Top tips for a city break in Rotterdam

Back in February I found myself in Rotterdam, art-directing photography of two beautiful homes for my second interiors book, Bring The Outside In. I’d long wanted to explore the Netherlands’ second city, so I stayed behind once the photoshoots were done and Chris flew out to join me for an impromptu weekend break.

Rotterdam isn’t classically pretty – it’s Europe’s largest port, and most of the historic centre was destroyed by air raids during the Second World War, so you’re more likely to find industrial warehouses and gleaming modern skyscrapers than classic Dutch canal houses. But it’s a vibrant, innovative and forward-thinking place with experimental architecture, cutting-edge design, an array of fascinating museums and some fantastic hotels and restaurants. It’s also only 15 minutes by train from historic Delft, which is a great contrast in terms of mood and pace, so you can easily combine two city breaks in one – and you can see my top tips for Delft here.

We had a wonderful time despite the wintry weather, hopping between galleries, wine bars and boutiques and enjoying plenty of delicious food. If you like the idea of doing the same, here’s my guide on where to stay, eat, drink and shop in Rotterdam, what to see and do, how to get there and more…

Where to stay in Rotterdam

Hotel âme, Eendrachtsweg 19, 3012 LB Rotterdam

Founded by ceramicist Angel Cheung-Kwok and her husband Manfung Cheung, Hotel âme occupies a 19th-century townhouse in the heart of the city. Its beautiful period architecture has been skilfully blended with minimalist Scandinavian and Japanese design, creating a wonderfully soothing and restorative mood. The 14 rooms vary in size and shape, but all have calming neutral decor, soft linens, comfy Coco-Mat beds, bespoke wooden headboards, walk-in rain showers and Le Labo toiletries. We treated ourselves to a stay in one of the vast ‘Monumental’ suites, which have freestanding bathtubs beneath ornate plasterwork ceilings, but there are also ‘Cosy’ rooms snuggled under the rafters on the top floor, spacious and light-filled ‘Sense’ rooms, and even one ‘Garden’ room with its own private terrace.

Hotel âme has no bar or restaurant, but delicious breakfasts, pastries, coffees and teas are served up on Angel’s handmade tableware in the ground-floor café (see ‘Where to Eat’ below). There’s also a concept store with a curated selection of books, home accessories and lifestyle items.

[AD – affiliate link]

Morgan & Mees, Mathenesserlaan 145, 3015 CJ Rotterdam

I spent the work portion of my trip, before Chris arrived, at Morgan & Mees – another stylish city-centre hotel that I’d highly recommend. It’s housed in a 1930s Bauhaus-style building, famous in Rotterdam for its striking blue window frames and for being the HQ of local radio station Radio Rijnmond for many years. The interiors were created by Dutch designer Anne Claus, who mixed subtle references to the architecture with contemporary artwork, striped upholstery, tactile furnishings and occasional splashes of colour. The results are eye-catching yet elegant, with plenty to appeal to minimalists and maximalists alike.

The 20 rooms include the great-value ‘Cute Ones’, the snazzy ‘Comfy’ and ‘Extra Comfy Ones’ (some of which have in-room tubs) and the huge ‘Top One’ complete with its own living area and roof terrace. I stayed in one of the ‘Natural Ones’, which sit in super-quiet wooden boxes at the rear of the hotel and each have private balconies. Downstairs is a restaurant and bar (more on that below), along with a covered terrace for alfresco drinks and dining. You’ll also find complimentary treats waiting in your minibar.

[AD – affiliate link]

Where to eat & drink in Rotterdam

Restaurant Renilde, Depot Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Museumpark 24, 3015 CX Rotterdam

Occupying a glass box at the top of Depot Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (more on that in ‘What to See & Do’ below), Restaurant Renilde serves creative evening tasting menus based around seasonal ingredients. I’d recommend timing your booking for sunset so that you can make the most of the stunning city views – and if you want to visit the Depot beforehand, you can buy great-value combined tickets that include museum entry, an aperitif and a set four-course meal. We did just that and were treated to delicious pasta, fish, beef and dessert dishes, as well as a cheese selection and wine pairing that we added on for an extra cost.

The restaurant is also open during the day for museum visitors only, when it offers pastries, drinks and light lunches such as sandwiches and salads.

