The Hip Hunter
Looking for the newest places to shop, eat, drink and have fun? Here are our top picks for the most recently opened hotspots.
Words: Chantal Lindsen
RTM nightclub
RTM: in Transit is a series of club nights running from September till New Yearβs Day. Season 01 will launch in a basement found right underneath the pulse of the city. A space once used to keep records of history, now surfaces a dance floor underground. The entrance to RTM is located near the Shell station at Hofplein. The old supplier entrance of the Hofplein 19 building will lead visitors towards a tunnel underground, where a hidden dance floor is revealed.
Hofplein 19
Open: Fri-Sat 11 PM till late
www.rtm-intransit.com
POING
In Japan, they love brightly-coloured Arcade halls. The heart of Rotterdam centre now also has one where you can go wild on pinball machines and games from days gone by, karaoke and the classic dance machine. Asian cuisine and a range of drinks are also on offer. A great place to enjoy yourself when it is rainy and cold outside. The name POING refers to the legendary track of Rotterdam Termination Source.
Schiekade 201
Open: Wed, Thurs, Sun 4 PM β 1 AM, Fri-Sat 4 PM β 2 AM
www.facebook.com/poingarcade
Oase
Oase is a hip, sustainable mini-department store in the centre of Rotterdam. Really a must-go if you like plants, vintage furniture, good coffee, cool books, and healthy and tasty food. Oase carries products with a story, a past and a surprise. Lamps made from fire extinguishers, notebooks made from old NS (Dutch railways) signs or jam made from discarded supermarket fruit. On the second floor you will find the SwapShop010, the permanent clothing exchange store of Awearness Kollektif.
Westewagenstraat 80
Open: Wed-Sat 8 AM β 5 PM, Sun 10 AM β 5 PM
oaserotterdam.nl
De Kok en de Tuinman
This restaurant is truly one of the cityβs hidden gems. It is located in the middle of a residential area, tucked away into an old school building in Rotterdam North, and therefore easy to miss. They serve the tastiest homemade cakes and a good cup of coffee. You can have breakfast there with homemade granola, and for lunch they serve fresh fish from the North Sea. The menu also includes vegetarian options.
Koningsveldestraat 14
Open: Fri-Sun 10 AM β 5 PM
dekokendetuinman.com
Kinderboekwinkel De Geheime Tuin
If youβre looking for a nice childrenβs book, you might want to stop by De Geheime Tuin (The Secret Garden) in Rotterdam-Blijdorp. No fewer than 1,000 titles (new releases and classics), are available for infants and children up to the age of 16. Owner Peggy knows all the books and is always ready with good advice. De Geheime Tuin also has attractive children’s cards, and there is a room with vintage tableware at the back of the store.
Open: Tue-Fri 8:30 AM β 5:30 PM, Sat 9:30 AM β 5 PM
Stadhoudersweg 87D
www.facebook.com/kinderboekwinkelDeGeheimeTuin/
Comedy Club Haug
Fancy a night of laughing, yelling and roaring? Then get yourself to Rotterdamβs stand-up comedy stage: Comedy Club Haug. With the clubβs arrival, Rotterdam finally has a stage for comedians. Not only well-known comedians (among them the American great Louis C.K), but also Dutch talent (such as Patrick Laureij and Theo Maassen) have already been on stage. Because Marcel Haugβs comedy club had to relocate from Mauritsstraat, as of the autumn it moved to the Oude Waterfront (a former pop venue).
Boompjeskade 11
Open: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM β midnight, Sun 2 β 6 PM
clubhaug.com
Pignonβs FLAMMKUCHEN
At Pignonβs FLAMMKUCHEN you can feast on decadent flammkuchens baked in a wood oven and made according to authentic recipe. The world-famous pie from Alsace has a crispy and paper-thin bottom and is topped with different ingredients. In addition to the classic flammkuchen, there are also vegetarian and sweet varieties. Choose from a topping of raw ham, fig, sea lavender and pomegranate, or salmon, feta and capers. For sweet lovers there is a flammkuchen with banana, coconut flakes, crushed M&Ms and caramel.
