Copenhagen is a culinary wonderland for food travelers. If you’re wondering where to eat in Copenhagen, read on to discover our favorite Copenhagen restaurants, bars and markets. Then start planning your trip now!

Copenhagen beckoned us like a culinary beacon and it’s not just us. Over the past couple decades, the city has become a cult favorite for food travelers.
The most obsessed book impromptu flights just to sample New Nordic cuisine. The city’s place in the food pantheon has also attracted young, ambitious chefs who’ve clawed their way to the city for the chance to work in one of Copenhagen’s cutting edge kitchens.

For years, we’d been hearing how the former meat and potato town had morphed into one of the world’s greatest food cities. Then, after we moved to Lisbon, we started eating Copenhagen-style pastries and drinking coffee roasted in Denmark. Clearly, it was a sign.
But we didn’t travel to Copenhagen just to eat pastries and drink coffee. We did a copious amount of research about the city’s best restaurants and schooled ourselves about New Nordic Cuisine. We even scored a reservation at Noma, the most lauded Copenhagen restaurant.
After opening the legendary restaurant in 2003, Claus Meyer and René Redzepi showed the world how sustainable, locally sourced food can be eaten anywhere on earth including Copenhagen. Since then, foraging and fermenting have become global trends while ingredients like tree lichen and sea buckthorn appear on more and more restaurant plates.

There’s no debate that the Copenhagen restaurant scene has grown rapidly and exponentially over the past couple decades. A seemingly endless number of restaurants appears in every nook and cranny throughout Denmark’s compact capital and every block seems to have a world-class bakery. But there’s also a ridiculous amount of ‘food wealth’ in this city with a total metro population of two million people.
Copenhagen has 15 Michelin-starred restaurants, two of which hold three stars and have topped the World’s 50 Best Restaurant list. And, while many of the city’s top restaurants specialize in New Nordic cuisine, others serve a range of international food options as well as traditional Danish cuisine.
Discover our Danish Food Favorites.

Without a doubt, Copenhagen is a charming city that’s easy to traverse by foot, bike and metro. This is Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale city and it’s filled with architecture that’s both colorful and regal.
It’s also an expensive city – maybe the most expensive city we’ve ever visited. Oslo and Basel are also contenders for that dubious, wallet busting honor.

But Copenhagen is also a contender for tastiest city, an honor that we don’t bestow lightly. In that sense, to us, the Danish capital is a great value proposition – the veritable beluga caviar of food scenes.
It took us six years of concentrated food travel to make it to Copenhagen. It won’t take us six more years to return. In fact, we’re already planning our next trip. The city has a lot to cover and we’re ready.
Discover our picks for the best food cities in the world. Copenhagen is one of these cities.
Where To Eat in Copenhagen | Copenhagen Restaurants And Cheap Eats

Copenhagen challenges food travelers with its plethora of places to eat. Finding great restaurants is easier than narrowing down the contenders to a manageable number. We’re not kidding when we say that the challenge is real.
Then there’s the budget issue. Sure, there are cheap eats in Copenhagen, but cheap is a relative term in a city where one flat white coffee often costs more than the equivalent of $7. This is a city where failing to plan can result in unnecessary stress in addition to dining disappointment. It’s also a city, like most in the Nordic region, where you should expect to pay with a credit card anywhere and everywhere you go.
Pro Tip
Budget extra money for your trip to avoid financial stress.

We did the research. We made the reservations. We fattened our bank account in advance and traveled with credit cards in tow. We ate the food and drank the drinks. And, after the trip ended, we paid all the bills.
Now we’re spilling the beans on our favorite Copenhagen restaurants, bars and markets.
Copenhagen Restaurants

The best Copenhagen restaurants are famous around the world for their Michelin star ratings and daring menus. You could eat at all of them but you’d be missing out on some of the city’s culinary gems. You might also go broke.
The better plan is to sample a varied range of restaurants that includes top Copenhagen restaurants as well as local favorites that aren’t on the international radar. This is the approach we took and the one that we highly recommend.
These are our picks for the best restaurants in Copenhagen:
Noma

There’s one restaurant that sets the tone of the Copenhagen restaurant scene and that restaurant is Noma.
Founded in 2004 when Claus Meyer tapped René Redzepi to join his food revolution (the restaurant’s name is literally short in Danish for Nordic Food), Noma originally sourced all of its product from the Nordic region. The restaurant upped its approach after relocating to its current space in 2018 and now exclusively sources its product from the Copenhagen region.

