Restaurant Guide SpecialBite has named Rotterdam the Culinary Capital of 2010 due to culinary developments in the city. From a classic French meal to a spicy exotic dish: in Rotterdam, everything is possible on the culinary front too. Every district has its own character when it comes to food and drink.

Rotterdam cooks with style
Through the years, the Scheepvaartkwartier has gained an excellent reputation in the gastronomic field. In the Westelijk Handelsterrein alone you will find many good restaurants, such as Smaak with its delightful dishes from every corner of the world. If you really want to give yourself a treat, then book a table at Parkheuvel, which has two Michelin stars. Or walk a little further to the Parkhaven and dine one hundred metres in the air at the Euromast Brasserie. Opposite, in Lloydkwartier, with its converted power station and warehouses, you will find Stroom, a multimedia bar, lounge, restaurant and hotel in one. In the Lloydkwartier you will also find Ivy, the new favorite in Rotterdam that already owns a Michelin star. This famous restaurant guide awarded two other top restaurants in Rotterdam with a Michelin star: Fred and Amarone.


Rotterdam is international
In Witte de Withstraat it is possible to eat and drink, whatever your international taste, almost 24 hours a day. At the Bagel Bakery, they have the best filled bagels and in the evening they serve Israeli delicacies. One of the most popular restaurants in Rotterdam is Bazar, where they serve dishes from North Africa and the Middle East. Another such hotspot is Toko 94: enjoying a cocktail, you can feast on the modern, tropical cuisine.


Rotterdam dines behind bars
It really is a unique experience at Alcatraz, a dinner show offered by theatrical group Erven Boonstra. Clanking chains, cracking whips, hysterical guards and a four-course meal against the backdrop of a prison all make Alcatraz a unique experience.


Rotterdam dines on the water
Increasing numbers of restaurants in Rotterdam are heading for the Maas, so that they can benefit from the magnificent views. In the Oude Haven you can eat on the water at Mooii, or pull up a chair at one of the many bars that serve food. In Bar & Brasserie Water in the Golden Tulip Hotel you can enjoy magnificent views of the bustling Erasmus Bridge while you eat. On the Kop van Zuid, a visit to the ‘classics’ Café Rotterdam and Hotel New York is certainly worthwhile. You should also try one of the many other possibilities, such as Las Palmas with its wide choice of fish and seafood or Humphrey’s, where you get three courses for one price. In the autumn of 2008, Cruise Dinners will open on the ss Rotterdam, with a truly maritime atmosphere. Diagonally opposite, on Charloissehoofd, you can grill as much meat and fish as you like at Gonzales Barbecue restaurant. On the Spiesenboot (grill restaurant) in Parkhaven the meat and fish dishes are roasted on an open fire, in Portuguese style.


Rotterdam goes out
On and around Nieuwe Binnenweg you have everything
you need for a complete evening out. Restaurants and bars (serving food) rub shoulders comfortably. Lux lovingly prepares classic Italian food and you can taste it! At neighbouring jazz café Dizzy, they excel in bar meals. Look is heaven for anyone who loves garlic: the aromatic cloves are even used in the desserts. For sophisticated French cuisine and fragrant wines, Louis or Bloom provide the perfect surroundings. If you like simple and affordable, then Rotown and Stalles are more your kind of place.


Rotterdam is varied
In the centre of the city too, there is an almost inexhaustible number of places to eat and drink. In the distinctive mansion on Westersingel, Maria will tempt you with delicious tapas. For subtle taste sensations, pull up a chair at one of the best restaurants in Rotterdam: Amarone. Newcomer Yokoo on Coolsingel has chosen Asiatic Fusion as its style. A true Rotterdam classic is Grand Café Dudok, as is Grand Café Engels. In the summer, you can enjoy some fresh air on the roof terrace of the Groothandelsgebouw. There is a wonderful ambience in Restaurant 70, part of the Bilderberg Parkhotel, where you can also enjoy a meal in the city garden during the summer. Another place to relax outdoors is the Tuin van de Vier Windstreken, on the Kralingse Plas in Kralingen.

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