Top 8 Places for Breakfast and Brunch in Rotterdam

If you’re craving an American-style breakfast, By Jarmusch is the place. Pancakes come stacked and loaded, oatmeal arrives topped with banana and peanut butter, and eggs are cooked exactly how you like them, scrambled, fried, omelette or boiled. Order a filter coffee and your mug will be topped up without you having to ask.

There are two locations in Rotterdam: take a seat at the long bar in Het Industriegebouw on the Goudsesingel, or slide into a booth on the Nieuwe Binnenweg and watch the city pass by.

Tucked away on the Glashaven, Harvest Café & Bakery is worth seeking out. This much-loved brunch spot draws a steady crowd for its beautifully presented dishes and house-roasted coffee. Think caramelised pear with yoghurt, eggs Benedict done properly, and pastries that make you order extra to-go. 

If you have a sweet tooth, head straight for the cinnamon rolls or cruffins in the display. Pair it with a flat white, batch brew or espresso, and you’re set.

Jordy’s Bakery is something of a Rotterdam institution. Their sourdough bread turns up in cafés all over the city, and plenty of locals take it home too. At one of their own locations, you can build your breakfast around that famous bread: go sweet with a scone or pecan pastry, or savoury with a sandwich topped with aged cheese or a classic Dutch meatball.

You’ll find Jordy’s at four locations across the city, including Nieuwe Binnenweg, Vlietlaan, Noordplein and Deliplein.

Set in a former coach house in Het Park, Parqiet is the kind of place you visit after a long walk, or before one. The atmosphere is relaxed, the terrace fills up quickly on sunny days, and the menu leans local. They make sure to source from the best, bread comes from Jordy’s, sweets from SUE, coffee from Man Met Bril, tea from Theemaas and juices from Sajoer.

It’s an easy, dependable stop during a busy day in the city.

Breakfast on the beach? Head to Hoek van Holland and settle in at R Port. From here, you can see both the North Sea and the vast sweep of Rotterdam’s harbour. Start with a smoothie or a mimosa and move on to eggs and salmon on cornbread, a colourful acai bowl or a toasted bagel with mozzarella and pesto.

A long-time favourite on the Nieuwe Binnenweg, UEB West attracts a loyal crowd of coffee drinkers, laptop workers and brunch regulars. The menu changes with the seasons and focuses on organic ingredients, while the display counter tempts with homemade cakes.

The cheesecake is a classic, but the gluten-free caramel brownie and vegan lemon olive oil cake deserve attention too.

If you’d rather start the day surrounded by greenery, head to Vroesenpaviljoen in Vroesenpark. Open all year round, seven days a week, it’s a reliable choice for a relaxed breakfast. Three eggs on toast, blueberry pancakes or a simple breakfast plate with toast, egg and croissant all hit the spot.

Take a seat on the terrace when the sun’s out, or inside by the wood stove when it’s a bit chilly.

“All-day breakfast on the sunniest corner of Noord,” reads Wolly’s Instagram bio, and it’s usually busy enough to prove the point. Brioche topped with avocado, egg and crispy chicken is a favourite, as are croissants filled with almond paste or pistachio cream.

Add a coffee or matcha and you’ll understand why people linger.