What do people eat in Greenland?
From the sea
The cold waters surrounding Greenland are home to many of the ingredients that define Greenlandic cuisine. What is served depends largely on the season and the success of local fishing and hunting.
At the beginning of summer, lumpfish roe appears on restaurant menus. Later in the season, Arctic char make their way into the fjords. Some locals head out to camp and fish, preserving their catch by methods such as cold-smoking the fish using mountain heather.
Around Qeqertarsuaq, snow crab fishing is an important part of local life. During the season, snow crab is the most served dish at Restaurant Disko Island. Cracking open the shell and picking out the meat is part of the meal.
Halibut and cod are also widely used in Greenlandic cooking. If you would like to try fishing yourself, several local excursions combine a day on the water with the chance to prepare and cook your own catch.
And then there are the shrimp. A classic way to enjoy them is on Danish smørrebrød, topped with egg, lumpfish roe and mayonnaise. At Hotel Icefiord, you can order one for lunch and enjoy it outside while looking across the bay.
📸 Lumpfish roe with smoked sour cream and crustadefrom the Signature menu at Hotel Icefiord, Iliulissat.
From the land
Musk ox and reindeer are among the ingredients you are most likely to encounter when dining out in Greenland. Both animals roam freely in the mountains, feeding on local herbs and plants, which influences the flavour of the meat.
The meat is prepared in many different ways. Some restaurants serve it as tartare or cured sausage, while others use it in slow-roasted dishes or hearty stews. At Hotel Icefiord, the lunch menu often features a burger made with either reindeer or musk ox.
Further south, the landscape changes. Around Igaliku, sheep farms dot the green hillsides, and lamb is an important part of the local cuisine. At Igaliku Bygdehotel, it is often paired with locally grown vegetables, mushrooms and other seasonal ingredients from the region.
📸 "Smørrebrød" with grilled musk ox from the lunch menu at Hotel Icefiord.
Traditional food in Greenland
Greenland's national dish is suaasat, a soup that combines ingredients from both land and sea. Depending on local traditions and available ingredients, it may contain seal, reindeer or whale, and is often served with rice or barley.
In several places, you can also try mattak, whale skin with a layer of blubber. Mattak has been part of Greenlandic food culture for generations and is still served at many gatherings today.
📸 Mattak and fried ammassat from the Signature menu at Hotel Icefiord.
What grows in Greenland?
When the snow recedes, summer ingredients begin to emerge in the mountains. From June to September, mountain sorrel, Greenland roseroot and Arctic thyme are among the plants that grow in the landscape. Later in the summer, berries and an abundance of edible mushrooms appear.
One berry worth trying is crowberry. At Hotel Icefiord, it is used in the Kangia Spritz, a cocktail inspired by the Kir Royal, where crowberries replace the traditional blackcurrant.
In South Greenland, blueberries are picked in the mountains, while rhubarb and seernaq are grown in our kitchen garden at Igaliku Bygdehotel and harvested throughout the summer season.
📸 Rhubarb from the kitchen garden at Igaliku Bygdehotel.
Greenlandic Coffe
Greenlandic coffee is a local specialty often served at celebrations and special occasions. Today, Greenlandic coffee is also served in many restaurants, cafés and hotels across the country.
The drink starts with freshly brewed coffee and a base of whisky or cognac. Kahlúa adds sweetness, while Grand Marnier contributes citrus notes. It is typically finished with a layer of whipped cream.
The combination of coffee, spirits and cream makes it a popular way to round off a meal or gather around the table with friends and family.
📸 Coffee moments at Hotel Icefiord in Ilulissat.
Food Experiences in Greenland
Not all meals in Greenland are served in traditional restaurants. In several places, visitors can follow food from catch to plate and gain insight into how local ingredients form part of everyday life.
Ice Fishing & Dinner
This excursion to Aurora Lodge offers a glimpse into winter life in Greenland. Along the way, guests meet local fishermen and learn how fishing through the ice takes place during the winter months.
Later, the catch is brought back to the cabin, where dinner is prepared together. The meal becomes a part of the day’s activities and offers an insight of the traditions that shape life in Greenland during the winter season.
Icefiord Cruise in Ilulissat
Glacier ice may not be a local dish, but it is still something you can taste during a visit to Ilulissat.
On our Icefjord Cruise, we collect thousand-year-old glacier ice from the fjord and use it in a cocktail made with Greenlandic berries and herbs. The ice crackles in the glass as trapped air bubbles, formed centuries ago, are released.
“Catch and Eat” Boat Tour
This excursion takes you through the Nuuk Fjord to the small settlement of Qooqqut, around 50 kilometres from Nuuk. Along the way, guests have the opportunity to fish in the fjord.
At Qooqqut Nuan Restaurant, the catch is prepared together with vegetables and herbs grown in the restaurant’s own garden.
“Brættet” in Qaqortoq
At the harbour in Qaqortoq, the town’s open-air market is where fishermen and hunters sell their catch of the day.
A visit to the market is an opportunity to experience everyday life in the town. People come here to shop, exchange news and see what is available that day. For visitors, it offers insight into the importance of fishing and hunting in many Greenlandic towns and settlements.
Tours with Food Experiences
On many of our travel packages, food is a natural part of the journey. Below, you will find some of the tours where culinary experiences play a particularly important role.
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