veterans in the Rotterdam culinary scene – run their latest addition with a terrace, wine bar and restaurant in a pleasantly stylish and relaxed two floor former warehouse.

You enter either through the wine bar that doubles as restaurant if reservations add up or through the delicatessen store with a variety of vegetables, olive oils and dressings, fresh French cheeses and sausages.

Take the stairs in the back, passing the all French wine store imported by the owner and find yourself in the restaurant featuring fresh often biological food. Seafood platters, great salads, seasonally cooking with a delicate, rural French twist , savoury herbs and wines – even by the glass – to suit your lunch and dinner.

Or as an alternative for a hot day: make up your own picnic with the goodies from the delicatessen store and walk up to the river and enjoy your food at the tables right next to the waterside in the shade.

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Restaurant Z & M | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (French) | 3-course dinner € 30.00
Veerhaven 13 | Center | +31102800980
Tue – Sun 12:00 – 22:00

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ROTABS Stylecenter Rotterdam (by Rénia Sastrowidjojo)

Tucked away between a block of houses located in between the Zwaanshals and the river Rotte, you can see this interestingly shaped building.
It was empty for some time after having served as a building for the municipal sanitation service Roteb. Hence the name Rotabs.

Luckily this place was included in the renovation plans to spruce up the entire block which is still in progress. The building is now turned into a creative warehouse where entrepreneurs of diverse disciplines have put up small businesses.

The interior inside is divided into several units which have tenants like a photographer, a publisher, a goldsmith, a cafe, a gallery and others. There are some units left waiting for other daring adventurers.

Initiator Paul Posse is active in the neighbourhood and hopes to create an area like a Camden Town in the Oude Noorden. As Rotabs can be pretty hard to find for even the locals, a special bus service is in the making to transport anyone interested to visit this part of the town where much is waiting to be discovered.
This circle bus will drive between city centre and the Old North to hop off and on if you’re done strolling about.

Want to find it yourself? Just walk into the Zwaanshals where there’s an entrance through a building leading you to Rotabs. Or do the upcoming Route du Nord weekend (24 -27 Sep) as an introduction to this area and it’s creative spots, artists and variety of shops.

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ROTABS Stylecenter | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Festivals & events, Music, Shopping
Zaagmolenkade 46 | Noord | +31653623230
Wed – Fri 10:00 – 18:00, Sat 10:00 -17:00

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ss Rotterdam Rotterdam (by Frederik Santman)

The city’s former pride and glory – the ss (steamship) Rotterdam – of its maritime top rank position has been revitalized to be a landmark for the port for years to come.

The initial owner – the Holland America Line – operating from the head office at the Wilhelmina pier (see the Hotel New York article) had the Rotterdam make its maiden trip to New York in 1959 as part of a transatlantic Europe – America service.

Till 2000 the ss Rotterdam traversed world wide seas first as a passenger liner and later as a cruise ship. When the ship had been decommissioned and was withering away, a conservation society was founded to enable the Rotterdam to return home as a hotel and conference center, a tourist attraction and a variety of dining and eating, drinking and lounging spots. After a lengthy and costly renovation with a focus on restoring its former grandeur and style of the sixties, it is now permanently moored in Katendrecht across from the Euromast (see the Euromast article).

It is a great destination for getting a feel of an ocean liner from the old days, now fixed up with up to day amenities. Guided tours can be booked or audioguide self exploration trips to acquire a look and feel of the decks, engine room and steering bridge and so on. A small museum records the ship’s history in more detail, an experience center will be opened shortly, a boutique shop with memorabilia and a theater all help to revive the nostalgia.

The Lido restaurant offers food and drink almost all day long from 06.30 till 22.00, just like the days when the ship was at large (I know from experience: I worked as a pantry boy on the Rotterdam in 1964 and again as the ship’s doctor in 1974). The adjacent Club Room offers fine dining from 18.00 – 22.00.

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ss Rotterdam | Art & culture, Bars, Shopping, Restaurants (Intern.)
Katendrecht | Zuid | +31107410900
Apr – Oct 09:00 -19:30 daily | Nov – Mar 09:00 – 16:00 daily

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Stalles Rotterdam (by Marieke Koets)

One of my favorite bars in Rotterdam is definitely ‘Stalles’.

The location and its terrace is ideal for some good people watching. The different type of visitors to this place is also the reason I like it so much, a nice mixture of all kind of people. One thing they all have in common is that they’re relaxed.

Next to Stalles is ‘Parket’, which is the same kind of place. In fact only one wall separates the two places form being one. They share owner, staff and bathrooms.
Where Furore is more a restaurant, ‘Stalles’ and ‘Parket’ are known as pubs, when the menu here is very good and gets regular up-dates. Monday and Tuesdays are pizza night. From 15:00 pizza’s cost between € 4.50 and € 6.00. For me the salads are the best.

If you stay long enough during the weekend you can walk straight onto Club Vibes (check the Club Vibes article), yaay!

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Stalles | Bars, Restaurants (European) | Salad € 9.50
Nieuwe Binnenweg 11a | Center | +31104361655
Mon – Thu 16:00 – 01:00, Fri 16:00 – 02:00, Sat 14:00 – 02:00, Sun 14:00 – 01:00

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The Noordereiland Rotterdam (by Rénia Sastrowidjojo)

I live in a part of Rotterdam where I’m surrounded by bridges, water and the bustle of ships passing by. It’s called the Noordereiland (Northern island) in the Nieuwe Maasriver and connected by the Willemsbridge and Koninginnebridge.

