Hovedvagten (Hovedvagtens Spisehuz), Rønne
Historic 18th‑century guardhouse turned cozy Danish restaurant, serving Bornholm‑inspired comfort food in the atmospheric heart of Rønne’s old town.
Set on Lille Torv in the heart of Rønne, Hovedvagten combines a listed 18th‑century guardhouse with a cozy Danish restaurant atmosphere. The yellow, historic building once watched over the town’s defenses; today its thick stone walls and low ceilings frame relaxed lunches and unhurried dinners with regional flavors from Bornholm. It’s an easy, central stop for traditional dishes, local produce and a sense of the island’s maritime past woven into every room.
A brief summary to Hovedvagten
- Lille Torv 18, Rønne, 3700, DK
- +4540354890
- Visit website
- Duration: 1 to 2.5 hours
- Mid ranged
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Indoor
- Mobile reception: 5 out of 5
- Monday 11 am-4 pm
- Tuesday 11 am-10 pm
- Wednesday 11 am-10 pm
- Thursday 11 am-10 pm
- Friday 11 am-10 pm
- Saturday 11 am-10 pm
- Sunday 11 am-10 pm
Local tips
- Aim for a slightly earlier or later lunch than noon to enjoy the intimate rooms with a bit more space, especially in summer and on busy cruise‑ship days.
- If you are tall or have limited mobility, be aware of low doorways and a few uneven floors that reflect the building’s 18th‑century origins.
- Ask about seasonal or local specials that highlight Bornholm ingredients such as Baltic fish or island‑grown produce.
- Book ahead for evening meals in peak season, as the historic interior limits how many tables can be fitted comfortably inside.
- Combine a meal here with a short stroll through Rønne’s old streets and down to the harbor to see more of the town’s historic architecture.
For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you
- Restrooms
- Drink Options
- Food Options
- Seating Areas
- Trash Bins
- Information Boards
Hovedvagten location weather suitability
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Any Weather
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Rain / Wet Weather
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Cold Weather
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Mild Temperatures
Discover more about Hovedvagten
A historic guardhouse at the heart of Rønne
Hovedvagten sits just off the cobbles of Lille Torv in central Rønne, occupying a compact, ochre‑yellow building that once served as the town’s main guardhouse. Erected in the mid‑18th century using stone from the dismantled Hammershus fortress, it has long been part of Bornholm’s defensive story and urban fabric. From outside, the structure is defined by solid masonry, white‑framed windows and a gently sloping tiled roof that mirrors the surrounding merchant houses. Step inside and you move from the bustle of the square into an intimate warren of rooms that still hint at their former military purpose. Low doorways, thick walls and slightly uneven floors remind you that this was designed for soldiers rather than diners. The sense of enclosure makes the interior feel sheltered and quietly atmospheric, even when the restaurant is busy at mealtimes.From soldiers’ watch to modern dining room
Over time, Rønne’s fortifications lost their strategic importance and the guardhouse was gradually repurposed. Where once patrols were organized and weapons stored, tables now stand under exposed beams, and the clink of cutlery has replaced the ring of boots. The transformation has been careful rather than radical: original structural elements remain visible, while newer fittings are kept deliberately simple to avoid competing with the architecture. This layering of history gives the restaurant a slightly theatrical backdrop. You can imagine messages arriving from the harbor or watch rotations being logged where menus are now read. Old photographs and subtle decorative details quietly underline the building’s past without turning it into a museum, allowing the space to function comfortably as a contemporary dining room.Bornholm flavors in an intimate setting
Hovedvagten operates as a classic Danish restaurant with a distinctly local accent. Expect hearty, familiar flavors—think pork, potatoes and seasonal vegetables—paired with island ingredients such as Baltic fish and regional produce when in season. Lunch often leans towards open‑faced sandwiches and lighter plates, while evenings bring more substantial mains suited to lingering over with a drink. The scale of the building limits capacity, which helps retain a human, conversational tone throughout the rooms. Wooden tables, soft lighting and close‑set seating contribute to a relaxed, informal atmosphere rather than anything overly formal. It is the kind of place that works equally well for a casual midday stop or an unhurried meal after exploring Rønne’s museums and harborfront.Atmosphere between market square and maritime town
