With its hygge cafe culture, world renowned fine dining, and smørrebrøds galore, Copenhagen has something for every foodie – regardless of preference or budget. Read on for our top picks of the best cafes, restaurants, and bars to hit up in Copenhagen.
Must-Try Food
Smørrebrød – open faced sandwiches typically served on rye bread with assorted toppings (similar to Spanish pintxos or tapas). Perfect to snack on while enjoying a pint or glass of vino.
Tartelleter – tartlets filled with chicken, asparagus and gravy. Think mini chicken pot pies. Yeah, amazing.
Frikadeller – Danish meatballs, usually fried with butter and served with boiled potatoes.
Fried Pork, Potatoes & Parsley Gravy – stick-to-your-bones tasty. The pork is fried until crispy crunchy and balanced with boiled potatoes and a creamy white gravy.
Porridge – served hot with stewed fruits as a breakfast dish. We also had as a dessert served cold and a bit soupy with heavy cream and berries.
Food Markets
Torvehallerne – buzzing food market right in the center of Copenhagen. Tons of stalls to choose from, but our favorites were:
- Hallernes for smørrebroød. Can reccommend the traditional pickled herring, beef tartare, and chicken salad
- Grød for something sweet, yummy acaí bowls and porridge
Reffen – For years, Papirøen (or Paper Island) was the spot to grab drinks or casual food from colorful stalls set up in old shipping containers. Papirøen closed in 2017, but locals rejoiced that it has been reborn (with many of the same vendors) and now called Reffen. Open on weekends from October to March.
Køedbyen Mad & Marked – the city’s meat packing district, comes highly recommended for its nibbles, events, and even underground clubs and nightlife!
Breakfast & Brunch
Kalaset – cosy brunch spot with great coffee and delicious fluffy pancakes. Also there’s a a jam/nutella bar for while you wait…
Mad & Kaffe – brunch that’s instagram-worthy without being too try-hard
Union Kitchen – great brunch with fun latte art. And arguably even better cocktails…
Dinner
Guldkroen 11 – think Danish comfort food just like grandma used to make, combined with vintage decor, taxidermy walls, and drippy candles. When we visited there was no menu. Only options were tartelleter followed by fried pork and poatoes, which was find by us. Round out your visit with friendly service and [a ton of] free shots of Danish liqueur, and you can bet we left with stupid smiles on our faces.
Ramen to Bíiru – ramen bar where you order with traditional vending machine. There are two – one in Nørrebro, and one in Vesterbro.
Bars & Breweries
We swiftly found out that Dane’s love to booze. ‘Skål’ is the Danish cheers, and we definitely said it more than a few times.
ØLSNEDKEREN – with a rotating chalk board of beers on tap, Ølsnedkeren was our favorite brew house in Copenhagen. It is more ‘hygge’ and divey than other popular options like Mikkeler & Friends or BRUS.
Musen og Elefanten (Mouse and Elephant) – a quirky pub and cigar lounge that stays open ’til 5-6am. We fell for this place due to fond conversation and recommendations from the friendly bar staff.
Be sure to check out these tasty spots, but Copenhagen isn’t just about wining and dining. In fact, there is so much more to this unique, chilled out city. Check out our post on Things to See and Do: A Weekend Break in Copenhagen.
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