Noma, by choice, seats fewer than 100 diners each day. Tens of thousands of people attempt to pry one of Noma’s precious few tables the moment that each dining ‘season’ opens for reservations. It’s that competitive.
It’s no exaggeration to say that we were over the moon with excitement when we scored a dinner reservation at Noma during our autumnal visit to Copenhagen. Our visit coincided with that season’s Game and Forest menu so that’s what we ate during our dinner. And what a dinner it was!
Read all about our epic dinner at Noma from beginning to end. We even share how much we spent on the meal.

It was all magnificent and overwhelming but what’s glued to our minds is the first of 18 plates – a reindeer skull served atop a napkin in a simple, rustic, dark brown wicker basket. At that moment, we knew that Noma’s Game and Forest menu was no joke.
There’s no disguising the food at Noma. Redzepi and his extensive team purposely transported us to the forest. Under his tutelage, we were hunters. We were humans eating food that was once living – not some dressed up facsimile packaged in plastic and sold to the masses.
There’s also no disguising that our dinner at Noma was the most expensive meal we’ve ever experienced. We have some regrets in our lives. This dinner isn’t one of them.
Pro Tip
Don’t assume that you can score a reservation at Noma. Do your best and have a back-up plan if it doesn’t work out. Since Copenhagen has more than a dozen Michelin starred restaurants, finding another special Copenhagen restaurant should not be a problem.
Noma is located at Refshalevej 96, 1432 København K, Denmark.
Restaurant Barr

If you’re dining at Noma during your Copenhagen visit, and even if you’re not, eating at Restaurant Barr is a must. Due to Noma’s importance in the food world, Barr’s location in the Noma’s former Strandgade 93 space makes the restaurant historic. Also, In a week filled with great food, Barr’s food was among our favorites.
We could feel the electricity from the building’s days as the epicenter of New Nordic Cuisine during our dinner. While Noma’s new location is grand, its original factory space with iconic arched windows exudes that kind of comforting yet refined sense of hygge that catapulted Noma to the top of every restaurant list.

Thorsten Schmidt, Barr’s chef, was a pioneer of New Nordic Cuisine when he helmed the kitchen at now closed Malling & Schmidt in Aarhus. In partnership with Noma chef René Redzepi, Schmidt provides a beer-focused dining experience at Restaurant Barr.
And what an experience it is.

Our dinner at Restaurant Barr was a series of hits starting with buttery, savory, heart-shaped waffles topped with gentle dollops of plump mussels and lightly popping caviar. Another standout dish was schnitzel – a crunchy, lightly breaded cut of pork leveled up by sides of chanterelle and fresh lingonberries.
Bar is one of the hottest tables in town. Judging by the full restaurant during our Sunday night visit, including a table occupied by Noma dignitaries, it’s a key player in the Copenhagen restaurant scene as well as a jewel in the Noma empire.
Pro Tip
Head to Restaurants Barr’s bar if you don’t score a meal reservation. The casual watering hole is a great spot to pair a few small plates with a craft beer or two. Be sure to order the Pink Farts and Unicorn beer, an India Pale Lager that tastes better than it sounds.
Restaurant Barr is located at Strandgade 93, 1401 København, Denmark.
Sanchez

Much of the international cuisine options in Copenhagen are carefully orchestrated versions of dishes from other countries. This is not the case at Sanchez where Rosie Sanchez, a Chicago native who previously ran Noma’s pastry program, works the kitchen and the dining room with vigor.
Sanchez’s food is the real deal – a yummy oasis in a Mexican food desert called Europe. But we’ll go further. Sanchez’s food would be equally great in an American city like Los Angeles or New York.

