Noma To Reopen Aug. 5 Without Founder René Redzepi — And Without Its Three Michelin Stars

Copenhagen’s iconic restaurant Noma will reopen on Aug. 5 without its founder and former executive chef René Redzepi leading the kitchen — and without its three Michelin stars. The relaunch comes after months of controversy and personnel changes as longtime staff take charge and the restaurant shifts to a new, monthly-changing menu focused on seasonality.

Chefs busily practice making dishes in fine-dining restaurant Noma's kitchen ahead of its new season in Copenhagen, Denmark Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)(AP Photo/James Brooks)

New Leadership and a Monthly Menu

Executive head chef Pablo Soto, who now leads the kitchen, said the restart has been “crazy tough” given the media attention, but that the team is committed to moving forward. Noma plans to introduce a rotating menu described on its website as the “12 seasons of Noma,” evolving month to month to reflect subtle shifts in ingredients, weather and landscape.

A chef shows a new fish dish in fine-dining restaurant Noma's kitchen ahead of its new season in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)(AP Photo/James Brooks)

Allegations, Response and Redzepi’s Role

Redzepi announced in March that he would “step away” from day-to-day leadership after a New York Times report and other accounts alleged mistreatment of staff and incidents of verbal and physical abuse between roughly 2009 and 2017. In a tearful Instagram video he apologized and said he would transition into a creative director role; the restaurant said he was not available for interview. Redzepi has also been criticized for relying on unpaid interns in earlier years; Noma began fully paying interns in 2022.

A woman enters fine-dining restaurant Noma's cafe and shop in Copenhagen, Denmark Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)(AP Photo/James Brooks)

Michelin Status, Bookings and Prices

Noma will reopen without its three Michelin stars. The restaurant’s third star was awarded in 2021, but in May Noma said it would not appear in this year’s Michelin Guide because it had not been open long enough in 2026 to meet the guide’s eligibility requirements. The Copenhagen site had closed in January ahead of a Los Angeles pop-up and remained shut for much of the year.

Noma's head of R&D Mette Brink Soberg holds a new berry gazpacho dish topped with flower petals in fine-dining restaurant Noma's test kitchen in Copenhagen, Denmark Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)(AP Photo/James Brooks)

Soto said bookings are almost fully reserved through the end of October. The tasting menu is priced at 4,500 Danish krone (about $686) per person, with an optional wine pairing priced at 2,000 krone (about $305).

Workplace Reforms and Industry Impact

The restaurant said it conducted an internal audit and has implemented new systems to support staff welfare and professional development. “We’ve gone through a period of crisis,” Soto said. “This means we need to be much more attentive to each individual.”

Food critic Tom Sietsema of The Washington Post suggested that Noma’s long record of innovation and reinvention should help it remain relevant — provided its founder stays out of the spotlight. He and others note the controversy has prompted broader industry discussion about kitchen culture, pay and time off.

In the Kitchen

During a recent visit to the Copenhagen kitchen, chefs rehearsed dishes featuring pike perch, brown crab, shrimp and mushrooms. Mette Brink Søberg, head of research and development, finished a berry gazpacho with flower petals plucked from the restaurant’s garden. “We feel that now we’ve done this for so many years, we’ve really become experts in all the flavors, the techniques, the concepts,” she said. “I think we’re ready to take one step further.”

Reporter note: Dazio reported from Berlin.