The 7 ultimate food spots of Rotterdam with Per de Man

Are you looking for the best food spots in Rotterdam? Then you’re in luck! TV chef Perry de Man takes you on a flavorful journey through his hometown, packed with surprising spots you absolutely must try. No tourist attractions, but exactly the places where you’ll meet real Rotterdammers.

1. Nice: Let’s start with coffee

Our first stop takes us to Nice, a coffee bar where the focus is on quality and simplicity. Everything here revolves around perfect coffee and fresh sandwiches that start your day right. The owners have deliberately chosen a no-nonsense approach: good ingredients, honest prices and a warm atmosphere.

2. Tim by Harries: Culinary with local, seasonal products

Tim by Harries is a new spot in Rotterdam. One where you already know it’s going to be good just from the two owners. Harry is the owner of the well-known wine bar Harries and as a Rotterdammer, you’ve probably learned to drink wine from him. So this promises great things.

Tim only works with seasonal products and local products in their purest form. From fried calf brains with anchovy cream to brioche with bonito tartare, lamb tongue and Bottarga. Besides this delicious food, Harry also lets us taste an alcohol-free wine and beer. A culinary masterpiece, and if that’s what you’re looking for, then this is really a must visit.

3. Stooges: Pastrami, sandwiches and burgers

Burgers, fried chicken, sandwiches, killer pastrami and homemade sauces, that’s Stooges. We obviously had to try that. And yes, we can already reveal, this place is insane.
We ate fried chicken with caviar and homemade hot sauce and a pastrami sandwich with homemade sambal. And as we just revealed, those were insane. The owners of Stooges: Kick and Jip are bursting with so much talent that everything you eat makes you drool. So if you’re looking for an affordable, amazing burger or sandwich, you need to put Stooges at the top of your list.

4. Bij Bos: The herring cart

Time for a snack? You get the best herring in Rotterdam here. Fresh off the knife, pure nature. And you can taste it. The herring melts on your tongue.
A top addition to this herring is the Dill Pickle hot sauce from Heartbeat. ‘Kesbeke on steroids’ as Per calls it. Especially with something like a herring salad or herring taco, this hot sauce is a must-have.

5. Warung Melatie: Per’s favorite

Warung Melatie is the Javanese-Surinamese shop of Rotterdam. Here you eat the best Saoto you’ll ever eat and the sandwiches are also on another level. And are you looking for a real Rotterdam banger? Then the Dynamite sandwich is exactly what you need to try.

A Dynamite sandwich is a curry sandwich with Cha Sieuw. And you might not think so, but this is just as Rotterdam as the Euromast. You can get a Dynamite sandwich throughout Rotterdam, because this is practically cultural heritage.

6. Bar Schiemond: A drink by the water

Are you looking for a chill spot for a drink, to unwind from the day or prepare for dinner or just for a nice drink, then you need to be at Bar Schiemond. You’ll find this bar just outside the hustle and bustle of Delfshaven. Here you sit beautifully by the water and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere.

7. Café Kiem: local coziness with a culinary twist

The tour ends at Café Kiem. Café Kiem has managed to develop into a culinary hotspot where traditional dishes get a modern twist and it’s a really good wine bar.
We take a seat at the bar and get one delicious wine after another served to us. And we haven’t even talked about the food yet. Because this is also phenomenal. From homemade pâté, to tartare with oyster and from Sukade with Radicchio to a dessert of Kouign amann with blackberry ice cream.

Per’s Rotterdam food tour

Perry’s selection shows Rotterdam’s culinary diversity. From international influences to local traditions, every food spot tells a story about the city. These restaurants aren’t tourist attractions, but places where Rotterdammers themselves come for a bite or a drink.

Prices vary from a few euros for a sandwich to a pricier culinary dinner for two. But one thing is certain in Rotterdam’s food scene: quality for everyone, without fuss.

Curious about more ins and outs about the restaurants and bars we visited? Check out the food tour here on our YouTube channel. Enjoy!