We don’t make the above statement lightly. When Daryl worked for a Nueva Latina restaurant organization for six years in Philadelphia, he tasted more than his fair share of pork carnitas. Plus, living in Portugal, we deeply crave authentic Mexican food more than we can properly express in words.
Sanchez’s deeply succulent, rich Tacos de Cochinita dish more than justifies the price of a meal at Sanchez. Her flagship restaurant has a limited a la carte menu of small dishes like the aforementioned tacos as well as oysters and wonderful tuna tostada (pictured above.) However, many diners opt for her more adventurous ‘favorite servings dinner’ featuring rotating dishes like Jackfruit Tinga Tostada and Cauliflower with Mole Almendrado (i.e. almond mole).

While conveying incredible Mexican flavors, Sanchez’s food still manages to fit its Danish location.
Ending our meal, a tightly assembled Open Churro sandwich wasn’t just a beautiful Mexican dessert. Its sugary churro ring looked like a pastry baked at a fine Copenhagen bakery. The parfait, infused with mezcal, made it feel Copenexican (Is that a word? If not it should be.)
Pro Tip
For a more casual Mexican meal, head to Hija de Sanchez Cantina or Hija de Sanchez Taqueria.
Sanchez is located at Istedgade 60, 1650 København, Denmark.
Kødbyens Fiskebar

The Noma connection continues at Kødbyens Fiskebar. In this case, the connection is through co-owner Anders Selmer who was a sommelier at Noma for four years before opening Kødbyens Fiskebar in the city’s meatpacking district in 2009.
To be honest, we walked into the white-tiled restaurant expecting to make a quick stop during our final Copenhagen six-stop food blitz. With its location in Copenhagen’s meat packing district, we were expecting something more akin to a Hamburg fish stand than the fine dining restaurant which it is.

Chef Jamie Lee, a British native and Jason Atherton alum, exudes energetic enthusiasm. His kitchen produces intricate, artfully plated dishes that showcase top notch seafood found throughout the region.
Admittedly, we only ordered a couple starters, but they were excellent – a tender crudo of brill with smokey mussels and melt in your mouth Diver scallops topped with big green nasturtium leaves. We also enjoyed the restaurant’s fermented tomato bread served with a verdant dollop of seaweed butter.

When we return, we plan to dive deeper into the menu. However, we may choose to sit at the bar and indulge in Fish n`Chips and beer instead. It could go either way.
Pro Tip
Don’t follow our lead when it comes to reservations. We got lucky. Plan ahead and book a reservation to avoid dining disappointment.
Kødbyens Fiskebar is located at Flæsketorvet 100, 1711 København, Denmark.
Aamanns 1921

Common sense would indicate that Aamanns 1921 recently celebrated its 100 year anniversary. In actuality, the modern Smørrebrød-focused restaurant is a youngster with a history that only goes back to 2017.
But, yet, Aamanns 1921 isn’t the new kid on the Copenhagen restaurant block. Chef / Entrepreneur Adam Aamann opened his more casual deli in 2006. He’s since become a tv personality and has been recognized as the city’s unofficial ‘Smørrebrød king’.
Fun Fact
While Aamanns 1921 is a 21st century creation, its building does indeed date back to 1921. The chic space decorated with modern chandeliers and equally modern wood furniture has a former life as a bunker.

Eating Smørrebrøds at Aamanns 1921 is a must. The restaurant builds each open-faced sandwich with homemade rye bread and local, seasonal ingredients. Keeping with the Copenhagen food ethic, the restaurant produces its flour with a stone mill and ferments its herring for months.
During our meal, we sampled three different Smørrebrøds including one with topped with herring that had been salted for six months and then marinated in an aromatic mixture of curry and lemongrass. Oddly, it reminded us of smoked eel sushi which we adore. The other two were equally impressive – one served on brioche topped with a savory four mushroom gravy and another topped with a layer of beef tartare.

