Weekender: Rotterdam
Try warm coconut pastries, white negronis and veg-centric menus in this edgy Dutch port
Try warm coconut pastries, white negronis and veg-centric menus in this Dutch port
1 Shop local The illuminated ‘horn of plenty’ artwork that wraps around the walls and ceiling of the city’s Markethal is a sight to behold. As is the covered market beneath it, home to more than 100 food stalls. Look out for Madame Cocos, whose warm coconut pastries
2 are a must. madamecocos.nl
Gourmet burgers They don’t take bookings at Ter Marsch & Co so expect to queue at this buzzing burger joint. There are three (award-winning) burgers on the menu but the best is the ‘Burgeresse’ with truffle mayo. It’s served Dutch-style (ie still pink and drippingly juicy). termarschco.nl
3
Spring veg White tablecloths, vintage lights and a chequered floor add charm to Restaurant De Jong, set in a former train tunnel. The set menu (four, five or six courses) changes daily but revolves around seasonal vegetables (spring highlights include buttery white local asparagus), an experimental ethos and natural wines. restaurantdejong.nl 4
Winning ramen Tucked on a scruffy street corner you could easily bypass Hinoki Noodle Soup but that would mean missing out on steaming bowls of spicy-sweet goodness. Order fried chicken gyoza to start and then the Red Special, made with pork. hinoki.nl
5
Waterside dining In the trendy Katendrecht district, the Fenix Food Factory is a former warehouse turned culinary hangout. Artisan produce, street food and Rotterdam’s renowned Kaapse brewery thrive under one roof. Order a pulled pork bun from the Firma Bijten BBQ stand and a biertje from Kaapse Brouwers, and eat with the locals, dangling your feet from the wall overlooking the Nieuwe Maas river.
fenixfoodfactory.nl
6
Hipster pizza A disco ball glitters over the industrial interiors at Old Scuola, with its open kitchen and twin wood ovens. The chefs spin the best pizzas in town so they need only the simplest toppings. Try a salame piccante with a white negroni. oldscuola.nl 7 Vegan eats Rotterdam’s innovative architecture is exemplified at sustainable hot spot Op Het Dak, which has turned a disused rooftop into a kitchen garden and bee farm. Go for a meat-free lunch such as noodles with kimchi, shiitake, tempeh and green toppings) or choose the daily special for the best of the day’s pickings. ophetdak.com
8 Sweet treats Vegan and gluten-free is the name of the game at Sharp Sharp Cake Bar, where a rainbow of organic cakes is made using maple syrup or dates rather than refined sugar. There are fruity tarts, no-cheese cheesecakes and gooey chocolate brownies but the cookies are exceptional: try the cash cookies with cashew nuts and fennel. sharpsharp.nl
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Café culture Visser & Ko gets the morning sun: soak it up at one of the tables that spill out onto the pavement overlooking the city’s old harbour. The Dutch love their toasties and sandwiches – order them here along with a mean flat white or zingy Jessica Rabbit juice (made with orange, carrot and ginger). visser-ko-rotterdam.nl
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Blowout Two-Michelin-starred
FG Restaurant is run by Rotterdam’s most famous culinary name, François Geurds. This is seriously cheffy food – typical dishes include venison with kimchi bonbons and Anjou pigeon with cherry sorbet, benzaldehyde and duck liver – but it’s a surprisingly inclusive spot, with no dress code. fgrestaurant.nl
HOW TO DO IT
Eurostar runs a direct service from London to Rotterdam in 3 hours 16 minutes (the return journey requires a change at Brussels and takes 4 hours), from £70 return (eurostar.com). Doubles at Suite Hotel Pincoffs cost from 110, room only (hotelpincoffs.nl). More info: en.rotterdam.info