Rotterdam is as dynamic as the water of the Nieuwe Maas that flows through its veins. And so are the Rotterdammers. Rotterdam’s energy and entrepreneurial drive often affect visitors too. Here, entrepreneurs think of challenges instead of problems. Here, resilience is not expressed, but propagated. The Rotterdam response to plenty of water? A floating farm! And by making use of the roofs in Rotterdam, the sky really is the limit. The Rotterdam catering industry also acts according to this motto. This city once welcomed one of the first breakfast bars in the Netherlands, and now all-day breakfast and brunch are indispensable. In Rotterdam, they even serve cocktails with your scrambled eggs. So, if you think going out means a romantic dinner or dancing all night, think again! 

Bellhops Boozy Brunch gives you a boost 

Go to the Bellhop Hotel in the Witte de Withstraat for their famous Boozy Brunch! An arepa (a traditional Venezuelan sandwich) with pulled chicken, fresh salsa, avocado and the homemade dip with sharp Madame Jeanette piccalilli guarantees a good (read: spicy) start to your day. Plus, you’ll sweat out a hangover!

Putaine pleases, even in the afternoon 

Restaurant Putaine is in the Rijnhaven, floating on the water with a beautiful view, large terrace and summer swimming pool. It’s a wonderful place for all the senses, but you come here mainly to tickle your taste buds. You are welcome here from Wednesday to Sunday to be surprised and seduced. No ordinary cheese sandwiches, but something sweet, something savoury, something else.

Stadshaven Brewery: great vibe, great beer  

The bustling quay of the Rotterdam Fruithaven is a great place to be, especially with the tasty food and homemade beer at Stadshaven Brewery. The menu has delicacies with local ingredients, prepared in the smoker, on the barbecue or in the stone oven. Order a beer suited to each dish. With De Kraken – octopus tentacles from the brick oven – you drink a Kraken Blond. With the Fish & Chips, made in IPA batter, you drink a Stadshaven IPA. If you prefer less meat and less alcohol, wash down your fried pickles with the Gemeente Lager!

By Jarmusch wakes you up 

This all-day breakfast spot may well be the first to have Breakfast Cocktails on the menu. A cocktail in the morning is a day without worries? Try an Orange Mimosa (Cointreau with prosecco and fresh juice) with your Hangover Omelette and decide for yourself which one is better for your hangover. Or a Gin & Ginger Ale with your Granola. A Chili Sin Carne or a tasty snack with a ‘normal’ juice is, of course, also allowed. 

Ayla’s culinary world refreshes and surprises 

At the Kruisplein, a few minutes from Rotterdam Central Station, Ayla offers a culinary world from oysters and ceviche to pâté and burrata. You can smell both the Italian trattoria and the Greek taverna and taste the sweet flavours of a North African bazaar and the spices of a Thai night market. Step inside to escape the hectic city life and imagine yourself in a parallel universe with a hidden garden. Tip: taste the refreshing and Mediterranean-inspired spritzers like the Fragola Frizzante, perfect for lunch or brunch or as an aperitif.