I Haven Bistro
Cosy Samsø bistro in Ballen’s holiday heart, serving relaxed, seasonal comfort food a short stroll from the harbour and sandy beaches.
Tucked along Åvej in Ballen on the island of Samsø, I Haven Bistro is a cosy neighborhood spot where laid-back island life meets simple Danish comfort food. This small bistro leans into the Samsø staples of fresh seasonal produce and relaxed coastal living, with an intimate dining room and a few outdoor tables that soak up the holiday-town feel. It’s the kind of place for an unfussy lunch, a casual dinner with friends, or a glass of wine after a day at the harbour or beach, with a menu that changes with the season and the local larder.
A brief summary to I Haven Bistro
- Aavej 17, Samsø Municipality, 8305, DK
- Duration: 1 to 2 hours
- Mid ranged
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Indoor
- Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
Local tips
- Book ahead in the peak summer weeks, especially for evening tables, as Ballen fills up quickly when the marina is busy.
- Ask about seasonal specials that showcase Samsø potatoes and local vegetables, which are often at their best in late spring and early summer.
- Combine an early dinner with a stroll along Ballen harbour and the nearby beach to catch the soft evening light over the water.
For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you
- Restrooms
- Seating Areas
I Haven Bistro location weather suitability
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Any Weather
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Mild Temperatures
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Cold Weather
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Hot Weather
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Rain / Wet Weather
Discover more about I Haven Bistro
A small bistro in the heart of island life
I Haven Bistro sits just behind the harbourfront in Ballen, one of Samsø’s liveliest summer villages, on a short stretch of Åvej lined with guesthouses and small eateries. Step inside and you find an intimate space that feels more like a friendly living room than a formal restaurant, with closely spaced tables, candlelight in the darker months, and sunlight spilling in on long Nordic evenings. The atmosphere is resolutely relaxed. Guests drift in straight from the marina or from nearby summer cottages, often still in windbreakers or beachwear, creating a pleasantly informal mix of locals and holidaymakers. It is the sort of bistro where time stretches out and a simple meal easily turns into a long conversation over another glass.Flavours rooted in Samsø’s fields and coastline
Samsø is famed across Denmark for its vegetables and potatoes, and the island’s bounty often finds its way onto the plates at I Haven Bistro. Menus are kept short and seasonal, reflecting what nearby producers can supply, with straightforward dishes built around fresh produce, local fish, and classic bistro combinations. You might find crisp pan-fried fish with new potatoes when they are at their sweetest, a hearty meat dish for cooler evenings, and at least one vegetarian option that makes the most of the island’s greens. Desserts tend to be unfussy and comforting rather than elaborate, and the drinks list leans on approachable wines and a few beers that pair well with casual food.Laid‑back coastal ambience from day to night
At lunchtime the bistro feels bright and easygoing, often drawing in people exploring the island by bike who pause here between swims or sightseeing. In good weather, outdoor tables are a draw, giving you a slice of Ballen’s holiday bustle while still feeling tucked away from the harbour crowds. Evenings are softer and more intimate. Candles and low lighting give the small room a warm glow that suits couples and small groups looking for a relaxed dinner rather than a big-night-out restaurant. The background soundtrack is gentle, letting the low murmur of conversation carry the room.Part of a walkable cluster of Samsø pleasures
One of I Haven Bistro’s quiet strengths is how neatly it fits into a wider Ballen experience. Within a short stroll you can move between the bistro, the marina, sandy beaches on either side of the harbour, and a handful of other cafés and bars. This makes it easy to drop in for an early dinner after a day on the water, or to use the bistro as a starting point before an evening walk along the quay. Because Ballen is compact and largely flat, the bistro is accessible on foot for most visitors staying in or near the village. Cyclists find it a convenient food stop on island circuits, and in the shoulder seasons it becomes a welcoming indoor refuge when the wind picks up or showers sweep across the Kattegat.Planning your visit and what to expect
Service at I Haven Bistro reflects the easy tempo of island life: friendly and informal rather than driven by strict routines. Menus and opening hours can shift with the season, with the busiest period running through summer and a quieter rhythm outside the main holiday months. It is sensible to check for current hours in advance if you are visiting outside peak season. Most guests spend between one and two hours here, enough for a leisurely meal without rushing. Mobile reception in Ballen is generally strong, and basic amenities such as restrooms and somewhere to sit inside or out are present, though this remains a small bistro rather than a full-service hotel restaurant. Come for the simple pleasure of good ingredients, a relaxed room, and the feeling of dining right in the middle of Samsø’s coastal village life.Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
The small Summer Hotel
0.0 km
Experience authentic Danish seaside charm at The Small Summer Hotel in Ballen, Samsø, offering cozy accommodations and a perfect base for exploring the island's natural beauty and vibrant culture.
