Diner at Donner in Rotterdam Centrum

For a place with subpar coffee and coffeemaking* skills at best, they have quite the balls to put little cards on every table and at the entrance with heaps of specific instructions and rules. These rules feel on the verge of hostility instead of hospitality: no laptops here, no working between these hours, must order a drink every hour (!!!!), must order something to eat if you're staying so and so long and so many more absurd rules. I understand that this is a cafe and not a public library but they are too rigid in their approach. If you don't like serving the people in the current state of fast paced life where a lot of us unfortunately still NEED to do a few things on their laptop and prefer to do that outside instead of at home with screaming kids or whatever, then don't open a place in the middle of Rotterdam. Yes, real human connection and interaction is a vital part of life but feeling like you're a toddler being disciplined by these passive aggressive cards is not it. Ugh. The wait staff is sort of friendly and their pastries are good. All in all I'd say this is one of the most unwelcoming places in Rotterdam (born and raised Rotterdammer for a few decades who loves to visit horeca). Do better please. * the cappuccino's and latte's are obviously not made by a barista with skills. Thick, bubbly milk foam that's either too hot or too cold. All that could be forgiven if this place made you feel like they WANT your patronage.

The tastiest pastries, lemonades, and coffees!

Had a nice lunch at Diner at Donner, it was very delicious and the staff was very friendly, get their meatball toastie if you can :)

Nice place, but the mice were running around in the café. When I spoke to the employee about it, she said that they have it completely under control and that it can't be done any other way in such an old building.

You have to wait a really long time for your order, and the waitresses seem uninterested. They just look grumpy. Waiting 20 minutes for your espresso and 45 minutes for your toasted sandwiches is ridiculous.

Great atmosphere. It's nice that laptops can be placed together at a table. The food was delicious, and the coffee was wonderful.

This cafe and bookstore are a good break from all the shopping. Enjoyed the avocado sandwich with a cappuccino. Service was friendly.

The dessert was too sweet and not what we expected. The coffee is alright.

Some alternative options, if that's your thing! But also regular options. The pastries are delicious, as usual. :) And a nice atmosphere! I recommend the cheesecake brownie and carrot cake.

Nice food and drinks not cheap but lower prices then other cafes in Rotterdam center. Also nice staff and good service.

Bookstore with allure and an extensive selection

I visited Diner at Donner in Rotterdam to have a coffee and read. While quietly talking to my family on WhatsApp, a staff member suddenly told me to hang up or leave. When I asked for a written rule, they rudely threw a paper at me instead of explaining politely. They first said I didn’t need to pay but then hesitated to give me my receipt when I insisted. Their rules mention restrictions on coworking and video calls (Zoom, FaceTime) but say nothing about regular phone calls. I wasn’t coworking—just talking to my family. Unprofessional and disrespectful service. Not recommended!

We love coming here!! Fun, cozy, and unique. We do find the food a bit out of proportion in terms of price, so we're careful about what we order.

Recently added to the menu and definitely a valuable addition. A nice dollop of strained yoghurt with it for extra freshness—no complaints here! And even during peak hours, the staff is fast and friendly. We'll be back!

If it is half empty + four staff you wait 45 minutes for a very expensive sandwich. A pleasant atmosphere. Skip if you're hungry or have plans.

I don't like the old, messy interior.

My go-to when the hustle and bustle of the city gets too much! Delicious fresh food and the sweets are displayed in a shop window so that you can peek before you choose, I love it! Beautiful location, casual atmosphere (so not the seeing and being seen that you have a lot in the middle of the city), very nice interior, enough variation in how you want to sit (slouched, upright at a table or at a large reading table together with others ). The service seems informal and pleasant, really Rotterdam, as it should be, I think!

Relaxed, casual atmosphere, a variety of chairs (it's very nice that you can choose if you have serious back problems and can't sit on many chairs). Friendly service, delicious dishes (and pastries) 😊

You can have a delicious lunch here. Delicious pea soup in winter. It is quiet and affordable.

If you close the doors at 5 o'clock and the coffee machine has already been cleaned at 5:30, then something is wrong with the business operations. Maybe instruct the ladies that closing at 5 o'clock really means closing at 5 o'clock and that coffee can be ordered until 1 minute before 5. Just an idea. After me, there were also people who were 'not amused' by this. Old-fashioned letdown, this!

