Rotterdam doesn’t get enough credit for its cafe scene, and that is honestly your gain.
This port city in South Holland has quietly built one of the most exciting specialty coffee cultures in the Netherlands, packed with award-winning roasters, cozy independents, and spaces that are as architecturally stunning as the city itself, much like the coffeeshop eindhoven scene just an hour away.
Whether you are cafe hopping for a weekend or hunting your new work-from-coffee-shop spot, Rotterdam delivers. Here are the best cafes worth your time.
Ripsnorter Cafe
Best For
Serious specialty coffee lovers
If you only visit one cafe in Rotterdam, make it this one. Ripsnorter is the flagship cafe of acclaimed micro-roastery Ripsnorter Coffee, and it shows in every cup.
Home to the 2024 Dutch Barista Champion, this place is serious about specialty espresso without ever feeling intimidating.
The warmly lit interior, pink-lettered storefront, and single-origin seasonal menu make it as visually memorable as it is delicious. It is new, it is buzzy, and it is already essential, much like what you will find in the Utrecht coffeeshop scene.
Atmosphere
Warmly lit, buzzy specialty espresso bar with iconic pink-lettered storefront
Menu Highlights
- Single-origin seasonal espresso
- Specialty milk drinks
- Pour-over coffee options
- Rotating bean menu from in-house micro-roastery
Giraffe Coffee Bar and Academy
Best For
Remote workers and coffee students
Giraffe is one of those rare spots that works just as hard for remote workers as it does for coffee lovers, and it genuinely excels at both.
Part coffee bar, part training academy, it is a go-to for anyone wanting reliable WiFi, spacious seating, and genuinely excellent espresso.
The calm, focused atmosphere makes it ideal for long work sessions, and knowing your barista might be mid-academy training somehow makes every cup feel even more considered.
Atmosphere
Calm, spacious, and focused, ideal for long work or study sessions
Menu Highlights
- Espresso-based specialty drinks
- Filter coffee options
- Plant-based milk alternatives
- Barista-crafted seasonal menu
Schot Coffee Roasters
Best For
Coffee geeks who want to taste the roast
Schot is where Rotterdam’s coffee scene shows its depth. This roastery-cafe combination means the beans in your cup were roasted right here, and you can taste the difference.
Their rotating single-origin menu keeps things interesting, and the baristas are genuinely knowledgeable about origin traceability and roast profiles.
If you are the type who likes to understand what is actually in your flat white, Schot will happily walk you through it. A must for any serious coffee lover passing through.
Atmosphere
Roastery-cafe with an expert, education-forward coffee bar vibe
Menu Highlights
- Rotating single-origin espresso
- V60 pour-over and filter brews
- Seasonal roast profiles
- Wholesale and in-house roasted beans
ame Cafe and Concept Store
Best For
Weekend slow mornings with good taste
ame is the kind of place you walk into for a coffee and leave having reconsidered your entire home decor. This concept store-cafe hybrid is beautifully curated.
Think natural light, plant-filled shelving, handcrafted ceramics, and a slow-coffee menu that matches the unhurried atmosphere.
It is one of Rotterdam’s most aesthetically considered spaces, and the food menu is just as thoughtfully put together. Come on a weekend morning when you have nowhere to be. You will want to linger.
Atmosphere
Minimalist, plant-filled concept store with natural light and slow-coffee energy
Menu Highlights
- Slow-pour specialty coffee
- Artisan food items
- Thoughtfully curated retail products alongside drinks
- Handcrafted ceramics and lifestyle goods
Blend Artwork + Coffee
Best For
Art lovers and creative coffee crowds
Blend is exactly what its name promises, a seamless mix of great coffee and local art that somehow feels completely natural.
The walls rotate with work from Rotterdam-based artists, giving the space an ever-changing energy that rewards repeat visits.
The espresso is taken just as seriously as the curation, and the whole place has the kind of creative, community-driven atmosphere that makes you want to stay longer than planned. A genuine gem in Rotterdam’s cafe scene.
Atmosphere
Creative gallery-cafe with rotating local art and a community-driven vibe
Menu Highlights
- Specialty espresso and artisan coffee
- Rotating drinks menu
- Artisan pastries
- Coffee served alongside rotating art exhibitions
Sound Kitchen
Best For
Brunch dates and chilled weekday work
Sound Kitchen has a warmth to it that is hard to manufacture, this is just a genuinely lovely neighbourhood cafe.
