Skipperhuset Fredensborg: Stunning views, historic settings and food to match

Located on the serene shores of Lake Esrum, deep within Fredensborg Palace Gardens, Skipperhuset Fredensborg is well known for its beautiful and historic location. But since reopening with new owners in 2021, the views and settings have been rivalled for attention by the food and wine on the table.

Open year-round, Skipperhuset Fredensborg has become a destination in its own right, with a blend of laid-back hospitality and ambitious cuisine. The driving force behind the change is the owner and manager Anders Pedersen, who is on site daily. Though born into a family of chefs, Anders initially resisted the restaurant life and pursued a business education and a career in the automotive industry. “But I never really left the industry,” he admits. “I worked part-time in it all through school, and eventually, I couldn’t deny that this was where I belonged.”

Skipperhuset sits in a beautifully restored building from the 18th century.

When the opportunity to take over Skipperhuset came up four and a half years ago, he jumped at it. “I’ve always known this place. It’s so unique and I decided a long time ago that if the opportunity came, I had to take it.” So, he did.

Skipperhuset sits in a building from the 18th century, originally used as a royal washhouse. The building’s large shutters were designed to control airflow and drying – and today, they still frame a stunning view of the lake.

Dinner dishes draw on French and Italian techniques, but avoid strict definitions.

In 1994, the then derelict space was restored and transformed into a restaurant, but Pedersen saw an opportunity to make even more of it “I didn’t feel the food and experience matched the surroundings. We wanted to change that,” he stresses.

Heading the kitchen is Pedersen’s younger brother Troels, who has earned the restaurant much praise, most recently in the White Guide, which concludes its review with; “At Skipperhuset, you really get a taste for your money – all while enjoying Denmark’s most stunning view.”

At lunch, Skipperhuset offers elevated Danish smørrebrød – both classic and creative – while dinner brings a menu of seasonal snacks, small plates, cheese, and dessert. Dishes draw on French and Italian techniques, but avoid strict definitions.

Local herbs, Italian truffles, and French morels all find their way into the kitchen, and the wine list is an attraction in itself. “We choose wines we believe in, from producers who respect the land and work with the same dedication we do,” says Pedersen.

Web: www.skipperhuset.dk
Facebook: SkipperhusetFredensborg
Instagram: @skipperhuset