Bertmans: Specialty Coffee in Rotterdam Centraal, Rotterdam

Bertmans works because it refuses to pick a lane. Walk in near the station and you'll find theatregoers grabbing a quick oat flat white before a matinee, shoppers parking bikes outside for the buckwheat pancakes, and remote workers claiming a corner table for a couple of quiet morning hours before the brunch rush swallows the room whole.

The coffee comes from Giraffe Coffee Roasters, a Rotterdam roaster, and it's treated as more than a brunch garnish. Baristas here are trained, not just handed a portafilter, and it shows in the consistency of the espresso-based drinks. The Pistachio Iced Latte, layered with nutty pistachio cream over chilled espresso and milk, has become something of a house signature, the kind of drink that looks better on Instagram than it has any right to and still tastes balanced rather than sugary.

What sets Bertmans apart from the average all-day dining spot is the plant milk policy: oat and almond cost the same as cow's milk, a small thing that adds up over hundreds of orders a day and signals the kitchen's broader commitment to dietary inclusivity. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free eaters aren't an afterthought on this menu, they're half the point. The gluten-free buckwheat pancakes paired with a Giraffe-roasted flat white is the order locals will point you toward, and for good reason.

The room itself is bright and botanical, big enough to absorb a lunch rush without losing its shape, with a terrace that catches the activity of Schouwburgplein rather than hiding from it. It's not a space built for hushed pour-over rituals or single-origin tasting flights. Bertmans is louder and busier than that, a genuine neighbourhood hub sitting between the station, the theatres, and the shops. If you want a quiet cup and a quiet corner, come on a weekday morning before 11:30, when the room still belongs to the early risers and the coffee gets the attention it deserves.