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April 19, 2024
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Traveling to Rotterdam in the near future and wondering if the city is vegan-friendly? I got you! After spending ten days in the city I can tell you that you won’t have trouble finding vegan food in the city center of Amsterdam’s funky little sister. Plant-based options are to be found in almost every restaurant and there are even many restaurants that deliver great vegan food at the doorstep of your hotel if you don’t feel like going out. In this post, I will tell you about the 20 vegan restaurants in Rotterdam I tried and tested myself. Let’s dive into this vegan Rotterdam guide!
Yellow cube houses by Piet Blom
Rotterdam is a great alternative to Amsterdam if you are keen on visiting lesser-known cities or escaping hordes of tourists when traveling. The city center is pretty compact and exists mostly out of pedestrian-only streets which makes it fun and easy to stroll around.
The neighborhoods surrounding the city center are even more exciting as these are the places where you can find real local Rotterdam life. Of course, it’s great to visit the amazing architecture Rotterdam has to offer, like the yellow cube houses by Piet Blom in the center of the city. But, equally amazing, are places like Katendrecht where you can find the amazing Fenix food factory, or De Zwaanhals where you can find the best vintage shops in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam also has a lively street art scene. There are some amazing murals to be found around the city, one even more beautiful than another. You can discover these cool and edgy murals in Rotterdam by yourself or on a guided tour.
But for now, let’s continue with our post about the best vegan restaurants in Rotterdam!
To answer this question directly, YES. Rotterdam is extremely vegan-friendly. Of course, you won’t find that many options here like for instance, in Berlin. But the city is on its way to becoming an example of sustainability, striving to be a fully circular society and climate-neutral city by 2050. And with that also comes a change in how restaurants and people look toward food, health, and nutrition.
According to Happy Cow, Rotterdam has 16 fully vegan restaurants and 22 vegetarian restaurants. Aside from that, almost all restaurants in Rotterdam offer vegan options on their menu to cater to the demand of the locals asking for more sustainable, healthy, and plant-based dishes to choose from. So you should have no worries traveling around as a vegan in Rotterdam.
Foodhallen, Rotterdam.
After spending ten days in Rotterdam, eating my way through every corner of the city I think it’s safe to say that you can trust this vegan guide to Rotterdam. Not every vegan restaurant is covered here and I’ll tell you in the end why I didn’t visit some of the vegan or vegetarian restaurants that seem great at first glance.
For me, this list of 20 vegan restaurants in Rotterdam offer the best options in Rotterdam and I’ll tell you exactly why these places are the vegan hotspots in the city. Here we go!
If you’re looking for a crazy concept combined with a great mission then going to Aloha is your best choice in the city. Located in a former subtropical pool, this low waste food bar is all about sustainability and as the name says, low or no waste at all.
Vegan restaurants in Rotterdam: Aloha
All their products are organic and they source them all from local farmers. After that, the chefs create amazing dishes using the local source produce and store or preserve the residual waste that’s left. If you’re wondering what they are using it for think about coffee bean ice tea, mayonnaise from leftover espresso shots, and their own beer brewed from Seaberry.
Dishes on the menu are meant to be shared so it’s better to go with a date when you visit Aloha. I visited Aloha by myself in the afternoon and it was quite empty but that’s probably due to the fact it was just opening up. I took the “geendenpaté brioche” (= faux-gras brioche) and the spring break cocktail. I have to say that this cocktail (with Kombucha!) was the best one I have ever tasted in my life!
The waitress and the bartender were also genuinely friendly which added greatly to the experience I had. One point that I want to clarify though is that they are not vegan but please don’t let that bother you. There are enough vegan options on the menu.
At the same address, you can also find Blue City Rotterdam, a hub for sustainable start-ups and circular economy ideas.
Website: Aloha
Where: Directions
Best vegan restaurant Rotterdam: Happy food and health
Happy food and Health is a fully vegan restaurant located at the Nieuwe Binnenweg, one of the hippest streets in Rotterdam. At happy food and health, you can find the most delicious vegan food, whether you visit for lunch or dinner.
