VILLA BOREAL · BERGLYK 8 · BOCKHOLM · FLENSBURGER FÖRDE
This region offers something found nowhere else: rum that has sailed from the Caribbean for centuries, cheese ranked among the world's best, beer that opens with a distinctive 'Plopp', and coffee with rum hidden beneath whipped cream – so the pastor wouldn't notice.
~19 km from Berglyk 8 to Flensburg old town · All prices approximate · As of 2025/2026
"No other place in Germany brings together Caribbean rum culture, North Frisian artisan cuisine, Scandinavian indulgence and Danish border-market atmosphere in such a compact area as the Flensburg Fjord."
Flensburg is Germany's only rum town – since the 18th century, ships sailed directly from the Danish colony of the West Indies into the harbour, bringing rum and sugar. Two historic rum houses are still active today. Add world-class cheese that ranked in the top 16 at the World Cheese Awards, craft beer right at the harbour, and on the other side of the fjord: Denmark with liquorice, jams and legendary hot dogs.
Since 1755, ships have sailed from the Caribbean straight into this harbour. Two manufactories keep the tradition alive.
The Braasch Wine & Rum House on the picturesque Rote Straße is one of Flensburg's most photographed facades – and far more than a shop. In the historic Braasch courtyards (cellars from the 13th, house from the 16th century), master distiller Walter Braasch reopened the Rum Manufactory Museum in 2014: a private collection on the transatlantic triangular trade, Flensburg's rum history and the production of sugar and rum.
The centrepiece is the Braasch Rum Klassik 'Chef Recipe' – a formula handed down to Walter Braasch by his master Alfred Ritter, once mixed exclusively for special guests. It has been produced again since 1998. Particularly valuable: the Private Rum 'Martinique & Jamaica', a tropical & continental aged blend from a Panama cask.
Active without interruption since 1878 – making it the oldest rum house to survive the decline of Flensburg's rum trade in the 20th century. Martin Johannsen, great-grandson of the founder, runs the house today with his wife Astrid Schlesinger. In the cosy Hökerei shop, nearly a dozen own-label rum products are available to buy and taste. The Senior contains rum that has been maturing in the Marienburg since 1965.
Two bookable walking tours bring the rum story to life: The 'Rum and Sea' tour (from the Maritime Museum, ~1.5 hrs, bookable via k3.de) leads from the harbour past the Nordertor and the West Indies warehouse to Johannsen. The 'Flensburg's Southern Old Town & Rum History' tour (tourist office) includes a visit to Braasch with tasting.
Germany's northernmost distillery is right on Villa Boreal's doorstep. Starting as a small cider press in 2003, the Dollerup Distillery has produced a remarkable range since 2014: whisky from locally harvested Angeln barley, rum from real sugarcane juice in charred oak casks, gin with Nordic botanicals.
Neptune's Rum takes its name from the Neptunus, the first ship to bring rum to Flensburg harbour in 1755. Tasting before buying is expressly encouraged in the farm shop.
Two very different breweries with one shared ambition: beer as an expression of this town.
The unmistakable 'Plopp' of the swing-top cap is the culinary soundtrack of northern Germany. Since 1888, the Flensburger Brewery has been brewing with water from an Ice Age spring carrying meltwater from Scandinavia. Brewery tours available: fermentation, filter and storage cellars, spectacular swing-top bottling lines.
Hansens Brewery occupies a listed building right on Flensburg's inner harbour – the town's oldest rum house. Craft beer has been brewed here in small batches since 1990. In summer: beer garden terrace with a direct view of the fjord.
Since 2021 Glücksburg finally has its own brewpub. LYKKE beer (Danish for 'happiness') is hand-brewed by brewmaster Stefan Uphoff. Tasting board with 2–6 freely chosen varieties. On the menu: Backensholz Deichkäse on the brewpub platter, Löstrup farm bread, Holstein smoked ham.
Since October 2024 the James Farm Market has everything under one roof: a farm shop with a fresh counter full of cheese, meat and charcuterie from James Farm Hörup, a glass-walled organic bakery – and the James Farm Brewery. The house beer Farm Rebels stands for small-batch craft with hops from their own farm.
