Michael Olsen
Danish Restaurateur & Host
How to even write about Michael ?
When we thought about this section of the website, we were thinking mostly about artists we would meet along the way.
The thing is, Michael is an artist as well, in a way.
If he did many things in his life, from his supervision work in India to meeting Jean-Paul Gaultier, through very good stories in Hong Kong I won’t repeat here, I guess it’s fair to say Michael is a Host and a Restaurateur.
For many people in Copenhagen, he is known for having been the manager of Skindbuksen for about 15 years. Skindbuksen is one of these "institutions" of Copenhagen, the 2nd oldest restaurant / bodega / værtshus in Denmark, and it was apparently a thing.
Many stories about hours long queues on weekends to enter, just for the atmosphere.
The thing is, Michael is crazy. And that’s not an insult in my mouth, quite the opposite.
This, I know, because I have been working with Olsen for nearly 6 years up until leaving Denmark for this current trip we are on.
We worked together at Nyhavnskroen, on the very famous Nyhavn canal, in central Copenhagen. And I think we did a great job. He gave a vision to the place. A vision bringing back an authentic, danish soul to a street that had slowly been consumed by over tourism and cheap cash-grab based restaurants.
We brought back regulars to Nyhavn, for helvede.
Not to be misunderstood, Michael is so chaotic it’s very hard to work with him. Yet I said artist on purpose. When you pass the superficial madness, if you see the vision, then you’re here for some fun.
Now, speaking on the other side of the mirror, if you ever come to Copenhagen, you need to see this. I can’t recommend enough to come on one of Olsen’s good days - mostly weekends, we’re not gonna lie here -, and you’ll have, yes, an evening you won’t forget.
I’m proud of having been a part of this. This, I won’t forget. Nor all your ways you taught me. Tak for alt Michael.
If you want to see Michael, go to Nyhavnskroen, on Nyhavn 47 !
Hey who knows if you say I send you, you might get a couple of snaps on the house as well !
https://www.instagram.com/nyhavnskroen47/
