Sct. Hans Have – Green Café Oasis in Roskilde

A Garden Café Rooted in Roskilde’s Hospital History

Sct. Hans Have sits in former hospital gardens on the edge of Roskilde Fjord, once part of the historic psychiatric hospital grounds. Today the old nursery structures have been revived as a café, garden center and meeting place, surrounded by lawns, beds of perennials and working vegetable plots. It feels half countryside, half hidden suburban corner, with the city’s spires just out of sight and the water of the fjord not far away. The project is run as a social enterprise, with a mission to promote mental well-being through nature, culture and community. People with very different life situations help keep the place running, from patients and refugees to volunteers and staff with horticultural, culinary and craft skills. That mix gives the garden a quietly purposeful character, where every path, plant label and tray of seedlings feels part of a bigger story.

Greenhouses, Garden Rooms and Seasonal Plates

The heart of Sct. Hans Have is its café, spread between light-filled greenhouses and outdoor tables tucked among flowers and shrubs. Sunlight filters through old panes onto worn wooden tables, potted herbs and stacks of terracotta pots, while on cooler days the glasshouses hold the warmth and frame views of the garden outside. In summer, tables spill into the grass and gravel corners, turning the whole site into one big open-air dining room. The menu leans toward simple, seasonal dishes built around vegetables, herbs and fruit grown on site or sourced locally. Expect soups, salads, tart-style plates and hearty sandwiches rather than fine dining, often paired with homemade cordials, good coffee and cakes. Portions encourage lingering rather than rushing, and the rhythm of the day follows the garden: busy around lunchtime, calm again when the last plates are cleared and watering cans come out.

A Nursery, Shop and Cultural Gathering Place

Beyond the café tables, Sct. Hans Have still functions as a working nursery and small garden shop. One greenhouse is devoted to rows of herbs, tomato plants and seasonal flowers in trays, with the earthy smell of soil and the soft mist of hoses in the air. Shelves carry seeds, garden tools and a rotating selection of handmade items, from ceramics to small decorative pieces inspired by the surrounding landscape. Throughout the year, the garden doubles as a cultural venue. Intimate concerts, talks, workshops and small markets make use of the chapel-like outbuildings, greenhouses and lawns. Around late autumn the gartneri transforms into a cozy Christmas market filled with greenery, wreaths and warm drinks. Even on a quiet day, you may spot signs of this cultural life: a temporary exhibition in a corner, chairs set up for a reading, or craft materials stacked for the next workshop.

Nature, Well-Being and Everyday Calm

What sets Sct. Hans Have apart is how closely it ties nature to well-being. The beds are planted not only for beauty but also for sensory richness: scented herbs you brush as you walk past, flowers chosen for bees and butterflies, fruit bushes that signal the changing seasons. Paths invite slow strolling; tucked-away benches offer space to sit with a book or simply listen to birdsong drifting in from the surrounding trees. The atmosphere is relaxed and unhurried, with space for families, couples, solo visitors and small groups of friends to settle into their own corner. It is easy to fold a visit here into a wider exploration of Roskilde and the fjord landscape, but many visitors find themselves staying longer than planned, letting conversations stretch out as the shadows lengthen across the grass.

Part of Nationalpark Skjoldungernes Land

Sct. Hans Have lies within Nationalpark Skjoldungernes Land, a protected cultural landscape of fjord shorelines, meadows, forests and ancient sites. The garden forms one small but distinctive piece of this patchwork, demonstrating how green spaces can be used for both cultivation and care. From the café tables you can see glimpses of tall trees that connect the site to wider walking routes and viewpoints over the fjord. Spending time here can act as a gentle pause within a day of sightseeing. It is a place to recharge, reflect and watch the quiet, practical work of tending plants and preparing food unfold around you. The mix of history, social purpose and simple everyday pleasures gives Sct. Hans Have a character that feels both deeply local and instantly welcoming.