About På Torvet – rooms and café in Ærøskøbing

The place and the idea

På Torvet offers rooms and a café right on the town square in Ærøskøbing. A small and informal place where town life, history and everyday calm meet – and where both locals and visitors like to stop by.

We offer accommodation in cosy rooms in the heart of Ærøskøbing and a café focusing on lunch and light meals. På Torvet is not a traditional hotel or a classic restaurant, but a small place on an island, where the surroundings, the seasons and everyday life set the pace.

As a small place on Ærø, our operation is naturally seasonal. The island’s size and small local community mean that service and culture are different from the mainland. There is more room for flexibility, personal contact and an informal approach to both guests and daily life.

As part of our seasonal operation, we regularly look for staff for the café, kitchen and housekeeping. You can read more about working at På Torvet and see current opportunities on our jobs page.

The buildings and the history

På Torvet is located in the Old Town School – the distinctive yellow building facing the square in Ærøskøbing. Today the building houses both the café and apartments, but over the years it has served many purposes and been an active part of the town’s life.

Behind the school building is a cosy courtyard. From here, there is access to the former Lantern Factory, where ship lanterns were historically produced for Danish shipping, including vessels operated by Maersk.

Together, the buildings tell the story of a place rooted in community, craftsmanship and the maritime life that has shaped Ærø for generations.

Ærø, Ærøskøbing and our guests

Ærøskøbing is known as one of Denmark’s best preserved market towns and attracts visitors from Denmark and abroad each year. Cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses and a lively town atmosphere form the setting for a place that is also everyday life for a small local community.

The island’s history of seafaring, trade and later tourism is closely connected to this place on the square. In recent years, Ærø has also welcomed many wedding guests and culturally curious travellers, many of whom return again.

At På Torvet, we welcome holidaymakers, short-stay visitors and travellers experiencing Ærø as part of a longer journey.

The place today

Today, På Torvet is run as a small, cohesive place where accommodation and café naturally go hand in hand. The place is continuously adapted to the seasons, the weather and the rhythm of island life.

The ambition is not to be big or the same all year round, but to create surroundings that feel calm, welcoming and genuine – both for guests and for those who work here.

About us

Behind På Torvet are Troels and Søren. We took over the place in March 2025 and moved to Ærø in connection with the takeover.

We run På Torvet with respect for the buildings, the town and the local community we have become part of. For us, it is about creating a place that works in practice – for guests, locals and ourselves – and that can develop in step with the place and the island.

If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us.