Ballen Strandpark - Ferielejligheder og feriehus
0.4 km
Experience coastal bliss at Ballen Strandpark on Samsø: stunning sea views, direct beach access, and charming apartments near Ballen harbor, perfect for a relaxing island getaway.
Samsø Sogn
3.7 km
A modest whitewashed parish in Tranebjerg where Samsø’s island history, everyday rituals and quiet faith meet along bustling Langgade.
Hotel Vadstrup1771
4.8 km
Experience the tranquil charm of Hotel Vadstrup1771, a perfect retreat in the heart of Samsø, blending comfort with local culinary delights.
Ilsemade Helligkilde
7.1 km
A Bronze Age sacred spring where fresh water flows from an ancient hollow oak, connecting modern visitors to 3,000 years of spiritual tradition.
The Kanhave Canal
10.4 km
A 1,300-year-old Viking shortcut carved across an island to control Denmark's seas.
Restaurant Mårup Havn
14.6 km
Experience fresh, locally sourced seafood with stunning harbor views at Restaurant Mårup Havn, a culinary gem on the scenic island of Samsø, Denmark.
Oasen Samsø
16.2 km
Discover tranquility and island charm at Oasen Samsø, a unique retreat offering comfortable accommodations, natural beauty, and a rich cultural experience on Denmark's sustainable island.
Mindesten - Morten Madsen
18.5 km
A modest memorial stone set in Samsø’s quiet countryside, offering a brief, reflective pause amid open fields, island sky and centuries of local history.
Landmarket Horsedalen
23.3 km
Rare flora and exceptional light in a protected Danish valley.
Befrielsessten i Kallerup
27.7 km
A solemn Danish liberation memorial honoring the end of Nazi occupation in May 1945.
Danhostel Kalundborg
31.3 km
Experience the vibrant heart of Helsingborg at Sundstorget, where culture, dining, and shopping converge in a picturesque square.
Our Lady Church
31.6 km
A medieval masterpiece with five towers symbolizing the Heavenly Jerusalem—architecturally unique and spiritually profound.
The eltest city hall
31.7 km
A modest medieval town hall in Kalundborg’s Højbyen, where centuries of local power, trade and everyday life still echo in cobbled streets and weathered walls.
Kalundborg Slot
31.9 km
An invisible castle at the centre of Kalundborg, where streets, stories and subtle traces reveal the outline of a vanished medieval stronghold.
Unmissable attractions to see
Tidselkorridoren
1.8 km
A winding botanical art corridor celebrating Samsø's wildflowers and native plants.
Festivalpladsen
1.8 km
Open-air festival grounds at the edge of forest and fields, where quiet island scenery transforms into a cozy Danish music celebration each summer.
Brundby Stubmølle
1.9 km
One of Denmark’s oldest post mills, Brundby Stubmølle pairs centuries-old milling history with wide Samsø views from a peaceful hill just above the village.
Dansebjerg
2.4 km
Creative hilltop retreat on Samsø with wide Kattegat views, flexible communal spaces and a calm, homely atmosphere made for groups, workshops and slow island days.
Samsø Island Distillery
3.3 km
Craft spirits infused with island heritage—where juniper, potatoes, and orange ants tell Samsø's story.
Samsø Museum
3.5 km
Distributed cultural museum exploring 16,000 years of Samsø's landscape, heritage, and human connection to nature.
Falkecenter Samsø ApS
3.8 km
High‑speed falcons, soaring eagles and silent owls in a one‑hour open‑air show that brings the ancient art of falconry to life on the island of Samsø.
Stakladen Besser
5.2 km
A rustic island barn transformed into a light-filled gallery, with weekly changing art and craft exhibitions in the heart of Besser on Samsø.
Besser Udsigtstårn
5.3 km
A modest island lookout tower on the ruins of an old mill, offering wide Samsø panoramas, quiet rural atmosphere and glimpses of distant Kalundborg on clear days.
The Morgan Garage
5.4 km
A tiny village workshop turned Morgan treasure-trove, blending hand-built British sports cars, quirky automobilia and Samsø’s quietly green island backdrop.
Samsø Egnsarkiv
5.7 km
Samsø's historical archive preserving centuries of island records and family heritage.
Husmandsstedet Fredensdal
6.4 km
An intimate Samsø smallholder’s farm where thatched roofs, animals and kitchen gardens bring Denmark’s rural past to life in a single charming homestead.
Samsø Badehotel Ilse Made
6.7 km
Nordic luxury meets coastal serenity on Samsø's quietest shore, where exceptional food and genuine hospitality define every moment.
Samsø Badehotel
6.7 km
Luxury seaside retreat blending Danish bathhouse tradition with contemporary comfort and celebrated cuisine.
