Coffee & tea – All our local tips

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

Skip breakfast in your hotel or hop over for lunch and enjoy the ultimate freshness of bread baked right under your feet. The orange juice is equally freshly squeezed and so are the espressos brewed and cappuccinos steamed…

Bammetje is a nice little artisan bakery, run by the owners couple, with a tempting variety of breads, rolls, cakes, pies, sweets, baguettes and croissants. The door is always open as the bakery is keeping it pleasantly warm all day.

A tight entrance shows you the split level shop with the ovens and bakers working area in full sight on the lower level and the eating section just above. Discuss your choice of delicacies – made to order – at the counter and hop upstairs for your food and beverages to arrive.

As the stimulating smell of freshly baked bread seeps up, endure the tantalizing wait – it is well worth it! Sit and relax, read your paper here or plan your further wandering around town and realize that you are just a few footsteps away from the art cinema center Lantaren Venster (check the Lantaren Venster article) just around the corner, featuring mostly foreign films in undubbed version.

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Bammetje | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks
Nieuwe Binnenweg 65 | Center | +31102250188
Tue – Fri 07:30 – 17:00, Sun 09:00 – 16:00

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

This bar has been here for a while, but not so long. It’s not in the middle of the centre, so that might explain why it is not so crowded. I have been here with my mother a couple of times. When I have a day off and want a nice morning break to catch up on daily life, I go here. Last time I crashed here on my own for writing.

Not all the chairs are soft, but enough to find a comfortable seat. They call themselves ‘The Italian espresso bar’, but of course there is more then coffee here. They will probably not be the only one, but it’s the only coffee-bar I know that can provide soy milk. This might be important for the traveling vegan. Beside the obvious cake and sandwiches they also serve soup of the week here. I always consider it a plus, when a bar sells soup, when you’re in the mood for something warm and spicy on a cold day or after a rushing moment in life.

I find the atmosphere very soothing. Most furniture is made of wood and the walls are brown and red. There are tall windows covered with blue blinds which gives it all a blue glow inside. There’s soft music in the backgroudn, until now I have always had a friendly and patient waiter. This all makes the bar feel warm and relaxed. You can just lean back and come to ease.

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Caffe Belmondo | Coffee & tea | Fresh Minttea € 2.75
Goudsesingel 52 | Center | +310104110784
Mon – Fri 07:00 -19:00, Sat 08:00 – 18:00, Sun 09:00 – 18:00

One of the benefits besides getting to know the city by wandering around the Oude Noorden area, is accidentally bumping into interesting shops like Chez Maria. The location Pijnackerplein(square) serves as a nice backdrop with old houses and a ‘music tent’ adding extra flair to the area. It’s no wonder to find Chez Maria here blending so well with the surrounding. Versatile person Maria (Ria) la Rivière started this shop as a way for relaxation. Bearing the (multicutural)locals in mind, she keeps her items affordable for any budget.

With a passion for styling and clothes and hating to throw away good articles, Maria adds new fabrics to customize the selected second hand clothing into new and unique pieces. Her manner of restyling clothes this way, got her a big network of customers who knows where to find Maria and asking her to redo their clothes as well. Locals and people from far and wide visit Maria for her advise and clothing or interior styling tips. Maria’s motto “Second Chance” counts for both clothing and furniture.

Apart from clothes, there’s art from local artists, (mosaic) furniture, fashion magazines from the eighties, shoes, romantic crockery, books and more.
By adding all these items into the shop with a keen sense for interior styling, it has a really nice welcoming vibe and it’s a cosy place to visit and linger around.
The cute little studio in the back of the garden is reserved for those interested in taking sewing classes.

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Chez Maria | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping | from € 7.50
Pijnackerplein 6-B | Noord
Wed – Sat 12:00 – 17:30

In the past the Nieuwe Binnenweg connected Delfshaven with Rotterdam. Nowadays it’s reckoned to be the longest shopping street in the Netherlands.

Why not bike from the city centre all the way down to Marconiplein, through West to Delfshaven. Or hop on and off tram 4? On your way you’ll find many interesting shops, bars and resto’s from all over the world.

One of them is traiteur-catering Chez Mo-i, which was recently opened by Monica van Leeuwen at number 302. Opposite Verheyden where we used to do our luxury food shopping for special occasions when we still lived close. Now Chez Mo-i gives us a new reason to go West.

Monica acquired her chef experiences as caterar and her colleague Catrine Bakken in the Zwetheul kitchen. Having her own traiteur – catering shop was a dream come true for Monica.

