The hotspots in Rotterdam according to a local
Rotterdam is one of the nicest cities in our country. Raw, unpolished, cool, hip, and everything in between. But: where should you go for the best breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and drinks? We asked our local in 010: Guylaine de Kort. And she knows for sure: if you're going to eat in Rotterdam, you must go to the Scheepvaartkwartier Let out a little scream, eat another Zeeuwse bolus, shake your hips, the moment we have all been hoping for is finally here.
The Scheepvaartkwartier: culinary paradise by the Maas
Whether you call it the Scheepvaartkwartier or the Nieuwe Werk: this neighborhood is a dream for food lovers. Guylaine has lived here for over three years, together with her boyfriend and dachshund Jopie, and according to her, every street corner feels like a discovery. Between historic ships in the Veerhaven and the Euromast in Het Park, you'll find French bistro vibes, Asian gems, Neapolitan pizza, and oysters with champagne. Sounds like a vacation? Exactly.
This is how you start the day (with coffee and croissants)
Guylaine's morning ritual? A walk through the neighborhood, followed by coffee at Dune — a minimalist bar with top beans and coffee art. For a truly French breakfast, you sit down at Brunch Bar or Louise Petit Déjeuner, where you eat eggs benedict and French toast as if you were on a terrace in Paris. Only with a view of the Veerhaven.
Lunching in Rotterdam? Here among the locals
Around lunchtime, the Scheepvaartkwartier comes to life. At Loos, the well-known grand café on the corner, there's a delightful mix of business people, locals, and life enjoyers. For something fancier, you go to the restaurant of Louise Petit: French menu, white tablecloths, oysters waiting for you. Or grab sourdough bread at Jan Bussing, or a perfectly topped sandwich at Kaas aan de Maas. On sunny days, Parqiet is your spot. On the grass, barefoot, with homemade iced tea. Rotterdam at its softest.
Dining out in Rotterdam? The evening is for bon vivants
As the sun sets, the neighborhood transforms into a culinary playground. Bar Berta is Guylaine's regular spot for tapas with a twist. Craving cocktails and Asian? Then Bar Bu is your place – preferably outside, with the sun on your face. Mare is just a bit more decadent: seafood, champagne, and effortlessly chic. And for Neapolitan pizza (no reservation needed, just hunger): just go to La Pizza. Are you really going all out? Then there's Zeezout, a Michelin star and refined fish at a high level.
View this post on Instagram
Drinks with a view (and good outfits)
River Bar is where you start (or end) the evening. By the water, with a menu full of next-level cocktails and bites. On Fridays, you see it all: people in linen suits, glasses clinking, and a golden sun making everything even more beautiful. For a mysterious ending, you go to La Soirée, the speakeasy sister of Louise, where you drink cocktails in a setting of velvet and French mystique.
Conclusion: the Scheepvaartkwartier is not just “something to eat”
This is a neighborhood where you sit down. Where you enjoy, taste, talk, sip, and laugh. Whether you're a tourist or a proud Rotterdammer: if you eat here for a day, you'll want to live here. Just like Guylaine.
