Rotterdam is a fairly large and cosmopolitan city, so it has plenty of cocktail bars and much variation in style and quality.
This survey rates cocktail bars according to the bar's atmosphere, three key cocktails and random bonus points, with a maximum of ten points. This simple rating system is enough to pick out the best and worst places, with a perfect score being hard to achieve.
| location | atmosphere | margarita | caipirinha | piña colada | pros (for bonus points) & cons | price | points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level Pannekoekstraat 76 |
1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 Extensive menu and barman asked for feedback, but weird decor; excellent dinner | €6.50 | 9 |
| Soho Pannekoekstraat 53a |
2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 Outrageously cool lounge-terrace and interior, but expensive and the caipirinha was too sweet | €7.50 - €8 | 8 |
| De Loft Van Vollenhovenstr 15 |
1 | 2 | 2 | Interesting cocktails and good barman. Okay when quiet but a horrible zoo at weekends. | €6.50 | 6+ | |
| Bar P Witte de Withstr |
2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 Cool interior and small Soho-style terrace. Terrible piña colada - just sweet, with no fresh fruit or rum flavour | 6 | |
| Opa Witte de Withstr |
2 | - | 2 | - | 2 Strong caipirinha and excellent value, but limited availability | €5.50 | 6 |
| HU'U Nieuwe Binnenweg |
1 | 2 | 1 Magic ingredient - the home-made sugar syrup adds a little something to the caipirinha | 4+ | |||
| Stockholm Oude haven |
1 | - | 1 | - | 1 Barman asked for feedback, but cocktail menu is rubbish and some servings are tiny | €7.50 | 3 |
| Lime Westerwagenstraat |
1 | 1 | 0 | - | Mint in the margherita and a poor Caipirinha! Funky decor but perhaps too much green neon inside | €6.50 - €7.50 | 2 |
| Blu Bar Meent |
1 | - | - | - | 1 Not a cocktail bar! Apparently the cocktail barman left, and no-one else can mix a drink. LCD fish tanks behind the bar are a nice gimmick though. | - | 2 |
the best
The good places are serious enough about cocktails to have a barman who will make anything you ask for, and who can make all of the classic cocktails.
the worst
The bad places are more concerned with image than having any kind of genuine class, which can result in the arrogance to think that their own cocktail recpies are better than the the last hundred years' best cocktails. Worse, they mix cocktails that feature branded pre-mixed ingredients.
key
= not on the menu
= awful
= okay
= excellent
to do: Zin, Rotterdam Hilton, Buleria, Breakaway Cafe, Cinema, Rosso, The Lighthouse.