For travelers who aim to go off the beaten path, one great destination that should be high up on your list are the unspoiled landscapes of the Faroe Islands. It’s a far-flung domain for sure, but for the foodies out there — don’t fret! After all, there are an array of brilliant Faroe Islands restaurants that will cater to any palate. From cozy diners up to fine dining establishments, you will definitely find dining spots where you can taste not only traditional Faroese cuisine but other international cuisines as well.
Top Things to Do in Faroe Islands?
Check out my detailed Faroe Islands itinerary guide!
More to this, did you know…? The islands have been referred to as the “new Nordic food frontier“, so that should already hype you up on the gastronomical wonders that it holds.
With that in mind, I can go and whip up an extensive dining guide for you; however, I find it best to streamline the top 5 Faroe Islands restaurants available that you should NOT miss out on.
Tp[ Faroe Islands Restaurants
NOTE: Faroese cuisine is composed primarily of lamb and fish which are prepared and served in a variety of ways. Other important foods are: skerpikjøt (type of dried mutton), other seafood, whale meat, blubber, garnatálg, Faroese puffins, and potatoes. Food preservations normally used are: brine, drying and the maturing of meat and fish, called ræstkjøt and ræstur fiskur.
1. KOKS
As the first Michelin-star restaurant in the islands, I can assure you that this accolade is well deserved. In fact, this is one of the Faroe Islands restaurants that truly left a lasting impression on me!
Led by the young 26-year-old chef, Poul Andrias Ziska, KOKS is a fine dining restaurant that is greatly influenced by Faroese traditions; that’s why you would expect seasonal dishes that use as much Faroese produce as possible (if other ingredients are needed, they are sourced from other Nordic countries).
To date, their menu is quite simple: you can choose from their (1) tasting menu at 1,400 DKK, (2) wine pairing with champagne, coffee/tea, and sweets at 1,100 DKK, or (3) juice pairing with coffee/tea and sweets for 500 DKK.
I dined at KOKS at a time when I was not allowed to consume alcohol, so when I saw how they have a juice pairing menu… I was intrigued. I’ve ate in various fine dining restaurants all over the world and I have never encountered such a concept. Without missing a beat, I ordered it… and boy, I was blown away! I never imagined that certain fruit juices can have so much amplifying effect on the dishes that were laid before me.
If not for its Michelin rating, I hope my experience will make you curious enough to try KOKS when you’re in the Faroe Islands!
• • • WEBSITE: https://koks.fo
• • • ADDRESS: Í Geilini, 13FO-175, Kirkjubøur
• • • OPENING HOURS: Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat from 6:30PM to 10:00PM
• • • CONTACT: [email protected] / +298 333 999
2. Barbara Fish House
If you’re looking for Faroe Islands restaurants that can serve the best local seafood, Barbara Fish House is a place that you should consider!
First of all, it’s a charming house that is cut between rocks and tucked away between turf-roofed houses in the olden part of Tórshavn so it makes for quite a spot to dine in. And when it comes to food, apart from locally-caught Faroese seafood produce such as mussels, salmon, and scallops, they also have a great tasting menu available.
If I have to mention a dish that you must try, it would be their salmon because it’s just so delicious and juicy!
• • • WEBSITE: Barabara Fish House
• • • ADDRESS: Gongin, 4-6FO-100, Tórshavn
• • • OPENING HOURS: Every day from 6:00PM to 12:00AM (but kitchen closes at 10PM)
• • • CONTACT: [email protected] / +298 331010
3. Ræst
This might just be the world’s 1st ‘fermented‘ restaurant! After all, ræst means ‘fermentation’ in the Faroese language and as one of Faroe Islands restaurants, it is entirely dedicated to serving traditional Faroese fermented dishes consisting of ingredients like lamb, fish, rye bread, blood sausage, rhubarb and more.
So what is ræst exactly? In these islands, this kind of process of fermentation is made by drying the meat and fish outdoors in hjallur (or food-drying sheds) so as to allow aging to occur.
It’s a delicate process though because if the temperature is too warm, it might spoil the goods; if it’s too cold, it will make it all tasteless. Nevertheless, Ræst prides itself in procuring this unique taste that will appeal even to non-Faroese diners.