Part of Hovedvagten’s appeal is its position between everyday town life and Bornholm’s coastal scenery. Outside the doors, Lille Torv and the neighboring streets carry a steady flow of locals shopping, meeting friends or passing through on errands. Inside, the thick stone shell muffles the noise, creating a calm pocket that still feels connected to the town beyond its windows. Light filters in across the day, from softer tones in winter to long northern evenings in summer. On fair‑weather days, doors and windows might stand open, letting in a mix of salty air from the harbor and the smell of food from the kitchen. The experience can feel distinctly seasonal: bright and airy at lunchtime in high summer, then decidedly snug and cocooning on cooler, windier days when Bornholm’s maritime climate makes a warm interior especially inviting.A pause point on a wider Bornholm journey
Because of its central location, Hovedvagten often becomes a natural anchor point between visits to nearby cultural sights, craft workshops and the waterfront. It works as a brief pause for a single dish, but the layered history of the building rewards those who take more time to notice details: the thickness of a windowsill, the angle of a stair, or the way new materials meet old stone. For travelers interested in Bornholm’s heritage, Hovedvagten offers a small‑scale counterpart to the island’s bigger fortifications and museums. The guardhouse setting turns an ordinary meal into a moment of contact with Rønne’s past, without demanding any special effort beyond choosing a table, settling in and letting the atmosphere of the old walls do the rest.Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
Ronne Lighthouse
0.3 km
A slender white cast-iron lighthouse above Rønne’s harbour, once a vital guiding light and now a simple, elegant symbol of Bornholm’s maritime gateway.
Den russiske bjørn
0.4 km
Explore the enchanting Den russiske bjørn in Rønne, a unique tourist attraction steeped in local culture and history, perfect for memorable experiences.
Bornholms Ø-arkiv
0.4 km
Bornholm's premier archive preserving centuries of island genealogy and local history.
Asylcenter Rønne & Segen
0.6 km
Experience community living at Asylcenter Rønne & Segen, a unique apartment-style accommodation in beautiful Bornholm, Denmark.
Destination Bornholm ApS
0.6 km
Discover the enchanting Danish island of Bornholm, where stunning landscapes meet rich cultural traditions and unforgettable experiences await.
Slemmegrav
2.2 km
Explore the rich history and stunning architecture of Slemmegrav, a hidden gem in Rønne, Denmark, perfect for history lovers and nature enthusiasts.
Klintebakken
13.9 km
A billion-year geological journey where ancient granite meets younger sandstone at Bornholm's most scientifically significant fault line.
Vang Pier
16.2 km
Granite monument and sandy beach where Bornholm's industrial past meets modern recreation.
Domen
21.0 km
Geometric wooden dome on Allinge’s seafront, blending Baltic views, Folkemødet history and flexible cultural life in one striking, light-filled shell.
Melsted Havn
21.3 km
An authentic 1884 granite harbour preserving Bornholm's fishing heritage between protective skerries.
Geografisk knudepunkt
22.1 km
Where latitude and longitude meet: Denmark's geographic heart on the Bornholm coast.
Louisenlund
23.7 km
Over 50 ancient standing stones in a mystical woodland setting, revealing Bornholm's Neolithic ritual landscape.
Midterpilt
24.8 km
A modest stone cairn marking the highest point of Paradisbakkerne, Midterpilt is a quiet waypoint on Bornholm’s wildest woodland and heathland hiking routes.
Snogebæk Havn
27.9 km
Bornholm's easternmost harbor where fishing tradition, artisan culture, and pristine beaches converge.
Svaneke Havn
28.5 km
Experience the serene beauty and cultural charm of Svaneke Havn, a picturesque marina on the enchanting island of Bornholm, Denmark.
Unmissable attractions to see
Bornholms Museum
0.3 km
Bornholm’s cultural heart in Rønne, where gold hoards, island clocks, and wartime stories trace 10,000 years of Baltic island history under one roof.