The place is light, spacious, cosy and beautifully styled with a mixture of 60ties furniture, nicely integrated in the total design done by Wouter Roeterin

k. In the back ther is a reoom where you can eat or drink and read in books about Rotterdam and food.

Upstairs is also a nice room specially for kids to play! In the front they sell Vlaamsch Broodhuys bread, in the middle freshly made sandwiches, pies, delicious grilled vegetables, couscous-, chicken- and tuna salads, olives, pasta, salt, oils and more mouth watering things to eat in or to go. Different Bionade lemonade available too! That presentation is important for Monica is obvious as everything looks tasteful.

Fans of Vlaamsch Broodhuys and cook books like Moro, The River Café and Ottolenghi amongst others can eat their heart out at Chez Mo-i.

The only thing I regret is that they don’t use fresh milk for the cappuccino.

In the summer you can sit outside in the garden!

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Chez Mo-i | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Bread)
Nieuwe Binnenweg 302 | West | +31104771578
Tue – Sat 10:00 – 17:00

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

The Groene Passage is a paradise for Eco(friendly)lovers.

Vanbinnen, Natuurlijk Wonen at number 1.
They sell natural quality products for the interior. Have a look or get advise how to make your home greener. It’s expensive but I do enjoy every minute sleeping between my organic Damai sheets.

Part of my daily shopping is at number 9.
Gimsel is the largest biological supermarket in Rotterdam with a wide range of fresh EKO products. Vegetables can be found here, you can’t buy anywhere else.
I love the dried herbs from Het Blauwe Huis. Try the Arabic mix on your pumpkin dish! On sale is also delicious sour dough bread by famous Menno ‘t Hoen!
I always like the wall full of containers with products that come in bulk: dried mushrooms, nuts, cereals. Anything from your choice which can be weighed and packed by yourself.

In the middle of the shop you will find beauty products like Aveda. Ask the ladies for advice, they’re amazing!

Upstairs is the Wereldwinkel which sells Fair Trade global gifts and presents.
The Oost West Centre is for workshops.

Downstairs is bar-lunchroom/restaurant Spirit. I go there for a coffee or self-service salads. It’s not really a cozy place but good enough for when you have an appetite or as a meeting point. They serve good inexpensive biological foods and drinks.

Himalaya, a spiritual bookshop, is next to it.

De Groene Weg is at number 33, in my opinion the best biological butcher in town.

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De Groene Passage | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Biological)
Mariniersweg 1-33 | Center | +310102331933
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 20:00, Sat 08:00 – 18:00

A great location for watching all the action on the river, while lounging, drinking and eating. See the Rhine barges, tankers, yachts, ferries, wherries, tugs, tourist and speedboats, watertaxi’s and just about anything that floats go up and downstream.

Half hidden under the southern section of the Erasmus bridge the Swan – its popular name) with a huge panoramic all glass double gabled front, this grand café offers a wide view across its huge terrace over the river, the “Noorder eiland” and the line up of the tall and magnificent architecture of the office and residential towers along the river Maas waterfront.

Prachtig = “beautiful / gorgeous” – aims to offer happy drinking and eating just about all day and evening long. Simple “bitterballen” and luxurious snacks – why not some oysters or lobster tail with a crisp Chardonnay ? – and sandwiches throughout the day, or lunch or dinner with good waterfront food like bouillabaisse or fruits de mer.

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Grand Cafe Prachtig | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Intern.) | Lunch € 10
Willemsplein 77 | Center | +31102130640
11:30 – 23:30 daily

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

I discovered this bakery filled with homemade cookies, bread and other mouth-watering goodies some years ago when I attended school nearby.

One day during a break, I browsed the streets and as I have a flavour for savoury food I was immediately drawn towards the window where these freshly baked buns with feta cheese and tomato were displayed.

That was my first contact with the Kaya family, the second generation of a bakers family, originally from Hatay, Antakya in Turkey. They have their shop since 1982 in this busy street in Rotterdam. It’s still a nice place to visit from time to time to either get that feta cheese bread or many other yummy things.

Kaya refurbished the shop some time ago and now you’re able to sit there too and have a cup of çay or coffee accompanied with a nice piece of baklava or whatever your choice is.

Their sweet and sticky goodies like the baklava come in several flavours and shapes with exotic names like Dolama and Havuç (bigger pieces of baklava).
Other sweet stuff are Lokum (Turkish fruit), Bülbül Yuvasi (unfilled airy pastry) and Dilber dudagi (pastry dough with nuts).