Aamann’s lunch menu, which features 11 different Smørrebrød options, also offers a la carte items like the Fiskefrikadeller (i.e. fishcakes). Those not wanting to make tough food decisions can opt for a tasting menu.
We understand if you want to save your brain power when it comes to choosing food. You’ll need it for the task of selecting among a range of homemade organic Snaps in flavors like dill, lovage and rye. We opted for rye which suprised our server (since we’re American) and delighted our tastebuds.
Pro Tip
Be sure to visit the restaurant’s restrooms so that you can sample Aamann’s line of hand soap when you wash your hands. It’s so divine that we were tempted to purchase a bottle despite is 249 kr (approximately $38 US) price tag.
Aamanns 1921 is located at Niels Hemmingsens Gade 19-21, 1153 København, Denmark.
Schønemann

Restaurant Schønnemann has served hungry Danes since 1877, but the vibe in the traditional restaurant’s forest green space feels remarkably fresh.
Maybe it’s the timeless furnishings paired with pretty chandeliers that hang over the window side tables. Or maybe it’s the welcoming servers who treated us like regulars instead of tourists. But surely it’s the food which, while traditional, features fresh ingredients served in elegant Danish style.

After the original eponymous owners guided Schønnemann’s operations, the restaurant transitioned through a number of different stewards. The historic restaurant most recently received a culinary update in 2007 but still retains its commitment to Danish cuisine.
We highly recommend this eatery for food travelers who want to sample authentic Danish food. We especially recommend ordering Stjerneskud (i.e. Meteor Shower) – a Smørrebrød topped with fried, breaded plaice and ‘showered’ with boiled shrimp, mayonnaise and a golf ball sized dollop of black danish caviar.
Pro Tip
Drink Snaps with your meal unless you rather drink beer. The restaurant’s dill snaps pairs swimmingly with Stjerneskud.
Schønemann is located at Hauser Pl. 16, 1127 København, Denmark.
Barabba

Barabba is what we would call ‘New Italian.’
The restaurant’s chef, Marco Cappelletti, draws from the best Italian food traditions but channels the spirit of food in Italy without sticking to a set script (or, in this case, set of dishes). To accomplish this feat, Cappelletti procures ingredients from the best local sources and prepares his simple Italian dishes with a splash of Danish elegance.

During our late lunch, we enjoyed two unpretentious yet tasty pasta dishes – verdant, toothsome fettuccine lightly dusted with fennel pollen and spaghetti frutti di mare in a tomato sauce with plump mussels and prawns. These dishes were bookended by a ‘cow tartare’ starter topped with a shingle of fresh sliced mushrooms and a secondi of braised pork belly with crispy skin and mushroom salad.
There aren’t any bells and whistles at at this restaurant and, to us, that’s what great Italian cuisine is all about. The team at Barabba creates dishes that showcase the great food product available in the Copenhagen region. More important, their dishes are a joy to eat.
Pro Tip
Don’t hesitate to order wine with your meal. Barabba’s natural wine list was assembled by owner Riccardo Marcon who was formerly the head sommelier at Restaurant 108 (which earned a Michelin star but closed in 2020).
Barabba is located at Store Kongensgade 34, 1264 København, Denmark.
Bæst

Like most cities around the world, pizza is plentiful in Copenhagen. However, some Copenhagen pizzerias are just a little bit better. Bæst fits into the ‘better’ category. It’s also a pizzeria with a passion for sustainability, a special oven imported from Naples and an owner (Christian Puglisi) with an auspicious pedigree.
Born in Sicily, Puglisi worked at El Bulli and Noma before opening (and later closing) internationally acclaimed Relæ. He brings all of these experiences to Bæst where he cures his own meat and makes fresh cheese daily with milk produced at his Farm of Ideas.

Although Bæst offers a la carte dishes on its menu, the shareable seven-course menu is the way to go. Priced at 345 kr (approximately $52 US) per person at the time of our meal, it’s a splurge that we nicknamed a Bæst Fæst.
Sure you could order a sourdough pizza or two and call it a night. However, that approach would leave out many of the artisan products and fresh veggies served at this farm-to-table pizzeria.

