Let’s start off by saying, Koks is an experience. It’s an expensive experience, but one to be had while visiting the Faroe Islands (if you can get in). Located in Leynar, Koks is now a TWO star Michelin restaurant that combines the quaint, self-sufficient style of the Faroe Islands with fine dining. Previously one star, Koks relocated from Hotel Foroyar to it’s own remote location and only added to its mysteriousness and ambiance. There’s a reason New York Times named Koks the world’s most remote foodie destination.

Koks relative to Torshavn…about 25 minutes driving time

I’ve been to Koks twice now, and both times the experience is not to be outdone. There are only 24 seatings offered a night, and you NEED reservations ahead of time. You can make reservations for a private table OR a common seating area, it just depends on what is available and what type of night you’re looking for. Reservations are available to be made at www.koks.fo under “TABLE BOOKING”, and the restaurant is closed during the winter (this year until March 17th). To go to Koks during high season (June-August) I had to make reservations in March. That’s just the price of doing business as the restaurant is becoming a worldwide sensation.

Your experience at Koks will start by meeting at the following location, next to Leynavatn. The actual restaurant is a vehicle ride away, but the meal will begin in a small drying shack on the shores of the small lake (“vatn” is Faroese for lake). You will be offered one of several beverages and you will wait for the rest of the patrons at your seating to be collected. Once enough people have arrived, you will be transported to the restaurant (pictured below) in a classic Land Rover Defender (because how else would you get there). **We highly recommend taking a taxi to the meeting location, it makes travel to and from easy. With that said, if you do decide to drive, it isn’t a huge issue, and someone from the restaurant can help you stow your car. Another reason for taking a taxi is your ability to enjoy some of the custom beers and wines offered by Koks.

A drink while you wait for your Chariot, a Land Rover Defender to take you to your meal

Once you depart for the restaurant, the Defenders takes you through a not so well kept path of dirt and rock along the shorts of the lake (the route is pictured below). As you start to ascend into the mountains, you feel as if you are being transported to the last supper, or a Viking royal dinner (or a combination of the two). Reality slips away as does the road, human life, and any sense of responsibility to a materialistic world. After 5-8 minutes or so of bumping around in what appears to be middle Earth, the small, turf roofed restaurant appears with a small smoking fire outside of it. The smell of camp fire is intoxicating as you walk through a small fence on the way to the restaurant, and it really does feel as though you’ve stepped in to another dimension. As the staff (which is from all over the world, brought in to learn about the hospitality business) greets you, you are overwhelmed with the sense that the meal is going to be special. Pro tip: if you’re over 6 foot (2 meters) tall, watch your head; the ceiling is VERY low as the building is very old and well, people just weren’t that big back in the day.

There is no great way to describe the entire culinary experience at Koks, so I won’t. I will say, the restaurant is half delicious, locally sourced foods and half aesthetically gorgeous dishes, ceramics, and garnishes. The ceramics are almost all done by a local ceramicist in Torshavn called Leirlist. I stopped by the store in town, but they were not open. I highly recommend you check out their pieces, because they are elegant, well thought out, and perfect for Koks. They’ve got a Facebook page if you’re interested.

Literally no idea what this was, but it was delicious. Check out those custom ceramics!

Without going in to detail on each and every dish, we were served 17 (possibly 19) dishes that were all some unique flare of local style and local ingredients. These ranged from local flowers to local fish and fermented lamb…don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. You can pair wines to each course or have a custom brew made by Okkara Beer. The dinner is finished up with a dessert and coffee offering, and time to chat about what your favorite dish was and what bucket list item you crossed off that night. When the bill comes, you can expect to pay about 1900 DKK (300ish USD) per person, in addition to any desserts, drinks, or extras you may have added. It’s a small price to pay for the surreal dining experience and will leave you with no regrets. Although I don’t exactly remember what each and every dish was, you will get an in depth guide to each course by your highly skilled, highly trained staff.

We obnoxiously took photos of every dish, but I’ll only include a few.

Comment below and let us know how your experience at Koks was and what other information you wish you had!

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