The wide range of cookies always look attractive and inviting to eat. Do try the Peynirli Börek (Kaya bun with cheese), a simple Simit or even the Turkish pizza, Lahmacun.

Turkish wines are also for sale.

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Kaya Pastanesi | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks | From € 1.50
1e Middellandstraat 123 | West | +310104772319
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 18:30, Fri 10:00 – 21:00, Sat 10:00 – 17:00

Since November on Friday, Saturday and Sunday creative mother Eleanora and daughter Anastasia open the doors to Lof der Zoetheid.

An AMAZING un-Rotterdam place for breakfast, lunch and sweet things.

They are located at Noordplein 1, next to Kookpunt ~ the shop where you can buy everything for the kitchen.

Some may know Lof der Zoetheid by their original delicious catering, others maybe by their amazing presentation at Kunsthal Kookt. But for those who don’t know them yet, go and experience it! Great hospitality, everything is either home made or purchased at the best places in town.

Eleanora bakes the cakes, pies, sweets and bread. Anastasia the rest. If you doubt what to choose from the menu and you are with two, they offer you a tasting with the soup of the day, different home baked bread, cheeses, cold cuts and side kicks like pumpkin marmelade, onion-cherry – and tomato chili jam and more for only €9,50 a person. Pie with salad, Soup of the day with bread, Beef stew with Leffe and bread. For those who love sweets, try their home made chocolate or their famous cheese cake. Every detail is special at Lof der Zoetheid, the record player, the crockery with Anastasia’s designs, the high tea in a box ~ a great present, the old school furniture, the open kitchen, the special teas.

Be warned!

If you go once and let them spoil you with DELICIOUS food and GREAT coffee, tea, freshly made hot chocolate or home made lemonade and ice tea, you’ll end up finding excuses to go there every weekend.

All I hope for is they open more days in the week;)

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Lof der Zoetheid | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Sweet)
Noordplein 1 | Noord | +31102650070
Fri – Sat 10:00 – 17:30, Sun 10:00 – 17:00

I do a lot of writing. Whether I translate an article, write a column or work on my book, I have found I get the most of progress sitting in a coffee-bar. That’s why I’ve been to a lot of such places in Rotterdam. Mockamore started a lot of years of ago as Jacquemotte, so I often still call it that way. Later it moved to the location it is now, soon after it changed its name.

The fact that I still like to go there, have four reasons.

First I’m a sucker for fresh mint tea with honey and whenever they’re fresh out of mint I simply can’t resist their special coffees. Like MorningGlow, IndianSummer or WhiteNights to name a few. And they often have a seasonal coffee. I can’t eat here, due to my personal diet. But I’m sure you will like it nonetheless.

The second reason is the simple fact they’re open quit early in the morning. Since I’m downtown quite early most of the time and sometimes begin working rather late, I don’t want to go home. It’s also close to work which is the third reason. I don’t want to bike up and down the city all the time. Simple and plain, but not futile in a busy woman’s life.

The final point might seem a little insignificant, but it ain’t. I don’t like sitting on a tiny hard wooden or metal chair for hours. At Mockamore all benches, sofas and chairs are soft. So there’s always a place for me to rest my spoiled body.

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Mockamore | Coffee & tea | Fresh Minttea € 2.40
Korte Hoogstraat 6 | Center | +310104141585
Mon 10:00 – 17:30, Tue – Sat 08:30 – 17:30, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Nostra doesn’t have a the biggest menu, but what they have is fantastic. I love the Italian bread roll with pastrami, but I have also tasted their several club sandwiches, yummy!! They make them extra special with all ingredients you’d never expect. And all the food, and you get a lot, is made with love and care. Nostra has an open kitchen is, so you can actually see that they do.

Not too long ago I organised a baby-shower/high tea here and they made such a nice thing out of it. Again the food was delicious and the table was decorated so nice and very trendy!

I always have a fabulous time here. The staff is also very nice and funny, they really make you feel at home.

At the moment the original place on the Van Oldenbarneveldstraat is under construction. So they moved just around the corner at the Mauritsstraat.

If you’re looking for a nice place to have lunch, Nostra is absolutely the place to be!

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Nostra | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Lunch) | Italian bread/pastrami € 8.50
mauritsstraat 79 | Center | +31104118232
12:00 – 18:00 daily (kithcen closes Mon – Thu 16:00, Sat – Sun 17:00)

Tucked away in a street between the Van Oldenbarneveldstraat and the Binnenweg there is a small restaurant called Open. Here you can get some good salads and sandwiches. My favourite is the sandwich with smoked chicken with basil dressing, but there is much more to choose from.

