Samsø Værftet
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.
Set right on the waterfront in Ballen on the island of Samsø, Samsø Værftet is a laid-back seaside hangout combining restaurant, coffee spot and cocktail bar in a former wharf setting. From breakfast and barista coffee to casual meals and sundowner drinks, it channels the easy-going, entrepreneurial spirit of island life, with views over boats, bathers and paddleboarders just a few steps from your table.
A brief summary to Samsø Værftet
- Strandvejen 81, Samsø Municipality, 8305, DK
- +4591535606
- Visit website
- Duration: 1 to 4 hours
- Mid ranged
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Mixed
- Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
- Monday 9 am-9 pm
- Tuesday 9 am-9 pm
- Wednesday 9 am-9 pm
- Thursday 9 am-9 pm
- Friday 9 am-9 pm
- Saturday 9 am-9 pm
- Sunday 9 am-9 pm
Local tips
- Aim for late afternoon or early evening when the low sun lights up the harbour; it is the most atmospheric time for a drink on the pier.
- Bring a light jacket or sweater even in summer, as sea breezes on the waterfront can feel cool once the sun dips.
- Combine a visit with a swim or paddleboard session right by the wharf; pack swimwear and a small towel for an impromptu dip.
- If you prefer a quieter experience, visit in the earlier part of the day outside school holidays, when the harbour is more tranquil.
- Ask about any seasonal events such as beach fitness or special cocktail evenings, which can add an extra dimension to your visit.
For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you
- Restrooms
- Drink Options
- Drinking Water
- Food Options
- Seating Areas
- Sheltered Areas
- Trash Bins
- Information Boards
Samsø Værftet location weather suitability
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Clear Skies
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Hot Weather
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Mild Temperatures
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Cold Weather
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Windy Conditions
Discover more about Samsø Værftet
Island wharf turned social hub by the sea
Samsø Værftet occupies a former wharf on the waterfront in Ballen, one of Samsø’s most inviting harbour villages. The old pier-side setting has been reimagined as a relaxed, multipurpose space where you can eat, drink and simply linger by the water. Wooden decks, moored boats and the gentle lap of waves create an atmosphere that feels more like a beach house than a conventional restaurant. The concept grew out of a dream of combining work, family and the good life on an island. That spirit is still felt in the informal, open layout: a bar here, a coffee counter there, benches outside overlooking the harbour and flexible indoor spaces that can host everything from lazy brunches to evening gatherings.From morning coffee to golden-hour cocktails
Over the course of a day, Samsø Værftet shifts mood rather than closing between services. Mornings centre on coffee and simple breakfasts, often featuring fresh bread, pastries or light plates that suit an unhurried start on the pier. As the sun climbs, the focus turns to casual meals suited to beachwear and bare feet: uncomplicated dishes, local touches and plenty of room for a second drink while you watch harbour life. Towards late afternoon and evening, the bar comes into its own. Cocktails, including house creations and seasonal twists, share the menu with beer and wine. The setting is particularly atmospheric at golden hour, when the low sun washes the pier and moored yachts in warm light and the whole place feels like an open-air living room by the sea.Sand, salt water and active island living
Samsø Værftet does more than serve food and drinks; it also embraces Samsø’s active outdoor culture. Fitness sessions on the beach, paddleboard hire and other seasonal initiatives turn the wharf into a small playground for grown-ups and families alike. You can start the day with a workout in the sand, cool off in the water and be back at a table within minutes. The direct contact with the sea is part of the charm. Children often skim the water’s edge while adults talk over coffee, and there is a constant sense that the boundary between restaurant, beach and harbour is pleasantly blurred. Even when you are seated, the soundscape includes seabirds, rigging tapping against masts and the soft rumble of ferries in the distance.Casual design with a hint of maritime history
The design of Samsø Værftet reflects its roots as a working pier. Expect raw wood, simple furnishings and functional details rather than polished formality. Maritime references appear in ropes, buoys and views framed by old harbour structures. The aesthetic is relaxed and slightly rustic, more about atmosphere than perfection. Large openings connect indoor and outdoor areas so you can follow the shifting light over the water. On breezy days you may prefer a more sheltered corner; on calm summer evenings the outdoor seating becomes the natural heart of the place, with long tables, shared benches and an easy, communal feel.Summer rhythms and the feel of Samsø life
Samsø Værftet is closely tied to the island’s seasonal rhythm. Summer days are long, with extended opening hours and a steady flow of locals, holiday-home owners and visitors passing through. In shoulder seasons things can feel quieter and more introspective, making it a pleasant spot simply to sit, read and watch the weather roll over the Kattegat. What stands out most is the sense of possibility that the venue represents for the island: a place where entrepreneurship, family life and coastal leisure meet. Whether you stay for a quick coffee or settle in for an evening of harbour views and drinks, you get a small but vivid taste of Samsø’s modern, creative wharf culture.Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
The small Summer Hotel
0.2 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
0.6 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
4.7 km
Experience the tranquil charm of Hotel Vadstrup1771, a perfect retreat in the heart of Samsø, blending comfort with local culinary delights.
