Restaurant Vægterkælderen at Hotel Dagmar
Hearty steaks and classic Danish flavours served in a candlelit 16th‑century cellar beneath historic Hotel Dagmar on Ribe’s storybook main square.
Tucked beneath historic Hotel Dagmar on Ribe’s main square, **Restaurant Vægterkælderen** is a vaulted cellar restaurant known for hearty steaks, classic Danish dishes and an intimate, old-world atmosphere. Candlelit tables, exposed brickwork and low ceilings set a cosy, almost tavern-like mood, while the menu leans into robust flavours, local produce and well-poured wines and beers. In summer, the life of Torvet spills just outside, contrasting nicely with the snug warmth below.
A brief summary to Restaurant Vægterkælderen
- Torvet 1, Ribe, 6760, DK
- +4575420033
- Visit website
- Duration: 1.5 to 3 hours
- Mid ranged
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Indoor
- Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
- Monday 12 pm-4 pm
- Tuesday 12 pm-4 pm
- Wednesday 12 pm-4 pm
- Thursday 12 pm-4 pm
- Friday 12 pm-4 pm
- Saturday 12 pm-4 pm
- Sunday 12 pm-11 pm
Local tips
- Reserve a table for the evening, especially in summer and on weekends, as the intimate cellar rooms fill quickly with hotel guests and locals.
- If you enjoy meat, consider the signature steak or mixed grill options, which are a particular strength of the kitchen and pair well with Danish beers.
- Bring a light layer even in warmer months; the vaulted cellar stays pleasantly cool but can feel chilly if you arrive straight from the sunlit square.
For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you
- Restrooms
- Drink Options
- Drinking Water
- Food Options
- Seating Areas
- Trash Bins
- Information Boards
Restaurant Vægterkælderen location weather suitability
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Any Weather
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Rain / Wet Weather
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Cold Weather
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Mild Temperatures
Discover more about Restaurant Vægterkælderen
Historic cellars beneath Denmark’s oldest hotel
Hidden under the red-brick façade of Hotel Dagmar on Ribe’s main square, Vægterkælderen occupies the old cellar rooms of a 16th‑century townhouse. Thick walls, brick vaults and heavy beams recall the building’s past as a stately merchant’s residence and later a civic house for Ribe’s elite. Today, those same vaulted chambers hold a restaurant that leans into its history, with flickering candles, dark wood furniture and a layout of smaller nooks that feel almost like separate chambers. The name references the historic town watchmen, the vægtere, who once patrolled Ribe’s streets at night. Down here, away from the daylight of the square, you get a sense of that bygone town: low ceilings, worn stone details and an intimacy that suits both slow dinners and lingering conversations.Robust cooking with a Danish heart
Vægterkælderen is best known for generous meat dishes, particularly well‑prepared steaks that arrive sizzling from the grill. The menu generally balances these with Danish and broader Scandinavian comfort food: rich sauces, potatoes in many guises, seasonal vegetables and the occasional game or fish dish. Portions are substantial, and the style is more classic than experimental, prioritising flavour and familiarity over culinary theatrics. Local and regional produce finds its way onto the plate when available, echoing the agricultural landscape surrounding Ribe and the nearby Wadden Sea region. Expect butter, cream and robust stocks to play starring roles, alongside a focused list of wines, beers and perhaps a schnapps or two that pair naturally with the hearty cooking.Atmosphere from lunchtime to late evening
At midday, the restaurant feels like a retreat from the bustle of Torvet above, a place where daylight filters down the stairs and you settle into a cool, brick‑lined room for a lingering lunch. In the evenings, the character shifts: candles glow in old windowsills, voices carry softly between the arches, and the cellar takes on a snug, almost medieval ambience that suits Ribe’s storybook streets. Service follows a relaxed, classic brasserie rhythm rather than a rushed bistro pace. Tables are generally set fairly close together, preserving the convivial character of an old cellar dining room while still allowing enough privacy for couples, small groups or hotel guests unwinding after a day in town.Part of the Dagmar experience on Ribe’s main square
