10 x local and innovative dining in Rotterdam

Rotterdam’s food culture reflects this beautifully. Below is a selection of (the many) ‘friendly’ restaurants in Rotterdam, started by ambitious and passionate entrepreneurs. Give them a try and discover how rewarding it is to eat innovatively and responsibly!

1. Rotonde: circular culinary

Rotonde founders Roy, Birk and Jord wanted to create a place with good food and without a negative impact on people, animals or the planet. Their progressive restaurant responds to various food issues – from origin to waste management – and is as circular as the name, which means roundabout, suggests. Cooking is done with local vegetables, grains, legumes, fruit, mushrooms and more. Preferably as pure as possible, but certainly not boring. ‘We hope to amaze you with unique combinations, vegetables that you may never have heard of and a glass of thought-provoking natural wine,’ the gentlemen explain on the website. Decide for yourself whether they have succeeded.

2. Old Scuola: Neapolitan meets Rotterdam

In Het Industriegebouw (HIG), on the Achterklooster, you can taste Neapolitan-style pizza at Old Scuola: with a light crust and thin base. But these pizzas are made with local produce which makes them Rotterdam-style too. The oyster mushrooms from Rotterzwam – grown on coffee grounds in Rotterdam’s Schiehaven – make a delicious oyster mushroom pizza. A Dutch farmer supplies the ‘Italian’ cheeses – buffalo mozzarella, burrata and fior di latte – following Old Scuola recipes. It was such a success that a second branch was opened in the charming Little C neighbourhood in Coolhaven. Drop by!

3. NOTK: enjoyable and tasty drinking

This is not the place to ‘just knock back’ a glass of wine. Drinking wine at NOTK means learning and appreciating. Conscious tasting, in other words. The same goes for the dishes served with the wines, which are local and made with love. The gentlemen behind NOTK also make conscious choices about the wines themselves; about the distance the wines travel, the way they are produced and how they are packaged. That makes raising a toast just that little bit more enjoyable.

4. Gare du Nord: organic bistro

Talking about sustainability: even the premises of organic vegan bistro Gare du Nord are reused! In a characteristic German railway carriage from 1982, you can enjoy pure, plant-based cuisine made from organic ingredients. The dishes are classic with a vegan twist: from a vegan Wellington to parsnip soup, chilli tempeh sandwich, carrot cheesecake or pear clafoutis. They serve organic beers here too: after a few, you’ll feel that train move.

5. Backyard: the ever-charming back garden

This plant-based, vegan-friendly restaurant in the heart of Rotterdam has an urban yet cosy vibe. Backyard’s smoothies alone are worth a visit: the Hulk (spinach, avocado, apple, broccoli, mango and more) or Purple Rain (acai, black, blue and blueberry, banana, apple, raspberry) guarantee a healthy start to your day. The menu is mainly vegan, surprising and friendly. No chicken died for the ‘Pulled No Chicken’, as it is made with oyster mushrooms and caramelised onion on a spelt bun, with sweet potato fries on the side. The ‘Backyard Healthy Kapsalon’ is made with sweet potato fries, (vegan) Shwarma, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion, sriracha mayonnaise and aioli. It may be a healthy alternative to the Rotterdam classic, but you’ll still stink! Don’t let that stop you though: go for it!

6. Clementine: products from the vegetable garden

Restaurant and café Clementine is situated in a large glass greenhouse just 10 minutes by train from Blaak. Here, shared dining takes centre stage. You share mainly sustainable and locally grown products, deliciously prepared in, for example, a 5-course menu of the chef. With many products from their own vegetable garden, too!

7. Spirit: 100% vegetarian

You are invited to ‘come and enjoy a 100% organic and veggie meal at Spirit,’ perhaps the very first vegetarian restaurant in Rotterdam. The buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner have been a success for years, with 50 different dishes to choose from all day long. You can also take them to go. For other responsible products, visit the Groene Passage, the organic supermarket next door. Tip: do your shopping after lunch at Spirit, otherwise you’re sure to buy too much.

8. The Harvest: a good yield for farmers and visitors

Try the Farmers Bowl from The Harvest: a plate full of quinoa salad, caramelised parsnips, beetroot salad and creamy leek soup. This restaurant and catering company buys its products from farmers, thus helping to build a sustainable food system packed with fresh produce. The bowls are pure, healthy and seasonal, with seventeen dishes to choose from. Eating healthy is not a problem here, choosing is!

9. PLSTK: Eco cafe with a focus on origins

Head to PLSTK in the dunes of Hoek van Holland (aka ‘Rotterdam Beach’). Founders Robin, Charlotte and Maxim are avid water sports enthusiasts. This is not only reflected in PLSTK’s location right on the water, but also its mission. They not only work on a charming place with good food but also on actively reducing unnecessary (disposable) plastic in the environment and on reducing their ecological footprint. You will only eat products of known origins delivered without unnecessary packaging. Just knowing that makes the homemade falafel or banana pancake taste even better.

10. Fermin: fermentation at its best

Remco and Sjanne work creatively and ambitiously with local and seasonal produce at this small restaurant on Noordplein. This ‘limitation’ is creatively challenging, with artisanal cooking techniques dominating and waste kept to a minimum. The name Fermin refers to the craft of fermentation that they frequently use. You can taste the results in the ever-changing 4, 5, or 6-course chef’s menu, preferably accompanied by a surprising natural wine.

Try it yourself!

Rotterdam is and will always be a city of change, and flexibility is second nature to the people of Rotterdam. If there is a need, they will adapt! Rotterdam’s food culture reflects this beautifully. Try it yourself! Visit these ten original restaurants and discover how rewarding it is to eat innovatively and responsibly!