Vegan Food in Rotterdam in 2024 – The Ultimate Guide

Last updated on December 9th, 2023

After taking another trip to The Netherlands’ second city, I found even more amazing vegan food in Rotterdam that I can’t wait to share with you all.

Following the vegan culinary highs in Krakow, I was curious to see if I could be just as successful when looking for vegan food in Rotterdam. While there aren’t so many fully vegan restaurants in Rotterdam, there are still plenty of options, so I wasn’t disappointed. Let’s have a look at the treats I found… 

Find Rotown – De Vegan Snackbar on Gooogle Maps

The full name for this place is: Rotown De Vegan Snackbar.

Now, my Dutch isn’t great but I think I get the gist of what they’re saying!

So, not only is Rowton possibly the coolest bar in the whole city, they also have a 100% vegan menu. Making it the best vegan restaurant in Rotterdam!

It’s a menu that offers pretty much every type of bar snack you could want. Add to that amazing burgers, sushi and European classics like schnitzels and you can be confident that you will find something to satisfy your hunger and probably more that you didn’t need, but you couldn’t not order!

You can pretty much spend your whole day at Rotown, I know my partner can! Chilled afternoon beers, followed by amazing food and then head inside to watch a live music gig. Rotown is pretty much a one-stop shop for beer and music-loving vegans.

Find Vegan Junk Food Bar Rotterdam on Google Maps

Once again, the clue is in the name. It’s one of the few fully vegan restaurants in Rotterdam and it sells vegan junk food!

Expect nothing more than the dirtiest of dirty fries and burgers that pile as high as you can dare them to go! Vegan Junk Food Bar really is heaven for those who love their food saucy and calorific. Luckily this isn’t one of the menus that state the amount of calories and fat for each dish. Some things are best not known.

Once you’ve made peace with your healthy conscience, the toughest part is choosing what to order.

There are six different types of dirty fries, eight burgers and a whole world of side orders to choose from.

We had a burger each and one dirty fries which was plenty for us but who am I to tell you when to stop? Why not order the Super Size Sumo Platter to start, you know, just to get the juices flowing before you try to take on the burgers and fries.

Oh, and don’t forget to leave room for dessert, yes, they have them too!!   

No trip to Rotterdam is complete without a trip to the stunning Markthal.

That’s ‘Market Hall’ to you and me.

Set inside what is potentially Rotterdam’s coolest building, which is one tough contest to win in this super-cool city, you’ll find tons of food stalls offering as wide a variety of cuisine as is possible in one building.

Unfortunately, most of it is meat-based but at least it’s not in your face and hanging off the corner of the stands like many other markets around the world.

There are a few hidden gems for those looking for vegan food in Rotterdam dotted around the Markthal. My favourite three places to get vegan food in Markthal…

Find Tofu Heaven on Google Maps

Tofu Heaven must be a new addition to Rotterdam’s Markthall because I don’t remember seeing it on past visits, and it has quickly become a favourite among those looking for vegan food in the city. – Tofu Heaven

Tofu Heaven sells incredible crispy yet fluffy fried tofu, vegan crepes, mapo tofu with rice along with some desserts and soy milk drinks.

While not everything is vegan, you’ll find a full vegan menu and the staff seem to be happy to answer any question.

So, if you’re a tofu-loving vegan then Tofu Heaven in Makkthal if the place for your vegan food in Rotterdam.

Find Umi Sushi Ramen & Pokebowl on Google Maps

Offering the vegan classics of avocado and cucumber maki rolls, they also sell an incredible veggie temaki. Just be sure to make it clear that you don’t want any mayo. As with so many sushi places they love to add mayo even when there’s no mention of it on the menu.

Find 55 Bombay Street on Google Maps

If you’re looking for good vegan food to grab and go this could be the best option for you. It’s a pure veggie stall but they offer a clear range of vegan dishes too. We tried the samosas and vada pavs. Vada pavs are basically a samosa sandwich, but the pastry is a bit thinner and it’s smothered in an amazing tangy-spicy sauce. Perfect for eating on the go!

Find Goudstroop on Google Maps

Vegan stroopwafels are not to be missed on your trip to Rotterdam!

It’s not only the savoury things on offer in Markthal, there’s a hidden sweet delight right in the middle too.

It can be tough for vegans strolling through Dutch cities because they really know how to do sweet but not often vegan style.

The cheap cakes available in local supermarkets look like the kind of things you’d find in a fancy cake shop here in the UK, so when they really try to show off, their efforts are pretty spectacular.

But fear not everything is loaded with butter and cream. Sniff out Goudstroop and ask them for a pack of their vegan stroopwafels. They are something really special.

Find Backyard on Google Maps

Here’s a great option for those searching for breakfast or brunch vegan food in Rotterdam.

Backyard offers a fully veggie menu with the vast majority of it plant-based. They offer classics like avocado toast, granola and banana bread. All perfect accompaniments to the huge range of coffee and plant-based milk.

If you’re after a chilled-out morning after a busy night head to Backyard for the perfect vegan breakfast in Rotterdam and recharge yourself for another day of adventuring.

Find Bagels and Beans on Google Maps

Here’s another one with the clue in the name.

Bagels and coffee aren’t the only things they do, there are some wraps, sandwiches and salads too, but when you have a choice of bagels and a great choice of vegan fillings too it’s hard not to go for one. 

The service is friendly and super-fast, so if you’re in a rush to get something bready into your belly and some caffeine into your brain, get yourself to Bagels and Beans. 

The next and final three places I’m telling you about are all grouped together because they’re all Vietnamese restaurants in Rotterdam. Unfortunately, none of them are fully vegan or even veggie, but they do at least offer some great options.

Find Pho – Vietnamese Restaurant & Noodle Bar on Google Maps

Located close to the Central Station, Pho is a modern restaurant offering all you’d hope for in such an establishment. Pho, spring rolls, papaya salad and a few specials too. 

Find Phi Hanoi on Google Maps

Similar to Pho, but with a more traditional feel. Meaning it’s small and the service is occasionally all over the place. But, on a good day, the food is amazing!

Find Boguette on Google Maps

This place is all about bánh mì. The delicious Vietnamese sandwich! They only have one vegan option which has tofu and lemongrass in it. Again though, make sure you make it clear that you don’t want any mayo, otherwise, you’ll find it to be coated in the stuff!

So there you have it, my choice of some of the best vegan food in Rotterdam.

I wish I had more time to try a few other places but my stomach is probably pleased that I had to stop eating and go home.

Be sure to check the food section of my blog to find vegan food guides for other cities around Europe. Now I’m off to eat my last stroopwafel.

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Meet the Author

Meet Sinead O’Carroll: Vegan explorer, sustainability advocate and the founder of The Wondering Wandering Vegan. Embracing veganism since 2018 and vegetarianism since 2005, Sinead is armed with a Vegan Health, Nutrition and Lifestyle qualification, and is on a mission to share her passion for cruelty-free living. 

With a taste for adventure and a heart for eco-conscious choices, she’s here to prove that vegans never miss out on flavour, fun or style. Join her in enjoying the delights of a vegan-friendly world! 🌱✈️🌍
Want to know more? Check out Sinead’s About page here.

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Follow me on Instagram to see all the delicious vegan food I find, the vegan and cruelty-free products I use and what I get up to as a travelling vegan.

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