Hjorths Fabrik
0.4 km
Step into a 19th‑century ceramics factory in central Rønne where kilns still glow, clay still turns on the wheel, and 150 years of Bornholm stoneware come to life.
Erichsens Gård
0.4 km
Step through a low timbered doorway into 19th‑century Bornholm life, where a merchant’s home and secret garden in Rønne quietly preserve stories of art, family and island culture.
Bornholm Airport
4.6 km
Denmark's state-operated island gateway connecting Bornholm to Copenhagen and beyond.
Bagågraven
5.7 km
A former coastal clay pit turned wild hollow, where Jurassic layers, dinosaur history and Baltic waves meet just north of Rønne on Bornholm.
Slaus Stene
6.0 km
A whimsical forest of granite faces and folklore near Rønne, where local craftsman Slaus carved myths, trolls and stories into the Bornholm woods.
New Church
6.1 km
Historic seafaring heritage and coastal resilience at an evocative museum on Nexø’s bustling harbor, revealing Bornholm’s maritime stories and post-war rebuilding.
Bornholms Rovfugleshow
7.8 km
Immersive birds-of-prey shows and evolution-themed encounters on Bornholm, where owls, falcons, reptiles and farm animals turn science into a full, family-friendly day out.
Kultippen Hasle
7.8 km
A stark, moonlike coal tip above a soft Baltic beach, where Bornholm’s industrial past meets wild forest and wide, west-coast horizons.
Nylars Church
7.8 km
Discover Bornholm’s dramatic maritime, wartime, and everyday history in a harborside museum filled with evocative exhibitions and authentic local stories.
Hasle Strand
8.2 km
Long west-coast sands, quiet dunes and pine-backed shoreline where Bornholm’s soft side meets big Baltic sunsets just south of the harbor town of Hasle.
Lundestenen Jættestue
8.3 km
Quietly resting in a Bornholm field, Lundestenen Jættestue invites you into one of Denmark’s largest Stone Age passage graves for a brief, evocative step back in time.
The Brogård stone
8.8 km
Bornholm’s largest Viking runestone, standing quietly by a country road near Hasle, where clear runes in granite still tell a thousand-year-old story.
Bornholms Center for Kunsthåndværk - Grønbechs Gård
9.2 km
A historic merchant’s house in Hasle transformed into Bornholm’s vibrant hub for contemporary ceramics, glass and design – with galleries, shop and café under one roof.
Kræmmerhuset Kunsthåndværk
9.7 km
A historic Bornholm schoolhouse where island ceramics, textiles and a 7,000 m² flower garden come together in a relaxed, countryside craft and garden escape.
Essential places to dine
Hovedvagten
0.0 km
Historic 18th‑century guardhouse turned cozy Danish restaurant, serving Bornholm‑inspired comfort food in the atmospheric heart of Rønne’s old town.
Casa Mia Di Vincenzo Guastafierro
0.3 km
A cosy Italian pearl in the heart of Rønne, serving generous pizzas, pastas and island‑evening warmth under the glow of a neighbourhood trattoria.
Det Røde Pakhus
0.3 km
Modern Bornholm cuisine in a historic red warehouse, where harbour and forest ingredients meet thoughtful cooking in the heart of Rønne.
Café-Munter
0.3 km
Lively all-day café on Rønne’s main square, serving hearty comfort food, great coffee and cakes with a front-row view of Bornholm’s everyday life.
Texas Bornholm
0.4 km
Hearty American comfort food, cold drinks and year‑round street‑side seating in the middle of Rønne’s bustling pedestrian heart on the island of Bornholm.
Snurra
0.4 km
Daytime patisserie-meets-brasserie in central Rønne, serving sourdough buns, cakes, coffee and casual Nordic plates in a cosy, modern café setting.
Râzapâz
0.5 km
Natural wine, seasonal plates and bohemian charm come together at this intimate Rønne spiseri, where Bornholm’s culinary energy is poured by the glass.
