cafes - RotterdamStyle.com

Jazzcafé Dizzy - A Rotterdam jazz institution since 1977

Bryan van Putten cafes 04 April 2023

Located in the heart of Rotterdam, Jazzcafé Dizzy has been a hub for live jazz music since 1977. The cozy and intimate atmosphere, combined with the eclectic range of live music, has made it a must-visit destination for jazz lovers visiting the city.

Seven days a week

Jazzcafé Dizzy, founded in 1977, boasts a storied history. It was where Chet Baker played his final notes, and American luminaries such as Lee Konitz and Art Taylor graced the stage. Jazzcafé Dizzy is named after the legendary American jazz trumpeter, Dizzy Gillespie, who was known for his distinctive style of bebop jazz. The owners of the café wanted to create a space where jazz musicians could come together and perform in the spirit of Gillespie's music, and they have succeeded in doing so for over four decades. The café is open seven days a week and hosts live performances every night of the week, ranging from local jazz bands to international artists. The café also regularly hosts jam sessions, where musicians can come and play together, creating a lively and dynamic atmosphere.

Intimate atmosphere

The venue itself is intimate, with a small stage and tables arranged closely around it. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the music on offer. Dizzy also serves a range of drinks and snacks, making it the perfect spot to enjoy an evening of live music. One of the unique features of the Jazzcafé Dizzy Jazz is its commitment to showcasing a diverse range of musical styles, from jazz improvisation in all its forms, to funk, blues, as well as music from Africa and Latin America. The café offers something for everyone, and has become known for its commitment to promoting emerging talent, providing a platform for young musicians to showcase their skills alongside more established performers.

Big names

Over the years, the Jazzcafé Dizzy has played host to some of the biggest names in jazz music, including Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie himself, and Joshua Redman. The café has also been a vital part of the local jazz scene, with many Rotterdam-based musicians performing there regularly. Though Dizzy has undergone several renovations over the years, but has managed to maintain its unique character and charm. The venue is decorated in a minimalist style, allowing the focus to remain on the live music.

For music lovers visiting Rotterdam, Dizzy is a must-visit destination. The venue's commitment to showcasing a diverse range of musical styles, combined with its intimate and welcoming atmosphere, make it a truly unique and special place. Whether you're a seasoned jazz aficionado or a newcomer to live music, Jazzcafé Dizzy offers a very nice experience.

Mr. NonNo - All-day breakfast and lunch in Rotterdam

Bryan van Putten cafes 09 May 2019

Mr. NonNo is a cafe located in Rotterdam's Delfshaven district. It's definitely a great choice for a quick bite. They serve all day breakfast as well as lunch. With power sockets near every table, it's also a fine spot for work or study.

Vibe

The atmosphere here is totally laidback. The staff is friendly and the groovy R&B music played over the sound system adds to the relaxing vibe. Overall, this spot is a great choice for catching up with a friend or doing a bit of work. The café isn't all that big, so some tables might feel a bit cramped. But head to the back and you'll find two bigger tables and a kids corner. Or, take the stairs and grab a seat upstairs for a more intimate setting.

Mr. NonNo seating

Mr. NonNo comfortable seating

Mr. NonNo kids corner

Mr NonNo upstairs seating

Mr. NonNo is a food and coffee bar that serves all-day breakfast, lunch and various quick bites. Technically, you could spend an entire day here. Smoothies, fresh juice, pancakes, breakfast bowls, egg muffins, (melted) toast, meaty dishes, you can find it all at Mr. NonNo's.

The food looks good and tastes even better. I've been here a few times and I've also recommended it to friends who only had positive things to say. Mr. NonNo's has many delicious pancakes on the menu and guess what, they are vegan! I'm not vegan but I know many people reading this are.

Mr. NonNo's caramel dipped banana pancakes

Mr. NonNo's from green tea to strawberry pancakes

Mr. NonNo's sweet bacon pancakes

Mr. NonNo's Kip kip kip

Mr. NonNo also has cookies and cake

Location: Mr. NonNo

You'll find Mr. NonNo at the Middellandplein in Delfshaven. It's an 18-minute walk (1.4 kilometres) from Rotterdam Central Station. If you take a tram (21/23/24), you'll get there in about 15 minutes.

Mr NonNo Rotterdam Delfshaven

Mr. NonNo
Middellandplein 18A, 3021BT Rotterdam
Website: https://www.mrnonno.nl/
Phone: +31 (0) 612913278

Five Guys - Burgers, hotdogs and french fries in Rotterdam

Bryan van Putten cafes 01 December 2018

Hungry and craving burgers with fries? How about avoiding the traditional fast-food chains and opting for a restaurant that only serves freshly prepared buns, meat and fries? Five Guys might just be your kinda place.

