10 REASONS TO BOOK WTIH US
koks restaurant faroe islands
2025 Update: KOKS has suspended operations
KOKS has unfortunately suspended operations. Former head chef, Poul Andrias Ziska, has opened his own restaurant, PAZ. They opened in 2025 and received 2 Michelin stars on their debut year.
One of the best Nordic restaurants
KOKS Restaurant was widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in the Nordics. Having won several awards and received 2 Michelin stars, KOKS Restaurant offers a complete gastronomic experience. In 2015, the restaurant won the prize for being the best restaurant in the Nordics.
The last head chef for KOKS restaurant is the culinary coquetry, Poul Andrias Ziska, who had headed the restaurant for the past many years and led it to its recent successes.
Check out his Instagram here where he keeps his followers updated on his experimentation, awards, and more.
KOKS Restaurant - First Faroese Michelin Restaurant
The Faroese restaurant and gastronomic scene have improved significantly in recent years. Indisputably, the pioneer for this development is KOKS, which opened in 2011. The chef behind the restaurant was Leif Sørensen – still one of the most renowned and innovative chefs in the Faroe Islands.
In 2017, KOKS restaurant received its first Michelin star. In 2019, the restaurant received an additional Michelin star, so that at its closing, KOKS was a 2-star Michelin restaurant and a holder of the Sustainable Gastronomy emblem, also.
Experimenting with Faroese Cuisine
Focusing on experimenting and innovating with traditional Faroese cuisine, KOKS restaurant provided travellers with the chance to taste the Faroe Islands from both a traditional side, but also an alternative daring side.
Most of the produce used in KOKS was local Faroese. When local was not an option, KOKS sourced produce from other Nordic countries. The produce used at the restaurant mainly stemmed from lamb, fish, birds, local greenery, and seaweed.
The chefs at KOKS also used the ancient culinary techniques of fermenting both lamb and seafood (“Ræst” in Faroese). Additionally, the chefs used the ancient techniques of air-drying the lamb and fish, e.g. to serve the local favourite of dried lamp or “skerpikjøt” in Faroese.
Hence, when dining at KOKS, travellers could expect to be served both traditional Faroese favourists such as dried lamb “skerpikjøt” and fermented fish “ræstan fisk”, in addition to other more modern inspirations.
Their permit expired at their incredible Leynavatn location
For the travellers who were lucky enough to dine at KOKS in the Faroe Islands, a highlight of the dining experience is just getting to the restaurant. Hidden deep within the valley by Leynavatn. SUVs would pick guests up from the road and drive across the lake, into the valley. The physical journey was symbolic for the culinary journey that awaited ahead.
Unfortunately, KOKS' location by Leynavatn was always temporary and when their permit from the Faroese national government to operate expired in 2022.
They had prepared a new restaurant opening, but…
KOKS knew this was coming and had plans to build a new restaurant in the Faroe Islands in the beautiful surroundings of Fossdalsgjógv. However, back in 2022, the Faroese National government declined KOKS' application to start construction — citing environmental preservation concerns as their reason for not granting permission.
The renderings were incredible
KOKS was intending to build the restaurants cliffside, hanging over the incredible gorge. Additionally, there were meant to build a small settlement or traditional Faroese houses nearby to host guests for the night..
The restaurant had a stint in Greenland before closure
After the disappointing news, KOKS relocated temporarily to Greenland to continue its operations while trying to find another suitable location in the Faroe Islands. The team hosted guests in the village of Ilimanaq for a couple of years, where it also retained its two Michelin stars.
However, operating out of Greenland was always a temporary undertaking and with no prospect for new sites in the Faroe Islands, KOKS officially suspended operations back in 2024 until at least 2026.
Let Us Book Your Unique Faroe Islands Luxury Private Tour Experience
REMÓT Travel is a high-end travel agency in the Faroe Islands.
We focus on curated, unique travel experiences and most of our clients used to attend KOKS when it was located here on the islands.
Read below about what happened with the restaurant and some of the exciting new culinary offerings that have come up in recent years — including a new 2-star Michelin restaurant.
We Know You Had Your Heart Set On Koks, Due to Its Michelin Stars and Remote Location. Don’t You Worry…
Want to dine at some of the other amazing restaurants that the Faroes have to offer? We're excited to share that many new restaurants have opened in the Faroe Islands since KOKS suspended operations.
Additionally, if you prefer something more unique and off-the-beaten path, we have connections with the old KOKS team and can organize private dining experiences that resemble the restaurant's legendary offerings, even at their old location by Leynavatn.
ROKS Restaurant
ROKS is KOKS sister restaurant. It's owned by the same restauranteur who started KOKS and is run by mostly the same team that ran KOKS, with former head chef, Poul Andrias Ziska, being notably absent from the team (see next). The restaurant is located in the old town of Tòrshavn and is mainly built around seafood offerings. ROKS carries a Michelin star.
PAZ Restaurant
Poul Andrias Ziska, former head chef of KOKS, has opened his own restaurant, PAZ, in the heart of Tórshavn. The restaurant opened in 2025 and has already received 2 Michelin stars.
RÆST Restaurant
RÆST is owned by the same restauranteur who built KOKS. The restaurant is quartered in a charming wooden house in the old town and serves inpsired traditional meals focused around the Faroese tradition of fermentation. RÆST carries a Michelin star.
Get In Touch
Your bespoke Faroe Islands journey begins here. Our team is ready to tailor a seamless and unforgettable experience — entirely to you.
