Den lille Deli, Vesterø Havn

Harbourfront café at the heart of Vesterø

Den lille Deli sits right on Havnepladsen in Vesterø Havn, the main harbour of Læsø, with fishing boats, the ferry and the open Kattegat as its daily backdrop. The setting is unmistakably maritime: sea breeze, gulls circling above and the soft clink of masts provide a soundtrack while you eat. The café occupies a modest corner at the foot of Havnebakken and faces the old Bødehuset, giving it a central, village-like feel despite the island location. From the outdoor tables you can watch harbour life unfold at close range. On clear evenings, the sun drops directly over the water, turning the quay into a natural front-row seat for one of Læsø’s finest sunset shows. Indoors, the space is intimate and relaxed, with a counter stacked with baked goods and shelves carrying local delicacies to take home.

From rotisserie chickens to seaside classics

The menu focuses on unfussy, flavour-packed café dishes anchored in good ingredients and generous portions. A signature here is the slow-roasted rotisserie chicken: whole birds are seasoned and set to spin around midday, cooking gently for hours until the meat is tender and the skin crisp and bronzed. They are typically served from late afternoon with fries, coleslaw or other simple sides. Alongside the chicken you will find burgers, crispy chicken burgers and nuggets, fish and chips and the classic Danish open-faced seafood dish known as stjerneskud, often topped with fried and poached fish and plenty of shrimp. Lighter options include paninis and tapas boards that highlight local specialities, making it easy to share a spread with a view of the harbour.

Local flavours and sweet temptations

Den lille Deli leans into local and regional products wherever possible. Tapas assortments feature items sourced from Læsø and other Danish producers, and the shelves may hold specialty pastas and other delicacies from small Nordic makers, ready to slip into your bag as edible souvenirs. The drinks list keeps things straightforward: coffee, soft drinks, beer and wine, with regional labels such as Hancock sodas and beers adding to the sense of place. Sweet-toothed visitors are well looked after. The counter usually displays cakes, pastries and truffles, along with other small treats that pair naturally with an afternoon coffee. It is as much a place to pause for a mid-ride espresso and slice of cake as it is somewhere to sit down for a full evening meal.

Easygoing atmosphere from lunch to early evening

The café typically opens around midday and runs through the late afternoon and early evening, covering the key windows for both lunch and a laid-back dinner by the harbour. The mood is informal and friendly: you order at the counter, take a seat and settle into the slow rhythm of island life while the kitchen prepares your food. Outdoor seating dominates in fine weather, creating a relaxed spillover onto the quay where families, cyclists and day trippers mingle. Indoors is compact and cosy, providing shelter on breezier or cooler days and making Den lille Deli a comfortable choice even outside high summer, when the harbour feels quieter and more local.

Takeaway for beach picnics and cottage nights

Takeaway is an important part of Den lille Deli’s appeal. Many dishes, from rotisserie chicken to burgers and fish and chips, are designed to travel well, ideal for carrying back to a rented cottage, a nearby bench or the sand just beyond the harbour. The location opposite Bødehuset also gives an extra covered option, as you can sit there with your food when space is tight on the terrace. For travellers who have just stepped off the ferry or are waiting to depart, the café acts as a convenient and tasty stop: close enough to the quay that you can keep an eye on the harbour, yet relaxed enough to feel like you have arrived properly on Læsø. Whether you pop in for a quick coffee and pastry or plan a slow sunset meal, Den lille Deli offers a simple, welcoming slice of island harbour life.