As one of two restaurants at Hotel Dagmar, Vægterkælderen complements the more formal Restaurant Dagmar upstairs. Together they anchor the food offering of what is often described as Denmark’s oldest hotel, set right beside Ribe Cathedral and within easy strolling distance of the town’s museums and narrow side streets. During the warmer months, the culinary life of the hotel spills out onto the cobblestones of the square, while the cellar remains a cool refuge on hot days and a cosy escape in winter storms. Many guests combine a walk through Denmark’s oldest town with dinner here, using the restaurant as a comfortable, atmospheric full‑stop to a day of sightseeing.Who this Ribe cellar restaurant suits best
Vægterkælderen is well suited to couples seeking a romantic but unpretentious dinner, friends meeting over steaks and a bottle of wine, and travellers staying at Hotel Dagmar who want a characterful meal without leaving the square. Families with older children tend to fit better than very young ones, simply because of the intimate cellar layout and lingering dining style. It is not a cutting‑edge culinary laboratory, but rather a place to enjoy traditional dishes, solid cooking and the special setting of a centuries‑old cellar in Denmark’s oldest town. For visitors who value atmosphere and history alongside a comforting plate of food, it offers a distinctly Ribe dining experience.Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
Queen Dagmar of Bohemia
0.5 km
A contemplative statue on Ribe’s former castle hill, honouring the gentle 13th‑century Queen Dagmar where her life and legend became entwined with Denmark’s history.
Kammerslusen Ribe
5.5 km
Discover Copenhagen's Black Diamond: A fusion of modern architecture and cultural heritage on the waterfront.
Sønderho Church
18.9 km
An 18th‑century island church filled with Denmark’s largest flotilla of votive ships, anchoring Sønderho’s seafaring history in a tranquil Wadden Sea village.
Æ Kåver
18.9 km
Reborn wooden seamark on Fanø’s southern edge, Æ Kåver recalls 17th‑century seafaring in a wild Wadden Sea landscape of wind, sand and wide horizons.
Bunker
24.6 km
A concrete relic of World War II occupation, standing silent in Denmark's westernmost forest.
Namaste Esbjerg
24.8 km
Marselisborg Strand is Aarhus’ vibrant urban beach, blending sandy coastline, tranquil bay views, and easy access to city highlights and lush forest parks.
Esbjerg Water Tower
24.9 km
Historic red-brick water tower on a Bronze Age mound overlooking Esbjerg’s harbour, blending medieval-inspired architecture with the story of a young, ambitious port city.
Dronning Louise
24.9 km
Urban beachfront serenity meets Danish royal heritage at Marselisborg Strand, Aarhus’ favorite local escape for swimming, sunbathing, and seaside strolls year-round.
Christian IX statue, Esbjerg
24.9 km
Historic equestrian monument and central meeting point on Esbjerg’s main square, celebrating the king who founded Denmark’s youngest major North Sea port.
Vadehavskysten
24.9 km
An iconic copper bridge tower turned cultural gem, offering harbor panoramas, intimate events, and a taste of Copenhagen’s creative spirit on Knippelsbro.
Landgangen
25.0 km
Step inside a piece of Copenhagen’s iconic bridge architecture, now transformed into a creative hub for art, music, café culture, and panoramic city views.
Gangbroen over Toldbodvej, Esbjerg Havn
25.0 km
A converted harbor tower blending industrial heritage with contemporary art, panoramic views, and creative events on Copenhagen’s iconic Knippels Bridge.
Denmark
25.0 km
Marselisborg Strand is Aarhus’s urban beach escape, offering sandy shores, a classic pier, family-friendly facilities, and beautiful views right at the city’s edge.
Esbjerg Museum
25.0 km
Iconic harbor-view cultural tower on Knippelsbro, blending Copenhagen’s bridge heritage with art, events, and sweeping views across Indre By and Christianshavn.