Wilhelminakade 52-58
Open: Daily from 12 PM
www.facebook.com/pignonsflammkuchen
Hotel Supernova
If you are staying at the brand-new boutique hotel Supernova when visiting Rotterdam, you donβt have to leave in search of entertainment. Simply pop into the hip cocktail bar. The bar is open to hotel guests as well as anyone in the mood for a cocktail or two. Breakfast and other drinks are also served. The hotel cooperates with local companies such as coffee from Giraffe and bottled cocktails from the world-famous cocktail bar Dr.
‘s-Gravendijkwal 68
Open: daily
https://supernovahotel.nl
Brewpub Reijngoud
Are you a fan of special beers? Then visit the newest pub in Rotterdam: Brewpub Reijngoud. Drink beers from brands such as 4 Islands Brewing, ROTT. Brouwers, De Bebaarde Brouwer, Brouwerij de Kopstoot, Hofbrouwerij Reijngoud, and Barrel Aged Beers by Hop-In. As you would expect from a pub, there are also bites and live music. Keep an eye on the Facebook calendar for the latest events.
Vijverhofstraat 10
Open: Fri 4 PM β 2 AM, Sat 2 PM β 2 AM, Sun 2 AM β 8 PM
www.facebook.com/Brewpub-Reijngoud
Cocktailbar Luster Rotterdam
Rotterdam has many cocktail bars. The newest has opened at the bar area of restaurant The Oyster Club, a stylish establishment with French influences. At Luster, you can festively start your weekend with a sweet cocktail. Fancy even more entertainment after all those drinks? Then dive into the basement at the weekend where a DJ plays records. The cocktail bar has a tropical vibe with many colours and prints. A real holiday feeling is guaranteed!
Leeuwenstraat 19
Open: Thurs 6 PM β 2 AM, Fri-Sat 6 PM β 4 AM
www.facebook.com/lusterrotterdam
Fabienne Chapot
De Meent is one of Rotterdam’s best-known shopping streets with plenty of famous fashion stores such as the Denim Store and Scotch & Soda. Women’s fashion store Fabienne Chapot has now also been added to that list. At the beginning of the street (seen from Coolsingel), the colourful fashion label has opened its first store where the fashionable woman of today will find no less than 160m2 of dresses, jumpers, tops, skirts, bags, shoes and other fashion accessories. The brand is known for its eclectic style, rich in colour and prints.
Meent 124
Open Sun-Mon 12 β 6 PM, Tue, Wed, Fri 11 AM β 6 PM, Thurs 11 AM β 7 PM
www.fabiennechapot.nl
Nen Xavier
Many people from Rotterdam know their way to fashion store Nen Xavier, filled with stylish designer clothes. The store, which bears the name of the owner, has recently moved from Van Oldenbarneveltstraat to Pannekoekstraat 62a. Again, expect a beautifully sleek design with brands such as Lemaire, Baserange, Hope, and Isabel Marant. Nen sells both women’s and men’s clothing.
Pannekoekstraat 62a
Open: Tue-Thurs, Sat 10 AM 6 PM, Fri 10 AM β 9 PM, Sun 1 β 5 PM
www.nenxavier.com
30ml Coffee Roasters Hart van Zuid
The nice coffee shop 30ml Coffee Roasters has crossed the Erasmus Bridge and now also provides Rotterdam-South with a good cup of coffee. The first location is on Nieuwe Binnenweg and the second branch is located on Annie M.G. Schmidtplein 14. You can go there for the finest coffees with fresh roasted beans, but also for delicious pancakes, sandwiches and even a beer or glass of wine.
Annie M.G. Schmidtplein 14
Open: Mon-Sat 8 AM β 6 PM, Sun 11 AM β 5 PM
www.facebook.com/30mlHartVanZuid
De Bollenbar
The Bollenbar is a nice lunchroom and coffee bar where you can have a delicious freshly baked Italian roll. Every morning owner Khalid el Amori bakes his own bread in the huge oven in the corner of his shop. Breads are mainly topped with Italian fillings such as carpaccio, chorizo, parma ham and pancetta. There is also a wide choice for vegetarians.
Herenplaats 1
Open: Mon-Sun 9 AM β 7 PM
www.facebook.com/debollenbar
