Rotterdam stands out with its bold, modern architecture and cutting-edge design, making it a haven for creativity and innovation. The city is a vibrant cultural hub, offering a mix of galleries, festivals, and diverse cuisine that reflects its multicultural vibe. With its unique blend of old and new, Rotterdam effortlessly combines a dynamic urban atmosphere with an open-minded, forward-thinking spirit. I was super excited to spend a weekend with the girls in Rotterdam. In this City Guide Rotterdam you'll find a very curated list of things we did or where on the list to do.
City Guide Rotterdam
Hotels Rotterdam
The Usual Rotterdam - We had a lovely stay at The Usual Hotel in the Twin Plus Rooms. What a great, calm and lovely hotel with a casual, low key vibe. With co-working, meeting rooms, Mind Gym, and other social spaces, there is certainly room for everyone to meet, sleep, eat & play. The U Bar restaurant is a great place for delicious meals. Breakfast is only 15 euros. We had the perfect Sunday slow morning. I love the mission of the hotel which is to provide a unique, relaxed environment where the focus is on comfort, quality, and connecting with the local community. The Usual Hotel is located just off the main shopping centre and nearby museum quarter in Rotterdam. The Hotel is around the corner of the bustling Witte de Wittstraat and the iconic Cinerama.
Read about our stay at The Usual Hotel Rotterdam
Breakfast and Coffee Rotterdam
Le Petit Jean Rotterdam - Love this place, Le Petit Jean located at the Nieuwe Binnenweg has the most delicious pastries, crossaints, eclairs and more. Perfect morning coffeee spot.
Jordy’s Bakery - The Artisan Bakery of Rotterdam (4 locations). Famous for its bread. I went for a coffee and a pastry at the Nieuwe Binnenweg.
Harvest Coffee Brewery - Harvest is a cool brunch & coffee and bakery cafe in a contemporary destination born from the expertise of Michelin-star chefs and the hospitality journey in Melbourne, Australia. With a waterfront terrace at the Kop van Zuid. No reservations.
Coffee Bar Bas Bakt - Fresh dough bread, croissants, coffee & more pastries. Great vibes for coffee. Around the corner of The Usual Hotel.
Nick Rotterdam - A healthy breakfast, good coffee and original lunch dishes make NICK Rotterdam the place to be for a good time. With vegetarian and vegan options.
Lunch Rotterdam
Bertmans Rotterdam - Your all day seasonal restaurant. Bertrams is the place to be for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and anything in between.The kind of place you want to go to time and time again. Conviently located near the main train station of Rotterdam and the shopping street area.
Brasserie Pierre Rotterdam - This French cuisine inspired cafe/restaurant has one of the most sought-after terraces in Rotterdam. Pierre exudes France in every detail and all of it characteristics.
Lot & Daan Rotterdam - With 9 girls we had lunch at this no-nonsense lunch place. Lot & Daan is a cosy lunchroom for all day breakfast or lunch. Quite a girly place, but that was ok for us.
Restaurants Rotterdam
Louise Petite Restaurant - I was super excited to have dinner at Louise Petite restaurant in Rotterdam. Louise brings French cuisine to life. Fresh ingredients are carefully prepared, in a warm French setting for an unforgettable evening. The wine list is very extensive.
Cocktailbar La Soiree - La Soirée is a (not so) hidden cocktail bar in Rotterdam. Perfect for a girl's night out. Speakeasy look and feel. Next door to Louise Petite Restaurant (and from the same owner).
Héroine Restaurant & Bar Rotterdam - Héroine restaurant is housed in The Industry Building, where chef Michael Schook prepares modern, surprising dishes. Enjoy a modern chef's menu of 4,5 or 7 courses, at the table or at their beautiful bar. With an extensive wine list, this is the perfect evening out.
Restaurant Pesca Rotterdam - The Pesca Fish Restaurant was recommended a few times. Not your ordinary restaurant, but the so called “Theater of Fish”, with an in-house fish and wine market, knowledgable fish mongers and the finest dishes. At Pesca they prepare daily fresh fish that you pick yourself from the in-house fish market in the store.
(Fashion) Shops Rotterdam
Recommended by a girlfriend from Rottterdam who lives around the corner from this cute little store in Hillegersberg, Rotterdam Noord. At Merk|Waardig you'll find beautiful Secondhand Designer clothing from the likes of Jerome Dreyfuss, Malene Birger, Vanessa Bruno, American Vintage and more. The clothes you buy are secondhand. But at Merk|Waardig you can also find fun home accessories, jewelry and bags.
Discover more pre-loved fashion shops in the Netherlands
Things To Do Rotterdam
Art Depot Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen - The cool striking building is already a highlight on its own. This unique, mirrored facade reflects the surrounding city.
The Depot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is the first publicly accessible art depot in the world. The Depot is located next to Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in the Museumpark in Rotterdam. Visitors see the result of 175 years of collecting. More than 155,000 collected works of art stored together, arranged and structured in fourteen depot rooms with five climates. In addition to the objects, all the work involved in managing and maintaining a collection is on display.
Go to the 4th floor for the most popular items on display. On the 5th floor you have the nice cafe Renilce and the roof top terrace for stunning panorma views across Rotterdam.
Foodhallen / Foodcourt Rotterdam - The Foodhallen in Rotterdam are also a big hit. Pakhuismeesteren, which was abandoned for the last 40 years, is now the vibrant epicenter of the “kop van zuid”, bringing together food, drinks, entertainment, and art. With a fine selection of 11 local cuisines with flavors from all over the world. (Also in Amsterdam and The Hague) Kunsthal Rotterdam - The Kunsthal showcases culture in the broadest sense of the word. Take a fascinating journey past old masters, forgotten cultures, fascinating photographs . Its is an institute with a difference; exhibiting an inspiring mix of art & culture in Rotterdam. We visited the cool exhibition DIVA which takes you into the universe of opera goddesses from the nineteenth century to the contemporary pop and rock 'n roll culture of global superstars. Nieuwe Binnenweg Rotterdam - The Nieuwe Binnenweg in Rotterdam is a classic. On this street you'll find many nice shops, bars and restaurants for lunch. The famous Jordy's Bakery has the best bread in Rotterdam (four locations). For the best American style pancakes go to Cafe Lilith, an all day breakfast cafe. The famous SUSAN BIJL flagship store is also at the Nieuwe Binnenweg. Witte De With Straat Rotterdam - One of the most famous streets of Rotterdam. You'll find street art, galleries, museums, vintage shops and lots of restaurants and bars. The Swanmarket and Things I Like, Things I love shops.
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