23 restaurants in Rotterdam, editor-picked for sunday dinner. Where to eat a sit-down dinner on sunday. All restaurants in Rotterdam.
Mecca ★ 4.3
Rotterdam Noord · Noordsingel 39, 3035 EJ Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 08:00-17:00
A Middle Eastern-style brunch cafe on Noordsingel serving shakshuka, mezze platters, and specialty coffee in a lively room. One of the best weekend brunch spots in Rotterdam Noord.
Tip: The shakshuka with feta is served in a cast-iron skillet and is large enough to share between two.
Restaurant Bazar ★ 4.2
Witte de Withstraat · Witte de Withstraat 16, 3012 BP Rotterdam
Hours: Mon-Thu 11:00-23:00; Fri-Sun 10:00-00:00
Three floors of Moroccan, Persian, and Levantine cooking in Hotel Bazar on Witte de With. The souk-panelled interior and long terrace make it the street's most.
Tip: Book ahead for the terrace in summer; the interior is loud but lively on Friday evenings.
Dewi Sri ★ 4.2
Hillegersberg · Grindweg 650, 3055 VD Rotterdam
Hours: Tue-Sun 16:30-22:00; closed Mon
A long-running Indonesian rijsttafel address in Hillegersberg, open since 1995, with a garden terrace and a kitchen that balances classic Javanese stews and sambals with lighter contemporary dishes. The reference rice table dinner in the north of the city.
Tip: Book a terrace table on a summer evening and pre-order the rijsttafel so the dishes land in the right order.
Ter Marsch & Co ★ 4.2
Witte de Withstraat · Witte de Withstraat 70, 3012 BT Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 12:00-22:00
Rotterdam's most acclaimed craft burger bar on Witte de Withstraat, using dry-aged Dutch beef and house-baked buns. The best burger in the city by consistent.
Tip: The shoestring fries with truffle mayo are shareable and worth ordering alongside the burger.
Grand Locale ★ 4.2
Nieuw-Kralingen · Bep van Klaverenplein 1, 3062 BH Rotterdam
Hours: Mon-Tue 17:00-22:00; Wed-Thu and Sun 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00
A waterfront Italian grand cafe in Nieuw-Kralingen by the Old Scuola team, with wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, pasta and natural wines for 180 indoor seats and a 150-seat terrace.
Tip: Book a table on the waterside terrace for the golden hour: it is open until 23:00 on Fri-Sat.
Harvest Cafe and Bakery ★ 4.2
Centrum · Glashaven 107, 3011 XG Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 08:00-17:00
Melbourne-style all-day brunch with a sourdough bakery programme near Laurenskerk. The coffee is strong, the bread is excellent, and the eggs benedict is the city's.
Tip: The sourdough loaves sell from 08:00; locals buy them for the week. Arrive early for the fresh pull.
Loetje Rotterdam ★ 4.1
Centrum · Binnenrotte 192, 3011 HP Rotterdam
Hours: Mon-Sun 12:00-22:00
The Rotterdam outpost of Amsterdam's legendary steak house, serving straightforward dry-aged Dutch beef with no frills in a busy dining room next to the Markthal on Binnenrotte.
Tip: Book the terrace for lunch on a sunny day; the Markthal is visible from your seat.
Roast ★ 4.1
Rotterdam Noord · Middellandplein 21b, 3021 BV Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 08:00-17:00
A Melbourne-style brunch and coffee bar on Middellandplein specialising in eggs benedict, avocado dishes, and specialty filter coffee. One of the best-loved all-day brunch spots in Rotterdam Noord.
Tip: The Saturday queue starts around 10:00; arrive by 09:30 for a table without waiting.
Ballentent ★ 4.0
Kralingen · Parkkade 1, 3016 AD Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 12:00-22:00
A legendary Rotterdam harbourside restaurant in Kralingen Park since 1929, known for its terrace on the Kralingse Plas lake and classic Dutch dishes like uitsmijter.
Tip: Ask for the daily stamppot when it is on; it sells out by early evening.
Madame Saigon ★ 4.0
Witte de Withstraat · Witte de Withstraat 47, 3012 BN Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 12:00-22:00
A Vietnamese restaurant on Witte de Withstraat with pho, bun bo, and banh mi made from long-simmered house broths. The most-praised Vietnamese kitchen in central Rotterdam.
Tip: The lunch set before 15:00 is better value than dinner; the kitchen uses the same produce.
Afsana ★ 4.0
centrum · Nieuwe Binnenweg 179, 3021 GC Rotterdam
Hours: Tue-Sun 16:00-22:00
An Afghan restaurant near Rijnhaven serving ashak dumplings, lamb qorma, and bolani flatbread in a relaxed dining room. One of the few dedicated Afghan kitchens in Rotterdam.
Tip: Call ahead: the kitchen sometimes closes early when produce runs out, especially the ashak.