The place is small but brightly decorated, something that they change every now and then. The staff isn’t the quickest, but their friendliness makes up for that.

I have had dinner here once, a couple of years ago, but generally come here for lunch.

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Open | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Mediterranean ) | Bread roll salmon € 7.50
Jacobusstraat 215 | Center | +31102136257
Sun – Thu 12:00 – 21:30, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 22:00

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

At the South end of the Lijnbaan – the pedestrians only – shopping street with the regular mix of chain stores for fashion and clothing a book lovers paradise merits your attention, even if it is part of a chain aswell. Other than 6 floors of books and books and books, it has a video and a DVD shop, a coffee shop with great bagels, salads and cakes, a large, very internationally based magazine section, an outlet section and a reading theatre in the cellar.

For the travelling tourist from abroad the foreign languages section – English, French, German – will be of interest there, aswell as the map shop.

Take the elevator to the top floor and slope down – stop at the Bagel and Beans coffee shop and – weather permit – enjoy your food and drink from the outdoor terrace overlooking the busy shopping street.

The huge selection effectively arranged by well listed departments is the principal reason to go wandering here, while the open space corkscrew concept of downsloping floors with the elevator shaft in the center makes it a most pleasurable space to be in.

Look around and sample, withdraw in a chair for a quick read and I am sure you will have no trouble finding the items of your interest. Still at a loss?: information booths throughout the store manned by veritable specialists will be your expert help.

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Selexyz | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Shopping, Snacks
Lijnbaan 150 | Center | +31104132070
Mon 11:00 – 18:00, Tue – Thu 09:30 – 18:00, Fri 09:30 – 21:00
Sat 09:30 – 17:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Unbeknownst from each other both artists Sandra Breuer and Marcel Niehoff have a peculiar taste and broad flavour for furniture and stuff made in the ’50s to the ’80s of last century. They found a lot of things over the years and their collection grew big time.

One day they bumped into each other in the Old North and found out they both collected the same things. As well as sharing the habit of ringing people’s doorbells when they see something interesting hanging from the ceiling or on the wall while passing by.

Sandra and Marcel decided to find a studio together and partially decorated it with some furniture for extra atmosphere. Visitors were interested to buy what they saw there. This encouraged them to start a real store with enough room to display their enormous and varied collection of furniture, lamps, ceramics and anything that catches their eye.

Their first shop was located in the Zwaanshals but they had to move out due to renovation work on the building. Moving out across the street not only gave them more space for their extensive collection, they hope to keep this space when it’s time to move back to the original location.

The shop is inviting to snoop around and perhaps you’ll find that missing piece of chair, couch or lamp you’ve been looking for. Have a chat while there’s music coming from a turntable and either one of them is maybe busy repairing an item.

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SPAM | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping | from € 10.00
Zaagmolendrift 53 | Noord | +31642437036
Wed – Sat 11:00 – 17:00

The HUB is a place for working, meeting, innovating, learning, for people who sees and do things differently, where ideas originate that might change the world a little.

It was only a matter of time, but finally The HUB ROTTERDAM opened a SHOP in at the Nieuwe Binnenweg 195B, a concept where HUB members sell their fair trade or organic products and services.

If you are hip, authentic and involved, THE HUB shop is definitely a must go!

What they sell is as diverse as the HUB members are, what makes this a unique place. Shakshulca is an original baby-line, Ecocouture for elegant woman’s wear made of bamboo, Streethip Ecokatoen t-shirts and boxer shorts with great prints, original bike handglovers from Colores, support starting jewelery designers from Chili, swap clothes or buy for only €5,00 a piece, be beautiful with Isabella pearls, cool with wooden furniture made by Niels Verwey, learn you can fight poverty, isn’t doing business all about flirting or find a light in a jar and more …

I found some original presents for Sinterklaas that will be great for X-mas too. A stylish bouncing ball of elastics, a car as ‘key chain’ made in Madagascar of old can, a bottle of wine with a story. All around €5,00 each. Got a good laugh and a poem for free. These are things you are hoping for when you are stressing around to get ready in time.

It’s typical for THE HUB SHOP, meet interesting people, find time for humor, a story, inspiration, exchange ideas and activities.

This all happens in a spacious, nicely designed shop ran by Mila, Cathelijne and Ursel.

Upstairs they welcome you for cake and drinks. Via the shop-blog you can vote which cake they’ll bake next week.

For the latest news check the THE HUB SHOP ROTTERDAM blog.

