Oreby Kro

Historic country inn by the fjord

Oreby Kro sits at the edge of the Orebygaard estate, where farmland runs gently down to Sakskøbing Fjord and a small harbor. The building is a traditional Danish kro, with whitewashed walls, red-tiled roof and low ceilings that immediately set a homely, intimate tone. In the past, this type of inn offered shelter and meals to travelers moving across Lolland; today the focus is on slow meals and a sense of escape rather than a bed for the night. Step inside and you find a series of snug dining rooms, each with wooden floors, candlelit tables and windows that frame the surrounding landscape. When the weather cooperates, doors open to the terrace and garden, blurring the line between indoors and out and making the most of the fjord-side location.

Seasonal Danish cooking with local roots

The kitchen at Oreby Kro is dedicated to classic Danish and broader Scandinavian cooking, updated with a modern eye for balance and presentation. Menus change with the seasons but often include fish and shellfish from nearby waters, vegetables and berries from local growers, and meats sourced from farms on Lolland and the neighboring islands. Expect generous lunch plates, open-faced smørrebrød with carefully layered toppings, and hearty main courses built around slow-cooked meats, crisp potatoes and bright, pickled elements. Sauces are full-flavored rather than flashy, and there is a clear respect for traditional combinations: creamy gravies, buttered root vegetables, and desserts that might feature apples, rhubarb or berries preserved from the summer harvest.

Fjord views and slow country atmosphere

One of the great pleasures of a meal here is simply looking up from your plate. From many tables you can see the grassy slope running down to the fjord, passing boats, and birdlife moving across the water. The mood is unrushed; guests often stretch lunch well into the afternoon or arrive early for dinner to enjoy an aperitif outside before settling indoors. The surroundings feel distinctly rural. Depending on the season you might see golden fields, low winter light over the ice-cold fjord, or long summer evenings when the sky stays pale long after dessert. It’s a setting that invites conversation, contemplation and a slower rhythm than you find in city restaurants.

Local drinks and occasional live music

Oreby Kro pairs its food with a selection of wines, classic spirits and beers, including brews from local breweries on Lolland and the wider Zealand region. The emphasis is on drinks that complement the food rather than on an encyclopedic list, and staff are usually ready with suggestions for pairings. From time to time, the inn also hosts small-scale cultural events, such as intimate live jazz or music evenings that fit naturally with the cozy interiors. These nights turn the kro into a social hub for the area, blending good food, local drinks and live performance in one countryside setting.

Planning your visit

Oreby Kro operates mainly as a lunch and dinner destination, with regular opening hours from Thursday to Saturday and shorter daytime service on Sundays. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly in summer and on holiday weekends, as seating is limited and the relaxed pace means tables are rarely turned quickly. Most visitors spend at least a couple of hours here, combining a meal with a short stroll around the harbor or along the water’s edge. Whether you come for a cozy winter lunch by candlelight or a sunlit summer dinner on the terrace, the experience is less about rushing through courses and more about enjoying an unhurried taste of rural Danish hospitality by the fjord.