Open to museum visitors only from 11am to 5pm Tuesday-Sunday (reservations not possible), and to everyone for dinner from 5pm to 11pm Thursday-Saturday (reservations required); closed on Mondays

Hotel âme, Eendrachtsweg 19, 3012 LB Rotterdam

Even if you’re not staying at Hotel âme, I’d recommend popping into its ground-floor café. The beautiful pink-tiled counter is brimming with freshly made pastries, and there’s also a menu of tasty breakfast and brunch options such as burrata with heirloom tomatoes, labneh with crispy chickpeas, and cheese and jalapeño scones. The coffee, from local roastery Shokunin, is excellent, too.

Open daily from 9am to 5pm; also open to hotel guests only for breakfast between 8am and 9am

Morgan & Mees, Mathenesserlaan 145, 3015 CJ Rotterdam

The same goes for the restaurant at Morgan & Mees, which has lunch and dinner menus based around modern European classics – think steak tartare, braised octopus and confit celeriac with miso cream. It’s also open to guests and non-guests for breakfast, and the bar has a great range of cocktails, wines and snacks. The design throughout is stunning, the food is excellent and the atmosphere is convivial and laid-back – always a winning combination.

Restaurant open daily for breakfast and lunch, and for dinner Wednesday-Saturday; bar open for drinks and snacks from 8am to 10pm Sunday-Thursday, and from 8am to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays

Bar Berta, Calandstraat 6B, 3016 CB Rotterdam

Bar Berta is the place to go for delicious Spanish tapas and a bustling, informal vibe. Food is served up from an open kitchen behind the striking red-tiled counter, and you can choose between bar or table seats. If you’re stuck for choice, staff can select dishes for you based on your tastes and dietary needs – a great way to try something new.

Open from noon to 11pm Thursday-Tuesday; closed on Wednesdays

Vineum, Eendrachtsweg 23, 3012 LB Rotterdam

We didn’t get chance to try it ourselves, but this airy restaurant comes highly recommended for relaxed yet high-end meals. Chef Danny Mouthaan blends classic French and Mediterranean cuisine with global influences, resulting in dishes such as lobster crème brûlée with sashimi tuna, tagliatelle with truffle cream and duck breast with potato millefeuille and Roquefort. There are three- and four-course menus with a choice of options, as well as a range of longer tasting menus and a vast selection of wines available by the glass or bottle. The decor is simple yet elegant, with exposed brick walls and a subtle wine theme – and if you’re staying at Hotel âme, it’s just a few doors down the street.

Open for lunch and dinner (noon to midnight) Monday-Friday and for dinner only (5.30pm to midnight) on Saturdays; closed on Sundays

NY Basement, Koninginnenhoofd 1, 3072 AD Rotterdam  

The basement bar and restaurant of the iconic Hotel New York (once the headquarters of the Holland-America shipping line) is a dark, atmospheric place with panelled walls, turquoise Art Deco tiles and more than a hint of old-school glamour. There’s a long counter where you can linger over cocktails, cosy booths for indulgent food inspired by the Roaring Twenties (oysters, steak tartare, smoked salmon with egg and chives) and regular live jazz performances. It’s like stepping back in time, in the best possible way. It sits on the dockside across the river from the city centre but is easily reached by water taxi – definitely the most fun way to zip around Rotterdam!

Open from 5pm to 11pm Tuesday-Thursday, and from 5pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays; closed on Sundays

Old Scuola, Achterklooster 1, 3011 RA Rotterdam (Centrum) and Abraham Tuschinskistraat 58, 3015 GK Rotterdam (West)

Marco Zander and Daniel van der Stel began serving wood-fired sourdough pizzas from a food truck a few years ago and now have a restaurant with two branches, one in landmark 1950s-factory-turned-creative-hub Het Industriegebouw and the other to the west of the city centre. Both are soaring industrial-style spaces with raw concrete, exposed pipework and wraparound terrazzo bars offset by oversized plant. The menu incorporates innovative toppings alongside classic options; the arancini, made with mozzarella from Dutch buffalos, are a must to start with.

