Coffee & tea

Parts of my daily shopping I do at Gimsel, mariniersweg 9, the largest organic supermarket in Rotterdam with a wide range of fresh organic products. Vegetables can be found here, ones you can’t buy anywhere else. On sale is also a delicious sour dough bread made by the famous Menno ‘t Hoen! I always like the wall full of containers with products that come in bulk: dried mushrooms, nuts, cereals. Anything of your choice, which can be weighed and you can pack yourself.

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

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

Downstairs is the renewed Spirit Rotterdam. A Self-service Restaurant offering vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner. They got a great review in the Dutch National Newspaper in May 2013. It’s modern, good for when you have a healthy appetite or as a meeting point. They serve good organic vegetarian dishes and drinks. Just be aware of what and how much you select as a plate full of delicious bites can become expensive.

Vanbinnen, Natuurlijk Wonen at number 1 (and connected with the rest through a sliding door) sells 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.

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

You’ve probably noticed it by now – Rotterdam has a skyline. This makes it rather unique among the Dutch cities. The uniqueness, however, comes with a price. As new high-rise buildings are continuously being added to the urban landscape, at the ground level, cafe’s with sidewalk places in the sun are becoming scarcer.

Luckily for you (and me) – there’s the occasional cheater among sidewalk cafe’s as well. I’m talking about DikT – the cafe situated adjacent to the Central Library. On ground level it’s just another coffee place/lunch room, albeit with monthly Jazz sessions and weekly science talks. But take the stairs up and it’s a full-fledged sidewalk cafe, only without the sidewalk. And with the best view in town, plus an uninhibited sunshine (at least, as long as the Dutch sun shines).

My favourite time here is, of course, on Saturdays, when the market is buzzing on the street below. But I’m not very picky – in Holland, any day the sun shines is a good day. Especially with such a view.

Ever since the first time my grandmother and auntie baked a gorgeous homemade cake for my fourth birthday, I have been obsessed with baking and baked goods. I absolutely adore the smell of cake and if I could bottle that scent I would! This is the reason why I love Ten to Three Café and Bakery, freshly baked goodies that are not only absolutely gorgeous, but also incredibly tasty.

I have to admit that I discovered the place a bit late, but before finally knowing where it was located, I kept seeing people with gorgeous bags carrying their goodies through the city. So, needless to say, I was elated when I first entered their shop in the center of Rotterdam; the place takes you into a fantasy, almost Alice in Wonderland-like. According to their website, their peculiar name was inspired by the last lines of the poem “The Old Vicarage, Grantchester” by English poet Rupert Brooke which immortalizes the great tradition of afternoon tea.

Their selection of cupcakes, mini cupcakes, macarons, cake pops, muffins and whoopee pies is amazing! My favorite are the macarons which come in a variety of flavors such as lemon, rose and chocolate. The cupcakes are also delicious and you should not leave this place without trying the cookies and cream cupcake because it is simply amazing. Also, they offer breakfast, lunch and as they call it ‘Madhatter’s Tea Parties’ which is a fabulous twist on afternoon tea. Ten To Three is simply pastry magic!

While walking through the Van Oldenbarneveltstraat I decided to go for a coffee at Nostra. Inside I went for a seat at the bar as the tables were all full with people enjoying their lunch. I wasn’t feeling very hungry but on the menu there was a cake with nuts, banana or blueberry at least that is how I read it. Coffee was served together with the cake and the waitress said “Enjoy!”. Well, it was more like a whirlwind of joy! What a brilliant combination of nuts, banana and blueberry in a cake.

Hungry for more I tried a specialty, bread with mozzarella plus a glass of white wine, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Piersanti. It tasted very good and the wine was perfect. Nostra is now my place, actually our place.

Located in the Van Oldenbarneveltstraat, Nostra lunch and winebar stands out from the other beautiful shops in the street. The terrace may fool you but inside it is a modern interior with the right balance of wines presented and perfect lunch.

Don’t forget to try the cake!

This bar can be both very crowded and quiet. I try to come here every week for writing and study. To save me from home-procrastination. They have rooms in the back under the name of ‘Kennis&Koffie’, where you can sit down too and rooms for rent. They also have internet access. For the password, ask at the desk.

They call themselves ‘The Italian espresso bar’, but of course there is more then coffee here. Tea, juice, sandwiches, a piece of pie… They used to sell soup when I first came here. I miss that. Their menu isn’t as diverse as a restaurant, but then again they aren’t a restaurant. They have enough to get you through a day’s hard work. And they do make the best Chai Latte!

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 quiet music in the background, 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. Oh no, of course not. I came here to work