get to know our little Oniria family...
papa Genaro
Meet our Chef, Papa Genaro, THE creative mind, THE OG (stands for – of course – the Original Genaro), the heart and soul of the company. As one of the founders of Oniria, Genaro is one of those rare people who brings so much heart and soul into what he does, you can't help but be inspired by him... (even if you don't want to... you WILL get inspired).
Born and raised in Colombia, he started off on a totally different path, studying business, but life had other plans (don't we all...) and cooking swept him off his feet. Now, he’s the creative genius behind every dish you taste, blending flavors, textures, and memories into something extraordinary...
...His journey took him from Bogotá to Spain, where he spent over a decade perfecting his craft in countless restaurants, soaking in the essence of Spanish cuisine (quite literally... bite by bite). But it’s not just about food for Genaro—it’s about family, passion, and sharing his love for cooking with others. His dream? To open Oniria with his son Blas (...well, who else?) and bring a slice of Spain to Schiedam...
...If you ever catch him in the kitchen, you might think he looks super angry, but don’t be fooled. That’s just his “concentrating face.” Once you chat with him, you’ll see what a kind, generous, and truly beautiful person he is. Every meal he makes isn’t just a recipe; it’s a piece of his story, and it’s clear that every dish is made with a whole lot of love.
Beau - the beautiful
Meet the sweetheart, always funny, the one and only—Le Beau.
Beau’s the guy you’ll spot at Oniria with his signature Peaky Blinders hat (well, not so signature since every second man has this hat in Schiedam, but let's just call it signature for his sake), a coffee in his hand (probably his 5th of the day), and probably cracking a joke or two (or ten)... He’s a beer enthusiast through and through—whether it’s a smooth lager or a quirky craft beer, he’s all about that cold, refreshing goodness. (Give him a Guinness if you truly want to see him smile)... Originally from the Netherlands, Beau brings the perfect mix of local charm and international flair to the team.
...Now, Beau’s got a bit of an interesting backstory. He started out deep in the world of IT, doing network management stuff, and tried his hand at a bunch of different jobs. But somehow, life led him to Oniria (thank God...) and now he’s loving every minute of it. He’s always pumped to learn new things, especially when it comes to history (that he really loves!).
When he’s not slinging beers and making you laugh, Beau’s probably gaming, blasting some tunes on his drums, or tinkering around with PCs. If you need a good laugh, a fun chat, or just a cold one, Beau’s there to cheer you up (even if you don't need cheering up from him, well... he’ll be there because... he works there)
Lidia - the sweetheart
Meet the sweetheart, absolute music talent, Lidia.
Lidia is a Spanish student who’s been living in the Netherlands for almost four years now. She’s wrapping up her degree in classical music, focusing on the cello. Even though she’s been here for a while, music and her Spanish roots are still a huge part of her life. (dahh...that's why we hired her..haha just kidding)...
...In her free time, Lidia loves going for walks and trying out new recipes in the kitchen (she might take over papa Genaro one day). But no matter how much she enjoys life in the Netherlands, she always looks forward to going back to the Canary Islands. (Understandably... can we all join her?)
She feels super connected to the sea, her people, and the Spanish culture. It’s actually one of the main reasons she started working at Oniria—it just feels like home to her (see we said it that's why we hired her...still kidding tho!) .
cocktail master - Blas
Meet the genius behind the bar, the one who shakes up the craziest cocktails—Blas (he’s basically the cocktail wizard you never knew you needed). Got a burning question about mixology? He’ll hit you with an answer—(quite literally in your head...)
Born in Colombia and raised in Granada, Spain, Blas has a love for poetry, art, and—(dahhh)—flavor (...well, at least we hope so). It’s no wonder bartending became his perfect mix of creativity and craft (well... either this or singing... but believe us when we say you’re lucky he chose bartending)...
...This guy’s been everywhere, collecting flavors and experiences (and weird stories of getting lost... but, well, we all know our Blas...). When he and his father, Papa Genaro, opened Oniria, his goal was simple: a place where everyone feels like family (although, as a Colombian, he already has at least 150 cousins... so asking for more family is quite greedy, if you ask us...). You’ll always get a massive smile from him, and he’s always ready to chat about whatever pops into his head (by the way, he has massive ADHD, so good luck holding on to one topic...).
...Blas is your go-to guy for anything drink-related, and he does it all with so much heart that you’ll be wondering if he’s secretly mixing a little love into each drink.
David - who likes quietness
Meet our very tall (seriously hitting his head at the kitchen ceiling) - all cuteness and sunshine - kitchen master - Chef David.
David, our mastermind chef, joined the Oniria crew about a month ago, and he's already making waves in the kitchen. He is an old-time good friend of Blas, which is quite funny since Blas is a yapper and David, well... he just LOVES QUIETNESS. But somehow, these two always got along (well we all need that one friend that speaks a loooot but somehow we love and tolerate them) . They worked together at another restaurant before Oniria, and now they’re back at it again.
...David’s from here, the Netherlands, got a serious passion for food (and honestly, we’re all relieved, because we’d be in trouble if he didn’t!). He teams up with Papa Genaro to perfect the menus, adding fresh ideas, new flavors, and a whole lot of magic to your plates. When he's not cooking up a masterpiece, David loves to travel and explore new places —(because why not add a little adventure to life?).
