Denmark isn't regularly known for a wide array of cuisine that brings travelers in by the thousands. Although they do boast a few local dishes that intrigue tourists, there's usually nothing coming out of Denmark that turns heads. However, with bayside views and killer cuisine, Noma, located in Copenhagen, is the pride and joy of Denmark's restaurant scene.

Noma single handedly changes the perception that only Spain, France and the US have fine-dining establishments readily available. With head chef and owner Rene Redzepi turning out wonderful and awe-inspiring dishes, Noma walked away with Restaurant Magazine's honor of 10th best in the world in 2008.

Chef Rene Redzepi honed his talents in other Restaurant ranked establishments before creating Noma. El Bulli, the undisputed king of the restaurant world, once played home to Redzepi, where he worked alongside trendsetters and innovators and learned the finer points of worldly cuisine.

He also worked alongside Thomas Keller at The French Laundry and Jardin des Sens. The name “Noma” is an acronym of the two Nordic words “Nordisk,” meaning Nordic, and “Mad,” meaning food. After opening the restaurant, Redzepi immediately introduced the area to new takes on classic Scandinavian dishes. He has attempted to redefine Nordic cuisine, and is proving to be successful thus far.

Noma is a beautiful venue. The restaurant is built in an 18th-century warehouse situated on the docks and overlooking the bay. The North Atlantic offers some wonderful seafood, and Redzepi takes full advantage of the fresh supply daily. Guests are treated to fresh oysters, musk, eel, langoustines, and much more from the sea. Local specialties like Danish blood sausage are also served. Redzepi also takes advantage of the surrounding area's cuisine. Copenhagen sits in the middle of Poland, Russia, Lithuania, and Germany, and influences from every country can be found on the menu at any given time.

The restaurant is one of the newest to be awarded two stars by the Michelin Guide. It opened in 2004 and has since been the centerpiece of the Copenhagen harbour. Apart from being known for good food, Noma is also known to be on the high side of expensive. Chef Rene outdoes his competition in terms of price. A single meal at the restaurant can cost close to a thousand dollars if you indulge and explore your “finer” tastes.

For the most part, the restaurant stays busy when it's open. Since Copenhagen is a relatively cold climate and Noma is situated on the water, the air can be a little chilly, to say the least. A lot of hot comfort foods are served to take the chill out. Most who eat at Noma agree that it's Copenhagen's best restaurant by far. The food has a lightness and elegance to it; it's extremely innovative and creative, and the wine parings and different plays on colors, flavors and textures work extremely well. With only a few ingredients, Chef Rene seems to create magic on every plate.