FanøFærgen, Esbjerg
25.1 km
Compact harbor terminal in Esbjerg serving the fast 12‑minute Fanø ferry, linking mainland bustle with island calm in the Wadden Sea UNESCO landscape.
Unmissable attractions to see
P Dovns Slippe
0.1 km
Explore the Wadden Sea's unique ecosystem and cultural heritage at Vadehavscentret near Ribe, Denmark.
Hex! Museum of Witch Hunt
0.1 km
Explore the chilling history of witch hunts in 16th–17th century Denmark through immersive audio and artifacts in historic Ribe.
Den Gamle Arrest, Ribe
0.1 km
Stay the night in Ribe’s old town prison, a 16th‑century listed house on the cathedral square where chaplains, schoolgirls and inmates once shared the same walls.
Ribe Cathedral
0.1 km
Explore Denmark's rich glass and ceramic heritage at Holmegaard Værk, featuring live demonstrations and interactive workshops.
Ribe Domkirkeplads
0.1 km
Tiny but central parking right on Ribe’s cathedral square, putting you only steps from Denmark’s oldest town’s historic heart, shops and cobbled lanes.
Det Gamle Rådhus Ribe
0.1 km
Compact in size but rich in stories, Ribe’s Old Town Hall reveals centuries of justice, ceremony and civic life within an atmospheric medieval shell.
Kannikegaarden
0.1 km
Award-winning parish hall and archaeological showcase where contemporary Nordic architecture hovers above Ribe’s oldest brick ruins beside the cathedral.
Taarnborg
0.2 km
A contemplative Renaissance townhouse in Ribe’s cobbled centre, where historic clergy once lived and today’s cultural life unfolds in quietly atmospheric rooms.
Faldne fra Sønderjyske Krige, Ribe
0.2 km
Step into Viking-era life at Vikingborg near Ribe, where interactive exhibits, reconstructed buildings, and live reenactments reveal Denmark’s ancient Norse heritage.
Stormflodssøjlen
0.2 km
Experience Danish creativity at Holmegaard Værk, where heritage glassmaking, live demonstrations, and cutting-edge design exhibitions come together in a vibrant historic setting.
Flood column in Ribe
0.2 km
A slender wooden column on Ribe’s harbour that turns tranquil waterfront views into a powerful, six-metre-high lesson in storm surges, memory and resilience.
St. Catherine's Priory, Ribe
0.2 km
A beautifully preserved Dominican priory in Ribe, where brick cloisters, a serene church and a quiet garden reveal nearly eight centuries of Danish monastic history.
Ribe Kloster
0.2 km
A serene former convent tucked into Ribe’s cobbled centre, where brick Gothic walls, quiet courtyards and layered history evoke centuries of monastic life.
Buste af Jacob A. Riis
0.2 km
A modest bronze bust in Ribe’s old town honouring Jacob A. Riis, the local boy whose New York photographs and journalism helped change urban social history.
Wooden bridges
0.2 km
Simple timber footbridges over Ribe’s quiet river, offering gentle views, soft light and a tranquil pause just beyond the medieval streets.
Essential places to dine
Restaurant Vægterkælderen
0.0 km
Hearty steaks and classic Danish flavours served in a candlelit 16th‑century cellar beneath historic Hotel Dagmar on Ribe’s storybook main square.
Hotel Dagmar
0.0 km
Denmark's oldest hotel since 1581, blending Renaissance charm with modern hospitality on Ribe's historic square.
Weis Stue
0.0 km
Centuries-old timber inn and restaurant on Ribe’s main square, serving classic Danish dishes and simple rooms in a wonderfully crooked historic house.
Restaurant Jacob A. Riis
0.0 km
Square-side steakhouse and brasserie in Ribe’s historic heart, named after reformer Jacob A. Riis and serving generous, familiar dishes from morning through evening.
BØFFEN Restaurant
0.0 km
Homemade burgers and ice cream on Ribe's historic square—casual comfort food at unbeatable prices.