Five Guys is a restaurant chain that is known for 'handcrafted' burgers and fries. What does that mean? Well, all the ingredients are fresh. The buns are made with eggs, flour, milk, sugar, salt, yeast, oil and sesame seeds but without any added chemicals. Interestingly, there are no freezers in the restaurants. So the meat is never frozen and the fries are freshly cut.

Vibe

The place has a nice white and red colour theme going on. You'll also find that there are bags of potatoes lying around. Apparently, this is because otherwise there wouldn't be anywhere else to store all the fresh potatoes.

Five Guys Rotterdam Centrum

Sidenote: the music is kinda loud. I am so used to listening to podcasts or news while eating, that I was surprised that I couldn't. This isn't a dealbreaker, it's a burger joint after all. And I guess the music is there to add to the fun and casual American atmosphere.

Still, being the nerd that I am, I downloaded an app to measure the noise level. I swear I've never done this before 😂. The app measured 59 decibels of noise on average. Just sayin'. That said, it was very cool to scarf down a burger while listening to 80's rock and 90's alternative bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Bon Jovi etc.

At Five Guys, the menu serves exactly what you expect. However, you will need to specify what ingredients you want. Whereas typical fast-food restaurants will serve up their 'number 3' in the same way every time unless told differently, at Five Guys you will need to ask for all the ingredients yourself. It's more similar to Subway in that regard.

Five Guys Rotterdam Centrum

Once you order your meal, you're given a number and asked to wait. You can just go ahead and grab a seat but need to remain vigilant for when they shout out your number. Waiting times are way longer than at a traditional fast food chain, but that's because it's all prepared fresh.

Five Guys Rotterdam Centrum

Is it greasy or fresh?

The food comes in a brown paper bag. I think there's something cool about a grease-stained brown paper bag. They also gave included a lot of napkins. At first, I thought 'what a waste', but then I remembered people wrote reviews complaining the burgers were greasy. Well what do you know, they were totally right and every single napkin was necessary.

As I was devouring this bacon cheeseburger, the juices kept leaking down my hands and the burger even started to fall apart towards the end. Is this a problem? Not really. The same thing happens when I try to make burgers at home. So to me, it kinda reinforced the idea that the burgers were fresh and that the buns weren't the same starchy absorbent bread used at better known fast food chains.

Last but not least, they serve beer. I tried the Ipa beer and it was surprisingly good. However, tastes differ, especially when it comes to beer. So be sure to try it out for yourself!

Pricing

Lastly, some people have complained about the price. I won't decide what is expensive and what isn't, but I will say that €21 euros for a burger, fries and beer is a price that rivals the more 'culinary' burger experiences in the city.

Five Guys Rotterdam Centrum

Location: Five Guys Rotterdam Centrum

Five Guys in Rotterdam Centrum is located on Stadhuisplein, across the street from City Hall opposite places like Coconuts and Café 't Fust. You can't miss it!

Five Guys Rotterdam Centrum

StationsHuiskamer Rotterdam

Bryan van Putten cafes 31 January 2018

StationsHuiskamer, located on the second floor of Rotterdam's Central Station, is a great place to sit and wait when delayed, but an even better spot to meet up with friends or even get some work done.

The StationsHuiskamer at Centraal Station in Rotterdam is so convenient that I actually come here pretty often. The coffee is professional, there's good tea (chai latte's etc), breakfast and lunch meals such as sandwiches & pastries are affordable and there's always a place to sit since it's never too busy like the two Starbucks downstairs.

The cosy interior. Note that the brown table below is actually a door flipped on its side: StationsHuiskamer inside Rotterdam Central Station 02

Omelette with bacon on the left, Chicken Club sandwich on the right: StationsHuiskamer inside Rotterdam Central Station 05

The view from the inside:
StationsHuiskamer inside Rotterdam Central Station 03

The view from the outside:
StationsHuiskamer inside Rotterdam Central Station 01

Also worth mentioning

There's a small library inside (on your left)
Free WIFI (courtesy of the library)

Location: Stationshuiskamer

Coffee spots: Doppio Espresso

Bryan van Putten cafes 22 January 2018

DOPPIO, located at Kruisplein, is a cosy and productive coffee spot located smack in the middle of Rotterdam's city centre; a stone's throw away from Central Station.

If you're looking for a nice place to sit and have a meeting, get some work done or just enjoy quality coffee, be sure to give Doppio a try. I recently spent a couple of hours here. I had a Caffè Mocha Bianco which was quite delicious, followed by one of their 'single origin' coffees. I think it was the Kachalú.

doppio kruisplein 02