Boat cafe

Marselisborg Havnevej 101c, 8000 Aarhus

The Boat Café in Aarhus – café and cocktail bar at sea with a view of the bay

If you dream of enjoying a cup of coffee or a cocktail with a view of waves, forest and sailboats, then the Boat Café in Marselisborg Harbour is the right place. A very special atmosphere awaits you here – in the middle of the water – where you can experience a café atmosphere during the day and cocktails under the stars in the evening, all aboard the old ferry Sorte Louis.

Located directly overlooking Aarhus Bay and Marselisborg Forest, the café has one of the city's most beautiful locations, and whether you sit out on the deck or inside in the atmospheric salons, you can feel the boat's history and proximity to the sea in every detail.

Boat cafe at Marselisborg Harbor in Aarhus

by: Christina Hazelden

→ Café and cocktail bar on the ferry Sorte Louis

→ View of the Bay and the Marselisborg Forests

→ Brunch, lunch and cocktails over three decks

→ Open all year round – harbor atmosphere and history

A café with maritime history and a view of the horizon

The Black Louis, which today forms the setting for the Bådcaféen, was built in 1950 and has sailed as a ferry between Horsens and Endelave, among other places. After a long working life – and even a change of ownership for the symbolic price of one krone – the boat ended up in Aarhus in 2016, where it is now moored in Marselisborg Marina.

The maritime feel is unmistakable. When you step aboard, you are greeted by polished wood, leather furnishings and seafaring traditions, and the staff are dressed in ship's uniforms to complete the experience. Everything here has been thought out down to the smallest detail – and it all rocks gently with the water.

More decks, more experiences – café, bar and view in one

The boat café is built over three decks, each with its own atmosphere. The lower deck houses the kitchen, where the day's dishes and brunch favorites are prepared. The middle deck is decorated as a classic café and restaurant with space for lunch, dinner and coffee and cake.

The top deck has been transformed into an intimate cocktail bar, where you can sit back with a well-poured drink on Friday evenings and watch the sun set over the bay. Here the boat rocks a little more – and that’s exactly what makes the experience so unique.

In front of the boat you will also find a number of outdoor seating areas, from which you have a view of the entire harbor basin and Aarhus' entrance - an ideal place to start or end the evening.

Café by day – cocktail bar by night

During the day, the Boat Café offers a wide selection of brunch, light lunch dishes, coffee, tea and cold drinks. The atmosphere is relaxed and cozy, and there is often quiet music and peace for both conversation and contemplation. When darkness falls, the atmosphere changes character. The bar is lit up, the cocktail menu is unfolded, and Sorte Louis transforms into one of Aarhus' most unique cocktail bars - on the water.

Regardless of the time of day, you will receive polite, attentive service and a café experience you won't find anywhere else in the city. The maritime decor, the gentle movement of the boat and the open sea outside create a setting that is both calm and sensual.

Outdoor experiences all year round – with the sea as a backdrop

When the weather is nice, the Boat Café's large terrace and outdoor deck are a great place to enjoy the view. From here, you can watch life on the water – surfers, sailboats and fishermen glide by while you enjoy your food or drink in the sun.

But the place is also open in winter, and it gives you the opportunity to experience Marselisborg Harbour in a completely different way. The daytime and evening hours offer two different atmospheres, and both are worth experiencing – the bustling café life during the day and the intimate bar atmosphere with lights over the water when darkness falls.

The boat café is a place that unites Aarhus' maritime culture, gastronomy and relaxation in one and the same floating format. A destination that feels local, historical and like a little getaway in the middle of the city.