Yduns Have ApS
7.0 km
Organic farm, self-serve shop and rustic cabins on Samsø’s quiet east side, where you taste the island’s vegetables right where they’re grown.
Essential places to dine
I Haven Bistro
0.0 km
Cosy Samsø bistro in Ballen’s holiday heart, serving relaxed, seasonal comfort food a short stroll from the harbour and sandy beaches.
Ballen Badehotel
0.0 km
Classic Danish seaside hotel on Samsø, blending nostalgic bath-hotel charm, local gastronomy and harbor life just steps from the marina and beach.
Pizzeria Maya
0.1 km
Cozy island pizzeria in Ballen serving creative stone‑baked pizzas, pastas and wine in a relaxed, harbor‑side setting on Denmark’s vegetable‑rich Samsø.
Don Juan Restaurant & Pizzaria
0.1 km
Relaxed Italian comfort food and takeaway favourite in Tranebjerg, serving stone‑baked pizzas, pastas, meat and fish dishes after long Samsø days outdoors.
Molevitten
0.1 km
Lively Samsø hangout in Ballen mixing local-produce dinners, a friendly bar and live music, where islanders and visitors share long evenings by the harbour.
Røgeriet
0.1 km
Harbourside smokehouse on Samsø serving freshly smoked fish and Danish seafood classics with local island produce and wide views over Ballen’s lively marina.
Restaurant Skipperly I/S
0.1 km
Island harbor dining where local ingredients and Nordic tradition meet genuine warmth and refined technique.
Ballen Fisk
0.2 km
Relaxed harborfront fish shop and seafood eatery on Samsø, serving fresh catch, smoked specialties and classic Danish fish dishes beside Ballen Harbour.
Restaurant Dokken
0.2 km
Harbourfront restaurant in Ballen blending Samsø’s maritime shipyard heritage, local Danish classics and lively summer terrace vibes right on the water’s edge.
Den Gamle Butik
0.2 km
Cozy harbor dining with award-winning local beef, island potatoes, and an exceptional wine cellar on Samsø.
Samsø Værftet
0.2 km
Easy-going wharfside restaurant, coffee bar and cocktail hangout on Ballen’s harbourfront, blending seaside leisure, local flavour and Samsø’s laid-back island energy.
Syv Ni 13 på Strandlyst
1.2 km
Seasonal social dining in a Nordic seaside hotel, where Samsø’s vegetables, local seafood and thoughtful pairings shape an intimate island evening.
rumogrooms.dk - Hotel og Madhus Rumogrooms
2.3 km
Bright Nordic rooms and a seasonal madhus in a quiet Samsø village, blending minimalist design, local flavours and island calm in an intimate hotel setting.
Den Gule Parasol
3.3 km
Sunny, laid-back café-restaurant in Tranebjerg serving tapas, sandwiches and coffee, perfect for a relaxed lunch stop amid Samsø’s village life.
Carlo's Corner
3.3 km
Cosy Samsø wine shop and smørrebrød hideaway where generous open sandwiches, characterful bottles and relaxed village charm meet on Langgade.
Markets, malls and hidden boutiques
Red Cross Op Shop
0.0 km
Cozy island thrift store on Samsø where secondhand finds, local volunteers and a quiet sense of purpose turn everyday shopping into low-key, sustainable giving.
Svane
0.0 km
A calm, Scandinavian-style multibrand boutique in Ballen, where curated fashion and cozy homewares meet Samsø’s laid-back harbour atmosphere.
MoltkeDesign
2.0 km
Design-forward village boutique and intimate three-room B&B in Brundby, blending Scandinavian style, local art and relaxed Samsø island living under one roof.
Eskehus Samsø
2.2 km
Island design boutique and gallery on Samsø, blending BY BJORKSTRAND fashion, sustainable interiors, ceramics and botanical art in a charming village house.
Huge Market on the island
2.2 km
A cavernous Samsø flea and antique market where vintage furniture, island curios and second-hand treasures gather under one relaxed, rummage-friendly roof.
DanChurchSocial Op Shop
3.1 km
Cosy Samsø charity op shop where island life, reuse and social responsibility meet in a volunteer-run treasure trove of second-hand finds.
Hobbyboden Scrapworld – Din onlline hobby butik indenfor scrapbooking, kort og mixed media
3.1 km
A cozy island outlet of a major Danish scrapbooking webshop, packed with papers, stamps and mixed-media supplies for creative travelers on Samsø.
SuperBrugsen
3.2 km
The practical heart of Tranebjerg and Samsø’s go-to supermarket for fresh local produce, Danish staples, and everyday essentials throughout your island stay.
