This article was produced by National Geographic Travelleri (UK).
Greenland is a unique place and the same goes for its cuisine, with a spotlight on wild protein such as reindeer, snow hare and seal. Now, a growing number of restaurants are shining a spotlight on modern Greenlandic cuisine, with innovative and often sustainably sourced dishes that are inspired by tradition.
1. Restaurant UloAt newly opened Restaurant Ulo, part of Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat, the ambitious chefs are aiming for a Michelin star. Named after the Inuit word for a curved ‘women’s’ knife, Ulo features an adventurous, 15-course gourmet menu that includes dishes like ptarmignan with crowberry and innovative interpretations of mattak (whale), marinated and cooked on a yakitori grill, with the skin deep-fried like popcorn. Tasting menu DKK 2,200 (£246) per person.
2. Restaurant SØMAInside Nuuk’s traditional seamen’s hotel, which operates as a non-profit, this restaurant offers a gourmet ‘Taste of Greenland’ set menu featuring dishes including scallops and roast lamb. Book ahead for its rotating Greenlandic and seafood buffets, which are popular with locals and hotel guests alike for their plentiful array of dishes, including locally caught mussels, shrimp and lumpfish roe. The three-course menu costs DKK 599 (£70) per person; five courses DKK 749 (£84).
3. Cafe InukThis Inuit-owned guesthouse and cafe occupying a secluded spot overlooking a beautiful bay in Nuuk Fjord has unbeatable views of Sermitsiaq mountain. On the menu are cafe classics with a local twist, including tutu (reindeer) burgers, but also hearty fish soups, grilled scallops and musk ox tartar, while authentic Greenlandic delicacies such as dried capelin fish are also served. Dishes from DKK 170 (£19).
Capelin is a small fish found off Greenland’s coast.
Photograph by Chris Tonnesen/Visit Greenland
Fishing for capelin can be challenging in the unpredictable Greenlandic weather.
Photograph by Chris Tonnesen/Visit Greenland
4. Restaurant RoklubbenOne of the most unexpected yet most beautifully situated restaurants in Greenland, historic Roklubben (‘Rowing Club’) sits in an isolated spot overlooking Lake Ferguson, three miles outside of Kangerlussuaq. Modern Greenlandic dishes such as grilled Arctic ptarmigan and caribou fillet are served inside an atmospheric, red-painted wooden cabin decorated with vintage photos and checked tablecloths. Bookings include a free shuttle bus to take you there. Mains from DKK 300 (£34).
(Explore the world’s wildest cuisine on a gourmet adventure to Greenland.)
5. Hotel Hvide FalkThe Greenlandic buffet at this Ilulissat-based hotel restaurant is a favourite among travellers for its great-value and exhaustive spread. You’ll find authentic traditional snacks like dried fish, along with cold cuts of home-smoked musk ox and reindeer, as well as cooked fish dishes and hearty stews. All are accompanied by a relaxed atmosphere and panoramic views. Buffet DKK 445 (£50) per person, served February to September (once or twice weekly); other days, à la carte.
6. Restaurant Hotel IcefiordCome here for fine dining with exquisite sea views of the icebergs in Disko Bay. This high-end restaurant at Hotel Icefiord, in Ilulissat, serves dishes that combine Greenlandic ingredients with New Nordic preparation, from snow crab to smoked reindeer and monkfish. The fish and game are sourced directly from local hunters and fishermen, and the restaurant has its own smokehouse on site. Three courses DKK 538 (£60); five courses DKK 998 (£112).
7. Restaurant H8You’ll have to hike, sail or even dogsled to get here. Set in the village of Oqaatsut, outside Ilulissat, cosy Restaurant H8 occupies a charming wooden former warehouse built in 1894, right on the water, and serves sophisticated Greenlandic-inspired meals. Lunch or dinner can be combined with a guided walk around the colourful local settlement. Open March to September. Lunch and a snowshoe hiking tour from DKK 1,895 (£212) per person.
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