The keyword here is: homemade. Everything on their menu is homemade and based on family recipes and you can really taste this in their wonderful dishes. They offer four kinds of faux meat, which they all make themselves from scratch only with the use of organic ingredients. Aside from being fully vegan and organic, the restaurant is also gluten-free.
Rotterdam vegan restaurant: Happy food and health
You will feel right at home at Happy food and health. The interior is cozy, comfy with a million different plants and a beautiful bar. Relaxing music in the background adds to the experience and the friendliness of the owner is beyond expectations. He even gave me a free dessert when I left!
If you are looking for a fully vegan restaurant in Rotterdam, then look no further. Happy food and health offers the best vegan food in Rotterdam!
Website: Happy food and health
Where: Directions
Vegan food Rotterdam: Gare du Nord
Another exceptional vegan food experience, because of its amazing vegan food but also because of its unusual set-up is Gare du Nord. Located in the north of the city you can find this vegan zero-waste restaurant in an old train carriage in an innovative and upcoming neighborhood.
Because of its low waste policy, they only offer a fixed menu but don’t let that bother you. The food is great and you will leave this place fully satisfied! I particularly loved this restaurant because it was offering dishes that were mainly Dutch but made vegan and with a twist. As an appetizer, they served a vegan “bitterbal” (a typically Dutch snack) and as an entrance a simple but delicious tomato soup.
The main course was new potatoes in a delicious vegan brown sauce accompanied by field peas and six different side dishes (pickles, Dutch onions, Dutch “stroop”, mustard,…). The dessert was called “hangop”, an old-fashioned Dutch dessert made with soy yogurt that’s left to drain in a towel. The result is a creamy but very light dessert and it was topped with raisins and a strawberry. After the main course, the owner asked if I was satisfied with the portion. I was but in case you’re not they offer a refill of your plate!
Gare du Nord is the best place to visit in Rotterdam if you are looking for an exceptional vegan food experience! I recommend you book ahead.
Website: Gare du Nord
Where: Directions
Vegan restaurant in Rotterdam: Backyard
While the three former restaurants are located outside the city center, Backyard is located in the middle of the bustling “Koopgoot” in Rotterdam. Backyard is your best option if you want to have a wonderful vegan food adventure before or after visiting the yellow cube houses which are not that far away.
Backyard is fully vegan and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have an amazing menu and I can guarantee you it will be hard to pick just one dish! For breakfast they offer smoothie bowls, waffles and overnights oats and for lunch or dinner you can choose from different bowls, kapsalon or “humshuka” (a mix between shakshuka and hummus).
I ordered the “pulled no-chicken” which was a delicious burger with king oyster mushroom, caramelized onion, and a wonderful vegan sauce accompanied by sweet potato fries. The staff here is also genuinely friendly which adds to a lively and feel-good atmosphere. This is definitely one of the best vegan restaurants in Rotterdam.
Website: Backyard
Where: Directions
Vegan breakfast Rotterdam @ Sue.
Sue is a vegan bakery and breakfast and lunch spot in Rotterdam. This place is incredible for you all out there who like to enjoy breakfast and cakes but without refined sugar. Aside from being free of refined sugar, all the dishes are also gluten-free, lactose-free, and 100% vegan. What’s not to like, right?
On the menu you can find fresh toast with whipped coconut cream, a silken tofu bowl, socca pancakes and jackfruit “chicken”. It’s an excellent place to have breakfast but it could even be better if they were able to open a little earlier. Opening hours right now are 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. If you are an early bird like I am then 10 A.M. is a little late to enjoy breakfast.
Nonetheless, the quality here is great. Sue has two locations in Rotterdam. The breakfast and lunch café is located at the Karel Doornmanslaan in the city center. The sue bakery is located near “De Groene Passage” at the Goudsesingel.
