Coupette London Comes To The Rumah Rotterdam

Coupette in London isn’t trying to be the loudest bar in the room. It doesn’t need to be. Their reputation is built on something quieter but far more durable: an almost obsessive commitment to Calvados and the apple-forward cocktails that most bartenders are too impatient to master. So when Coupette decided to take over The Rumah in Rotterdam, two of Europe’s most thoughtful bars were finally meeting on the same stage.

I photographed this guest shift, and what I witnessed was the collision of two different philosophies of hospitality - both exceptional, but approaching craft from different angles. Calvados is the apple brandy from Normandy, France, and it is not an easy spirit to work with. Coupette built their entire identity around it, featuring it in drinks that showcase a different facet of the spirit - subtle ones where apple comes through as a whisper, bold ones where Calvados is unquestionably in charge. What struck me photographically was the thoughtfulness in each drink’s composition: the choice of glassware, the balance of ingredients, the single precise garnish. These weren’t flashy cocktails. They were intelligent ones.

The Rumah Rotterdam has its own identity - warm, welcoming, a bar where everyone from craft cocktail nerds to curious tourists feels at home. What I documented was this beautiful tension between Coupette’s minimalism and The Rumah’s generous hospitality. The bartenders from London moved through the bar with calm intensity, while The Rumah’s team supported them with genuine warmth. For a photographer, this is gold - authentic tension that creates compelling images without anyone performing for the camera.

I’m Rachel Ross, a Rotterdam-based photographer specialising in HORECA, branding, and event photography across the Netherlands. I’ve been documenting cocktail culture, bar events, and the craft spirits scene - from intimate guest shifts to large-scale brand events. I’m interested in the stories behind the drinks: the bartenders’ decisions, the community energy, the moments of professional excellence. Based in Rotterdam, shooting across Amsterdam, The Hague, and beyond.