Dining by Kretzmann, Sønderborg

A modern dining room on Sønderborg’s main street

Step in from the bustle of Perlegade and you find a calm, contemporary room that feels immediately inviting. Small tables are set with simple, elegant place settings; lighting is warm rather than theatrical, encouraging conversation instead of spectacle. The space is intimate, so you are never far from the open pass and the quiet choreography of the kitchen at work. It feels tailored to lingering meals rather than quick bites, a place where time slows once you sit down. The restaurant is housed in a classic town-centre building, but the interior leans deliberately modern: clean lines, pared-back décor and just enough design detail to feel special. You are in the heart of Sønderborg’s pedestrian spine, yet the atmosphere inside is surprisingly cocooning, with street life more of a backdrop than a distraction.

Creative Nordic plates with a local heartbeat

Dining by Kretzmann is built around a modern Nordic approach to food, where seasonal produce and clear flavours take centre stage. Menus are often structured as multi-course journeys, moving from delicate snacks and small starters through fish and meat courses to carefully judged desserts. Expect combinations that feel both grounded and imaginative: crisp vegetables from the region, fish from nearby waters, and meats treated with respect rather than fuss. Sauces tend to be intense but clean, portions measured so you can enjoy many courses without feeling overwhelmed. Plates often play with contrasts—raw and cooked elements, bright acidity against rich reductions, soft purées alongside crunchy toppings—yet nothing feels gratuitous. It is food designed to be eaten as a sequence, each course setting up the next.

Relaxed fine dining without the stiffness

What defines the experience here is the balance between refinement and ease. Service is attentive and knowledgeable but intentionally informal: staff are happy to explain ingredients, cooking techniques or pairings in plain language. The tone is more like being hosted in a passionate friend’s home than visiting a white-tablecloth institution. You can dress up for the occasion, but there is no sense of needing to whisper or perform. Many guests choose to place themselves in the kitchen’s hands with a fixed menu, trusting the progression that has been mapped out. Others prefer to focus on a shorter sequence at lunch. Either way, you are encouraged to slow down, savour and allow the evening to unfold at its own rhythm rather than rushing on to the next engagement.

Wine pairings and Nordic sensibility in the glass

Alongside the food, there is a thoughtful drinks selection that complements the kitchen’s style. Wine pairings typically move from crisp whites and sparkling wines with the earlier courses through to deeper, more structured reds for meat dishes, finishing with something aromatic or fortified for dessert. The emphasis is on balance rather than sheer power, with bottles chosen to highlight, not overshadow, the plate. Those who prefer something non-alcoholic will usually find house-made juices, infusions and soft pairings echoing Nordic sensibilities: berries, herbs and seasonal fruit appear in the glass as well as on the plate. The overall effect is to extend the narrative of the menu, so that each sip feels connected to the landscape and time of year.

A culinary anchor for an evening in Sønderborg

Because of its central spot on Perlegade, Dining by Kretzmann naturally anchors an evening in Sønderborg. You might arrive a little early to stroll past nearby shops and side streets before settling in for lunch or dinner. After a long meal, the pedestrian street outside offers an easy way to walk off a tasting menu, with the town’s waterfront and historic quarters within comfortable reach. Inside, the mood shifts gently over the course of the day. At lunchtime there is more natural light and a sense of town life just beyond the windows. As evening sets in, the dining room grows more intimate, with candlelight and a slightly hushed tone as courses progress. It is the kind of place where conversations deepen with each plate, and where the memory of flavours lingers long after you step back out into the Sønderborg night.