Lunch in Nyhavn – on a Ship from 1898

There's lunch. And then there's lunch on the water.

Oranje is moored in the quiet end of Nyhavn, aboard a cargo ship built in 1898. Pull up a chair, order something cold, and let the afternoon take its time. Come as you are.

Smørrebrød, the Danish way

Our lunch is built around smørrebrød – the classic Danish open sandwich, and the heart of traditional Danish food. Dill herring with juniper cream and apple. Fried herring with pork cracklings, white onion and capers. Egg and hand-peeled shrimp with dill mayo and cress. Salmon salad with smoked cheese cream and fried capers. Or simply potato with pickled red onion and crisps.

All our smørrebrød is served on gluten-free rye.

Not in the mood for herring? Try the steak sandwich on baguette, with curry pickles and horseradish. And fish and chips with tartare sauce is never a bad idea by the canal.

A little something from the sea

Start with a few oysters, lemon and mignonette. Add mussels or sardines on toast with aioli, or octopus with spiced sweet potato. Would you rather graze? Danish cheeses and organic charcuterie are there for sharing – with bread, butter and nobody in a hurry.

Pick your spot

Dockside Terrace – on the quay, under the parasols, with Nyhavn passing by. Perfect for people-watching.

Top Deck – up on the ship, with the canal in full view, a sea breeze in your face and boats gliding past the hull.

Lower Deck – below deck, cosy and close. A faint scent of tar, and ducks and kayaks drifting by the portholes at eye level.

Lunch aboard a piece of history

Oranje was built in Holland in 1898 as a cargo ship and came to Denmark in 1931, carrying cargo until 1967. She opened as a restaurant in Svendborg in 1989 and found her way to Nyhavn in 2016. She is still registered as a cargo ship – and recognised as worth preserving by the National Museum of Denmark. You'll feel it in the timber, the ropes and the gentle sway.

Something to go with it

Local craft beer on tap from To Øl, Åben and Brøl. Homemade lemonade. A spritz when the sun is out. And coffee and cake, for when you'd rather stay a little longer.

Good to know

Lunch is served every day from 11:30, and smørrebrød until 16:30. On sunny days it's a good idea to book a table. Wondering where to eat in Nyhavn? You'll find us at Nyhavn 65A, in the quiet end of the canal – just a short walk from Kongens Nytorv.

Staying for the sunset? Dinner in Nyhavn starts at 17:00.