Hasle Smokehouse
8.8 km
Historic alderwood smokehouses on Bornholm’s west coast, where traditional smoked fish, casual dining and Baltic Sea views meet in one atmospheric seaside stop.
Restaurant Bolsterbjerg v/Lola Mortensen
12.7 km
Countryside Danish cooking in a leafy Bornholm garden, where classic comfort dishes meet a tranquil event‑ready setting just outside Rønne.
The Ranch
12.8 km
Western-inspired group dining and celebrations in a former community hall on Bornholm, blending hearty cooking with relaxed, village-saloon atmosphere.
Restaurant Ekkodalshuset
13.1 km
Hearty Danish lunches and giant tartlets served in a cozy forest inn beside Bornholm’s echo valley, perfectly paired with walks in Almindingen.
Christianshøjkroen
13.3 km
Historic yellow forest kro on Bornholm serving refined Danish smørrebrød and Skovfrokost in a cosy cottage and garden terrace deep among the trees.
Le Port i Vang på Bornholm
16.6 km
Clifftop gourmet dining on Bornholm’s wild northwest coast, where refined French‑Nordic cuisine meets sweeping Baltic Sea sunsets over Vang and Hammershus.
Stammershalle Badehotel
18.7 km
Historic 1911 seaside bathing hotel on Bornholm’s wild north coast, pairing Baltic Sea panoramas and rocky swims with refined Nordic dining and quiet coastal charm.
Kadeau Bornholm
20.1 km
Remote, refined and deeply Bornholm at heart, this seaside cottage restaurant turns island gardens, shorelines and smokehouses into an immersive New Nordic tasting journey.
Markets, malls and hidden boutiques
Flying Tiger Copenhagen
0.1 km
A small, colorful universe of Scandinavian-designed gifts, gadgets and creative essentials in the heart of Rønne, perfect for playful souvenirs and practical finds.
William Dams Bookstore
0.2 km
One of Denmark’s oldest family-run bookshops, blending 19th‑century heritage, live culture and 20,000+ books in the heart of Rønne’s main square.
Din Tøjmand by Jan & Nalle
0.3 km
Bornholm's trusted menswear specialist on the heart of Rønne's main shopping street.
People-Fashion.dk
0.4 km
Intimate Scandinavian womenswear boutique in central Rønne, blending slow fashion, natural fabrics and easy Nordic style with Bornholm’s relaxed island atmosphere.
Sct. Nicolai Genbrug
0.4 km
Volunteer-run thrift shop in central Rønne, where low-priced second-hand clothing and curios support local church social work and sustainable shopping on Bornholm.
sNoir
0.5 km
Cosy Bornholm lifestyle boutique for women, offering inclusive sizes, Scandinavian-inspired fashion, lingerie and accessories in the heart of Rønne’s Snellemark centre.
KiDS Coolshop Bornholm
0.5 km
Scandinavia's coolest toy destination where children explore, play, and discover their next favorite adventure.
Snellemark Centret
0.5 km
Bornholm's main shopping destination, conveniently located near the ferry terminal in charming Rønne.
Dansk
1.0 km
Relaxed, value-focused clothing outlet in Rønne offering practical Danish fashion and everyday basics for the whole family, with a cosy coffee corner on site.
Sport Dres Bornholm v/Jesper Schiøtt
1.1 km
Compact but expertly stocked fishing specialist in central Rønne, where Bornholm’s anglers gear up, swap tips and prepare for time on the island’s lakes and coasts.
Torvehal Bornholm
1.3 km
Compact Bornholm food hall and roastery café in Rønne, bringing local flavours, natural groceries and island coffee culture together under one relaxed roof.
The Bornholm Farm Shop
8.3 km
Cooperative countryside farm shop near Rønne, bringing Bornholm’s meats, oils, honey, lambskins and island delicacies together in a relaxed rural setting.
Bornholmsk Pileflet
12.9 km
A small rural workshop in Klemensker where traditional willow weaving becomes functional art and intimate encounters with Bornholm’s craft heritage unfold.
