Café Olai

Old-town Helsingør with a side of hygge

Café Olai sits on narrow Sct Olai Gade in Helsingør’s historic centre, surrounded by crooked facades, cobblestones and glimpses of the harbour between rooftops. Step through the door and the street noise fades into a hum of conversation, clinking cutlery and the soft crackle of candles on closely set tables. The room is compact and cosy rather than grand, with low ceilings, wooden beams and small-paned windows that make it feel a little like slipping into an old ship’s cabin. The restaurant has been family-run since the 1980s and still feels firmly rooted in local daily life. Lunchtime fills with a mix of shoppers, workers and day-trippers from Sweden, while evenings skew more towards lingering meals and slow rounds of beer and snaps. Despite the busy turnover, staff move at an easy rhythm, and there is a reassuring sense that this place has been doing much the same thing for decades—and sees no reason to rush.

Classic Danish flavours on generous plates

The menu leans into traditional Danish cooking with a particular emphasis on smørrebrød, the open-faced rye-bread sandwiches that are a national staple. Expect richly topped combinations: herring with onions and capers, roast beef under a drift of remoulade and crisp onions, or shrimp and egg brightened with fresh herbs. Portions tend to be hearty, and two or three pieces easily make a full meal. Beyond smørrebrød, Café Olai serves warming dishes such as pan-fried fish fillets, steaks with house-made sauces and seasonal comfort foods that suit the often-brisk sea air outside. There are lighter salads and some vegetarian-friendly options, plus a drinks list that runs from foaming draft lagers to snaps and an approachable selection of wines. It is the sort of place where you can come in simply for a beer and a snack or settle in for a multi-course dinner without feeling out of place either way.

Atmosphere steeped in local character

Part of Café Olai’s charm lies in how closely it reflects its surroundings. Helsingør’s history as a busy harbour town lives on in the nautical hints scattered through the decor, the solid wooden furniture and the slightly time-worn details that give the room character. On cooler days, heaters and blankets on the outdoor chairs extend the season, letting guests linger under the open sky while still feeling cocooned. Inside, the lighting stays low and golden well into the afternoon, turning rain showers and early winter sunsets into a backdrop rather than a nuisance. Tables are placed close enough that conversations and laughter blend into a single pleasant buzz, yet it rarely feels intrusive. Solo diners can tuck into a corner with a book; families and groups slide into banquettes that easily absorb extra chairs.

A convenient pause between sights

The restaurant’s central location makes it an easy stop between visits to Kronborg Castle, the harbourfront or the cultural quarter by the shipyard. Many guests drop in for a late lunch after a morning of sightseeing or use it as a final stop before catching the ferry across the Øresund. The kitchen focuses on honest, recognisable dishes rather than elaborate tasting menus, which keeps things straightforward when you are tired, hungry and perhaps juggling different appetites in one group. Service is informal and efficient, with staff used to switching languages and walking first-timers through the smørrebrød choices. The space is compact and can feel lively at traditional Danish meal times, but turnover is steady enough that tables open regularly. It works just as well for a quick bite and a single drink as for an unhurried evening with multiple courses.

When to visit and how long to stay

Café Olai opens from late morning, and midweek lunchtimes are often the calmest moments to appreciate the surroundings. Later afternoon can be pleasantly mellow for coffee, beer or a snack, while Friday and Saturday evenings become more animated as locals and visitors settle in. On bright days the outdoor seats offer enjoyable people-watching along Sct Olai Gade, especially when the pedestrian streets are busy. Most visits last from an hour for a simple lunch to two hours or more for a full dinner, particularly if you stretch things with dessert or an extra round of drinks. Because the menu is broad and the setting comfortable, it is easy to improvise—adding another smørrebrød, sharing a plate of fries or lingering over a final snaps before stepping back into the narrow old-town streets.