Ilsemade Helligkilde
7.2 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
10.3 km
A 1,300-year-old Viking shortcut carved across an island to control Denmark's seas.
Restaurant Mårup Havn
14.5 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
16.0 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
18.4 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
Festivalpladsen
1.7 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.
Tidselkorridoren
1.9 km
A winding botanical art corridor celebrating Samsø's wildflowers and native plants.
Brundby Stubmølle
2.0 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
2.5 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
4.0 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
5.0 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
5.1 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
5.3 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
6.5 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
6.9 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
Samsø Værftet
0.0 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.
Den Gamle Butik
0.0 km
Cozy harbor dining with award-winning local beef, island potatoes, and an exceptional wine cellar on Samsø.
Restaurant Dokken
0.0 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.
Ballen Fisk
0.1 km
Relaxed harborfront fish shop and seafood eatery on Samsø, serving fresh catch, smoked specialties and classic Danish fish dishes beside Ballen 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.
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.
I Haven Bistro
0.2 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
0.2 km
Classic Danish seaside hotel on Samsø, blending nostalgic bath-hotel charm, local gastronomy and harbor life just steps from the marina and beach.
Restaurant Skipperly I/S
0.2 km
Island harbor dining where local ingredients and Nordic tradition meet genuine warmth and refined technique.
Don Juan Restaurant & Pizzaria
0.2 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
0.3 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.
Syv Ni 13 på Strandlyst
1.1 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
2.4 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
0.2 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
0.2 km
A calm, Scandinavian-style multibrand boutique in Ballen, where curated fashion and cozy homewares meet Samsø’s laid-back harbour atmosphere.
MoltkeDesign
2.1 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
2.3 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
2.3 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.
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.
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.
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
3.6 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
1.7 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
1.8 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
2.1 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
17.3 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
31.9 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
32.2 km
Unpretentious Danish bar on Kalundborg’s main street, offering cold beer, warm light and a glimpse of everyday local life along Kordilgade.
Shooters
32.3 km
Kalundborg’s lively bar and disco club serving up music, drinks, and authentic small-town Danish nightlife on weekends.
Next Door Pool Bar
32.3 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
41.9 km
Craft beer bar in Ebeltoft with 14 taps, 50+ bottled beers, and comfort food.
Stockfleths Østers & Bobbelbar
41.9 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
- Fun-filled
- Lively
- Casual
- Unique
For the design and aesthetic lover
- Rustic Designs
- Modern Designs
For the architecture buff
- Viewpoints
- Parks & Gardens
- Heritage Neighborhoods
- Landmarks
For the view chaser and sunset hunter
- Iconic Views
- Waterfront
- Sunset Spots
For the social media creator & influencer
- Instagrammable
- Photo Spots
- Selfie Spots
- Reel-Friendly
- Architectural Shots
For the eco-conscious traveler
- Low Impact
- Public-Transport Accessible
- Locally Managed
For the kind of experience you’re after
- Photowalk
- Adventure Photo Shoot
- 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
- Vegetarian Friendly
- Vegan Friendly
- LGBT Friendly