Located in a new contemporary building designed by Norm Architects, Nærvær aims to create a local bar and restaurant that emphasizes intimacy and comfort and accentuates presence. With a prime location in Christianshavn overlooking the canals and Copenhagen's old downtown, this new place has a local bar and an intimate high-end gourmet restaurant that seats no more than 10 people. It welcomes Copenhageners as well as the rest of the world, where locals and foreigners alike can share the world's best cheap wines and taste the French kitchen.

Nærvær enters the interior in a humble and intimate way, creating a casual atmosphere with small Spaces and niches for guests to enjoy. The interior design is defined by a series of natural materials, stone, wood and metal, which have been deliberately altered to create dark and industrial surfaces that match the ambience of the place. This focus on touch brings warmth and rich materials to the interior that compliment the original concrete walls and industrial frame of the space.

In order to respect the existing character of the space and surrounding area, its hue reflects the exterior of the building, bringing dark and warm colors into the space and enhancing intimacy. This contrasting use of materials, colours and objects ultimately enhances the intimate experience and presence that was the original catalyst for the project.

There is an unusual experience inside Nærvær, as the restaurant is run by renowned Danish chef Yves Le Lay, where he does not want to hide in the kitchen without being seen by guests. Instead, he wanted to be outdoors and face every guest throughout the evening.

Here, the kitchen is the scene and the guests are the audience, experiencing firsthand the chef's operation and artistry every night. There is no set menu or set 2-hour seating at the restaurant, where French cuisine is central and combined with the simplicity and freshness of Danish cuisine.