The name hints at the dual focus: quality coffee and a kitchen that actually cares about food. Their brunch menu is worth planning around.
The relaxed, music-curated atmosphere means it is equally good for a lazy Saturday catch-up or a focused weekday work session. It is not flashy, but that is entirely the point. Rotterdam needs more places like this.
Atmosphere
Warm neighbourhood cafe with a curated playlist and an unhurried kitchen energy
Menu Highlights
- Weekend brunch plates
- Quality espresso bar
- Homemade food items from the kitchen
- Specialty drinks with locally sourced ingredients
Lot and Daan
Best For
Locals’ favourite for everyday coffee
Lot and Daan has that rare quality of feeling immediately familiar, even on your first visit.
It is the kind of neighbourhood cafe Rotterdam locals actually use, for morning coffee, a slow breakfast, or just somewhere to decompress mid-afternoon.
The homemade baked goods are a genuine highlight, and the barista-crafted espresso drinks are consistently well made. If you are building a cafe itinerary for Rotterdam, this one earns its spot without needing to shout about it.
Opening Hours
Open mornings through afternoon daily
Atmosphere
Relaxed and familiar neighbourhood cafe with a genuinely local feel
Menu Highlights
- Homemade baked goods
- Barista-crafted espresso drinks
- Breakfast and slow brunch options
- Specialty coffee, quality-focused
Sajoer
Best For
Plant-based food with cultural story
Sajoer stands out in Rotterdam’s cafe scene for a reason that goes beyond coffee, the food is genuinely remarkable.
Rooted in Dutch-Indonesian culinary tradition, this plant-based cafe brings real flavour and cultural story to every plate.
The colourful interior matches the menu’s personality, and even if you only stop in for a coffee, the smell of whatever is coming out of the kitchen will change your plans fast. It is one of those spots that makes Rotterdam feel truly distinct from any other city.
Opening Hours
Open lunch and brunch hours
Atmosphere
Colourful, multicultural, and flavour-forward with a welcoming, story-driven energy
Menu Highlights
- Dutch-Indonesian inspired plant-based dishes
- Vegan and vegetarian-friendly full menu
- Specialty coffee alongside bold food flavours
- Rotating seasonal plates
Markthal
Best For
Architecture fans and food market explorers
Markthal is not a single cafe, it is an entire food experience housed in one of the most architecturally jaw-dropping buildings in the Netherlands.
The horseshoe-shaped structure in Rotterdam’s Blaak neighbourhood shelters dozens of food stalls, fresh produce vendors, and cafe spots beneath a ceiling covered in enormous painted artwork.
Grab a coffee and a pastry, then just walk around with your neck craned upward. It is touristy, yes, but it absolutely deserves to be.
Opening Hours
Open daily, extended weekend hours
Atmosphere
Iconic covered market hall with stunning ceiling art and a buzzing food court energy
Menu Highlights
- Coffee from multiple specialty vendors inside
- Fresh pastries and baked goods
- International street food stalls
- Fresh produce and artisan food products
Dough Bakers
Best For
Sourdough and pastry obsessives
If the smell of freshly baked sourdough does not lure you in, the queue outside probably will.
Dough Bakers is Rotterdam’s answer to the artisan bakery-cafe, slow-fermented dough, exceptional croissants, and coffee that holds its own alongside the baked goods.
It is the kind of place you plan to visit briefly and end up sitting in for an hour. Go early on weekends if you want the full selection, because the good stuff genuinely sells out. Worth every minute of the wait.
Opening Hours
Early mornings, weekend queues expected
Atmosphere
Warm artisan bakery-cafe with a neighbourhood feel and irresistible baked-good aroma
Menu Highlights
- Slow-fermented sourdough loaves
- Exceptional croissants and pastries
- Specialty coffee paired with baked goods
- Limited daily selection, sells out fast
Final Thoughts
Rotterdam’s cafe scene is one of the city’s best-kept secrets, and after a trip hopping between these spots, you will understand why locals are quietly smug about it.
From award-winning roasteries to concept store-cafes and bakeries worth queuing for, there is a genuine range here that rewards curious visitors.
Whether you have a full weekend or just an afternoon, you will leave with a favourite. Have you been to any of these cafes in Rotterdam? Drop your recommendations in the comments, I would love to hear them.