Website: Sue
Where: Directions
Do you fancy combining a yoga class with an exceptional breakfast, lunch or dinner? Look no further! Kula in Rotterdam is the place to be. Located in the Coolhaven of Rotterdam, Kula is a place to slow down, while enjoying a healthy lunch and be blown away by the stunning interior making you feel like you are in a bar in Bali.
Vegetarian restaurant Rotterdam: Kula
The all-day cafe is vegetarian with lots of vegan options on the menu like chia pudding, sticky tempé bowl, yin & yang aubergine, and a warming pumpkin soup. I took the sticky tempé bowl and it was a perfect combination of flavors and textures. I personally never really like tempé when I prepare it at home but here it was sticky, sweet and crispy, and very tasty together with the peanut sauce.
If you are thinking about participating in one of the yoga classes there is an online booking system in which you can claim your place in advance. They offer a trial class that is completely free!
Website: Kula
Where: Directions
→ Also read: Is Rotterdam Worth Visiting in 2024?
Vegetarian café in Rotterdam: Spirit
Spirit is a vegetarian buffet restaurant in “De Groene Passage” at the Goudsesingel offering salads, hot and cold dishes, and sweets and cakes. It’s a pay-per-weight concept and you will surely want to try everything at the attractively presented buffet bar.
The fifty presented dishes are all made with 100% organically sourced ingredients and change with the seasons. At the time of my visit (late march) there was peanut butter tempé, vegan sausages with caramelized onions, pesto risotto, lasagna,…too much to mention but it all looks equally delicious. Be careful with how much you lay on your plate. I did not take that much and paid € 10 (see photo). It’s easy to overload and pay a lot for too much food you won’t be able to finish.
Spirit is located in “De Groene Passage” so it’s the perfect choice if you want to indulge in some green shopping combined with a great and healthy lunch or dinner. it’s also the perfect place to get some take-away.
Website: Spirit
Where: Directions
Vegan Junk Food Bar is a vegan fast food restaurant located in the center of Rotterdam near the famous Witte De Withstraat. It was actually not on my wishlist of restaurants I wanted to try. I read a lot of reviews about loud hip-hop music (and I’m not a fan of hip-hop) and the language they use in their menu kind of annoyed me when reading it online.
But due to coincidence, I ended up here and I have to say I’m happy that my lunch turned out this way! The ambiance at the place was not too much for my taste, the music was not too loud and the waiter and waitress were friendly and accommodating.
It was hard to pick something from the menu because it all looked great but I went for the Mc Cruelty-Free burger accompanied by the cutest fries I ever saw. The fries were cut out as smileys and they will surely put you in a good mood when you devour them. They also brew their own Kombucha made from lemongrass, hibiscus, and strawberries.
Website: Vegan Junk Food Bar
Where: Directions
Looking for a quick bite? Surinamese or Indonesian? Then Warung Mini is the place to be. Not vegan or vegetarian, you can find Warung Mini in the bustling Witte De Withstraat. It’s the perfect place to go with friends after having maybe too much wine at one of the many bars you can find scattered across the street.
The vegan options here are decent and you can opt for a cheap vegan sandwich that will set you back only € 3 or choose a full meal like vegan Gado-Gado, a bami, or roti plate.
Website: Warung Mini
Where: Directions
55 Bombay street is a food truck located in “De Markthal”, a famous landmark in Rotterdam. While the Markthal mainly seems a hotspot for tourists and is quite expensive compared to other more local options, this little Indian restaurant is definitely worth a try.
The fully vegetarian menu and the oriental spiced food will transport you to the streets of Mumbai in a matter of seconds. The best thing to do is to sample a bit of everything on the menu. They offer a reasonably priced vegan tasting menu for € 15.
There is no seating at the food stand. It is therefore a good idea to visit this place in the summer and take your food outside to eat as a picnic on the grass field or benches next to the Markthal.
Website: 55 Bombay Street
Where: Directions
Vegan brunch Rotterdam: Veggie
Can I let you in on a hidden vegan gem in Rotterdam? It is called Veggie! Veggie is a vegan Brazilian coffee bar located in Kralingen, a quiet neighborhood in the east of Rotterdam. The menu is small but made with love and they offer a cheap vegan brunch plate for only €10.
