In the middle of Copenhagen's most attractive street, the small Hyttefadet is bolstered by a rich history and traditional surroundings. Read all about the building, the interior, and the culture.
Passion, quality and unique experiences
"In Hyttefadet's kitchen, we cherish the traditions and culture that create everyday life for both guests and staff. With respect for Danish cuisine, we make our interpretation of the well-known classics."
"I'm proud to carry on the tradition of this place, while never stopping striving for new levels. It's a gift to lead a dedicated staff with a service culture that has been built over decades."
The history of Hyttefadet started when the then owner of Nyhavn 25, C.C. Wolfing, established a sailor's inn in 1937 and changed the name from Hotel Gl. Jylland to the iconic "Hyttefadet".
Villy Stets (owner 1941 - 1985) took over a house that had a sailor's tavern on the ground floor and rented out the rooms on the 1st and 2nd floor mostly on an hourly basis. Villy re-established the 24-hour rental of the rooms, but kept the sailor's tavern on the ground floor. Nyhavn was busy with thirsty and experience-hungry sailors, and Hyttefadet quickly became a regular place for many.
A “hyttefad” is an old sailor’s tool used to store freshly caught fish until the goods were sent on to the fishmongers. Similarly, it’s a fitting name for a tavern, as it also stored sailors – more or less fresh – until they were ready to be sent on their way.
Along the facade, under the yellow neon sign, you can see an authentic and culturally protected painting made in 1938 in connection with the change of ownership and name. The painting shows the name "Hyttefadet" painted as a rope and was painted by a guest who had trouble paying his bill, or as they called it back then; "Klodsbeholdning", and therefore had to work it off. The painter would later become the world-famous "COBRA" painter Asger Jorn. It is said that Asger Jorn lived on the first floor of Hyttefadet between 1938 and 1940.
Hyttefadet became a trademark for singing, "joy girls" and happy days. But the happy mood couldn't always be kept up, and sometimes a good old-fashioned brawl would break out; here there was a tough vigilante attitude, with the police rarely getting involved.
The familiar faces quickly put a damper on the riots and often the problems were solved with a quick trip to the harbor and then home to the wife.
Examples of common names in Hyttefadet's sailor days were: Røde Benny, Tuborg Bent, Vade Kaj, Smukke Orla, Børge Blå, Norske Per, Smukke Børge, Bodil Bukseløs, Blommerysteren, Morten Hønsyv, Ondulaten, Kaj Svingben, Whisky Jørgen, Gin Kurt, Hugormen, Småen, Egon Kok, Børge Ålborg, Hans Sønderjyde, Niels Færing, Ole Styrmand, Helle Fyr, Helge Matros, Louis FBI. All fantastic nicknames that don't exist in today's social circles.
For 50 years, sailors filled the old rooms, so much so that the upper class parked their fancy cars on the sloping parking lot by the bulwark and observed the festive rooms and the high atmosphere. Something that the sailors were not exactly attracted to, and ultimately helped drive the tavern's style in a new direction.
The sailors’ tavern retained its style all the way up until 1985, when a new owner took over and transformed it into a more traditional morning bar. The bodega style, with all-night alcohol licenses and late-night and early-morning meals, took hold and lasted until 1995.
Nyhavn had moved further towards the fashionable style, and fewer and fewer people enjoyed the old-fashioned tavern. In 1996, Poul Erik Klitgaard took over the restaurant and created a style that still defines the basic idea of Hyttefadet. Attentive service and a unique ability to recognize guests became a culture that people from all over the world wanted to visit and experience. With his good friend and talented chef Alex Matell, he started Hyttefadet's first lunch kitchen with traditional open sandwiches in 2006 with great success . To this day, we still make some of the dishes that Alex founded.
By 2006, Nyhavn had established parasols throughout the street and outdoor dining was now a big part of the business.
During these years, there was a lot of debate among regulars and friends of the house whether Hyttefadet should be a tavern or a restaurant. With the indoor smoking ban, it was natural to focus even more on the kitchen. But without compromising on the live music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
In 2015, Hyttefadet started its first evening kitchen and began its first tentative step towards the style of hospitality we now call a GastroPub.
In 2022, Kasper took over the torch from his mentor of 15 years, Poul Erik. The same sailor paintings that Villy Stets had commissioned in 1952, painted by Hans Sørensen, still adorn the restaurant’s walls. The artwork depicts the famous Danish poem “En sømand har sin ene gang” (“A Sailor Has but One Journey”), written by Johannes V. Jensen. The painting tells a once-relevant story of a sailor's life at sea, in the tavern, and across the ports of the world.
Guests are still treated to cheeky remarks, old sailor’s tales, and the joy of familiarity. In the kitchen, development continues as new heights are pursued, with craftsmanship, the guests, and tradition at the forefront.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, we can be contacted at booking@hyttefadet.dk or on tel. +45 33 12 01 07