Centrum branch open from 5.30pm to 10pm Monday-Thursday and from 5.30pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays; West branch open from 5pm to 10pm Monday-Thursday and from 1pm to 10pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Héroine, Kipstraat 12, 3011 RA Rotterdam

Also located in Het Industriegebouw is Héroine, a fine-dining restaurant whose dark wood-lined interior features velvet banquettes, steel-wire Bertoia chairs and striking artwork. Chef Michael Schook’s bold five-, six- and seven-course tasting menus incorporate influences from all over the globe, leading to unusual flavour combinations such as langoustine with rhubarb and edible flowers, Jerusalem artichoke with orange blossom and nashi pear, and guinea fowl with BBQ peas and yuzu. There’s also a carefully curated and at times surprising wine list from renowned sommelier Dennis Koopman.

Open from 5.30pm to midnight Tuesday-Saturday; closed on Sundays and Mondays

Harvest, Glashaven 105–107, 3011 XG Rotterdam

This waterfront café and bakery is ideal for brunch, lunch or a relaxing coffee. The owners spent a lot of time in Melbourne and this is reflected in the menu, which encompasses the likes of chia pudding with rhubarb compote, roasted aubergine with miso, and eggs Benedict with asparagus and pea pesto. There’s also an array of freshly baked breads and pastries which you can eat in or take away.

Open from 9am to 4pm Monday and Wednesday-Friday, and from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays; closed on Tuesdays

Markethal, Ds. Jan Scharpstraat 298, 3011 GZ Rotterdam

Rotterdam’s modern arched-shaped market hall is home to more than 100 food stalls and sit-down eateries, all set under a vast roof decorated with a colourful mural depicting flowers, fruit, fish and insects. The offering spans the globe, and you’ll find everything from Dutch waffles to Greek mezze to Japanese sushi. I’d recommend just turning up, wandering around and seeing what takes your fancy.

Open from 10am to 8pm Monday-Thursday and on Saturdays, from 10am to 9pm on Fridays and from noon to 6pm on Sundays; individual stall hours may vary

What to see & do in RotterdaM

Depot Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Museumpark 24, 3015 CX Rotterdam

Set in a mirror-clad, bowl-shaped building designed by architects MVRDV, the Depot isn’t a museum in the conventional sense – it’s a publicly accessible art warehouse for the neighbouring Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, where more than 150,000 paintings, sculptures, ceramics and pieces of furniture are housed across six floors. Glass walls allow visitors to peek inside the climate-controlled storage compartments and get a glimpse of the vast collection, only 20% of which is ever on show in the main museum at any one time. You can also watch the restorers and conservationists at work, and book onto guided tours that take you even further behind the scenes. Dotted here and there are exhibition spaces where various items from the collection are curated into regularly changing themed displays. When we visited, one explored the secrets behind Italian Renaissance drawings; another presented paintings on freestanding glass easels that showed the backs as well as the fronts, revealing more about their techniques, materials and history.

Open from 11am to 5pm Tuesday-Sunday; closed on Mondays. Tickets for a specific time slot must be booked online in advance

Sonneveld House, Jongkindstraat 12, 3015 CG Rotterdam

Built in the early 1930s for factory director Albertus Sonneveld and his family, this is one of the best-preserved examples of the Nieuwe Bouwen style – the Dutch strand of functionalism, which prioritised light, air and space. Both the house and its modernist interiors were designed by architects Brinkman & Van der Vlugt and have been meticulously restored, with visitors able to wander around freely. The quietly luxurious rooms are linked by a stunning spiral staircase and offset neutral browns and greys with bold colours such as canary yellow, vermillion red, emerald green and cornflower blue. There’s also custom-made tubular steel furniture by industrial designer W.H. Gispen, plus technology that was very advanced for its time (electric clocks, a built-in music system, multi-jet showers, heated towel rails). It’s both a fascinating glimpse into the family’s lifestyle and an insight into a very important moment in design history.

Open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday-Sunday; closed on Mondays

Nieuwe Institut, Museumpark 25, 3015 CB Rotterdam

The Sonneveld House is managed by the Nieuwe Institut – Rotterdam’s museum of architecture, design and digital culture, which is located opposite – and you can buy combined tickets for both. The exhibitions at the Nieuwe Institut change regularly, so it’s worth checking what’s on and whether it’s of any interest beforehand. During our visit, it was playing host to an interesting exploration of the history and future of garden design, along with a look at how Dutch design has evolved over the last 30 years.

