Any talk of long-standing Rotterdam institutions and chances are you will hear ‘Bierhandel’ De Pijp mentioned in the conversation. This establishment originally opened in 1898 and, after being damaged in the Rotterdam bombardment, was rebuilt in 1940 in a former garage and bicycle parking building. Inside, the decor is old and brown, and sand and peanut shells are strewn across the floor. It has a central open kitchen and more than 200 ties hang from the walls. De Pijp is Rotterdam’s oldest restaurant and has been a popular meeting place for many years. It is located down a side street off Nieuwe Binnenweg, behind a metal sign and weathered wooden entrance door. On the other side of the door, it’s party time! Seated at long dining tables, you can enjoy eating, drinking and chatting with fellow guests. There’s no menu card – meal options are chalked on blackboards. Fried liver with onions, sweetbreads and the captain’s dinner are specialties at this restaurant “of the eternal student”.
Gaffelstraat 90
Open Mon, Tue and Sat for dinner
Wed, Thurs and Fri for lunch and dinner