With our visit to Alchemist in Copenhagen, we would complete our quest to dine at all three Michelin-starred restaurants in the city. My good friend Paul Ellington asked me to get tickets about six months before our trip so he could also enjoy the experience with me, Carter, and Mitch.
Alchemist is set in Refshaleøen, an industrial part of Copenhagen, home to beautiful waterways, Noma, CopenHill, the Det Kongelige Teater (Operaen), and many other restaurants, cafes, bars, design studios, and other interesting sights. It’s one of the coolest areas in Copenhagen.
Now onto the Alchemist Experience
The Experience as described by the restaurant:
The alchemists aimed to purify, mature, and perfect physical objects. In the same way, we strive to transform and transcend the nature of food and dining.
The Alchemist experience consists of up to 50 impressions, combining both edible and purely experiential elements. The menu may be paired with a beverage or a selection from our extensive wine cellar.
During the evening, you will be guided on a parallel journey through Alchemist’s unique physical spaces and your senses.
Please arrive with your mind open and ready to expand your idea of culinary art together with us. Please be aware that Alchemist might not be the right choice for an evening of business discussions or that first nervous date.
The experience lasts for 4–6 hours, and the only prerequisites are curiosity and presence of mind.
Let’s GO!
We begin in an industrial part of Copenhagen at a warehouse with a massive set of iron doors. Guests are greeted at the doors, enter a foyer with sculptures, and observe an extensive digital display showcasing key moments in history.
ACT I – ENTRANCE
ACT II – LOUNGE
We are then seated at a multi-level bar where we select our beverage parings and enjoy our initial experiences.
The Experience, or menu, is broken into a series of Acts and Scenes. Act I was the initial digital experience at The Entrance. Act II is set in the Lounge and consists of Daisy, Smokey Ball, Voronoi Laska, Omelette, Sunburnt Bikini, and Sea Buckhorn Tonic.
ACT III – DOME
After touring the two-story cellar, we progress to Act III to ascend the Dome, a massive domed room where rotating images and media are displayed throughout the dinner.
Scene 1
The Dome’s visuals cycle through various themes throughout the evening: Under Water, Coral Bleaching, Expressionism, Sakura, Blood Cells, Heartbeat, Surveillance, ICU, Playtime, Kaleidoscope, Papercuts, Rabbit Hole, MC Escher, Northern Lights, Ember, Space Junk, Silk Ribbons, Seasons, and finally Scales.
Scene 2
Scene 3
Act IV – EXPRESS YOURSELF
For Act IV, we exited the Dome. We transitioned to a room painted all white, where we were presented with several cans of edible paint labeled with emotional themes and offered the opportunity to express ourselves.
We transitioned from this room to meet Chef Ramsus and witnessed the operations of the command center, where all of the evening’s experiences are orchestrated. I was impressed to learn that they use Trello on a large screen to manage all guests’ preferences for the evening.
ACT V – BALCONY
For the final Act, we ascended above the Dome to the Balcony, where we sampled a variety of desserts and after-dinner drinks.
We experienced over 50 distinct food moments and impressions during the six-hour Alchemist Experience — a truly once-in-a-lifetime event. Much of its magic comes from the sense of awe and discovery that accompanies your first encounter with Alchemist. Every moment is crafted to surprise and delight, merging food, visuals, media, and social commentary into an immersive journey. It’s far more than a restaurant — it’s an experience in every sense.
