Restaurant Støvlen, Ebeltoft

Historic shoemaker’s house in the heart of Ebeltoft

Restaurant Støvlen is housed in Ebeltoft’s old Skomagerhus on Adelgade, one of the town’s oldest buildings and a listed property. The front house is more than 300 years old and once belonged to a long line of local shoemakers, at a time when cobbling was a key trade in the town. The last cobbler worked here until the 1990s, and the building still carries that story in its creaking floors, low ceilings and crooked beams. Stepping inside, you move straight from the cobbled pedestrian street into rooms that feel both intimate and lived‑in. Whitewashed walls, timber details and small‑paned windows give the sense of sitting in a historic private home rather than a formal restaurant. The layout is a warren of cosy corners rather than a single large hall, which suits quiet conversations and unhurried meals.

Classic Danish dishes with modern seasonal twists

The kitchen at Restaurant Støvlen focuses on traditional and reinterpreted Danish food for both lunch and dinner. At midday, you can expect classics such as open‑faced sandwiches, light fish dishes and house takes on favourites like pariserbøf or a generous tartelet, often refreshed with contemporary presentation and sharper seasoning. In the evening, an à la carte selection is complemented by a seasonal multi‑course menu, typically drawing inspiration from both Danish and French cooking. The plates lean on local and seasonal ingredients from Djursland, highlighting fish, meats and vegetables that reflect the time of year. The cooking style is straightforward rather than experimental, aiming for clear flavours and careful execution.

Courtyard dining and atmospheric interiors

One of the restaurant’s most appealing features is its sheltered courtyard behind the main building. On mild days, tables are set among potted plants and old brick walls, creating a small oasis away from the bustle of the pedestrian street. The mix of sun and shade makes it a pleasant spot for a long lunch or an early summer dinner. Indoors, the atmosphere shifts with the seasons. In cooler weather, candlelight and close‑set tables give the rooms an almost living‑room feel, with the historic framework of the house always present in the background. It is the kind of place suited to both a relaxed family meal and a more intimate evening for two, without feeling stiff or formal.

From everyday lunch to special‑occasion feasts

Restaurant Støvlen serves throughout the day, so it naturally fills several roles in local life. At lunchtime it works as a comfortable pause during a day of exploring Ebeltoft’s old streets, offering something more substantial than a quick café snack. In the evening, the setting and menu lend themselves to slower, multi‑course meals where you can linger over coffee or a final glass. The house layout, with several rooms and the courtyard, also makes it well suited to private gatherings. It can host everything from small celebrations to larger dinners, using different spaces of the old shoemaker’s home to create a more or less private feel as needed. Service tends to be attentive and personable, reflecting the scale of the venue.

Local flavours and small details to notice

Throughout the menu, there is an emphasis on using local and seasonal produce where possible, which means dishes evolve over the course of the year. Lighter plates and fresh herbs dominate in the warmer months, while heartier preparations appear as the weather cools. You may also encounter local beverages, including beers and soft drinks from nearby producers. As you look around, small details reveal the building’s earlier life: the proportions of the front room, remnants of old carpentry and the way the courtyard is enclosed by former outbuildings. Combined with the focus on comforting, flavour‑driven food, these historic traces are what give Restaurant Støvlen its particular sense of place in Ebeltoft’s old town.