For food, my saved places in Rotterdam had just two coffee shops, Hopper and FiveFiveFive, which now have their own coffee article. No local food and no bars, so I added eight places: six are recommended by 34travel in its Rotterdam guide and its two days in Rotterdam piece, and two are beer spots popular with travellers; I checked every one on Google: still open, rated 4.2 or higher. I haven't written my own notes yet, so all the descriptions are put together from Google Maps reviews.
Prices are Google's average spend per person, tickets are from reviews; valid as of 7 October 2026. Rate: 1 € ≈ $1.12.
In short
- The local dish: kapsalon — fries, shawarma, cheese and salad in one box — at Jaffa on Witte de Withstraat, until 5 or 6 a.m.
- A market under an arch: the Markthal, from sushi to kibbeling and waffles; on Sundays from 12:00.
- One street, two dinners: Jaffa and the Middle Eastern Bazar are both on Witte de Withstraat.
- Beer: a huge list at Locus Publicus in Kralingen, house brews at Kaapse Maria and the Biergarten beer garden.
- A bar with vegan food: the Wunderbar in the basement of the WORM arts centre — open until 1 or 2 a.m.
Where to eat
Markthal
Blaak · covered market · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · Mon–Thu & Sat 10:00–20:00, Fri until 21:00, Sun 12:00–18:00
Google Maps · website · Dominee Jan Scharpstraat 298
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 50,000+): a market under the arch of an apartment building whose vault is painted all over with giant fruit and flowers. Inside there's food for every taste at any time of day: sushi and ramen, kibbeling, waffles, Portuguese custard tarts and arepas — and almost everyone gets a stroopwafel. Cheap and loud, as a market should be. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Jaffa Shoarma
Witte de Withstraat · shawarma and kapsalon · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · daily 12:00–5:00, Fri–Sat until 6:00
Google Maps · website · Witte de Withstraat 44
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 2,400+): the place to go for kapsalon — Rotterdam's own dish of fries, shawarma, melted cheese and salad in one box; many call Jaffa's the best in town. Portions are huge, the meat is well seasoned, there's ayran, and it's all halal. A kapsalon is around 14 € (≈$16), and you need to eat it straight away before it goes soggy. Downside: people waiting for takeaway smoke by the door. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Restaurant Bazar
Witte de Withstraat · Middle Eastern · 20–30 € (≈$23–34) · daily 9:00–22:30, Fri–Sat until 0:00
Google Maps · website · Witte de Withstraat 16
According to Google Maps reviews (4.2 from 5,800+): a big, always-busy Middle Eastern and North African restaurant — reviewers praise the sharing platters for two with meat or fish, the generous portions, fresh juices and the terrace. Good for a large group. Downsides: service can be cold and slow, and on a Saturday night it's best to book. 34travel recommends it too (article).
De Ballentent
Scheepvaartkwartier · harbour café · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · Mon–Fri 9:00–23:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–23:00
Google Maps · website · Parkkade 1
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 4,800+): an old harbour café on the Maas waterfront, famous for its meatballs — the menu revolves almost entirely around them. Reviewers like the big terrace with river views and the fair prices. Downsides: some think the fame is overblown, and several people complain that staff rudely told them to take off their caps — it's the owner's rule. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Where to drink
Bierlokaal Locus Publicus
Kralingen · beer bar · 10–40 € (≈$11–45) · Mon–Thu & Sun 16:00–1:00, Fri–Sat until 2:00
Google Maps · website · Oostzeedijk 364
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 1,300+): a cosy old beer bar with a huge list of draught and bottled beers, local ones included, and knowledgeable staff serving at the table. Get the tasting set — it comes with bitterballen. The music is low enough to talk. Downside: it gets very crowded, so come early. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Kaapse Maria
Centrum · brewery bar · 10–50 € (≈$11–57) · Mon & Wed 16:00–22:00, Thu 16:00–1:00, Fri 16:00–2:00, Sat 14:00–2:00, Sun 14:00–22:00, closed Tue
Google Maps · website · Mauritsweg 52
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 800+): a canal-side bar on the way from Centraal Station, pouring its own beer and wine, natural wines, and a short veg-focused menu of sharing plates. Upstairs there's a room with an ornate ceiling and a small terrace. It works for a date or a night out with friends. Downside: the food options are limited — this is first of all a place to drink.
Biergarten
Centrum · beer garden · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · Mon–Thu 16:00–0:00, Fri 16:00–1:00, Sat 14:00–1:00, Sun 14:00–0:00
Google Maps · website · Schiestraat 18
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 2,900+): a big seasonal open-air beer garden with several bars, craft beer and tacos from the taquería next door. During tournaments it turns into a fan zone with a giant screen. Downsides: you order drinks and food at separate counters and carry them yourself, the cups can be sticky, and the staff can seem indifferent.
Wunderbar
Centrum · bar at the WORM arts centre · 10–20 € (≈$11–22) · Mon–Thu 15:00–1:00, Fri–Sat 14:00–2:00, Sun 14:00–1:00
Google Maps · website · Boomgaardsstraat 71
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 750+): a bar in the basement of a former newspaper printworks, home to the WORM arts centre — a grungy interior, seats made from old archive cabinets on wheels, a free exhibition next door and DJs at night. Good Dutch and local beers, and the kitchen is vegan: the miso ramen, hot dogs and Asian-style snacks get praise, and it's all cheap. Downsides: it gets crowded at peak times, and some found the beer a touch pricey. 34travel recommends it too (article).
One last thing
Kaapse Maria is closed on Tuesdays, and Locus Publicus, the Biergarten and the Wunderbar only open in the afternoon. Jaffa, on the other hand, is open every day until 5:00, and until 6:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
More on Rotterdam: what to see and buy, coffee and breakfast