Spaghetteria ★ 4.0
Rotterdam Noord · Nieuwe Binnenweg 254, 3021 GL Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 17:00-22:00; Sat-Sun also 12:00-16:00
A long-running pasta specialist on Nieuwe Binnenweg with handmade fresh pasta from tagliatelle al ragu to cacio e pepe. The most affordable proper Italian pasta in Rotterdam.
Tip: The pasta-lunch on Saturday is one of the better deals in Rotterdam Noord: three courses under 20 euros.
Crave Coffee and Bakery ★ 4.0
Centrum · Vogelenzang 6, 3011 LN Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 08:00-17:00
A vegan bakery and cafe near the Markthal specialising in babka, cinnamon rolls, and sourdough. One of the few entirely plant-based bakers serving the Centrum.
Tip: The pistachio babka sells out by noon on weekends; arrive early or call ahead to reserve a loaf.
By Jarmusch ★ 4.0
Rotterdam Noord · Nieuwe Binnenweg 575, 3023 EN Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 09:00-21:00
A modern American diner on Nieuwe Binnenweg serving all-day breakfast: eggs any style, fluffy pancakes, chicken and waffles, and breakfast burritos open until 16:00.
Tip: The lunch combo with a coffee and a sandwich is one of the better-value deals on Nieuwe Binnenweg.
Nine Bar ★ 4.0
Centrum · Botersloot 44a, 3011 HH Rotterdam
Hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00; Sat-Sun 09:00-17:00
A small specialty coffee bar and light lunch spot near the Markthal with rotating single-origin beans and a short savoury menu. The pour-over programme changes.
Tip: The pour-over takes five minutes to prepare; this is not an espresso-and-go bar, and that is the point.
Casa Thai ★ 3.9
Centrum · Nieuwe Binnenweg 115, 3014 GH Rotterdam
Hours: Daily from 17:00; weekend late service until 01:00
An authentic Thai family restaurant on Nieuwe Binnenweg with laab, som tam, and massaman curry at prices below their quality level. One of the city's more honest Thai kitchens.
Tip: Order the green mango salad as a starter; it cuts through the richness of the curry.
Botanero ★ 3.9
Centrum · Mariniersweg 55, 3011 ND Rotterdam
Hours: Daily from 17:00; Fri-Sat until 02:00
A Mexican cantina near Mariniersweg serving handmade tortillas, proper mole, and agua fresca. One of the more authentic Mexican restaurants in the Netherlands.
Tip: The happy-hour snack menu from 17:00 to 19:00 offers the best value in the room.
Warung So So Lobi ★ 3.8
Centrum · Jonker Fransstraat 71, 3031 AS Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 12:00-20:00; closed Sun
A Surinamese canteen on Jonker Fransstraat serving moksi meti (mixed meats with rice), roti, and saoto soup from a short menu that changes daily. One of the most authentic Surinamese spots in the city.
Tip: Bring cash: this is a card-optional kitchen. The roti sells out by mid-afternoon on Saturdays.
Dutch Dukes ★ 3.8
Witte de Withstraat · Witte de Withstraat 81, 3012 BN Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 12:00-23:00
A British-style gastropub on Witte de Withstraat serving fish and chips, steak pies, and Sunday roasts. The most committed British pub kitchen in Rotterdam, popular with expats and locals alike.
Tip: The Sunday roast sells out quickly; reserve a table by Thursday if you want to guarantee a seat.
Euromast Restaurant ★ 3.8
Centrum · Parkhaven 20, 3016 GM Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 11:00-21:00; brunch Sat-Sun 09:30-11:00
Dining at 96 metres in the Euromast tower with 360-degree views of the Rotterdam skyline and the Maas. The lunch set menu at €35 is the best-value panoramic.
Tip: The brunch on Saturday morning starts at 09:30 and includes the view before the tourist crowds arrive.
Ristorante Napoli ★ 3.7
Centrum · Meent 81a, 3011 JN Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 12:00-22:00
A Neapolitan pizza and trattoria on the Meent using San Marzano tomatoes and 00 flour in a wood-fired oven. The city's most serious Neapolitan-style pizza.
Tip: The tiramisu is homemade and better than it looks; order it early as it runs out.
De Ballentent ★ 3.6
Kralingen · Parkkade 1, 3016 AD Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 11:00-22:00
The original Rotterdam ballentent cafe in Kralingen Park, known for terrace meals overlooking the lake. The uitsmijter here is a Rotterdam city classic at €12.
Tip: The outdoor terrace faces west; the evening light in summer makes this worth a detour for drinks alone.
Zainab Roshni Mahal ★ 3.5
Delfshaven · Schiedamseweg 12, 3025 AK Rotterdam
Hours: Daily 12:00-22:00
An Indian and Pakistani buffet restaurant on Schiedamseweg in Delfshaven serving biryani, curries, and fresh naan. The all-you-can-eat lunch is one of Rotterdam's best-value meals.
Tip: The buffet is refilled fresh at 12:00 and 18:00; arrive at either time for the best selection.