Hidden away near the Meent and the Rotte is Littly Italy. The only indication there is a slice of Italy at your fingertips is an Italian flag flying proudly. When walking in, the smell of freshly baked pizza or bread (depending what time you come in) gets you hooked immediately. However, not venturing into this deli supermarket would be a mistake. The variety of pasta, the big bags of espresso beans and the dolci to match are reason enough to become a regular visitor.

The deli section is like wandering into a market in any Italian city and your heart skips a beat at the selection of cheeses which includes everyone’s favourites, as well as others to make your day (sheep cheese with black truffle, just saying). The meat section is great if you need only a certain amount of pancetta or guanciale for a recipe, but leaving without some bresaola, Parma ham or mortadella would just be wrong.

The selection of olives, the caprese salad which is perfectly balanced, the olive oils to enhance your dishes and the ready-made meals are perfect for picnics in Rotterdam’s parks or giving you a night off from cooking. I highly recommend the trout lasagne, although you cannot make any mistakes here.

Dessert is a homemade tiramisu or grab a slice of ricotta cake for dessert. Don’t leave without a good bottle of wine, some bread and maybe a (slice of) pizza because la dolce vita is now right here in Rotterdam.