When I told my wife I was struggling to write about our latest visit to Alchemist because it is such an immersive experience—so full of details that it almost makes your head spin, she just smiled and said, “Just write: Just as good as the last time!”
She had a point, but of course, I could not leave it at that.
Alchemist is not just a restaurant, it is like nothing else you have ever seen. Renowned for pushing the boundaries of what dining can be, it merges art, science, and gastronomy into one unforgettable holistic experience.
Chef Rasmus Munk’s vision is not just to feed you, but to make you think. He believes food is a way to communicate ideas, challenge perceptions, and even spark change.
Alchemist Test Lab
Alchemist is the ultimate influencer’s wet dream. No matter how many perfectly edited TikToks or meticulously curated Instagram posts you scroll through, you still will not get it. Alchemist is not something you can capture in a Reel or hashtag to death, it simply has to be experienced firsthand.
Moon Jellyfish
Be prepared, this is not just a dinner. At Alchemist, they do not even call it dinner, they call it an experience. In fact, there are about 50 of them. I wonder if they count the opening of the big bronze door as one of those experiences.
They definitely count the black room next to the entrance, where Albert Einstein sets the tone with the quote: “Imagination is more important than knowledge”.
Plastic Fantastic
While many have written endless paragraphs about each dish, what truly sets Alchemist apart is not just what you eat, but how it makes you think and feel. Chef Rasmus Munk does not just want you to eat—he wants you to confront, reflect, and question.
Lithophane Pablo-matic
The food at Alchemist is undoubtedly tasty and delicious. This time, the focus felt sharper, blending science, art, and gastronomy in a way that only Alchemist can pull off.
Four hours passed from the moment we entered Alchemist to the last dish (sorry, experience) being served under the dome. Even after three previous visits, the thrill of discovery was still there.
Footprint
Next up? The painting room. Imagine playing with edible paint, painting it on walls, the ceiling, anywhere you like. It was like being four years old again, without a parent yelling you to stop. And yes, the paint was actually delicious.
After exploring the painting room, we moved on to the lounge—a balcony overlooking the dome, with small golden lamps hanging from the ceiling. We sat there, enjoying a warm cup of tea and sipping a glass of Christian Drouhin 1974 Calvados while they served the last four or five expressions.
One of them looked like a piece of amber with an ant inside, like something preserved from prehistoric times. It reminded me of looking for amber at the beach as a kid.
Hunger
But Alchemist is not just about shock and surprises. There is always a deeper message, a wake-up call about the world we live in.
One dish, called “Plastic Fantastic,” arrived floating on what looked like a mini swimming pool, delicious but a clear reminder of the plastic in the oceans.
Another dish, inspired by Edvard Munch’s painting “The Scream,” managed to translate the painting’s colours into different tastes. It was surreal—how did they do it?
The Scream
Rasmus Munk’s ethos is clear, thought-provoking, sometimes uncomfortable, but always intentional. As he puts it, “If we can make people stop and think, we are on the route towards change.” From the dark room you enter to the elevator ride down at the end, it all ties together.
Alchemist raises issues about our world, mass consumption, the way we treat animals, and even about us humans, like organ donation. It also addresses sustainability and the human impact on the environment.
Amber
Tea selection tailored to your preference in the lounge—yes, they even have a tea sommelier.
We just soaked it all in, big smiles on our faces, trying to process everything that had just happened. When we finally left, it was 00:35.
Alchemist still manages to surprise us. It is not just about the food, the performance, or the theme changes in the dome—it is about the way it challenges you to see dining differently.
You do not just leave with a wow factor, you leave with something to think about—even when you place your next order at McDonald’s.
Some of the standout wines from our wine pairing.
Yes, it is hard not to—but probably after a while.
Yes, it is more than just a “dinner”.
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