Barr

Barr is a restaurant and bar in a historic warehouse on Christianshavn's waterfront, in the North Atlantic House, the listed maritime building where Noma made its name. Barr opened in 2017 with chef Thorsten Schmidt and Noma founder René Redzepi as partners, taking over the space when Noma moved on. The name comes from the Old Norse word for barley, a nod to both bread and beer.

The kitchen is rooted in the cultures of the North Sea, drawing on the traditional food of Scandinavia, Germany, the Low Countries and the British Isles. The drinks list gives as much weight to craft beer and aquavit as to wine, which suits the barley theme of the name.

The interior was redesigned by the architects Snøhetta. Wooden wall panels are carved in a relief inspired by barley, a long carved bar with brass details runs through the room, and the oak furniture was made by a Danish carpenter using wood grown close to Copenhagen. Benches sit in the arched windows, and the exposed beams, stone and white-painted brick walls keep the character of the old warehouse.

Barr suits couples, groups of friends and visitors who want a relaxed dinner with excellent beer. Dinner is served seven days a week from 17:00, and lunch is added on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00. Booking is recommended for dinner, especially at weekends.

Strandgade runs along the harbour in Christianshavn, a short walk from Christianshavn metro station and across the Inderhavnsbroen bridge from Nyhavn. Combine dinner with a walk along the Christianshavn canals, a visit to the Church of Our Saviour or a stroll on the harbourfront.

Snøhetta's design went into fine detail: the colours and materials were based on microscopic studies of regional foods and beer, the oak tables and chairs were made by the Danish carpenter Malte Gormsen from wood grown within about 50 kilometres, and the restaurant even has its own typeface. The North Sea theme covers Scandinavia, Germany, the Benelux countries and the British Isles, so the menu and drinks list travel across several food cultures that share the same sea. If you are new to aquavit, ask the staff to suggest one to match your dish; it is the traditional Danish partner for herring and other fish.