We all know how it goes: you’re planning to go for dinner or drinks with a group of friends and while deciding where to go, the same restaurants and bars keep coming back. While Happy Italy, Jamie’s Italian and Sumo are not bad (and also have a good price-to-quality ratio), it can get quite boring to keep visiting these same few places over and over again. The Estimator has some tips for you, so you can come up with an original spot the next time you’re planning an evening out!
Alma Lusa
This small Portuguese restaurant is located in the shopping center of De Esch, which does not directly make it look like the best place to eat. However, the atmosphere inside is very good and the chef makes delicious meals for very student-friendly prices. Besides, they have a very wide offering of nice wines to go with your meals, also for decent prices. Alma Lusa’s specialty is their Piri-Piri chicken, which is definitely worth trying out.
Address: Rijnwaterstraat 51
Calaboose
In the middle of Kralingen, next to a small playground, you can find a relatively new restaurant called Calaboose. This restaurant was set up through a collaboration of two very successful other places in Rotterdam: cocktail bar Dr and Satéman. This also shows exactly what you can expect from the place: they serve surprising cocktails and original Indonesian dishes to share, including great Satay. You can enjoy long nights in the cozy garden of this place, and let yourself be surprised by the nice drinks and great food. Prices are a bit higher than at most places, but worth it if you want a special night!
Address: Oudedijk 273
Alfredo’s Taqueria
This is the closest you can get to authentic Mexican food in Rotterdam! This aesthetically pleasing restaurant consists of the Bar Azul, where you can taste some Mexican liquor and cocktails, El Piso Alto, which is located upstairs where you can have your meal in a cosy environment, La Cocina, where you can sit right in the kitchen and the urban garden outside which is amazing in the summer. The prices aren’t too bad and it’s definitely worth it! On top of that it's very instagrammable!
Address: Goudsesingel 204
Panenka
Are you a big fan of football (or sports in general) and seeking for a nice place to watch the best games? Go to Panenka! In this sports bar and restaurant, all important and exciting matches of Dutch and foreign football clubs are shown on big screens and can be enjoyed from one of the comfortable couches, the wooden tribune or even from a skybox. Next to enjoying the game, you can enjoy a beer from their selection of 25 different beers, or a nice snack, all quite decently priced. Panenka’s website shows exactly which games will be on display, so you won’t have to miss any important ones!
Address: Eendrachtsweg 25
De Kleine Ondeugd
When it comes to places that are hidden, this is definitely the winner. This very small Thai restaurant is located at the Oostzeedijk, very close to Has Oostplein, but still relatively unknown. The place is very narrow, but also very deep, which still makes that there are enough spots for people to eat. The menu differs per day and depends on the ingredients that the chefs could get, but what doesn’t differ per day is how tasty the food is. Prices are not entirely student-friendly: you pay 24 euros for a 3-course dinner, but it’s okay to treat yourself to something like this every now and then.
Address: Oostzeedijk 348