Alchemist in Copenhagen: A Review of the Most Creative Restaurant Experience
If you’re into fine dining (and especially creative fine dining) then you’ve almost definitely heard of Alchemist. Located in Copenhagen, one of the finest culinary cities, its known for its theatrical experience. You know we had to try it out. Read on for our honest review of Alchemist and whether its worth it.
⚠️ Spoilers ahead! If you're planning to go and want to be surprised, we recommend you stop reading now.
The Accolades
Alchemist is one of the most ambitious restaurants in the world. With two Michelin stars and currently sitting at #5 of the World's 50 Best list, this is not your typical fine dining experience.
The Concept
Alchemist isn’t just about food. It's a theatrical, immersive experience meant to challenge your ideas about art, sustainability, humanity, and consumption. It’s Chef Rasmus Munk’s vision of “Holistic Cuisine,” which combines flavor, storytelling, performance, and activism. The entire journey is carefully choreographed, from the lighting and music to the conversations it sparks.
To that end, Alchemist doesn’t serve dishes - it creates “impressions.” At the beginning of the meal we were told there would be about 50 impressions and around 30 of them would be edible. The rest could be anything from experiences to immersions to activities to visual effects.
You don’t just eat here. You witness, you react, you feel.
The Journey
The Alchemist experience spans multiple rooms, each with a different focus.
1. The Video Room
The first moment is disorienting and provocative: you’re ushered into a dark hallway. You’re immersed in pitch darkness until a giant screen illuminates. Then suddenly a video starts playing, taking you through clips and images of cultural moments throughout time. Watching the video, you suddenly do a double take. Your face has been superimposed into the video. That’s you up there! Captured via hidden cameras when you arrived, it’s an immediate signal that you are part of the narrative. It’s surprising, clever, and an unforgettable start. You immediately know you’re not in a regular restaurant.
2. The Lounge
If we’re being honest, this was the best culinary moment of the night. In this luxe, moody lounge, servers bring a series of small bites that are both exquisite and thoughtful. While looking into the creative test kitchen, you are served your first bites and take your first sips. Most surprising of all: we ate a butterfly. An actual butterfly.
3. The Dome
This is the main dining room, a massive space under a 360-degree domed ceiling that projects immersive visuals throughout the meal. We saw everything from surveillance of the other diners to images nodding to Hans Christian Andersen to psychedelic mushroom-scpaes. This is where the majority of the impressions takes place and you can expect to be in this room alone for multiple hours. Some impressions are political. Some are whimsical. Some feel more like performance art than dinner. Expect courses like lamb brain presented in a skull or edible plastic served as commentary on pollution. It’s intense, sometimes unsettling, and unlike anything else.
The culilnary creativity is unmatched. You truly feel like you’re immersed in a different world while sitting under that dome and the concepts of the impressions are like nothing we’ve seen before. We do have to be honest that Alchemist loses the plot just a little bit. Some impressions went too far on the side of creativity, and forgot that they were supposed to be delicious. The lounge was delicious, but the main dining room had a few misses taste-wise. We’re certain that this is the primary reason Alchemist has 2 Michelin Stars instead of 3. Although, it’s close! And lots of the impressions are totally fun to eat.
4. The Creativity Room
About two-thirds of the way through the experience, you’re brought into a separate art-forward room that doubles as a palate cleanser for your brain. A mime-like guide encourages you to unleash your inner child. First, you taste the paint. After licking the paint brush, you’re encouraged to paint the walls however you like. Colors flash in the room and you bring art to life all around you.
5. The Kitchen
For your next impression, you’re briefly ushered behind the scenes for a look at the immaculate, almost sci-fi-like kitchen. It's a rare peek at how such a massive operation hums in perfect precision. You get to see how they coordinate all the guests and impressions, and the whole endeavor is incredibly impressive.
6. The Final Lounge
And then you really get to see behind the scenes as you’re brought to an elevated lounge. When we say elevated, we mean that literally. This lounge is placed on a platform above the rest of the restaurant and you get to look down on the dome you just sat under. Your final bites of dessert are served here, along with any tea and digestifs that you opt for. This is the decompression room. It’s quiet, dim, and a place to begin unpacking the wild journey you’ve just had.
7. The Inspiration Room
A final surprise: the “inspiration room.” It’s a minimal space filled with words designed to leave you thinking. It’s the final punctuation mark, more cerebral than delicious but true to the spirit of Alchemist.
The Price
If this sounds like it’s a lot, that’s because it is. Expect to pay around DKK 5,000–6,000 per person, or ~$700–$850 USD. If you opt for a pairing, expect that number to go up significantly.
It’s one of the most expensive meals in the world, but is it worth it? We’d have to say… yes. The creativity alone is so off the charts, that we can’t imagine where else you could get such an immersive and even unhinged experience. As long as you’re a fan of fine dining, you’ll be delighted by Alchemist.
Final Thoughts
This is not a traditional fine dining night. It’s a show, a message, and a work of art, with incredible technique and theatrical flair. If you love art, performance, culinary innovation, and high-concept experiences, Alchemist is a bucket-list destination.
Alchemist will leave an impression you won’t forget.
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