Alchemist

Alchemist is chef Rasmus Munk's restaurant on Refshaleøen, and it is unlike any other place to eat in Copenhagen. Munk opened a tiny 15-seat first version in 2015, then reopened on a far larger scale in 2019 in the former scenery workshop of the Royal Danish Theatre, a 2,200 square metre industrial building on the old shipyard island. The restaurant received two Michelin stars within months of reopening, and it was ranked fifth on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2025.

The restaurant calls its approach holistic cuisine. Dinner is made up of up to 50 so-called impressions, a mix of edible courses and moments that use art, installations, performers and the architecture of the building itself. The evening moves through five themed spaces, and the main dining room sits beneath a planetarium-style dome, so this is as much a piece of theatre as a meal.

The experience lasts four to six hours, so plan for a full evening and do not book anything afterwards. It is one of the most expensive dinners in the city, and it suits adventurous diners, food enthusiasts and anyone looking for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion rather than a relaxed supper. Diners with dietary restrictions should contact the restaurant before booking.

Book through the restaurant's website as far ahead as you can, and keep your dates flexible, since an internationally known restaurant of this size is in high demand.

Alchemist is on Refshalevej on Refshaleøen, a former industrial area north-east of the centre that now has restaurants, bars and the Reffen street food market. Most guests arrive by taxi, which is the easiest option late at night, although the island can also be reached by bike or public transport. Allow extra travel time from central hotels.

Before the current restaurant, Munk ran the first Alchemist in a former bistro from 2015 to 2017, and the new venue was ranked eighth in the world in 2024 before rising to fifth a year later. Visit Copenhagen sums up the place with the restaurant's own motto: expect the unexpected. Practical tips are simple: eat lightly earlier in the day, wear comfortable clothes and shoes because you move between rooms during the evening, and arrange a taxi home in advance if you are staying in the centre.