Is På Toppen – Outdoor Cykel- og Vandrecafé

A courtyard café between sea, hills and village life

Is På Toppen sits quietly in the tiny settlement of Gildespollen on the Mols peninsula, a short distance from the rolling landscapes of Nationalpark Mols Bjerge and the shores of Ebeltoft Vig. From the street it looks modest – a window in a village house, a few signs and bikes leaning against the wall – but step into the backyard and you find a surprisingly charming little courtyard. Here the café’s outdoor focus comes into its own: wooden tables, mismatched chairs and the hum of conversation blend with birdsong and the rustle of hedges. The setting feels distinctly rural Jutland. You are close to classic Mols scenery of small farms, low houses and winding roads, yet you also sense the pull of the nearby hills and coastline. Many guests arrive with walking poles or cycling gear, making the courtyard feel like a casual base camp for local adventures.

Ice cream, coffee and simple pleasures

The heart of Is På Toppen is its serving window, where you order ice cream, coffee and cold drinks straight from the house. The focus is on unfussy, good‑quality treats: creamy scoops in crisp cones, soft ice with traditional toppings, and straightforward filter coffee or espresso‑based drinks. On warm days, the line of people with sandy feet, bike helmets and backpacks paints a picture of how central this small place is to outdoor days on Mols. The menu is compact rather than elaborate, but that matches the casual atmosphere. It is the kind of place where you wipe a bit of ice cream from your chin while studying a hiking map, or warm your hands on a coffee after a windswept walk on the surrounding trails. Local products sometimes appear – from juices to regional craft beer sold via the broader På Toppen network – adding a taste of Djursland to your break.

A hub on cycling routes and hiking trails

True to its name as a cykel- og vandrecafé, Is På Toppen works best as a waypoint in a bigger day out. Cyclists tackling the undulating backroads of Mols roll in to refuel, compare routes and patch inner tubes in the courtyard. Hikers use it as a natural start or end point for shorter circuits through Knebel-området, where marked paths lead through plantations, farmland and viewpoints over the bay. The rhythm of the day mirrors outdoor life. Early afternoons may see families and day‑trippers arriving from nearby beaches or viewpoints, while later in the day small groups of walkers drop by after finishing a loop in Mols Bjerge. The café’s flexible, outdoor‑oriented setup makes it easy to show up in muddy boots or with a fully loaded touring bike.

Laid‑back Danish hygge under open skies

Despite its practical function, the atmosphere leans strongly towards hygge. The courtyard encourages lingering: you can stretch tired legs, let children wander within sight, and take your time over a second coffee without formality. The absence of elaborate décor is part of the charm – this is rural Denmark at its most relaxed, where conversation and fresh air matter more than design details. Because service is from a window and seating is outdoors, the café feels almost like an extension of the village itself. Dogs often lie under tables, bike bells ring at the entrance and the smells of waffle cones and freshly ground coffee drift into the lane. It is the sort of simple, human‑scale place that makes a day in the countryside feel complete.

Seasonal rhythm and local community

Is På Toppen follows the seasons closely. In the warmer months, opening hours expand to catch the long Scandinavian evenings, and the courtyard fills with cyclists in jerseys and families still in swimwear from the fjord. On cooler days, a hot drink and a quick cone enjoyed in a jacket become part of the charm, though hours are often shorter and more weather‑dependent. Behind the counter, the café is woven into local life around Knebel and Agri, linked to small producers and the guesthouse and café operations trading under the broader På Toppen name. That local grounding shows in the easy, informal interaction between staff and regulars. For visitors, a stop here offers not only ice cream and caffeine, but also a small window into everyday life on the Mols peninsula.