Pinocchio
0.1 km
Casual Italian pizzas and pastas served all day in a cosy, family-friendly restaurant right in the historic heart of Ribe’s medieval old town.
Quedensgård Cafe Og Krambod
0.1 km
Historic café and krambod in a crooked old merchant’s house in Ribe, blending Danish comfort food, a leafy courtyard and shelves of characterful curios.
Pizza Express
0.1 km
Casual pizzeria on Ribe's main square serving traditional Italian pizzas in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.
Kolvig - by Skovmose
0.1 km
Historic riverside dining in Denmark's oldest city, where Nordic cuisine meets industrial heritage.
Monza Pizza
0.1 km
Authentic Italian pizza handcrafted on Ribe's historic main square
Restaurant Sælhunden
0.1 km
Historic riverside dining in Denmark's oldest town, where 400 years of character meet fresh Danish cuisine.
Terpager & Co
0.1 km
Historic 16th‑century café, wine bar and deli in Ribe’s old town, blending Nordic hygge, plant‑forward cooking and small‑producer wines in a cozy courtyard setting.
Restaurant Backhaus ApS
0.2 km
Hearty Danish classics, crooked floors and cathedral views come together in this cosy Ribe townhouse restaurant with a charming courtyard and rooms upstairs.
Peking House Restaurant
0.2 km
Authentic Chinese buffet in historic Ribe's pedestrian heart—diverse flavors, fresh ingredients, family-friendly.
Mad Ud Af Huset
0.2 km
Experience authentic Danish cuisine in the heart of Ribe at Mad Ud Af Huset.
Markets, malls and hidden boutiques
NEW FORM Ribe
0.0 km
Sporty, pet-friendly clothing store in Ribe’s historic center, stocking practical outdoor and casual wear for the whole family near the Wadden Sea coast.
Biti v/Tina Haugsted Larsen
0.0 km
Long-established Ribe corner boutique mixing Scandinavian-inspired women’s fashion, gifts and souvenirs in the atmospheric setting of the town’s central square.
Overdammens Idebutik
0.0 km
A cosy Ribe gift shop where Scandinavian homewares, seasonal decorations and thoughtful souvenirs are tucked into a warm, cobbled-street setting.
Det Gamle Apothek
0.0 km
A historic former pharmacy in the heart of Ribe, now a cosy Nordic shop filled with atmospheric décor, seasonal treasures and a touch of old-town magic.
Janne K Ribe
0.0 km
Bright, comfortable women’s fashion in inclusive sizes, tucked into a historic townhouse on Ribe’s cobbled main street.
Garnslusen
0.1 km
Specialty yarn and embroidery shop in the heart of Denmark's oldest city
Den Lille Ravbutik
0.1 km
A cosy amber specialty shop in Ribe’s medieval heart, where warm golden stones, Scandinavian design and coastal heritage come together in wearable souvenirs.
Habengood
0.1 km
Ribe's intimate vintage and vinyl destination where personal service meets curated second-hand treasures.
Ribes Embroidery And Yarn (M Svendsen)
0.1 km
A cozy, floor‑to‑ceiling yarn and embroidery cave in Ribe’s historic center, where more than fifty years of color, fiber and patterns invite you to start a new project.
Made in Ribe
0.1 km
Independent clothing and fabric boutique in Ribe’s medieval center, pairing Scandinavian style with personal tailoring and find-it-here-only souvenirs.
CHANGE Lingerie
0.1 km
Scandinavian fit-focused lingerie and loungewear in a cosy boutique on Ribe’s historic Mellemdammen, blending everyday comfort with a touch of indulgent elegance.
Imerco
0.2 km
Denmark's premier homeware destination offering Scandinavian design, kitchen essentials, and exclusive collections in historic Ribe.
Butik B
0.2 km
Inviting women’s fashion boutique in Ribe’s historic center, blending Scandinavian style, everyday practicality and a relaxed, personal shopping atmosphere.