Raw-milk cheese that placed in the top 16 at the World Cheese Awards – plus an organic farm right next door.
This farmstead creamery between Schleswig and Husum is Schleswig-Holstein's culinary secret. Strictly Bioland-certified since 1989, producing artisan raw-milk cheeses from their own milk since 1991. Every cheese is unique. At the World Cheese Awards, the Deichkäse ranked among the 16 best cheeses in the world from over 4,400 entries.
James Farm was replanned in 2021 on a 5-hectare farmstead with 176 hectares of pasture and feed land – the most consistent farm-to-table concept in the region. The on-farm creamery produces semi-hard cheese, blue cheese and brine cheese. Large glass facades allow views into the production.
Right next door in Munkbrarup is Biohof Svensteen – open daily, no detour needed. Fresh organic eggs, field potatoes, meat, seasonal vegetables and regional produce straight from the farm. Ideal for morning supplies.
The WikingerGold apiary in Langballig produces local fjord honey from one of the finest bee landscapes in northern Germany – wildflower meadows, coastal heather, fruit blossom. An incomparable souvenir with genuine provenance.
Straight from the boat, the smokehouse, the harbour or the market – this is how the fjord tastes.
In the small fishing harbour of Langballigau, the Lehuniak family's cutters dock – a rare remnant of genuine coastal fishing. Plaice, cod, herring, flounder – depending on season and catch. No shop: just call, collect, pay.
The Flensburger Fischkate in Mürwik is the region's go-to fish address: fresh fish, smoked fish in various styles, fish platters, salads and fish rolls to take away. Regularly rated 4.7 out of 5 on Google.
At Flensburg's museum harbour, right next to the historic sailing ships, stands an unassuming wooden hut – and in summer a queue stretching to the harbour tip. Ben's Fish Hut is the city's most popular fish-roll address. Simple, direct, no frills.
The Flensburg GOSCH branch at the harbour tip offers the best fjord view of any fish restaurant in town. Indoors and outdoors, Wed–Sun from 11 am. From GOSCH fish rolls to oyster platters.
Every second Sunday of the month from March to October, the harbour promenade transforms into a fish market with direct cutter sales. 9 am to 6 pm, with fish rolls, live music and views of the museum ships.
In the same picturesque lane as the Braasch Rum House: a small fish restaurant with character. The fish rolls here are called 'Rote Straße' and 'Grüner Flensburger', plus there's a Nordic tapas platter.
A 20-minute drive to a different culinary world: liquorice, jams, schnapps distillers and hot dogs of world renown.
ScandiPark in Handewitt is no ordinary supermarket. Across 2,500 m² you'll find Scandinavian specialties rarely available in Germany: Danish liquorice tins, Den Gamle Fabrik jams in dozens of varieties, Galle & Jessen bread spread, Norwegian waffle mix, Danish cheese and spirits.
Since 1936, roughly 1,000 Danish hot dogs have been sold here every day. Angela Merkel has been. TV crews from around the world. Listed as an insider tip in Marco Polo. The view across to the Ochsen Islands and Glücksburg opposite is spectacular. Next door: Fjordens Perle (homemade burger patties, since 2014).
Gråsten (Gravenstein) is the summer residence of the Danish royal family and famous for its historic castle gardens and the local Gravenstein apple – grown here since the 18th century. In season (August–September) it's available directly from the farm.
North Frisia's national drink
The story sounds too good to be made up: on the North Frisian island of Nordstrand, a farmer served his guests coffee at a christening, secretly fortified with brown rum. When the pastor – a well-known teetotaller – discovered the trick, he exclaimed indignantly: 'You Pharisees!' The name stuck. The crucial rule: never stir the cream.
Drink without a spoon – straight through the cream.
Key addresses at a glance, sorted by distance from Berglyk 8
Rum that has sailed from the Caribbean into this harbour for centuries. Cheese that has beaten the world. And coffee with rum hidden beneath the cream – that's the Flensburg Fjord.
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