The vegan brunch plate consists of two “tosti’s” (the Dutch word for a sandwich), a small vegan quiche, three cheese balls, spicy beans, a small smoothie, and two small delicious cupcakes.
I particularly liked the cheese balls, evidently without real cheese, and the corn-coconut muffin. The Brazilian owner is a kind and generous woman who will make you feel right at home like she’s your mother.
And by the way, all the tips at Veggie go straight to a Brazilian animal rescue project called Lar Amora Brayan.
Website: Veggie
Where: Directions
Mecca is a great option to go for a quick bite or to work a few hours with your laptop while enjoying some of the yummy drinks on the menu like a dirty Kashmir chai, Fig, and Tonka latte, or a homemade passions pepper lemonade. The interior is so beautiful and inviting you won’t have trouble spending a whole afternoon here.
Cafe Latte and vegan pita Sabich @ Mecca.
The food menu is small but incredibly flavorful and is middle-eastern orientated. Aside from the breakfast options, every dish on the menu can be made vegan. Falafel, fattoush, and a hummus plate are the main dishes on offer together with the sabich pita (roasted eggplant) that I tried. It was powerful in taste but pretty small to have as a full meal. It’s better to mix it up and take two plates instead of one, or order three plates on the menu and share it with a friend.
One small point of critique is that non of the cakes and cookies were vegan so it could be great if they would add that too in the future!
Website: Mecca
Where: Directions
→ Also read: Is Rotterdam Safe to Visit in 2024?
Vegan pizza Rotterdam: Vegan pizza bar
Don’t feel like leaving your hotel room or Airbnb? Tired from exploring the city for a whole day? There is an amazing vegan delivery option in Rotterdam, called the vegan pizza bar. They don’t have a physical restaurant so ordering delivery is the only way to try out these tasty vegan pizzas!
Options on the menu are plenty ranging from a spicy Polno Piccanto pizza to a white pizza carbonara. They also sell three kinds of lasagna and side dishes like Panzanella, marinated olives, and a side salad.
I tried the pizza Fungky with mushrooms and arugula and it was finger-licking good!
Website: Vegan pizza bar
Order online: Thuisbezorgd
Vegan delivery in Rotterdam: Veggie cugini
Veggie Cugini is another vegan delivery option in Rotterdam without a physical vegan restaurant. They are operated by the same owners as the vegan pizza bar but offer pasta instead of pizza and also the three types of lasagna that the vegan pizza par offers.
I took the classic lasagna which had its own distinguished taste probably due to the use of red wine in the tomato sauce. As a side I took the Panzanella which was good but not necessary because the lasagne was quite a good portion.
Website: Veggie Cugini
Online delivery: Deliveroo
Vegan restaurants in Rotterdam: Jack Bean
Looking for a quick bite near Rotterdam central station? Located literally in front of the central train station you can find Jack Bean, a 100% healthy plant-based fast-food restaurant. The food here is indeed healthy and the menu offers a variety of options but honestly, fast was not the case when I visited. The ladies at the counter were literally drowning in the incoming orders. But that can only mean the quality is good, right?
Upon arrival, you have to put in your order at a ticket booth at the entrance. Indeed fast and easy and at the end, you get a ticket with a number on it. There’s a screen on the walls on which you can track your number and check when it’s ready.
Options on the menu range from wraps to salads and burgers and even a few hot bowls like curry and chili. They also sell a lot of vegan sweets like cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip cookies, and vegan ice cream!
Website: Jack Bean
Where: Directions
Vegetarian restaurants Rotterdam: Sla
Sla is an organic salad bar located at the Oude Binnenweg in the center of Rotterdam. The food on the menu appeared a bit similar to me as the food at Jack Bean. Healthy, tasty, and of good quality for a quick bite but maybe lacking a bit of a personal touch.
It s not clearly indicated if this is a vegetarian restaurant but everything on the menu was vegetarian when I visited and aside from a few dishes that included an egg everything was vegan, including the desserts.
