Café Verward — Wine bar in Rotterdam

Ward de Zeeuw and Bas Fraterman have known each other for years: they worked together at IJsclub Kralingen and then at restaurant Dertien. Ward trained as a wine specialist and worked as a sommelier at In Den Rustwat and Eendracht. Bas found his calling in cooking. Their shared dream: a café that stands out for personality, knowledge and quality. Not a beer café that also pours some wine, but not a stiff wine bar either. In the summer of 2016 they opened Verward on the Hoogstraat, and filled exactly that niche: coffee, craft beer, good wine and honest food under one roof. Ward pours by the glass or advises based on what you want yourself: no fixed wine list but a personal approach. Many wines are available by the glass, exclusive bottles by the bottle. Particularly strong in natural wines. Bas makes bites that rise far above the café average: fish tartare, lamb meatballs with rosemary mustard, snails, squid, pork belly. Six beers on tap, all from Rotterdam breweries. Soft drinks of date-pomegranate and plum-cardamom.