If you love pizza, patience is required when you order the Bæst tasting menu. Expect dishes like sweet yellow gazpacho, grilled endive salad and a melange of cured meats and cheeses to arrive well before the pizza makes its appearance.
Our chosen pizza was topped with house made ‘nduja and smoked mozzarella as well as spring onions and oregano. It was worth the wait. Supple and spicy, it filled us up though we somehow found room to end our meal with a few bites of house made pistachio gelato.
Pro Tip
Bæst offers a wine pairing for those who want to experience the best of the restaurant’s natural wine list.
Bæest is located at Guldbergsgade 29, 2200 København N, Denmark.
Slurp Ramen Joint

Slurp looks like a typical ramen joint as its name implies. But, as is often the case in Copenhagen, looks can be deceiving.
Despite its hip vibe and a minimalistic decor that blends Japanese and Danish elements seamlessly, Slurp takes ramen seriously. The restaurant even has a ‘tenrakai manifesto’ that involves making everything in house after sourcing top ingredients from both Denmark and Japan.
But, while Slurp takes ramen seriously, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Case in point – Slurp’s mascot is a too-cool-for-school dog named Norman that wears sunglasses at night.

Slurp’s succinct menu featured five ramens – shio, shoyu, miso, veggie and a dry version called mazesoba – at the time of our meal. We ordered bowls of shio and miso ramen plus a Korean fried chicken starter for good measure.
While the classic shio broth was a stunner thanks to ingredients like chicken, smoked sardines and seafood, the miso ramen stole the show with toppings that included oyster mushrooms and chili oil. We greedily slurped both until our bowls were empty. It’s the only thing to do at a ramen joint called Slurp.
Disclosure
With each bowl priced at 160 kr (approximately $25 US) at the time of our meal, Slurp may actually qualify as a Cheap Eats restaurant considering Copenhagen steep prices. Since we’re on the fence and really enjoyed our meal, we decided to place it here.
Slurp Ramen Joint is located at Nansensgade 90, 1366 København, Denmark.
Warpigs Brewpub

The confluence of international chefs honing their skills at restaurants like Noma and The Alchemist have had a positive impact on Copenhagen’s international food scene. This is a city where it’s easy to find competent to excellent ramen, Italian food, and burgers. While restaurants like Sanchez (see above) offer a product that’s truly special, other restaurants offer food that’s textbook competent.
Such is the case with the barbecue fare at Warpigs Brewpub, a Copenhagen barbecue joint co-owned by two breweries – 3 Floyds and Mikkeller. Not surprisingly based on its ownership, this restaurant offers a comprehensive beer selection that includes the Mikkeller Visions lager which we shared.
Warpigs doesn’t have the soul of Memphis ‘cue or the homespun charm of smoke houses in Lockhart. However, this Meatpacking District barbecue joint checks all of the requisite boxes when it comes to American barbecue.

During our meal, Warpigs’ tender brisket, made from meat imported from America, had the all-important red smoked ring with and was cooked to precision. The hushpuppies were brown and crispy though oddly reminiscent of samosas. The beans were smokey and the pimento cheese had an adequate bite.
However, we were more impressed by the BBQ joint’s sweet, anise-spiced pickles fermented with star anise, fennel seed and clove. In a town built on pickling, these spicy beauties provided a genuine flavor that tasted like Denmark.
Pro-Tip
Include Warpigs on a mini-crawl through the meatpacking district. You can start with coffee at Prolog, nibble on seafood at Kødbyens Fiskebar and finish at Warpigs with barbecue and beer.
Warpigs Brewpub is located at Flæsketorvet 25-37, 1711 København, Denmark.
Additional Copenhagen Restaurants

The above ten restaurants represent the tip of the Copenhagen restaurant iceberg. Consider one or more of the following restaurants if you can’t score a reservation at Noma or if you have the time and budget to dig deeper into the Copenhagen restaurant scene.
The above stars represent each restaurant’s current number of Michelin stars.
Copenhagen Cheap Eats

