Sylt Harbour

In the sunny south of the island

Welcome to the southernmost crêpe stand on the island of Sylt with one of the most beautiful views far and wide.

Sylt_PUK_24©peterbender_2018 — © Peter Bender I Sylt Marketing

Sweet or savory? The million-dollar question when you're standing in line at the crêpe stand. For those who decide quickly and are very hungry, the wait can feel like an eternity. But for those who are still undecided about which of the delicious creations to choose, this special time between decision and order can be invaluable. At Hörnum harbor, the team at "Sydhavn" sweetens the wait, if there is one, with, among other things, the expansive view of Sylt's east beach . On a clear day, the view even extends to Amrum and Föhr. These neighboring islands certainly provide plenty of conversation starters: "Left, right, which is which?"

While some are now using their phone-a-friend lifeline, asking Siri, or using the tried-and-true search engine, the queue is moving quickly. Dinsche is at the crêpe stand on the right, while at the coffee bar, Justin is serving up everything from latte macchiato and iced latte to flat white, all from the espresso machine. "Two cappuccinos, please. It's a must-have on our holiday; for us, it's the best in Hörnum. We don't even want to drink one at home anymore because we just don't like it," a woman says enthusiastically, and the person behind her confirms her sentiment with similar fervor. "Our bean blend is 70% Arabica and 30% Robusta and comes from the coffee roastery in Braderup," Justin explains with a beaming smile as he froths the milk.

In Hörnum people help and support each other, which is really nice.

Working together for the perfect crêpe

Crêpe with chocolate and glass of coffee held in hands. — © Peter Bender | Sylt Marketing

Together with his friend Tim, he has been running the charming little kiosk at Hörnum's harbor since last year. The two Sylt natives recently celebrated their one-year anniversary. Even as teenagers, they harbored the plan, ideally together, to open their own crêpe stand one day. The idea came to them while they were working after school for Tim's father, one of Sylt's local crêpe heroes, and learning how to flip the perfect thin French pancake, an art in itself. It can be neither too thick nor too thin, must be evenly distributed on the plate, and must not be overcooked. A good ten years later, after Tim completed his training as a hotel manager at the Hotel Budersand and Justin completed his degree in industrial engineering, they went their separate ways, traveled to distant countries, surfed perfect waves, immersed themselves in foreign cultures, and never lost sight of each other, they now stand here at Hörnum's harbor, looking south, doing their thing. Last year, their concept won over the municipality of Hörnum, beating out other applicants. The joy was immense!

Fresh dough daily at Sydhavn Sylt

Two baristas with coffee in front of an espresso machine in Sydhavn — © Peter Bender I Sylt Marketing

The name of the store plays an important role for the duo. "Translated from Danish, 'Sydhavn' means South Harbor. This is also the name of a district in Copenhagen known for its historic harbor buildings and its mix of industrial roots and creative flair. For us, the name is perfect, as we see a connection between ideals and values such as innovation and community between the Sydhavn district and Hörnum Harbor," says Justin. With great care, the two renovated the wood-clad little house inside and out, creating a popular and intergenerational meeting place for guests, locals, and the neighborhood, for which the two are very grateful. "People help and support each other here, which is really nice."

In addition to the various crêpes (Justin's favorite: feta cheese, arugula, walnut, honey) and hot drinks, there's also a selection of cold drinks. From Spritz and Alster to rosé wine and champagne, the Sydhavn team has a fairly extensive selection ready for the rather small space. Everything is plastic-free, which is important to the guys. Every day, either Tim or Justin mixes the batter fresh in the morning, then they prepare their shop. With Dinsche, the team is complete and ready for the day. When everything is ready, the hatches are raised. They lead a virtually self-determined life, by the way. At least from wind force 9, which is about 75 km/h. "Then the hatches close by themselves. It's in the contract," laughs Justin.

Sydhavn von Biike is open seven days a week from February to early November, usually from 10 a.m. to 18 p.m. Current opening hours and happenings can be found on Instagram. PS: On the left is Föhr, on the right is Amrum. ;-)

Text: Julia Petersen

Sylt Harbour