Loos Grand Café is situated on the ground floor of the monumental Atlantic house, a mixed-use business and residential building that overlooks the picturesque Veerhaven. At Loos Grand Café one can experience Rotterdam in its old glory, away from the modern skyline that the city is famous for today.
When you open the heavy steel door, you enter a spacious interior reminiscent of 19th -century French paintings. The personnel are dressed in black and white. The round tables are not too close to each other and are surrounded by Viennese wooden chairs. Small details catch my attention every time, such as the brightly lit cava behind the bar that is full of old spirits, or the vitraux glass panels on the art-deco façade.
The reading table is my personal favorite during the weekend. I can browse through magazines and newspapers and at the same time look outside, towards the old harbor and the people who sit on the benches along the quay.
Locals come here to enjoy their breakfast, aperitif or dinner. A charming mix of young and old fills the space with a soft chatter. If one is lucky, they may find themselves starting a conversation with the ladies who live in one of the floors of the building where Loos is.
In the afternoon, the sun will light the corner and the challenge is to find a seat outside, as everyone seems to lazily enjoy themselves, getting ready for dinner with style.