The Verdict
Iluka is a seafood restaurant on Peder Skrams Gade in Copenhagen's Indre By, a short walk from Nyhavn and the harbour. It opened in 2018 under Australian chef Beau Clugston, who left Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London to cook at Noma before striking out on his own, and it is listed by World's 50 Best Discovery as his ode to the ocean.
The menu champions fish and shellfish from the brackish waters on Copenhagen's doorstep, cooked simply and served with little ceremony, oysters, raw mussels with herbs, langoustine, mackerel and soft-shell crab. The set tasting, A Taste of Iluka, is 795 kroner, with a la carte plates from 45 to 295 kroner, and the menu changes with the seasons.
The Kitchen
Australian chef Beau Clugston, who cooked at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London and then Noma, opened Iluka in 2018 as a seafood restaurant. The cooking is deliberately unfussy, fish and shellfish from local brackish waters, oysters, raw mussels with herbs, langoustine and soft-shell crab. The set tasting, A Taste of Iluka, is 795 kroner, with a la carte plates from 45 to 295 kroner.
The Room
Iluka is a small, warm dining room near Nyhavn that World's 50 Best Discovery describes as serving food as though you were dining at a friend's house. The mood is intimate and unstarched, built around a short seafood menu, which makes it well suited to a relaxed dinner for two or a small celebration rather than a large formal party.
Best for a First Date
For a first date, Iluka is easy and quietly impressive, a small seafood room near Nyhavn with a short, sustainable menu and no stiffness. Book A Taste of Iluka at 795 kroner, sit close at the counter or a small table, and let oysters and langoustine carry an unhurried evening.
Not For
Iluka is not for a guest who dislikes fish and shellfish, a large noisy party or a quick walk-in. It is a small seafood restaurant built around a seasonal menu, so it does not suit committed meat-eaters, those wanting a grand formal dining room, or anyone after a fast, casual bite near the harbour.
Reservations
Iluka takes bookings online and the small room fills quickly, so reserve ahead. The set tasting, A Taste of Iluka, is 795 kroner, with a la carte plates from 45 to 295 kroner, before drinks. It sits on Peder Skrams Gade 15 in Indre By, a few minutes' walk from Nyhavn, and the dress code is smart casual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Iluka in Copenhagen worth it?
Iluka is worth it for a relaxed but serious seafood dinner near Nyhavn. Chef Beau Clugston, formerly of Noma, cooks fish and shellfish from local waters with little ceremony, and the room is intimate and warm. It is listed by World's 50 Best Discovery, and the 795-kroner tasting menu is fair value for the quality.
How much does Iluka cost?
Iluka's set tasting menu, A Taste of Iluka, is 795 kroner per person, with a la carte plates from 45 to 295 kroner, before drinks and service. The menu changes with the seasons. It sits in the mid-to-upper range for Copenhagen dining, and the a la carte option lets you eat there for less than the full tasting.
Who is the chef at Iluka?
Iluka was opened in 2018 by Australian chef Beau Clugston, who cooked at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London before moving to Copenhagen to work at Noma. Iluka is his own seafood restaurant, an ode to the ocean built on fish and shellfish from the brackish waters around Copenhagen, listed by World's 50 Best Discovery.
What should I order at Iluka?
Start with oysters and the raw mussels with herbs, then work through langoustine, mackerel and soft-shell crab, the seafood that defines Iluka's short, seasonal menu. The easiest route is the set tasting, A Taste of Iluka, at 795 kroner, which lets chef Beau Clugston's kitchen choose the best of the day's catch for you.
Also in Copenhagen
Explore the full Copenhagen dining guide, or compare it with Kodbyens Fiskebar, Barr and Amass. See our best seafood restaurants guide and the best restaurants for a first date.