Vegan Food in Rotterdam in 2024 – The Ultimate Guide
Last updated on January 26th, 2024
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.
I’m going to share all the best places for vegan food in Rotterdam, including fantastic vegan restaurants, casual vegan bar snacks and tasty vegan street food. Oh and we all need something sweet in our life, so I’ll share some vegan desserts too.
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…
The Best Vegan Food In Rotterdam in 2024
1. Rotown – De Vegan Snackbar
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’ll find something to satisfy your hunger. And probably more that you didn’t need, but you just couldn’t not order!
You can pretty much spend your whole day at Rotown. Chilled afternoon beers, followed by amazing food and then head inside to watch some live music. 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!
You don’t want to miss this place if junk food is your thing.
Expect nothing but the dirtiest of dirty fries and burgers that pile as high as you can dare them to go! Vegan Junk Food Bar Rotterdam really is heaven for those who love their food saucy and satisfying. 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. Go on, treat yourself!
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!!
Vegan Street Food In Rotterdam
Vegan Food in Markthal Rotterdam
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…
3. Tofu Heaven – Markthal, Rotterdam
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 are happy to answer any question.
So, if you’re a tofu-loving vegan then Tofu Heaven in Makkthal is the place for your vegan food in Rotterdam.
4. Umi Sushi Ramen & Pokebowl – Markthal
Find Umi Sushi Ramen & Pokebowl on Google Maps
If you’re after vegan sushi in Rotterdam Umi Sushi Ramen & Pokebowl is the place to be!
Offering the vegan classics of avocado and cucumber maki rolls, they also sell an incredible veggie temaki. I could have eaten 10 of them! And if you need a little warming up, yes, it rains in Rotterdam, then a nice bowl of vegan Ramen might just be the perfect thing.
Just be sure to make it clear that you don’t want any mayo on your sushi. As with so many sushi places they love to add mayo even when there’s no mention of it on the menu.
5. 55 Bombay Street – Markthal
Find 55 Bombay Street on Google Maps
If you’re looking for really tasty vegan food to grab and go 55 Bombay Street 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 a bit like a samosa sandwich, but the pastry is thinner and it’s smothered in an amazing tangy-spicy sauce. Perfect for eating on the go!
Since discovering Vada Pavs a few years ago I’ve sampled quite a few and this was one of the best. Give it a try, you won’t regret it.
6. Goudstroop – Vegan Stroopwafels – Markthal
Find Goudstroop on Google Maps
Vegan stroopwafels are special and 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 it’s a country that really knows 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, 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.
Breakfast Vegan Food in Rotterdam
7. Backyard – Vegan Breakfast in Rotterdam
Backyard is a great option for those searching for vegan breakfast or brunch in Rotterdam.
Backyard offers a fully veggie menu with the vast majority of it being 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.
8. Bagels and Beans – Vegan Bagels in Rotterdam
Find Bagels and Beans on Google Maps
And here’s another one with the clue in the name.
Bagels and coffee aren’t the only things they do though, there are some wraps, sandwiches and salads too, but when you have a choice of bagels and a great selection 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.
Vietnamese Vegan Food in Rotterdam
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. The vegan papaya salad is the perfect option on a warm day, yes, Rotterdam has sunny days too.
10. Pho Hanoi – Vegan Pho in Rotterdam
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 especially their vegan Pho.
11. Boguette – Vegan Banh Mi in Rotterdam
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, if you’re looking for a vegan bánh mì in Rotterdam this place has the answer.
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.
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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