Bornholms Valsemølle A/S
14.1 km
Working island flour mill and cozy farm shop where Bornholm grain becomes characterful flour and local delicacies in the heart of Aakirkeby.
Sparloppan
14.4 km
Quirky flea market, art gallery and cosy café gathered on one floor above Aakirkeby’s town square, mixing retro treasures, local creativity and relaxed Bornholm hygge.
Essential bars & hidden hideouts
Café Lille Per
0.0 km
Local bodega charm on Rønne’s central square, where simple drinks, easygoing vibes and everyday Bornholm life meet in one relaxed café-bar.
Den Marinerede Sild
0.1 km
A snug, Bornholm-flavoured pub on Lille Torv in central Rønne, pouring local craft beers and cocktails in a warm, intimate setting with easy island charm.
Krystal Bodega
0.3 km
No‑frills local pub in central Rønne, serving cold beers, bar games and late‑night Bornholm atmosphere in classic Danish bodega style.
Café 18
0.3 km
Casual bodega and cocktail bar where Rønne locals gather for coffee, conversation, and evening drinks.
O'Malley
0.3 km
Cosy Irish pub and sports bar in central Rønne, pouring stout and whiskies, screening live games and hosting lively evenings on Bornholm’s main town square.
Pølse baren på Campus Bornholm
1.1 km
Casual sausage bar on Campus Bornholm serving traditional Danish pølser to students and visitors.
Ølhuzed ApS
9.3 km
Cosy craft beer bar in the heart of Hasle, pouring Bornholm brews and European favourites with simple tapas, nachos and an easygoing neighbourhood vibe.
Dagligstuen
14.4 km
Aakirkeby's unpretentious beer hall and community gathering space on the main square.
Buddha Bar
14.4 km
Relaxed, Asian‑tinged bar on Aakirkeby’s central square, ideal for casual drinks, simple bites and unhurried people‑watching at the heart of inland Bornholm.
Cabaret Bornholm
16.7 km
Intimate cocktail and tapas bar bringing a touch of cabaret flair and late‑night atmosphere to the quiet coastal town of Allinge on Bornholm.
Penyllan Brewery
18.6 km
Harbourfront craft brewery on Bornholm’s north coast, blending barrel-aged beer, Nordic flavours and Baltic sea views in a relaxed, intimate taproom.
Pilen bar & bodega
20.6 km
Unpretentious neighborhood bar in central Allinge, serving cold beers, hearty plates and laid‑back Bornholm nightlife from lunchtime until late.
Ølstauan
20.8 km
Harbourside Bornholm bar where local craft beers, hearty Danish comfort food and Baltic Sea views come together in a relaxed, grown‑up atmosphere.
Provianten
21.2 km
Cozy harbor-side wine bar and eatery in Gudhjem, blending thoughtful drinks, simple honest food and Bornholm’s relaxed coastal atmosphere.
Underbar
21.4 km
Intimate cliffside bar beneath Hotel Nordlandet, where Nordic cocktails, candlelight and big Baltic horizons turn Bornholm’s wild north coast into your living room.
For the vibe & atmosphere seeker
- Romantic
- Relaxing
- Scenic
- Lively
- Casual
- Unique
- Boutique
For the design and aesthetic lover
- Vintage Styles
- Modern Designs
- Rustic Designs
For the architecture buff
- Historic
- Landmarks
- Heritage Neighborhoods
For the social media creator & influencer
- Photo Spots
- Selfie Spots
- Architectural Shots
- Instagrammable
For the eco-conscious traveler
- Low Impact
- Public-Transport Accessible
- Locally Managed
For the kind of experience you’re after
- Cultural Heritage
- Photowalk
- Roadtrip Stop
- Day Trip
- Weekend Getaway
For how adventurous you want the journey to be
- Easy Access
Location Audience
- Family Friendly
- Senior Friendly
- Child Friendly
- Teen Friendly
- Solo Friendly
- Couple Friendly
- Solo Female Friendly
- LGBT Friendly
- Vegetarian Friendly
- Vegan Friendly
- Business Friendly