Not every meal needs to be an epic experience. Sometimes we’d much rather chow down on a hamburger than sit down for a multi-course meal. Let’s face it, chef-driven food is wonderful but it’s not appropriate for every meal.
We’re not going to lie. Finding cheap food in Copenhagen is like finding a story about Copenhagen that doesn’t feature a mermaid or hipsters. But it can be done if you define cheap in your head and multiply that number by two or three.
Read on to discover our picks for the best affordable restaurants in Copenhagen.
Gasoline Grill

Gasoline Grill’s original location inside an urban gas station could easily be a gimmick. It’s not. Its award-winning burgers are some of the best we’ve eaten outside of the United States. Anywhere. Ever.
Klaus Wittrup channeled his passion for American burgers when he opened the original Gasoline Grill in 2016 in a gas station. Though it was far from the first burger joint in Copenhagen, it was probably the first to make burgers with freshly ground meat and serve them inside potato rolls. It was definitely the first to serve them with Gasoline Sauce, a flavorful condiment that reminded us of 1000 island dressing, at a gas station.

Our first trip to the original Gasoline Grill was a bust since the burgers literally sold out while we were in the queue. (We arrived a half hour before closing. Don’t do that.) Not deterred, we returned the next day and promptly ordered a combo meal that included a burger, fries and drink for 125 kr (approximately $19).
Though we were tempted to try a hot chicken sandwich and considered opting for a butterburger made with organic butter, we stayed the course and ordered a ‘benchmark’ cheeseburger topped with melted cheddar cheese, onion, pickles and Gasoline Sauce. It was a smart move and one that we’ll likely repeat.
Pro Tip
As already stated, don’t wait until the end of the day to eat at Gasoline Grill. Each location prepares a finite number of burgers each day. As we learned the hard way, when they’re gone, they’re really gone.
Gasoline Grill has multiple Copenhagen locations. We visited the original stand located at Landgreven 10, 1300 København, Denmark.
Popl Burger

Noma and the phrase ‘cheap eats’ are rarely used in one sentence… unless that sentence also includes the words Popl and burger. Granted, we’re talking about Copenhagen, so cheap is a relative term.
Two burgers and an order of fries at the former pop-up quickly added up to 345 kr (approximately $53 US) at the time of our visit. And that’s before extras like potato salad, pickles and spicy cucumber salad. We ordered the spicy cukes anyway.

But, hey, eating at Popl Burger is a heck of a lot cheaper than eating at Noma. And, unless you’re a vegetarian, it’s hard to say “no” to dry-aged, free-range burgers served inside potato buns baked by Hart Bageri. Also, Popl glazes each burger with beef garum made in the Noma Fermentation lab which is pretty cool. Think fish sauce but made with beef.
That being said, you may want to try the vegetarian burger even if you’re not a vegetarian. It’s not every day you can eat a burger made with fermented quinoa at the aforementioned fermentation lab.
Pro Tip
Consider sitting outside or getting burgers to go if you don’t score a reservation at Popl Burger. Yes, you need reservations to dine at Noma’s burger joint.
POPL Burger is located at Strandgade 108, 1401 København, Denmark.
DØP

Hot dogs carts first appeared in Copenhagen during the early part of the 20th century. They’ve been a popular fixture ever since.
We’ve eaten tunnbrödsrulle in Sweden and pølse in Norway. It’s only logical that we would try hot dogs in Denmark. Our only decision was where to try them.
Discover more great hot dogs around the world.