Open from 10am to 5pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and from 10am to 9pm on Thursdays; closed on Mondays

Cube Houses, Overblaak 70, 3011 MH, Rotterdam

Located right next to Blaak metro station, near the market hall, the bright yellow Cube Houses date from the early 1980s and were the brainchild of architect Piet Blom. Designed to provide high-density housing without compromising on internal space, they were inspired by trees and are clustered together to form a forest-like ‘urban village’ around a series of small communal squares. Each consists of a multi-level living space set within a tilted cube (the tree canopy), which is perched on a hexagonal access staircase (the trunk). Many of them are still lived in but one has been opened up as a museum, complete with the original sloping walls, slanting windows and custom-made furniture and fittings. Visitor numbers at any one time are limited so you might have to queue for a bit, but it’s worth it to experience another slice of Rotterdam’s varied and at times mind-boggling architectural history.

Open from 10am to 6pm daily

Delfshaven

To see a totally different side of Rotterdam, head to historic Delfshaven – one of the few areas of the city to escape destruction during the Second World War. Once a busy harbour, it’s now a lovely place for a stroll and a lazy coffee, with delightfully wonky 17th-century townhouses, pavement cafés overlooking the canal, all manner of boats and even a working windmill. Soif, set by one of Delfshaven’s bridges at Mathenesserdijk 438, is a great option for lunch or drinks and has waterside tables on a leafy, fairylit deck.

The Eramus Bridge

Opened in 1996, Ben van Berkel’s landmark Erasmus Bridge spans the Nieuwe Maas river, linking southern Rotterdam to the city centre. It’s a strikingly elegant and sculptural structure, with cables emerging from a soaring white pylon said by many to resemble a swan. You can walk across it, but it’s far more fun to whizz beneath on a water taxi heading to Hotel New York (see ‘Where to Eat’) or the photography and Fenix museums listed below.

Nederlands Fotomuseum, Brede Hilledijk 95, 3072 KD Rotterdam

The Dutch Photography Museum is temporarily closed while it moves to a larger building, but it’s due to reopen later in 2025 so I’m including it in this guide anyway. We visited it at its former location just before it shut and very much enjoyed the two exhibitions taking place at the time – one exploring feminism in photography, the other presenting the stories of Turkish women who migrated to the Netherlands in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Its new home, in a converted waterfront warehouse, promises to be even better, with eight floors of exhibition space plus galleries dedicated to its permanent collection, which encompasses historical, social and cultural images from the 1840s to the present day.

Opening hours not yet available

Fenix Museum of Migration, Paul Nijghkade 5, 3072 AT Rotterdam

The Fenix Museum actually opened shortly after our trip to Rotterdam, but it sounds fascinating – and the building, which we saw from the outside, is incredible. Designed by MAD Architects and Bureau Polderman, it occupies a renovated warehouse with a steel-clad double-helix staircase that spirals up to a rooftop platform with panoramic views. The exhibitions explore migration through art, with a vast collection of historic and contemporary objects that tell stories of journeys, identity, home, belonging, departures, arrivals and goodbyes. There’s also a free-to-access covered public square known as ‘Plein’, which has a coffee counter, kiosks selling newspapers from around the world, and regular pop-up food events where Rotterdam-based chefs share their food culture with visitors.

Open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday-Sunday; closed on Mondays

SS Rotterdam, 3E Katendrechtsehoofd 25, 3072 AM Rotterdam

Once the pride of the Holland-America Line fleet, ocean liner the SS Rotterdam was launched in 1957 and sailed back and forth across the Atlantic for decades before her retirement in 2000. She’s now a floating hotel moored in the city after which she was named, but you don’t need to stay there to visit. The public areas, restaurants and bars are freely accessible and there are guided tours for those who want to see behind the scenes; there’s even a themed escape room in the ship’s belly. We had a wander around the decks, imagining what life might have been like on voyages, then headed to the Ocean Wine Bar – which still largely retains its original 1950s decor – for bubbly with a view over the water to the city lights beyond.