Opened just last 2016, you will find Ræst in the capital, Tórshavn.
• • • WEBSITE: https://visitfaroeislands.com/en/whatson/places/place/rast0
• • • ADDRESS: Gongin 8 , FO-100, Tórshavn
• • • OPENING HOURS: Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat from 6:00PM to 10:00PM
• • • CONTACT: [email protected] / +298 411430
4. Áarstova
Áarstova is actually a part of the restaurant group where Barbara Fish House and Ræst belongs to. If Barbara’s specialty is on seafood dishes and Ræst is on fermented food, Áarstova is a mix — meaning that it serves meat and seafood dishes served in varying styles (both local and international).
A bit of trivia: local poets Janus and Hans Andrias Djurhuus grew up in a humble house named Áarstova (the house by the Brook) that is situated between Havnará (the Tórshavn Brook) and Áarvegur, the main street (by the Brook) in old Tórshavn. So basically, this is how the restaurant got its name as it is built upon such a historic building!
When it comes to their best dishes, I would certainly recommend their braised lamb!
• • • WEBSITE: https://visitfaroeislands.com/en/whatson/places/place/aarstova0
• • • ADDRESS: Gongin, 1FO-100, Tórshavn
• • • OPENING HOURS: Every day from 6:00PM to 12:00AM (but kitchen closes at 10PM)
• • • CONTACT: [email protected] / +298 333000
5. Etika
If you’re looking for fares from the east, the sushi restaurant of Etika will quench your cravings! Using fresh Faroese seafood, you will surely feast upon sushi dishes that will make you crave for more.
It’s a fairly popular place in the city though, that’s why I highly recommend that you reserve beforehand in order to secure your seats.
For ideas on what to order, I would suggest their salmon sushis (I can’t get enough of salmon there!) and their meat skewers.
• • • WEBSITE: https://www.etika.fo
• • • ADDRESS: Áarvegur, 3100, Tórshavn
• • • OPENING HOURS: Every day from 11:30AM to 10:00PM
• • • CONTACT: [email protected] / +298 319 319
- In case you don’t want to dine in Faroe Islands restaurants and are rather searching for a more intimate or ‘home-cooked’ dining experience, you can check out the following options:
– Heimablídni: translated as ‘home hospitality’, this program lets you dine in the homes of Faroese families (however it’s mostly available for groups).
– Anna and Óli’s Supper Club: for lesser numbers, you can try this and book a spot at their supper club
• • •
Overall
There’s one thing that I am sure of: Faroese dining does NOT disappoint.
So if you ever find yourself in these group of islands, go and enchant your senses with flavors from each of these five (5) restaurants that I hope you will come to love and recommend too!
Oh, they all look like wonderful places to eat. I don’t think we’d have time to eat at all of them. My first choice would be Barbara Fish House. My second choice would be Etika.
All great choices, nonetheless ;)
I have yet to visit a Michelin restaurant but I will definitely make it a point to dine in one! Everything looks so delicious but I am so curious about Raest Restaurant! All of these restos are places I would never say no to!
Indeed, Raest is quite unique in itself and I can assure you though that the dishes are superb :D
Oh, wow, all of these foods look delicious! I love finding new restaurants that become favorites. I would not know where to begin first if I had to choose among these.
Glad to be of help! :D
Oh man, I hope I get to visit one day. These restaurants look so nice and tons of great food to try too. My friend visited Faroe Islands last month. I have not heard how he enjoyed it yet.
But I bet he did! ;) That place was a wonderland!
Looks like some intriguing fare Aileen. The fermented restaurant ;) seems interesting because I reckon you can enjoy an authentic dish, if the meat sat outside for the optimal amount of time. Some places I visit tend to specialize in leaving dishes out too long in the sun. Especially in the tropics ;) I often pay for it later. But the Faroe Islands in general are a fascinating place, a bit off the grid, in its own world.
That’s true! I’ve tried dishes before of fermented meat and the taste really sticks in a very unique way. I hope you can visit here in the future, Ryan!