Today’s Copenhagen has more than a few famous stands. We chose DØP after watching Phil Rosenthal down one of their dogs on the TV show Somebody Feed Phil. The idea that DØP serves an all-organic product with locally sourced ingredients also appealed to us. Plus, the 37 kr (approimatly $6) price tag didn’t seem too bad.
We can’t say that we were blown away by DØP. However, we can say that we enjoyed eating a Ristet Hot Dog which was neatly shingled with pickles and loaded with ketchup, mustard, remoulade and fried onions. Eating it under blue skies next to the Round Tower was an added bonus.
Pro Tip
Don’t skip DØP if you don’t eat meat. Its tofu sausage is fit for both vegetarians and vegans.
DØP has two Copenhagen locations. We ate at the stall located at Amagertorv 31, 1160 København, Denmark.
Amass Fried Chicken

Important Update – Amass has permanently closed.
Noma isn’t the only A-list Copenhagen restaurant with a more casual (i.e. less expensive) dining option. Amass, located on Refshaleøen, was the second before it closed.
Helmed by Matt Orlando, formerly a head chef at Noma, Amass Restaurant achieved global notoriety for its zero waste approach to upscale dining. With its own urban garden and greenhouse, the edgy restaurant grew many of its own ingredients and has a fried chicken side business.

Despite Amass’ stellar reputation and personal recommendations from two respected food professionals, we didn’t love Orlando’s take on fried chicken.
Not only were we turned off by the boneless preparation, but we also didn’t dig the coating which was dusted with something reminiscent of ranch dressing powder. (This was done either on purpose or by accident. We’re not sure.) The chicken reminded Daryl of something he’s eaten at a USA restaurant chain called Perkin’s. As for Mindi, she was turned off by the ranch dressing that didn’t actually taste like ranch dressing.
That being said, we have no regrets for plunking down 120 kr (approximately $18 US) for a basket of fried chicken nuggets plus another 40 kr (aproximately $6) for a beer. We got to check out one of Copenhagen’s most striking restaurants for a relatively low cost of admission. Plus, the beer was tasty.
Amass Fried Chicken was located at Refshalevej 153, 1432 København, Denmark. It has permanently closed.
Lille Bakery

Located in Refshaleøen, just one kilometer from Noma and literally around the corner from bucolic Amass, Lille Bakery is in good company. Despite its seemingly simple offerings, the little bakery holds its own on an industrial island that’s morphed into a culinary hub and hipster haven.
Starting with its cavernous, light-filled industrial space in a former shipyard apprentice school, not much is small at Lille besides its name which translates to little. This is a Copenhagen bakery where long lines and big flavors are the norm. It’s also a great spot for eating either breakfast or a light lunch.

A trio of owners first garnered attention in 2018 when they opened Lille Bakery with crowdfunding assistance via a Kickstarter campaign. The threesome learned the ropes at 108, Noma’s now-closed sister restaurant.
During our morning visit, we shared a sugary cardamom bun, a delicate sausage roll, satisfying egg toast and Daryl’s new favorite, a morning bun filled with butter and cheese. Baked with locally sourced organic ingredients, the mix of bakery and breakfast items was a winner that paired perfectly with piping hot cups of Prolog coffee.
Pro Tip
Wander around Refshaleøen after you eat breakfast at Lille Bakery. There’s a lot happening in the bakery’s up-and-coming neighborhood.
Lille Bakery is located at Refshalevej 213A, 1432 København, Denmark.
Seks Bakery & Eatery

Despite its provocative name and equally provocative goal to serve organic and orgasmic food, Seks Bakery and Eatery is a family-friendly cafe. It’s also a great spot to chill with great food or specialty coffee but preferably both.
Fun Fact
While seks is the Danish word for six which happens to be the cafe’s street number, it’s an intentional homonym for sex at this self-proclaimed ‘organic and orgasmic’ Copenhagen cafe. Without doubt, the cafe’s name is purposefully provocative and warrants a chuckle or two.
After eating their way around the world, Polish owners Jan and Monika Pawlak put their culinary passion into all aspects of their cafe’s menu including the cafe’s coffee program. Dishes like shakshuka and fatoush salad may be global but their sourdough buns are pure Denmark.