The name derives from Noorderhaven (harbour) which is now called Koningshaven. When they dug this harbour, the island got separated from former island Feijenoord. This name should ring a bell with football lovers whereas the name is written as Feyenoord.

The island has become an Art project called MS Noordereiland, initiated by artist Joe Cillen who also lives here. The concept is that the island is in fact a motor ship ready to take off one day and sail away with all its inhabitants. If you walk around on the island you will see many objects which refers to parts of a ship. We even have our own flag.

When you cross the Willemsbridge to the island, you will see a newer side on the left part. The right part is more authentic and was spared by the bombing during WWII. Have a nice walk and see the houses on Maaskade 85, 113 and the Hulstkamp building. Try and find all the paintings in ornamented frames on several buildings. There’s a lot of art to find.

Even though most of the shops have gone, there are plenty of cafes to rest and wonder where the journey will lead to when the MS Noordereiland really starts moving…Or swim your way around it during Rondje Noordereiland in summer..

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The Noordereiland | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing
Prins Hendriklaan | Zuid
Daily

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Tiki's  Rotterdam (by Marcel Schouwenaar)

Tiki’s is one of the nicest bars in Rotterdam. It is the hang-out of artists, musicians, designers, hip-folk and other taste-makers of Rotterdam. Expect to meet some artistic and extraordinary people.

Tiki’s style can be grasped with a mere word: ‘Aloha’! Walls are covered in bamboo and everything is decorated in Hawaii-an style complete with diner-style furniture and jukeboxes.

This bar is a nice place to go both at the start of the evening as later at night. Start the night off with a delicious yet very affordable burger (or other dish). Then move to the far left corner, and spent an hour or two exploring the cocktail-menu as you sit surrounded by a tropic wall-painting (try to spot Spongebob). As the night kicks in, expect Tiki’s to become crowded -and finally packed.

Unlike the typical ‘hip’ spots, Tiki’s is laid-back and ‘gezellig’ (Eng: cosy). And if it is all a bit too laid-back, hit the dancefloor next door at Bar Dancing de Camping.

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Tiki’s | Bars | Dinner € 12.00
Hartmanstraat 16 | Center
Tue – Thu 15:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 16:00 – 02:00

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Verhip Rotterdam (by Marcel Schouwenaar)

Everywhere in Rotterdam old buildings are knocked down or refurbished in order to modernize the city. Personally, I like this renewal, if done with respect for the context. However, I do appreciate it if I find a nice old place with a lot of character. A few years ago I accidentally entered this place to hide for the rain as, waiting for Wijn of Water (check Wijn of Water article).

Immediately upon entrance I was warmly welcomed by the bartender and everybody at the bar. I had not encountered such love in Rotterdam. Ever since, I drop by there once a while. And I am not the only one. Even better, it is getting cosier and cosier every time.

So how does this relate to the modernization introduction? Verhip is a cosy old bar in the middle of the rapidly modernizing ‘multi-media-business-park’ in Rotterdam. It is nice to see that good places are preserved, instead of sacrificed for the sake of progress.

Anyway, it is a popular hangout for both people working at the ICT and multimedia companies in the area, as for the Rotterdam people that want to escape the busy centre. But that doesn’t mean it will not get busy here. Go there on Sunday afternoon, and enjoy a glass of beer or coffee at the terrace or inside at the bar and enjoy the company of real Rotterdammers.

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Verhip | Bars | Lunch € 6.75
St. Jobsweg 21 | Delfshaven | +31104766869
Mon-Fri: 11:30 – 23:00, Wkn: 16:00 – 1:00

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Westelijk Handels Terrein Rotterdam (by Marcel Schouwenaar)

This complex of restored 19th century warehouses now packs some of the best art-galleries, bars and restaurants of Rotterdam.

For Dutch speaking people, go to De Belastingdienst (Eng: Tax-service); every dish or element in the restaurant has been named after some tax-related phenomena. Starters are called ‘Voorheffingen’, mains are ‘hoofdheffingen’ and desert is called a ‘naheffing’. I once went here and had a great laugh over the funny references. However, it is a tad expensive and reservations beforehand are recommended.

For art-lovers I would recommend the gallery Smelik & Stokking. Although their selection of works does not fully comply with my personal taste, they are renowned for the art on display.

For those that have somewhat less to spend, like me, and still want to have dinner at this nice place, head for the Italian restaurant, Abacanto, at the back on the top floor. Here you can have an affordable pizza and dance afterwards.

Design lovers head for Van Oostrom Concept Store. They are a reseller for many famous design labels. Especially look out for the Moooi design founded by Marcel Wanders. This label features the work of Ross Lovegrove, Front and Trent Jansen.

And besides the aforementioned places, there are plenty of other nice places, shops and bars to hang around on either of the two floors. Wherever you go, expect high-end bars and restaurants. For a nice virtual tour on beforehand, go the website of Smelik & Stokking.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Westelijk Handels Terrein | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Restaurants (intern.)
Van Vollenhovenstraat 15 | Center
Daily

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