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The HUB Shop | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks | From € 2.50
Nieuwe Binnenweg 195B | West
Tue – Fri 10:00 – 18:00, Sat 10:00 – 17:00

In the upcoming trendy section of town East of the main Tuesday – Saturday Open Air Market on the Binnenrotte the Urban espresso Bar is located parallel to the market on the Botersloot – this is where farmers used to sell their butter and dairy products from their barges – . UEB provides you with the kick start for a day packed to go in good spirits.

Sit either outside on the small terrace on the street side or on the large one out in the morning sun on the other side on a pedestrians only square. On the inside the smell of organic coffee, the cakes and goodies display, a cosy reading table, a large sitting bench and tables and an artistic video lounge in the basement.

This is where owner and Australian born Jo MacCambridge introduced Rotterdam to the Sydney favorite: a ” Flat White”: 2 shots of espresso with a fine layer of foamed milk – just a tad more milk than a macchiato, and a lot less than a capuccino – Whatever you fancy, it is all there.

The all day urban breakfast on the weekend is served till 12.00 on weekdays, but a great selection of bread, open and closed sandwiches, croissants and baguettes, as well as cakes, tarts and muffins should take care of any need throughout the day for a good bite.

As the day passes on, when your need for coffee and tea transforms into a desire for something with more of a punch, simply switch to beer, cocktails and liqueurs.

Good news: Go West young man – have gun – will travel, as the old slogan for exploring the Great Wild West goes, is now adapted to a more peaceful mission to accomodate the coffee aficionados in Rotterdam West. In hopefully the early spring of 2010 the Urban Coffee Shop West will open in the Nieuwe Binnenweg

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Urban Coffee Shop – UEB | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Fair € 2,00
Botersloot 44a | Center | +31102130768
Tue – Sat 09:00 – 17:30, Sun – Mon 11:00 – 17:30

This hidden treat is located somewhat far from the city centre, but worth every cent. Jump on the tram 21 or 23 that run through the city centre -hop on at Blaak, Erasmusbrug, Coolsingel, Weena or Central Station- and hop off just over the bridge in Spangen. Here you will find the best biological food of Rotterdam.

Before going into the tasty treats at Van de Boer, I should point out how nice it is to see such a great place emerge in a formerly unpopular neighbourhood like Spangen. Some years ago, Spangen was known to be one of the most poorest and dangerous places in the Netherlands. However, increased efforts of the local government to restore buildings and attract young new families are paying off -and for me, Van de Boer is a nice example of the improvement this location is going through.

So, back to Van de Boer. This restaurant and shop is an excellent choice for every meal of the day. All the dishes are made with the freshest and eco-friendly ingredients available, all coming from the farmers in the direct area of Rotterdam. On the menu you can find the origin of a lot of ingredients. And, let’s say, you had lunch and tasted this delicious cheese or mustard, you can go the shop next to the restaurant.

If you come at a quiet moment, ask the waiters about the projects they are doing to promote the use of fresh farmer produce by city-folk. The people running van de Boer, Rianne Andeweg en Nicole Hove, are really friendly and passionate about their dream. Going to Van de Boer is more than eating out, it is a whole experience in itself.

(For the tech-minded, there is free internet available at Van de Boer.)

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Van de Boer | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Ecological) | Lunch € 10.00
Mathenesserweg 2-4 | West
Tue – Thu 11:30 – 22:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 22:00

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.

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Westelijk Handels Terrein | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Restaurants (intern.)
Van Vollenhovenstraat 15 | Center
Daily

The picture shows the unorthodox non conventional style of Wine or Water: the chef at ease peeling potatoes, the old rowing boat on the left functions as the herb garden, the terrace hidden behind and embraced by the surrounding containers, a ship moored along the quay.

Originally planned as a temporary restaurant, this wonderfully creative place still is where it was and hopefully it will remain. The architect put this unique restaurant together by gathering up several sea containers, connected them, put them on top of each other, and voilà. A quiet place, on the edge of the waterway leading to the North Sea , with a staggering view, especially at night from the large terrace.

Good cooking (fusion, Italian, French), reasonably priced, with a nice wine list or the option to let the wines by the glass suit your choices. This is the place to be on a warm summer night overlooking the river or on the inside for a cosy tete-a-tete.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Wijn of Water | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Fusion) | Dinner € 25.00
Loods Celebes 101 | Delfshaven | +31104778454
Terrace (open if at least 18 degrees C ) Wed – Sun from 12:00, dinner Wed – Sun from 17:30