De Witte Aap ★ 4.4
The anchor of Rotterdam's most famous bar street since 1973, beloved for craft Dutch beers, late-night energy, and free live music every weekend.
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Rotterdam for grown-ups.
Where to drink
Spikizi Bar ★ 4.3
Hidden in Katendrecht's former sailors' quarter, Spikizi blends West African flavour profiles into its cocktail programme, pairing dark rum and mezcal with tropical.
Proeflokaal Reijngoud ★ 4.5
Rotterdam's finest genever proeflokaal (tasting room), stocking over 100 Dutch and Belgian genevers in a tiled interior that has survived since the late 19th.
Mavis ★ 4.2
Perched above the Maas on the Westzeedijk, Mavis pairs creative seasonal cocktails with one of the best sunset-over-the-river terraces in the city.
NY Basement ★ 4.1
In the basement of the New York Hotel on Kop van Zuid, NY Basement channels Manhattan energy with DJ sets, cocktails, and intimate jazz evenings until 4am on weekends.
La Soiree ★ 4.2
A bistro-style bar on the Veerhaven sailing harbour, La Soiree pairs oysters and charcuterie with natural wines and classic cocktails on one of Rotterdam's.
Ballroom Rotterdam ★ 4.0
A long-running restaurant and gin tonic bar on Witte de Withstraat pouring more than 160 gins from across the globe, with a back garden terrace and resident DJs on weekends.
Cafe Cuba ★ 4.0
The closest thing to a Havana paladare on Witte de Withstraat, Cafe Cuba pours honest mojitos and rum cocktails to a salsa soundtrack most nights of the week.
Kaapse Maria ★ 4.3
The Kaapse Brouwers taproom inside the Fenix Food Factory serves the full Kaapse range fresh from the tanks with Maas harbour views and a food-factory atmosphere.
Bar Brewski ★ 4.4
Noord's definitive craft-beer pub pulls 100+ rotating taps covering Dutch, Belgian, and international micros. Beer-flight paddles let you sample the breadth in one.
Louie Louie ★ 4.1
A moody, candlelit cocktail lounge on Botersloot with signature drinks built around Dutch botanicals and a kitchen churning out cured meats and cheese plates until.
Cafe De Unie ★ 4.0
A classic Rotterdam grand cafe in a Dudok-era building on Mauritsweg, De Unie pours Dutch lagers and local craft ales with a borrel board to the city's mixed.
Bokaal Rotterdam ★ 4.2
A minimalist tap-and-wine bar on Kruiskade with 25 craft lines and a curated short wine list. Bokaal's charcuterie-and-cheese programme rewards unhurried weekday.
Rotown ★ 4.3
Rotterdam's most beloved music bar and indie venue, Rotown has launched local bands and hosted cult acts since 1993, with a bar open until 4 AM on weekend nights.
Bar Old Dutch ★ 4.1
A tiny vintage bar in historic Delfshaven, Bar Old Dutch curates pre-Prohibition cocktails using Dutch genevers, Dutch bitters, and hard-to-find Dutch spirits.
Loos ★ 4.0
A sprawling waterfront grand cafe on the Wilhelminapier with one of the best harbour terraces in the city, drawing after-work drinkers and weekend brunch goers.
Cafe Het Elfde Gebod ★ 3.9
A no-nonsense brown-cafe neighbourhood pub in Noord with a summer beer garden, classic Dutch snacks, and the unpretentious atmosphere that Rotterdam's bar culture.
Bar BHV ★ 4.0
A slick city-centre cocktail bar in the Blaak precinct, close to the Markthal and Cube Houses. BHV specialises in Dutch-accented spirits with a short but thoughtful.
Tales and Spirits Rotterdam ★ 4.4
Rotterdam's most theatrical cocktail bar: a speakeasy entered through a hidden bookcase door, with tableside preparation and rare spirits. Advance booking is required.
Wijnbar Lekker ★ 4.0
A neighbourhood wine bar in Kralingen with 60 pours by the glass covering Dutch, Belgian, French, and natural wines, complemented by cheese boards and weekly.
De Tuin van de Vier Windstreken ★ 4.0
A grand cafe and brasserie housed in an 1867 mansion between the De Lelie and De Ster windmills at the Kralingse Plas. The summer terrace running out to the water is one of the largest in the city, making it the default Kralingen sundowner stop.