Restaurant Vie

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Place Built Around Sharing

Restaurant Vie sits on Nordhavn's central square inside the Red City, occupying a beautiful, high-ceilinged room that sets the tone before a single plate arrives. The concept is straightforward and sincere: four friends — Claus, Max, Mikkel and Mikkel — set out to build a place where people could gather and share big and small moments in life with family and friends. That founding intention shapes everything, from the laidback ambience to the way the menu is put together each season.

The Kitchen and the Story Behind It

One of those four friends is Mikkel Maarbjerg, a figure the White Guide describes as an experienced "sailor of taste" from a deeply seafaring family. More than fifteen years ago he stepped away from the classical restaurant world to pursue projects that might change things on a broader scale. Vie is where he returned to the stove — and the result earned the restaurant a Masters level distinction from the White Guide in 2026, one of the more demanding recognitions in the Nordic dining landscape.

The kitchen draws on French culinary schooling, stays rooted in the Nordic tradition, and takes cues from global cuisine without chasing trends. The result is classic, simple and tasteful dishes built around each season's best ingredients and close collaboration with selected producers. Local residents and visitors to the district both find their way here, which says something about how naturally the room functions as a neighbourhood anchor.

Wine, the Bar, and the Wider Experience

The wine list is personal rather than encyclopedic — a curated selection of favourite classic European wines chosen specifically to complement the day's menu. Guests can also visit VIE BAR, the restaurant's separate wine and cocktail bar in Nordhavn, where quality, presence and ambience are the stated priorities. The two spaces work in tandem, with the bar available before or after dinner for those who want to extend the evening.

Nordhavn is not always the easiest part of Copenhagen to reach, but Restaurant Vie gives people a genuine reason to make the trip.