You see it long before you arrive.
Rising above the waterfront in Sønderborg, Alsik Hotel & Spa stands like a lighthouse of bronze and glass among red-tiled roofs, sailboats and the calm water of Alssund. It’s not a hotel that tries to hide. It doesn’t need to.
South Jutland isn’t usually where people go looking for a luxury weekend. That’s exactly why Alsik surprised me.
The hotel opened in 2019 on Sønderborg’s old industrial harbour, designed by Henning Larsen from a masterplan by Frank Gehry. Nineteen floors, 190 rooms, three restaurants and Denmark’s largest spa. It was named Denmark’s Best Luxury Hotel at the Danish Travel Awards in both 2023 and 2024.
But the real reason to come sits on the 17th floor: Restaurant Syttende, the first Michelin-starred restaurant in South Jutland.
Alsik Hotel & Spa: A Room With a View of Alssund
Some hotel rooms you sleep in. This one I mostly looked out of.
From the bed, the church tower filled the window. From the armchair, the red rooftops of the old town ran all the way down to the sea, with Flensburg Fjord on the horizon. From another window, Alssund wound inland past the marina and the fields.
I sat there far longer than planned. Watching the light change. Doing absolutely nothing.
For me, that’s what slow travel is about. You don’t have to go far. You just have to stop.
Denmark’s Largest Spa
Alsik’s spa has more than 60 different experiences spread over four floors. The sauna is all light wood, with firewood stacked neatly beneath the stones. Nordic wellness, without any fuss.
The place I’d head first is the outdoor pool, right down by the promenade and looking straight out over the water. Even on a grey October afternoon, it’s hard to leave.
My tip: spa access isn’t included in the room rate, so add it when you book. It’s worth it.
Point of View: The Best View Over Sønderborg
If you only have an hour in Sønderborg, this is where I’d send you.
Point of View on the 16th floor is open to everyone, not just hotel guests. Floor-to-ceiling glass, and suddenly the whole region makes sense: the old town, the harbour, Dybbøl Mill on the hill and the green fields of Als rolling out towards the horizon.
And the best part? It’s free.
You just need to book a ticket at alsikpov.dk, up to seven days ahead. You get a QR code for the lift and 30 minutes at the top. Go before dinner at Syttende, and you’ll recognise the landscape on your plate later.
Exploring Sønderborg on Foot
Then head down and see it up close. Walk the harbour promenade past the colourful houses on the waterfront to Sønderborg Castle, about a kilometre away. Or climb up to Dybbøl Mill for the view back over town.
First the water. Then the history. Then dinner.
Restaurant Syttende: Michelin Dining on the 17th Floor
And then there’s Syttende.
The name is Danish for “seventeenth”. In 2021 it became the first restaurant in South Jutland to earn a Michelin star, and head chef Peter Rødsgaard builds the menu around local produce, much of it from the land you can see from your table.
What I love here is how close you get. The kitchen sits behind glass, so you follow every plate as it’s built. A scallop crowned with caviar, finished with drops of green oil at the table. Cured fish in a light, foamy sauce. A green parcel on a bright red base. Even the knives get their moment, presented in a wooden box so you can pick your own.
It’s fine dining without the stiffness. Precise, generous and very South Jutland.
In 2026, Falstaff Nordic named Syttende “Culinary Hideaway of the Year Denmark”. After an evening here, I understand why.
A Wine List to Match the View
The wine service is a small show of its own. Coravin pours, reds decanted at the table, pairings that follow each course closely. Falstaff gave the wine programme a perfect score.
Prefer something without alcohol? There’s a non-alcoholic pairing and Danish cider too.
Is Alsik Worth It? My Recommendation
Yes. Especially if you want a weekend where the food, the view and the wellness are all sorted the moment you check in.
This is how I’d do it. Arrive in the afternoon and book the spa. Go up to Point of View before sunset. Then take the lift to the 17th floor for dinner at Syttende. No taxis, no planning, no rush.
It’s a perfect pick for a midweek escape in autumn or winter, when the light is low and a long dinner with a view is exactly what you need.
Practical Information
- Address: Alsik Hotel & Spa, Nørre Havnegade 21-25, 6400 Sønderborg, Denmark
- Restaurant Syttende: open Tuesday to Saturday from 17:00. Book well in advance.
- Point of View: free, but book a ticket at alsikpov.dk (up to seven days ahead, 30-minute visit).
- Spa: not included in the room rate, but can be added at the hotel.
- Packages: the hotel offers stays that combine a night at Alsik with dinner at Syttende.
Final Thoughts
For me, Alsik is proof of something I keep coming back to: you don’t need to fly far for a world-class experience.
Michelin dining, Nordic calm and a view across all of South Jutland, under one roof. And when dinner is over, bed is just a lift ride away.
Maybe the next great food weekend in Denmark isn’t in Copenhagen at all. Maybe it’s on the 17th floor in Sønderborg.
Explore the rooms and packages, or book a table at Syttende, at Alsik Hotel & Spa.