The philosophy behind the restaurant is one with a drive for positive change. They want to encourage people to eat more vegetables, have a low waste policy, and state very clear who they work with to promote clean eating.
Website: Sla
Where: Directions
Fenix food factory is a must-do when you visit Rotterdam! The location is superb and chances are that you will have to walk the Erasmus Bridge to get there, which is a great stroll to get to know the city and have some amazing views over the harbor.
The factory consists of a few food vendors, a bar, and a book shop. The best part about the factory is the cool outdoor seating with a view of the canal and the seating area upstairs that’s a great space to gaze over the canal or work a bit with your laptop.
The food vendors here are artisans but don’t particularly cater to vegans. I saw only one vegan option on the menu and that was a hummus sandwich made with artisan bread but I must say I didn’t look around that well so there’s a good chance there are more vegan options on offer!
Website: Fenix food Factory
Where: Directions
Not that far from Fenix food Factory, you can find this other great food hall called “Foodhallen”. Here can enjoy a nice evening among friends while sipping a gin tonic and sampling different vegan foods from the variety of food stands.
There is one food stand called “Vegan hub” which is fully vegan but aside from that, there are many more other things to sample as a vegan like Kimchi mandu at Noonchi or vegan jack fruit tacos at Taqueria Lima.
I do recommend going here during the evening. I went on a Saturday at lunchtime. The place was quite empty and due to that it lacked a bit of atmosphere since it’s pretty big.
Website: Foodhallen
Where: Directions
Vegan cupcakes Rotterdam: Heavenly cupcakes
Craving a vegan cupcake? The place to go for that is called Heavenly cupcakes and is located in the quiet neighborhood of Kralingen. While it’s called heavenly cupcakes, it’s actually more of a bakery because you can also order cakes and pies here and she also sells vegan croissants.
The place is very small so the best idea is to buy some cupcakes at the counter or to order online through the website or through the delivery platform Thuisbezorgd. The owner also sells a few vegan products that aren’t easy to find at regular supermarkets like vegan cheese sauce and vegan marshmallows.
Website: Heavenly Cupcakes
Where: Directions
Vegetarian restaurant in Rotterdam: Leaf vegetarian
Leaf vegetarian is an unpretentious, no-nonsense Asian restaurant offering vegetarian cuisine that is almost entirely vegan. This is also the place to go if you like to try faux meats and even in this case, faux fish or faux shrimps. The options on the menu almost make you believe this is a regular restaurant. It’s probably a great opportunity to trick a non-vegan friend into plant-based dining!
At Leaf vegetarian, you can expect fresh authentic Asian dishes like curries, Szechuan dishes, and soups. They also offer take-out and delivery. I ordered the Shitake with Shanghai pakchoi and it was just as it should be. Fresh, tasty, and healthy, and for decoration they had put a vegan shrimp on top.
Website: Leaf vegetarian
Where: Directions
There are a few vegan-friendly or vegan restaurants in Rotterdam that were on my wishlist but that I didn’t try for various reasons. Here they are:
It’s not easy to find sustainable accommodation options in the center of Rotterdam, Some hotels seem to make an effort and quite a few large chain hotels have a Green key certificate but at Travelers & Dreamers we like to spend our money locally.
As you travel to Rotterdam, staying at a “wikkelboat” is a unique and fun experience. Wikkelboats are tiny houseboats that are sustainably constructed on the banks of the canals near the center of Rotterdam. You’ll have to walk a bit to the center (or better rent a bicycle!) but staying at a wikkelboat is absolutely worth it!
I’ll list of few of them below!
There you go! I hope this guide about the best vegan restaurants in Rotterdam was helpful. If you think I missed a restaurant in Rotterdam that is a great option for vegans, please let me know in the comments below and I will add it to this vegan Rotterdam guide.
If you decide to follow this guide while traveling to Rotterdam, please, let me in on the experience you had! I’m always very curious about the adventures of other vegan travelers!
ENJOY!
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click on them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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