The 5 best bars to work with or without coffee in Rotterdam

Order coffee or a bite to eat and log on to the free Wi-Fi network of this spacious cafe-restaurant that’s part of the City Theatre. Floor also has an inner courtyard garden that is a great place to work when it’s sunny.

Many people bring their laptops to this coffee bar annex lunch room in the monumental Groothandelsgebouw, across the street from the Central Station. So grab a coffee and something sweet, some soup or salad and find yourself a place to settle down.

You can see travellers arrive in the central hall below, while working in the StationsHuiskamer in Rotterdam’s Central Station. This coffee bar is nicely decorated with old train equipment, plants and trendy furniture. And don’t worry about missing your train: the timetables are on the wall. Get here from platform 1 or take the escalator to the left of the service centre.

When the local library of Rotterdam West had to close down, a group of volunteers immediately came up with an alternative. The Leeszaal (reading room) opened in 2012 is now a vibrant place where volunteers, neighbourhood dwellers and readers of all ages and from all backgrounds meet for a cup of coffee, to borrow books, read the papers, or attend (literary) events.

The glass and tubes architecture of Rotterdam’s library in a way resembles Centre Pompidou in Paris. The rooftop patio offers an amazing view of the city. Inside you’ll find Wi-Fi, newspapers and plenty of space to sit down. Work here and enjoy the remarkable building.