DFDS in the hunt for a Michelin star

Mostly known for its lavish family buffets, the ‘Oslo boat’ is looking to go way uptown

DFDS Seaways has just opened some new gourmet restaurants on its route between Copenhagen and Oslo.

Restaurant Sjø is the name of the latest restaurant concept DFDS has launched on its two ships, Crown and Pearl, which sail the daily route both ways between Copenhagen and Oslo. The ambition of the new concept is to offer Michelin quality onboard.

Former Noma chef Søren Westh has been brought onboard to help kick off the project and advise DFDS on ways they can reach the rarified Michelin stratosphere. He worked at Noma for eight years, did a turn at the three-star Michelin Restaurant Per Se in New York and a season in Barcelona at the three-star Michelin restaurant El Bulli.

Christian Mortensen, formerly of the Michelin-starred Kul in Kødbyen and the Paul in Tivoli, has been hired as the new head chef of Restaurant Sjø.

Scandinavian haute cuisine on the high seas
Westh and Mortensen have created menus in the restaurants aimed at offering passengers an extraordinary, locally-sourced culinary experience.

The restaurants offer four, five and seven-course menus available from a total of 12 options listed on the seasonally-inspired menu.

The seven-course menu comes with wine pairings and costs 1,500 kroner. It is designed to reflect the journey, and the waiters are trained to present the story behind each dish and its ingredients.

Most of the ingredients for the dishes come from Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

“It’s a very ambitious project,” said Kevin Thyge Helsinghof, the global sales director for passenger sales at DFDS. “Landing a Michelin star for Restaurant Sjø could be as much as ten years in the future, but we want to offer high-level Scandinavian cuisine on our ships now.”

An alternative to the smorgasbord
Helsinghof said that about 44 percent of the 777,000 passengers sailing the route last year opted for the buffet offered at the Seven Seas Restaurant on both ships.

The Restaurant Sjø locations on Crown and Pearl each seat around 50 guests and will replace the former gourmet restaurant Marco Polo.

The company has created a series of short videos (in Danish with English subtitles) about the creation of the Restaurant Sjø concept. One episode can be viewed at the end of this article.




  • Everything you need to know about Greenland’s upcoming elections 

    Everything you need to know about Greenland’s upcoming elections 

    During an unprecedented time in the global spotlight, Greenland will hold a general election focusing on the struggle for independence, its economy, and its international relations.

  • Danish NGOs on thin ice: The Greenland dispute’s hidden risks for aid

    Danish NGOs on thin ice: The Greenland dispute’s hidden risks for aid

    Danish humanitarian and development organizations rely significantly on funding from institutional donors. Among these, USAID and other U.S.-based donors, contribute a substantial portion of funding to Danish NGOs operating internationally.

  • Ryanair cancels all flights to and from Billund 

    Ryanair cancels all flights to and from Billund 

    Ryanair has increased its cuts from the Billund-Aalborg route to encompass its entire operation to and from Billund Airport. The airline’s scarce communication is leaving both the airport and passengers scrambling for answers.

  • What do Danes do for “Vinterferie”?

    What do Danes do for “Vinterferie”?

    As tradition has it, many Danes take a week off for Vinterferie next week. Or the week after. It’s a bit confusing, especially since Christmas and New Year’s Holiday are not far away. What’s going on?

  • The educational options for internationals in Denmark

    The educational options for internationals in Denmark

    Denmark offers free public education, but private schools and universities for non-EU students require tuition. Language is a barrier, with international schools available for children and limited English-taught university programs. In 2024, Denmark expanded university seats for internationals and introduced an HF-international program in Aarhus.

  • Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF program for internationals

    Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF program for internationals

    Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF-international program in August, offering young adult internationals an alternative to IB programs with a focus on career-oriented education and Danish language learning. Unlike IB, it reduces academic pressure while providing access to vocational schools and professional bachelor’s degrees