Margo (aka Margarita) - the coffee genius
Meet the coffee master mind - always smiling (with a touch of Eastern European sassiness) - the absolute fab Margarita
Margo, along with Zsofi, is part of the Eastern European gang at Oniria, bringing some serious (sometimes sassy) energy to the team. Originally from Ukraine, Margo moved to the Netherlands a couple of years ago. When it comes to coffee, she’s a total expert. She has an absolute passion for unique, special brews, and she even helped develop our super exclusive coffee menu. If you're ever in need of a coffee recommendation, Margo’s the one to ask! (but not before or after work because then she is recharging her emotional batteries - or just give her a glass of wine and you are fine)...
...But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Margo’s personal life is packed with creativity. She’s a tattoo artist, perfecting her skills while also taking drawing lessons to level up her craft. On top of that, she works out every single day (because, well, she’s all about that healthy lifestyle). And, if all that wasn’t enough, Margo has big dreams of becoming a landscape architect in the future—she’s got a vision for making the world a more beautiful place, one design at a time...
With all these passions and talents, it’s no wonder Margo’s the ray of sunshine at Oniria. She brings the good vibes and keeps everyone smiling (well, at least until her social energy runs out... but we've all been there...).
Oh, and PS: If you ever want to piss her off, just call her Margarita (God knows why she hates that though)
Zsofi - head of marketing (and micromanagement)
Meet the sometimes cranky - mostly funny - the one that fixes stuff around even on her free day - the East block Zsofi
Zsofi, originally from Hungary, has been here from the very beginning, alongside Papa Genaro and Blas. She started at Oniria as part of the front team, but since then, her personal dream in marketing has grown, and now she’s absolutely rocking it (meaning annoying everyone with her endless pictures and constantly creating new content) . But that’s not all—Zsofi’s also in charge of interior maintenance, (which means she gets to annoy Blas with her shopping obsession for the restaurant) . And, of course, her obsessive organization skill meaning... no one can ever find anything... (LITERALLY EVER)...
...Outside of work, Zsofi is a videographer by hobby and a marketeer by profession. Oh, and she’s also a professional cat thief (well, temporarily, of course) — she just loves “borrowing” other people’s cats...
...Zsofi is part of the Eastern European gang with Margo, and together, these two crank out some seriously dark humor. Their favorite moments are when they can work together in blissful silence—just cleaning, organizing, and enjoying each other’s company. (in silence...such weirdos)
Adelaide - our musical prodigy
Meet the always smiling, truly the sweetest - highly talented musician - the one and only Adelaide.
Adelaide, all the way from Portugal is the glue that keeps the kitchen team strong and cheerful. Not only is she literally always smiling, but she also has an incredible talent for music. She plays the flute, which she has self taught. On top of working at Oniria she is still perfecting her music at a university in Tilburg. Her big dream? To be part of an orchestra. (And we know it's going to happen because she is amazing)...
...When she’s not bringing the good vibes to Oniria’s kitchen, Adelaide is hitting the gym and, of course, rocking the kitchen with her skills. She’s got the perfect mix of talent, energy, and passion, and we love having her around!
Sam - the youngest of the youngest
Meet our cutie pie, the youngster, cocktail enthusiast - Samio
Sam was born and raised in a small English village before moving to Rotterdam at the age of 9 . Sam is a wanderer, and while traveling can get pricey, on his free weekdays, he uses his student OV card to go “interrailing” around the Netherlands.
He’s studying Leisure and Event Management at Blaak, and with a few friends, he even organized a club night for Leger des Heils. Right now, he’s working on a mini festival for new students coming to Rotterdam (fingers crossed it’s happening at Keilecafe). On top of that, Sam works as a runner for big events.
Sam finds biking around and listening to music super relaxing, which is perfect since he does that a quarter of the time here in Rotterdam. Whenever he travels, his camera’s always with him, snapping photos of graffiti, stickers, and posters. He’s also an adventurous soul who loves exploring abandoned buildings, (though sadly, the best ones around Schiedam have been demolished or closed, so he doesn’t get to do that as much as he’d like).
Diamela - the mama of oniria
Meet the wise - super caring - flower and plant obsessed - mama Diamela.
Diamela, originally from Colombia, moved to the Netherlands about 7 years ago with her family—her son Blas and her husband Genaro. She’s part of the kitchen team, and her caring nature and eye for detail shine through in every dish. Before all of this, Diamela was a doctor back in Colombia, but when she made the move to Rotterdam, she decided to embrace a more relaxed lifestyle. Enter gardening, flowers, and plants! (although based on our clumsiness it's good that we have a doctor in house)
...Diamela has a deep knowledge of botanicals and a massive collection of plants at home. (no , but really... you visit her and it's like a home-made jungle) In her free time, she loves hunting for treasures in second-hand shops, knitting, and spending time in her favorite community gardens. Oh, and by the way, she speaks four languages—Russian, English, Spanish, and Dutch.
...All the beautiful, edible flowers on your dishes? Yep, Diamela grew them herself! And she's also taken it upon herself to care for the restaurant's plants, making sure they’re always looking fresh and vibrant. (papa Genaro often asks who is more important plants of him...but perhaps for his sake it's better if we don't get an answer).
Tobi - our free Spirit
Meet our long hair power ranger - the always good vibes Tobi.
Tobi is part of the front team at Oniria, always bringing his energy and charm to the place. He has a unique background—half Brazilian, half German (what a combo, right?)—but he’s currently calling the Netherlands home. Before settling here, Tobi was a true wanderer, traveling the world and exploring many different countries. He’s worked for the Red Cross and has seen a lot along the way, which adds a lot of depth to his character. Tobi also has a huge love for music, which is just another thing that makes him a well-rounded, cool guy.