Worst Ceaser Salad in Rotterdam❗It made me sick! The saying: There is no accounting for taste, which is certainly not applicable to @dineratdoner. It is unacceptable what they call a (.... ) Caesar Salad here. This is Recipes Abused. The plus point is that I got a sandwich. But the crazy guy in the kitchen just kept laughing. Owner Google what is a Ceaser salad Sorry, but I have to warn the true lover of a real Ceaser salad to avoid disappointment. Your colleague and my girlfriend could see that I had to order sparkling water immediately. Literally disgusting I wasn't exaggerating. If something is good, I say it right away! I advise you to order Caesar salad at most restaurants in Rdam, take an honest person with you! With that smoked chicken on the package oh dear! And that Mayo with water, trauma!. I also politely said that the manager had offered me toast. But my stomach remained sick. Tip: see what Ceaser salad is and don't be stubborn For tea and chocolate, Dinner at Donner is a good 10 Update: I don't need to speak to ABN, my stomach responds to Viederij! Logical thinking if something is acceptable I will definitely go back and write No review. You are unsportsmanlike. I am not obliged to lie that your dish is good. Eat that yourself! Bah trauma with that water with mayo and that cold AH ready-made smoked chicken. Please give this a different name. Donner salad for example. No ceaser. Nice day

Great place to sit down for a coffee or lunch at affordable prices. Delicious pastries from Holtkamp bakery. Too bad that use of the toilet is not free.

Very nice place in an A location. Tastefully decorated, beautiful view, friendly staff. Nice cup of coffee plus delicious bread from Jordy's. Also a relief to be in a city center café where you are not surrounded by laptops because that has been stopped. We will definitely come back.

One of my favorite cafes, incredibly quiet surrounded by books and good coffee, its menu has dishes that you can't get in Rotterdam. Very original!

I don't understand why this place is recommended as a study spot on many sites. There are extremely limited places where you can sit and where this is allowed, there is no room for anything other than your laptop. Drinking your own food does not fit on the table. The price-quality ratio was also poor. I really wouldn't recommend anyone to eat here. Unfortunately, I saw these reviews too late and I relied on the websites' judgment, because the other reviews are also pitiful, just like this “cafe”. From the looks of it, the owners are also very unprofessional

Always friendly, great teas, and great baked goods from Jordy’s Bakery

Lekkere lunch, top tosti's. Heel vriendelijke en persoonlijke bediening, gezellig

Voor een laagdrempelig café in een boekwinkel zijn de prijzen onverklaarbaar hoog. Zulke prijzen komen niet gastvrij over, en het is nou niet alsof de servicegerichtheid goed genoeg was om de prijzen te rechtvaardigen.

They strongly discouraged us from studying there asking us to buy another round after 35 minutes, otherwise we would have to leave. No spot to study as suggested by some websites and reviews

Grear place where to study and grab a snack

Stopped in for an espresso and desert. Great service. We also shopped for Xmas presents in the book store.

Prima goed belegde broodjes, hummus was aan de pittige kant. Cappuccino wel erg prijzig voor de hoeveelheid die je krijgt, geldt ook voor het sinaasappelsap. Mooie locatie. Tip voor de (vriendelijke) bediening: doe je haar in de kleedkamer/WC of buiten in een staart en zit er daarna niet meer aan.

It's nice to do some work here at the big table. The place is quiet. But the coffee was nothing special.

Delicious and nutritious food and drinks! Nice specials and patisserie for a celebration and also healthy and vegan options. My favourite spot!

A great place to have coffee, tea or lunch on the second level in bookstore Donner. They serve the local coffee brand Man met Bril koffie. If you want typical Dutch pastry try a Tompoes and don’t use a fork to eat it. And for the Dutch: they have several dutch newspapers and magazines on the Leestafel 😊. There is a smaller coffeecorner on the ground floor. If you’re an Urban Sketcher: the restaurant on the second floor has a good view on Departmentstore De Bijenkorf and WTC Beursplein.

Harry Potter's story telling corner. Perfect place in Rotterdam for book lovers. Terrace with a very nice view of the city. Loved the soup and bitterballen. Great coffe and deserts. The place to be on a rainy day in Rotterdam.

Geweldige plek om samen met je kleine na het kopen van een boek even een koffie te doen en gelijk even voor te lezen

I really like this place. On the first floor of the book shop it has a nice view over the Beurs and offers good coffees, teas, delicious cakes and simple meals.