Marv & Ben

Nordic flavours on one of Copenhagen’s oldest streets

Marv & Ben occupies a snug, two-floor apartment on Snaregade, a narrow cobblestone lane in the historic heart of Copenhagen. The street’s crooked buildings and worn stones set the tone before you even step inside: this is firmly rooted in old Copenhagen, but with its eyes on contemporary Nordic gastronomy. The restaurant name – roughly “Marrow & Bone” – hints at a nose-to-tail respect for ingredients and a desire to extract deep flavour from simple things. Inside, the rooms are compact and low-lit, with dark tables and textiles that throw the spotlight onto the plates and the open kitchen. The atmosphere feels like an elegant dinner party in a city apartment rather than a formal temple of fine dining, which suits the restaurant’s relaxed but focused culinary style.

Seasonal menus built from small-scale producers

Marv & Ben’s cooking is anchored in the New Nordic ethos: local, seasonal and rooted in Danish landscapes. The team sources meat from small farms and fish caught close to the coast, then builds the menu around what is at its best right now. A typical evening centres on either a four-course “Fast Four” or a more elaborate six-course “Six Favourites” menu, with the option to order dishes à la carte. Plates might pair mackerel with cucumber and elderflower, hake with trout roe and mustard herbs, or Danish Duroc pork with black garlic and aromatic herbs. Humble ingredients like potatoes are treated with the same care as prime cuts, often combined with local cheeses or wild herbs to create unexpectedly complex flavours. Pickling, fermenting and drying allow the kitchen to capture fleeting seasons and reintroduce them later in the year.

Textures, techniques and thoughtful details

A hallmark of the experience here is an almost playful curiosity about textures. Crunch, silkiness and gentle chew all appear within the same dish, without ever feeling fussy. Elements like fermented garlic, pickled green strawberries, salted onions or woodruff show up in sauces and garnishes, adding brightness or depth rather than novelty for its own sake. The kitchen works within a modern, unfussy visual language: plates are precise and well-composed, yet still inviting. You can expect a measured pace to the meal, with small snacks and breads often appearing between courses, reinforcing the sense of a carefully choreographed evening rather than a quick dinner stop.

Wine, organics and flexibility for different diets

The wine list is a serious part of the experience, spanning biodynamic, organic, natural and classic producers. Many bottles are available by the glass, and pairings can be added to the tasting menus for a fully guided journey. Organic juices and other non-alcoholic options are also thoughtfully considered. Marv & Ben is notably flexible when it comes to dietary preferences. Menus can be adapted to pescatarian and vegetarian formats, and with advance notice even a vegan version of the four-course menu is possible. This makes it a strong choice for mixed groups who still want a cohesive, high-level tasting-menu experience.

A Bib Gourmand evening in the inner city

Recognised with a Michelin Bib Gourmand, Marv & Ben aims to balance gastronomic ambition with a sense of value. It is very much a special-occasion restaurant, yet the mood stays relaxed and personal rather than grand. Service tends to be warm and well-informed, guiding you through unfamiliar ingredients or techniques without pomposity. Located in Copenhagen’s inner city, the restaurant fits naturally into an evening that might begin with a stroll along nearby canals or a pre-dinner drink elsewhere in the old town. With its combination of location, personality and precisely executed New Nordic cooking, Marv & Ben offers a distinctive taste of contemporary Copenhagen in an intimately scaled setting.