Food and Drink on Bornholm

For an island of barely 40,000 people, Bornholm has a remarkably rich food culture: from golden smoked herring to a seasonal Michelin-starred restaurant, plus its own wine, beer, sweets and a multiple world cheese champion. Much of it comes from small family businesses you can visit, tour and taste on the spot.

Smoked herring – the island's signature dish

No Bornholm speciality is as closely tied to the island as herring smoked over alder wood. Across Denmark, the golden fish are simply known as "Bornholmers", and their classic use is the open sandwich "Sol over Gudhjem" ("Sun over Gudhjem") – warm smoked herring on dark rye bread with chives, radishes, onion and a raw egg yolk standing in for the "sun". The name is often credited to Oskar Davidsen, the legendary Copenhagen smørrebrød restaurateur who began selling open sandwiches in 1888, though the exact story behind it is more folklore than documented fact.

Around ten working smokehouses (røgerier) remain active on Bornholm today, most with their own restaurant and shop attached – historically there were as many as 135. The easiest to reach for visitors are in Hasle, Allinge, Svaneke and Gudhjem; Gudhjem Røgeri is one of the largest and best known. For where to find them, what sets each one apart and where the tradition comes from, see the guide Bornholm's Smokehouses.

Fine dining and Michelin-level cooking

Bornholm has its own Michelin-starred restaurant: Kadeau Bornholm, near Vester Sømarken (postal town Aakirkeby) in the south of the island, holds a star in the Michelin Guide Nordic Countries 2026 – the island's only starred restaurant, and has done since 2016. It's a seasonal operation, open roughly from May to early October, so book ahead if you want a table; it's closed over New Year. The concept proved so successful that its creators opened a second restaurant in Copenhagen: Kadeau København earned its first star in 2013 and its second in 2018, and was promoted to three stars in 2026 – the ceremony was held at Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens on 1 June 2026. It, too, cooks primarily with Bornholm produce.

Anyone comparing star counts with Copenhagen's famous restaurant scene should know that the much-cited Noma has not run a regular restaurant service since late 2024. Founder René Redzepi had already announced in 2023 that it would become a food-innovation lab; its last regular service was a residency in Kyoto that ended in December 2024. As "the world's best restaurant" in the classic sense, it no longer exists.

Beyond the stars, other addresses are worth seeking out. Lassens Restaurant at Stammershalle Badehotel near Gudhjem (Sdr. Strandvej 128) cooks French-inspired, seasonal, local food; it holds no Michelin star or Bib Gourmand in 2026, but is part of the island's more ambitious dining scene. The set menu costs DKK 415 (two courses) or DKK 495 (three courses), tasting menus DKK 675 and DKK 995, and à la carte mains around DKK 295–325. Unlike most restaurants on the island, Lassens stays open over the turn of the year (until 2 January 2026, new season from 1 April). Fans of lobster should head for Hummerhytten – originally based in Listed near Svaneke, but since 2022 located at Hotel Klippen in Gudhjem, where it serves lobster and beef hotdogs (around DKK 175), grills and cocktails through the summer from roughly late June.

Sol over Gudhjem – Denmark's biggest food festival

The name "Sol over Gudhjem" refers not only to the dish but also to Denmark's largest food festival. At Gudhjem harbour, top chefs from across the country have competed using local Bornholm produce since 2009, drawing more than 20,000 visitors a year. In 2025 the festival ran over two days for the first time – a dessert competition on the Friday, the main competition on the Saturday (2025 winner: Allan Schultz).

In 2026 the event takes place on 19 and 20 June, again over two days with a food market, dessert and main competitions, and live music. Access to the market, competition and concerts (including a Friday-evening harbour concert) is free; you only pay for what you eat and drink – plates at the All-Stars restaurant cost around DKK 125. Anyone on the island in June regardless should pencil in the weekend. More dates through the year are listed in the guide Events and Dates.

Bornholm beer, wine and whisky

The island now produces its own drinks, too. Svaneke Bryghus, founded in 2000 as one of Denmark's first microbreweries, brews organically and offers brewery tours with a beer tasting: the tour runs through the brewery on the edge of town, with the tasting held at the restaurant on the market square. Tours must be booked in advance, only run for groups of 15 or more (smaller groups aren't possible) and cost DKK 120 per person including a bottled beer (enquiries via [email protected]).

Wine grows on Bornholm too, helped by a mild climate with unusually long hours of sunshine. At the Lille Gadegård winery near Aakirkeby, whose owner is known island-wide simply as "Vinbonden" (the winemaker), you'll find red, white, sparkling and fruit wines as well as spirits. Tours with four wine tastings (around 38 minutes) typically run on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 14:00, until roughly mid-October (week 42), after which the winery closes for winter; tickets cost around DKK 125. Confirm days and times by phone before visiting. The estate distilled Denmark's first whisky in 2009.

Sweet specialities – sweets, caramel and chocolate

Bornholm is also a destination for anyone with a sweet tooth, with several producers based on the island:

• Bolcheriet (Svaneke Bolcher) – the handmade sweets from Svaneke now trade as Bolcheriet (with further shops in Løkken and Skagen). You can watch the sweets being made live in the Kogeri for free, though not daily year-round – it runs at set times and weeks; the shop stays open through the winter break. Rolling your own lollipop costs extra (from around DKK 35). Tel. 56 49 62 82.
• Karamel Kompagniet – has produced handmade caramels since 2004, using a family recipe from 1894. Its main site is in Rønne (Borgmester Nielsens Vej 24), with a summer shop at Gudhjem harbour; open seasonally from roughly mid-April to mid-October, until 21:00 in high summer.
• Bech Chokolade – handmade chocolate, Bornholm honey cake, hot drinks and sandwiches, with shops in Gudhjem (by the harbour) and Snogebæk; tastings are available. Tel. 56 48 60 08.
• Lakrids by Bülow – the now internationally known liquorice brand was founded on Bornholm in 2007 by Johan Bülow and still produces locally; it has a shop in Svaneke (Ndr. Kystvej 3).

Cheese, cake and market days

Klemensker is home to Bornholm's most celebrated cheese: the dairy Bornholms Andelsmejeri (Sct. Clemens) has been named "World Cheese Champion" three times at the competition in Wisconsin – in 1980, 1988 and 2014, alongside several "Best of Class" awards, most recently in 2024.

For a traditional sweet treat, head to Østermarie and Fru Petersens Café (Almindingensvej 31). Famous for its old-fashioned "Kagebord", a home-baked cake buffet for DKK 195 per person (children aged 3 to 10 DKK 75) including coffee, tea, hot chocolate with cream, juice, soft drinks and fresh fruit, served daily from 12:00 to 17:00; the "Mormors frokostbord" lunch buffet runs daily from 12:00 to 15:00. In the shoulder seasons the café opens 12:00–17:00, and in June, July and August until 18:00 (tel. 21 78 78 95).

The most direct way to find local produce is at the weekly markets (Torvedage). A rough seasonal guide:

• Rønne – Store Torv, Wednesday and Saturday, roughly 08:00–12:30.
• Aakirkeby – Thursday, roughly 10:00–15:00.
• Nexø – Torvedag on Thursday, roughly 15:00–18:00.
• Svaneke – Saturday morning, plus Wednesdays from June to August.
• Gudhjem – at the harbour, Fridays and Sundays from May to August, roughly 13:00–16:00.

Times and days can change, so check the latest listing before you go. Farm shops, craft producers and handmade goods also feature in the guide Shopping on Bornholm.