How To Book a Table at Noma – Tips for Snagging Hard Reservations
Chef René Redzepi’s Noma is one of the world’s best restaurants, and one of the most difficult reservations to book. In 2021, Noma finally received their long-overdue third Michelin star, and was once again ranked number one on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. From the groundbreaking and inventive dishes (reindeer penis, anyone?) to the spectacular dining room to the incredible team that makes every guest feel like family, Noma is a restaurant every food lover needs to experience at least once in their life. Naturally, when Noma releases tickets for online booking, they disappear within seconds. Since we live in Copenhagen, one of the questions we get asked the most is, “How do you book a table at Noma?” While it is definitely a tough table to snag, it’s not impossible. We’re here to help walk you through the reservation process, and share some tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years. This is also a more general guide, so whether you’re dying to visit Noma, Alchemist, Geranium, or any of the other of the hard-to-book restaurants in Denmark or around the world, you can apply this knowledge. Are you ready to be a reservations expert?
How To Book a Table at Noma:
1. Follow the Restaurant on Social Media
Instagram is where they will announce reservation release dates, and any last-minute cancellations, so make sure to follow all their social media channels.
2. Subscribe to the Restaurant’s Newsletter
The newsletter is another way to get info about release dates, and sometimes restaurants even give early access to newsletter subscribers.
3. Set an Alarm for the Release
Pay attention when they announce when the next release of reservations will be. Set a reminder and an alarm – you can’t be one second late!
4. Create a Booking Site Profile
Create a profile on Tock (or whatever reservation service the restaurant is using), and fill out your credit card information in advance. This will save you valuable time during the reservation frenzy.
5. Get Familiar with the Reservation Site
Get comfortable on the reservation platform! Practice by following the booking steps so you know how to navigate the page easily when the time comes.
6. Book Less Popular Time Slots
Plan to book on less popular days of the week, like Tuesday and Wednesday (instead of Friday and Saturday). If the restaurant serves lunch, this is also a less popular time, and therefore easier to book than dinner.
7. Use Multiple Devices
Using several devices can increase your chances of getting a reservation. Have the booking page open on your laptop and cell phone, and refresh the page constantly leading up to the release time.
8. Ask Your Friends to Help
Have friends and family also try to book a table. It’s a numbers game, so ask as many people as you can to help make a reservation for you.
9. Keep Refreshing the Booking Page
If at first you don’t succeed, try again. Reservations are typically held for 5-10 minutes while the guest completes the checkout process. If they do not finish their booking within that time frame, the reservation is released again. Keep refreshing that booking page!
10. Check for Cancellations
Check the site again after 48-72 hours. Guests are typically given two to three days to confirm and pay for their reservation. If they haven’t paid within this timeframe, their reservation is released onto the site once again.
11. Join the Waitlist
Add yourself to the waitlist for as many dates as possible. Cancellations are common, and waitlists are used frequently. Add the restaurant’s phone number to your contacts so you know if they’re trying to reach you – Alchemist always contacts the waitlist via phone.
12. Book the Private Dining Room
Splurge on a more luxurious evening in the private dining room. At Noma, they have a private dining room that can seat up to 24 guests, which comes at a higher price point with a minimum spend, but can be worth it if you have enough people interested in coming with you. More expensive options like this and private dining rooms are typically easier to book.
13. Let the Restaurant Know You’re Available
In town and hoping for a last-minute cancellation? Send an email to the restaurant informing them of your interest, and your ability to be at the restaurant within 20 minutes of their call. If they know you can fill that seat faster than anyone else, there’s a good chance they’ll bump you to the top of their waitlist. They want to fill these seats as much as you want to dine there!
14. Join The Hungries
Join our food club, The Hungries! We have a reservations channel on our online forum where members often share their reservations at hard-to-book restaurants. Sometimes they are looking to give away their table, and sometimes they’re looking for another solo diner to join them for a meal.
There’s always a table for The Hungries at Noma.
Join us for the next one!
What’s the hardest reservation you’ve ever booked? Let us know in a comment below.
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