Within an hour away by train, Rotterdam is one of the most popular day trip destinations from Amsterdam. You can easily hop on a train from either one of the major train stations in Amsterdam (e.g. Amsterdam Centraal) just tapping your international credit or debit card without purchasing any ticket.
I arrived in Rotterdam Centraal in the morning, made cultural visits to the Huis Sonneveld and Nieuwe Instituut, then started my café-hopping adventure in the city.
1. Blend Artwork + Coffee
A combination of a café, art gallery, and design shop, Blend Artwork + Coffee was my first stop of the day. With an aesthetic round wooden communal table and art pieces decorating the interior and a tranquil garden with outdoor seating in the backyard, the café made a charming spot for breakfast and brunch. The staff were friendly to introduce the menu and recommend the labnehs.
I was surprised to find a section of the menu dedicated to different types of labneh, a Middle Eastern dish, in a Dutch café. There were different flavours of the labneh such as crispy chilli, dukkah, and coffee honey. All their labneh was made with a combination of yogurt and goat yogurt strained every night in their fridges.
Since I was feeling peckish, I ordered the Breakfast Platter (EUR 14.95, SGD 22.4) which came with a small classic labneh, croissant, jam, soft boiled egg, and sourdough bread on the side. The classic labneh, topped with olive oil, za’atar, sumac and blueberries, was fresh and creamy, pairing well with the sourdough.
I also had a regular sized Latte (EUR 4.25, SGD 6.4), made with coffee roasted by Manhattan Coffee Roasters in Rotterdam. There was a range of non-coffee drinks available as well.
Thanks to the fresh and artisanal ingredients used, I had a hearty and satisfying brunch. The atmosphere was also cozy and peaceful, and I could imagine myself going regularly if I resided in the city.
Nieuwe Binnenweg 305A, 3021 GH Rotterdam, Netherlands
Mon, Wed – Fri 8.30am – 5pm
Sat to Sun 9.30am – 5.30pm
2. Büro Bobo
Located in a secluded corner in the creative Delfshaven district, Büro Bobo, or Buero Bobo, was a café that one might easily miss. This small, 15 square meters space, was a concept store integrating interior design, espresso and filter coffee, and natural wine.
As I chatted with the barista, I found out that the owner was an architectural designer who moved from Germany to Rotterdam, and who built the café interior – minimalist and warm at the same time.
The coffee served here featured rotating selections from top European roasters such as Prolog Coffee from Copenhagen, Schot Coffee Roasters from Rotterdam, and Sprout Coffee Roasters from Eindhoven.
I had an Espresso with Milk (EUR 4, SGD 6), which had a creamy mouthfeel and a slight acidity which I enjoyed. The best part of the experience was definitely the conversations I’ve had with the barista and other patrons who dropped by, made possible by the small and cozy gathering space.
Coolhavenstraat 3, 3024 TD Rotterdam, Netherlands
Mon to Fri 8.15am – 3pm
3. âme cafe and concept store
As the last café stop before heading back to Amsterdam, I dropped by âme cafe and concept store, located within âme Hotel. The hotel was housed in a monumental building with an old yet charming structure and façade. The owners kept most of the old elements and designed the interior with Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics, with the use of natural materials and colours.
In the café, there were displays of interior and lifestyle items for purchase along with communal and individual tables to have breakfast and drinks. Unfortunately, it was already late afternoon when I went so I could not try the dishes on the breakfast menu (available everyday till 1pm) – think eggs on toast, avocado toast, yogurt bowls.
Instead, I had a Matcha Latte (EUR 5.8, + 0.3 for oat milk, SGD 8.7) and a Cardamom Bun (EUR 4.95, SGD 7.4) at the counter table. There were also some interesting options, such as their Special soda made with yuzu matcha and espresso yuzu tonic, and a Strawberry matcha, but I decided to play it safe and basic. Both the matcha and bun were above average, though not the best I’ve had in Europe.
Eendrachtsweg 19, 3012 LB Rotterdam, Netherlands
9am – 5pm daily
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