Ship tours between 10am and 5pm daily; Ocean Wine Bar open from 3pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays and from 3pm to 8pm on Sundays; other restaurant and bar hours vary

Where to shop in Rotterdam

Hotel âme, Eendrachtsweg 19, 3012 LB Rotterdam

Hotel âme’s ground-floor concept store is a must-visit for anyone who likes understated, considered design. It sells home accessories, books, skin and body care, home fragrance and tableware from the Netherlands, Scandinavia and Japan, as well as owner Angel Cheung-Kwok’s own handmade ceramics. It’s the kind of place that will make you want to buy everything and purchase extra luggage for your journey home.

Open daily from 9am to 5pm

MONO Japan, Pannekoekstraat 51A, 3011 LC Rotterdam

You’ll also find pared-back design at MONO, which specialises in clothing, food, home decor and lifestyle pieces from Japan. It’s all beautifully presented and a joy to browse, with something for every interest – the ideal place for picking up a gift or treating yourself.

Open from 10.30am to 6pm Wednesday-Saturday and from noon to 6pm on Sundays; closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

NAI Booksellers, Nieuwe Institut, Museumpark 25, 3015 CB Rotterdam

This specialist bookshop is heaven for design lovers. There’s a wide choice of titles covering architecture, interiors, gardening, urban planning and more, with publications in Dutch, English and various other languages. It’s located in the lobby of the Nieuwe Institut (see ‘What to See & Do’ above), but you don’t need to buy a museum ticket to access it.

Open from 10am to 5pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Friday-Sunday, and from 10am to 9pm on Thursdays; closed on Mondays

Objet Trouvé, Hoogstraat 54A, 3011 PS Rotterdam

Founded by sisters Josje and Floor Theuns, this refined fashion boutique stocks timeless, elegant design, with a considered selection of external brands alongside an in-house line called ICONS by Objet Trouvé.

Open from 10am to 6pm Tuesday-Friday, from 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and from 1pm to 5pm on Sundays; closed on Mondays

Nen Xavier, Pannekoekstraat 62a, 3011 LJ Rotterdam

Nen Xavier’s minimalist store has a curated selection of new, deadstock and preloved clothing and accessories, priding itself on ‘one-of-a-kind pieces at every price point and in every size’. It also provides a space for upcoming brands from around the world to get a footing in Europe.

Open from 11am to 6pm Wednesday-Saturday and from 1pm to 5pm on Sundays; closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

Dearhunter, Eendrachtsweg 55A, 3012 LE Rotterdam

This airy, pared-back boutique is a treasure trove of handpicked vintage clothing and accessories, with very helpful staff and well-ordered, easy-to-browse rails.

Open from noon to 6pm Tuesday-Sunday; closed on Mondays

Pantoufle, Vijverhofstraat 100 & 102, 3032 SP Rotterdam

Pantoufle is a slightly unusual shop in that you have to make an appointment to visit, but it’s well worth doing so. Wonderfully calm and beautifully styled, its focus is ‘products that elevate daily things’, whether that be a gorgeous handmade cup for your morning coffee, a stylish lamp to read by in the evening or a set of soft linen sheets to climb into at night. There are pieces from makers all over the world, and most are crafted from natural materials that will only grow more appealing with time.

Open by appointment on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays

Getting to Rotterdam & getting around

Rotterdam Central station is served by trains from all over the Netherlands, as well as international services from Brussels, Antwerp, Frankfurt and Paris and direct Eurostar trains from London. The city also has a small airport with some European flights, but if you’re coming by air you’ll mostly likely arrive via Amsterdam Schipol. Direct trains run from Schipol to Rotterdam several times an hour and the journey time is only 25 minutes.

You’ll find many things in Rotterdam are within walking distance of each other, but there’s a comprehensive tram and metro network plus a fleet of on-demand water taxis and some scheduled water bus services.

Please note this city guide to Rotterdam contains affiliate links (all clearly marked), which means I will receive a small commission on any resulting bookings. You won’t pay any more by clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites directly, and it helps to support the free content I create here.

Vineum, Old Scuola, Héroine, MONO Japan and Pantoufle images, Morgan & Mees hotel images one, two and five-10, Morgan & Mees restaurant images one-five and NY Basement image two courtesy of the respective venues; all other photography by Abi Dare

The post Top tips for a city break in Rotterdam appeared first on These Four Walls.