Buur - Items & Clothing - Coffee
3.2 km
A cosy Samsø hybrid of Scandinavian fashion, design objects and aromatic coffee, Buur turns a simple village storefront into an inviting island living room.
Ny Form Samsø
3.3 km
Sporty, island-ready clothing and gear for all ages, keeping you comfortable in Samsø’s breezy coastal weather from village streets to windswept beaches.
Imerco
3.3 km
Scandinavia's trusted home goods destination bringing quality kitchenware, tableware, and interior design to Denmark's charming island.
Tøjhuset
3.3 km
Cosy Samsø clothing boutique offering friendly, personal service and a practical yet stylish mix of clothes, shoes and accessories in Tranebjerg’s main street.
El-Salg Bissø ApS
3.4 km
Island electronics expertise with white goods, appliances, and personal tech backed by professional service.
Samsø Grej
3.4 km
Compact island hunting and fishing shop in Tranebjerg, ideal for gearing up and getting local advice before exploring Samsø’s coasts and countryside.
P II Samsø, kunst - antik - design, Langgade 38, 8305 Samsø
3.5 km
Eclectic art, antiques and Danish design in a cosy summer shop on Samsø, where decades of collecting meet the easygoing rhythm of island village life.
Essential bars & hidden hideouts
rullen
1.8 km
Casual festival bar in the heart of Samsø Festival, where cold drinks, sea air and relaxed island vibes create a warm pause between concerts.
Garagen
2.0 km
Laid-back island bar in the woods of Strandskoven, blending rustic charm, simple drinks and live music with the easy coastal rhythm of Samsø.
Vinkapellet Samsø
2.0 km
Cosy island wine bar in Brundby specialising in organic, biodynamic and natural wines, where intimate surroundings and slow Samsø evenings invite lingering conversations.
Ræven
3.6 km
Rural Samsø bar and eatery with relaxed island vibes, simple hearty fare, and late-week pub energy in a low-key farmhouse-style setting.
Samsø Bryghus
17.4 km
Organic farm brewery and countryside café on Samsø, serving house beers and field‑fresh dishes in a relaxed courtyard of converted farm buildings.
Kalundborg Jazzclub
31.8 km
Intimate volunteer-run blues and jazz club in central Kalundborg, keeping a 1960s live music legacy alive with close-up concerts and warm community spirit.
Cafe Lillebælt
32.0 km
Cozy Kalundborg café-bar blending everyday Danish hygge, simple comfort food and drinks, and a neighborhood atmosphere a short stroll from the harbor.
Kontoret
32.0 km
Kalundborg's inclusive waterfront bar where locals and visitors gather for drinks, food, and genuine social connection.
King's Pub
32.0 km
Traditional small-town pub on Kalundborg’s main street, serving straightforward drinks, local character and unpretentious evening atmosphere.
Slotskældergården
32.3 km
Unpretentious Danish bar on Kalundborg’s main street, offering cold beer, warm light and a glimpse of everyday local life along Kordilgade.
Shooters
32.4 km
Kalundborg’s lively bar and disco club serving up music, drinks, and authentic small-town Danish nightlife on weekends.
Next Door Pool Bar
32.4 km
Casual pool and sports bar on Kalundborg’s Kordilgade, mixing easygoing drinks, live games on screen and friendly competition around the pool tables.
Delfinen Bodega
41.3 km
Unpolished village pub in rural Eskebjerg, where cold beers, card games, and casual conversation capture the essence of classic Danish bodega culture.
Umage Ølbar
42.1 km
Craft beer bar in Ebeltoft with 14 taps, 50+ bottled beers, and comfort food.
Stockfleths Østers & Bobbelbar
42.1 km
Former oyster and bubbles bar on Ebeltoft’s old fishing harbour, where luxury shellfish, sparkling wine and maritime history came together in a relaxed coastal setting.
For the vibe & atmosphere seeker
- Relaxing
- Scenic
- Casual
- Unique
- Fun-filled
For the design and aesthetic lover
- Modern Designs
- Rustic Designs
For the architecture buff
- Heritage Neighborhoods
For the view chaser and sunset hunter
- Iconic Views
- Waterfront
- Sunset Spots
For the social media creator & influencer
- Instagrammable
- Photo Spots
- Selfie Spots
- Aesthetic Corners
For the eco-conscious traveler
- Public-Transport Accessible
- Low Impact
- Locally Managed
For the kind of experience you’re after
- Cultural Heritage
- Photowalk
- Roadtrip Stop
- Day Trip
- Weekend Getaway
For how adventurous you want the journey to be
- Easy Access
Location Audience
- Family Friendly
- Senior Friendly
- Child Friendly
- Teen Friendly
- Solo Friendly
- Couple Friendly
- Solo Female Friendly
- Business Friendly
- Vegetarian Friendly