Noma, the acclaimed Copenhagen restaurant that has achieved world-renowned status, is set to reopen in its home location with a restructured leadership team. The transition comes after René Redzepi, the restaurant’s co-founder and star chef, stepped away from his operational role amid allegations of abusive workplace practices spanning from 2009 to 2017. The allegations, which emerged earlier this year as the restaurant launched a Los Angeles pop-up, included accusations of physical and psychological mistreatment of staff members. Redzepi acknowledged in a statement that his past behavior had been harmful, apologizing to those affected while noting he did not recognize all details in the accounts.
Pablo Soto, who has spent nearly a decade at Noma, assumes the role of executive head chef and will lead operations alongside chief executive Annika de Las Heras and head of research and development Mette Brink Søberg. Soto characterized the reopening as a return to stability following the turmoil of recent months, emphasizing that the core team responsible for Noma’s previous accolades remains in place. While Redzepi will no longer be involved in day-to-day operations, leadership has indicated he will maintain a creative influence on the restaurant’s direction through his involvement in broader strategic initiatives.
The reopened restaurant will introduce operational changes, including a shift from its established seasonal model to a dynamic monthly menu that evolves based on ingredient availability. This approach will feature rotating focus on items such as berries and seafood in the coming weeks, transitioning to mushrooms and game as the calendar progresses into October. Additionally, management has prioritized creating workplace conditions that enable staff to maintain personal lives outside work, a departure from the demanding culture that characterized the organization under previous leadership.
Since its establishment in 2003, Noma has secured three Michelin stars and been designated the world’s best restaurant on five separate occasions. The restaurant had originally planned to convert its Copenhagen location into a food laboratory following its 2024 closure, but those plans were abandoned in favor of reopening the established venue amid the organizational upheaval triggered by the abuse allegations.
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