Here's where to eat plant-based in Rotterdam

As more and more people want to live more sustainably, there are also more and more restaurants that are completely plant-based, vegetarian and/or vegan. This is the place to go if you go for purely plant-based products.

Bar Current

Just after the opening of Bart Stroom in the old Tropicana, the offering was not quite complete. But now there is a new menu with a small selection of dishes such as a plant-based kimchi burger, flatbread falafel and a summer pasta with garden peas and mint. The dishes can be ordered for both lunch and dinner. "Accessible, but at the same time made with special and sustainable ingredients," explains manager Thibaud Ducoulombier. "We work with local farmers and pioneering food entrepreneurs to achieve a future-proof menu. Circular, local and waste-free is the norm here."

With its own FoodHub in the basement, it should come as no surprise that in doing so, as many food products as possible come from its own ecosystem. "Vegetable burgers and köfte from BayLeaf, falafel made from rescued vegetables from Falafval, pasta made from local ancient grains from Gabanna Foodworks and, of course, oyster mushrooms grown on coffee grounds from Rotterzwam, which appear on the plate in the form of bitterballen, croquettes and rendang. How cool is it that we can now showcase our BlueCity entrepreneurs in Bar Stroom?"

Sustainable drinks too

In addition to the new food menu, Bar Stroom is also adding mocktails and cocktails to its drinks menu. From a Dark & Stormy to a Moscow Mule and an Aperol Spritz. Thibaud: "Wherever possible, with a sustainable twist. For instance, we make our Espresso Martini with a coffee liqueur from Dik & Schil, made from coffee grounds from the Rotterdam hospitality industry. From the same brand, we use a gin made from discarded orange peels and a limoncello made from lemon peels." Pink Bunker' s circular fruit syrups are used for the mocktails.Of course, there will be beer from Gulpener, circular beers from in-house brewery Vet & Lazy, the world's first circular wines from Rotterdam Urban Winery, wine in reusable bottles from Retour de France, natural wine from Far Out Drinks and local herbal teas from Wilderland.

Maria & Pepe

Until 31 August, OASE will host Maria & Pepe Popup Mexican Restaurant and Bar from Wednesday to Sunday. The cuisine is all plant-based and the menu includes Chilaquiles, Mole, Tamales, Chile Poblano and the now famous Tacos. At weekends, there are salsa parties and tortilla workshops. Last year was the first time and this summer, as a non-profit project, Maria & Pepe is again going for social and ecological principles. As many ingredients of the full-plan menu as possible are local and organic. Moreover, Maria and Pepe offers financial transparency, togetherness and a safe working environment. This year, the aim is also to offer Rotterdam residents a place at the table for whom eating out is not an obvious choice. Any profits are donated at the end to a project in Mexico and in Rotterdam.

Pinky

Roos Rutjes opened the doors of Rozey restaurant at Wijnhaven 85 in 2019. An all-inclusive concept. Guests can order unlimited items from the menu, including drinks. There is no meat or fish on the menu. 75 per cent of the menu is vegan and 100 per cent vegetarian. The surprising menu features cold and hot dishes, side dishes and desserts. From bitterballen, pizza and mini burgers to muhamara, carrot steak tartare, oven-baked pak choi, panna cotta and chocolate lava.

Vegitalian

The concept of Vegitalian on the Schiedamse Vest is inspired by vegetarian Mediterranean cuisine. It is an all-day catering establishment with sunny terrace for coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between. Everything is prepared with quality, fresh ingredients and local and/or sustainable wherever possible. From Neapolitan pizzas and sandwiches, vegan pastries and rich pasta to colourful salads, organic wines and cocktails. For those who can't choose, want to taste a bit of everything and share with friends, there is also choice to share. Think ricotta gnocchi, aubergine ravioli and burrata with roasted asparagus.

The New Café

Located on the ground floor of New Institute, the new café can be found, with a sunny terrace. Renowned Rotterdam chef Manuela Goncalves Tavares (formerly COCO, among others) cooks from an approach she herself has dubbed 'tokological'. It means she draws on the hidden treasures, flavours and cultures found in the city's various tokos. The menu at The New Café features colourful vegetarian and vegan dishes that are mostly seasonal. For example, The New Café serves a purple sweet potato soup with coconut milk, lime and plantain and a bowl with mushrooms, pak choi, coloured noodles and seaweed flakes.

Roundabout

A true fine dining restaurant. But with a sustainable menu. With that ambition, Jord Coree, Roy Lammers and Birk Heijkants returned to Rotterdam in 2021 after getting to know each other in the Utrecht hospitality industry. A year later, Rotonde was already awarded an Entree Award in the 'Best New Green Fine Dining' category. Meanwhile, the Bib Gourmand is also in and Michelin gave a green star afterwards !

The Vegetarian Butcher

On a very symbolic day, 4 October being Animal Day, the Vegetarian Butcher opened on Pannekoekstraat 18A. A new, plant-based butcher's shop with an extensive vegan range but also exclusive prototypes and the leckeriest limited edition products. Products can be purchased at the butcher's shop for home consumption, but visitors can also enjoy a weekly changed menu on site.