Tøjeksperten
0.2 km
Contemporary menswear in Ribe's historic pedestrian district, backed by Denmark's most generous return policy.
Tip Top I/S
0.2 km
A small, local clothing shop on Ribe’s historic Nederdammen, offering practical Scandinavian-style fashion in the heart of Denmark’s oldest town.
Essential bars & hidden hideouts
Stenbohus
0.1 km
Cosy, timeworn bar in the heart of Ribe, blending historic surroundings with easygoing drinks, local character and relaxed late‑night atmosphere.
Strygejernet
0.1 km
Intimate corner pub in Ribe’s old town, pairing rustic coziness, smoke-free comfort and friendly bar life with simple drinks, games and unhurried evenings.
Klubben 1811
0.1 km
Casual, spacious bar in Ribe’s old town, mixing sports, pool and cold beer in a bright, easygoing setting just steps from the city’s medieval streets.
Termansens
0.2 km
Intimate jazz and live music in a centuries-old townhouse, where Ribe’s historic charm meets cozy, small-scale culture house vibes after dark.
Café Valdemar
0.3 km
A compact late‑night bar and disco in the heart of historic Ribe, blending casual drinks, chart‑driven beats and a friendly weekend crowd on Sct Nicolaj Gade.
Vin For Dig Ribe
0.4 km
Cosy neighbourhood wine shop and intimate vinbar in Ribe, pairing curated bottles with generous takeaway tapas and relaxed Danish hygge.
Grosmann's
7.8 km
Small-town Danish hygge in a tiny cocktail bar on Kirkegade, where classic drinks, warm lighting and everyday village life meet in laid-back South Jutland style.
Mødestedet
18.9 km
Cozy wine bar on Skærbæk’s main street, where locals and visitors share unhurried glasses of wine, simple snacks and relaxed conversation from day to evening.
Bodega Pubs v/ Kim
19.0 km
Cozy local bodega in Skærbæk serving cold beer, simple drinks, and laid-back Danish bar culture in a friendly, down-to-earth neighborhood setting.
Dowdi Pub Bar
24.7 km
Old-school brown pub in central Esbjerg with inexpensive beers, wood‑panelled charm and a relaxed, local crowd from daytime regulars to late‑night lingerers.
Pappi's pub
24.8 km
Unpretentious, drinks-first bar on Kongensgade offering a simple Danish pub vibe, easy prices and a central stop-off point in the heart of Esbjerg.
Bjælkehytten - En Vestjysk BierBar
24.8 km
Timber-clad, late-opening beer hut on Esbjerg’s Skolegade, serving easygoing brews and shots in a cosy, West Jutland party atmosphere at the heart of nightlife.
Rustik - Bar & Natklub
24.8 km
High‑energy bar and nightclub on Esbjerg’s Skolegade, mixing industrial style, cocktails and a tightly packed dance floor late into the night.
SoHo - Bar & Cocktails
24.8 km
Adults-focused cocktail bar tucked inside Esbjerg Street Food’s old theatre hall, pairing crafted drinks, modern design and a lively, central city atmosphere.
King George
24.8 km
Esbjerg's beloved beer hall where Danish tradition, lively atmosphere, and authentic hospitality converge on Skolegade.
For the vibe & atmosphere seeker
- Romantic
- Scenic
- Fun-filled
- Unique
- Casual
- Boutique
For the design and aesthetic lover
- Vintage Styles
- Rustic Designs
For the architecture buff
- Historic
- Landmarks
For the social media creator & influencer
- Instagrammable
- Photo Spots
- Architectural Shots
- Aesthetic Corners
For the eco-conscious traveler
- Public-Transport Accessible
- Locally Managed
For the kind of experience you’re after
- Cultural Heritage
- Photowalk
- Weekend Getaway
- Day Trip
For how adventurous you want the journey to be
- Easy Access
Location Audience
- Family Friendly
- Senior Friendly
- Teen Friendly
- Solo Friendly
- Couple Friendly
- Solo Female Friendly
- Business Friendly