In our opinion, Seks is a great place in Copenhagen to try something new. Maybe you’ll want to order Monica’s Alaskan sourdough hotcakes made with a sourdough starter that’s 120 years old. Or maybe you’ll want to linger over an American-style Cinnamon Bun while you sip a cup of Moroccan mint tea.
Did we mention the cheesecake? Don’t forget to order the cheesecake! We tried two different flavors during two separate visits and loved them both.
Pro Tip
You can order gluten-free sourdough bread here if you follow a gluten-free diet
Seks Bakery & Eatery is located at Krystalgade 6, 1172 København, Denmark.
Grød

Porridge isn’t exactly the sexiest food in the world. The name alone evokes visions of instant oatmeal and gruel that Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist famously requested “more” of without success. Copenhagen’s Grød proves that porridge can be sexy after all.
It may sound odd to call porridge sexy but we’re not alone with our feelings. Just a decade after it opened its original porridge bar in 2011, Grød now has 10 Copenhagen locations including the one we visited at the Torvehallerne market hall.
Fun Fact
The word grød literally translates to porridge.

Grød’s menu offers an array of toppings that range from healthy fruit to decadent chocolate drops. Overwhelmed, we took the safe route by sharing a combo topped with homemade caramel sauce, fresh apple and roasted almonds. It was a good breakfast choice that didn’t break the bank with its 60 kr price tag (approximately $10 US) at the time of our visit.
Later in the day, the Gród menu expands to include savory items like risotto, congee and daal. The local chain also sells cookbooks and jars of caramel sauce, both of which would make wonderful souvenirs or gifts.
Pro Tip
Order iced coffee with caramel sauce for a match made in coffee heaven.
Grød has multiple Copenhagen locations. We ate at the shop located in the Turvehallerne food hall.
La Banchina

La Banchina isn’t just a Copenhagen restaurant.
It’s also a cafe and spa that encourages its customers to eat, dip and repeat. And by dip, we mean jump into the water regardless of the weather or temperature. And clothing is optional to boot.

During our visit, we skipped the dip. Don’t judge us – it was cold outside. Instead, we were content to sip cappuccinos crafted with beans from Copenhagen’s Nordic Roasting Company and nibble on olive-like salted young plums with an indoor view of the waterfront action.
La Banchina’s menu expands beyond cafe fare in the evening. Expect seasonal dishes featuring locally sourced vegetables and fish. Whether you take a dip or not is up to you.
Pro Tip
It’s always wine-o’clock at La Banchina where natural wine is typically the beverage of choice.
La Banchina is located at Refshalevej 141, 1432 København, Denmark.
Additional Copenhagen Cheap Eats

We understand if you want to explore more cheap eats in Copenhagen. If this is the case, we propose the following additional spots for your budget-friendly exploration:
Where to Drink In Copenhagen | Copenhagen Bars And Pubs

While most Copenhagen eateries serve alcohol, sometimes it’s more fun to mix and mingle at bars. We recommend the following Copenhagen bars for those times when you want to let your hair down while drinking beer, cocktails and wine:
Mikkeller Bar

It’s not difficult to find Mikkeller beer in Copenhagen.
The global brewer with local roots has bars and bottle shops as well as taps at restaurants that serve ramen, tacos, barbecue and Smørrebrød sandwiches. One location is in the Torvehallerne market (see below) and another is at the airport.

We could have happily imbibed Mikkeller beer at any or all of those spots. But we chose to check off this bucket list beer item at Mikkeller’s very first bar on Viktoriagade.
Clearly popular, the bar was already crowded when we arrived for pre-dinner drinks at 5:30 pm. Quickly nabbing two seats at the bar, we ordered two drinks – a boozy George! that had been barrel aged in bourbon casks for Mindi and a fruity apple cider for Daryl.
Pro Tip
Mikkeller’s original bar has 20 taps. Expand your horizons and try a beer outside your comfort zone. The risk is low but the potential reward is high.
Mikkeller has multiple locations in Copenhagen. We drank our beer at the original bar located at Viktoriagade 8 B-C, 1655 København, Denmark.
Balderdash

Located in an 18th century goldsmith house that later became an Italian restaurant, Balderdash is the opposite of its name. And, while it’s a serious bar, owner Geoffrey Canilao creates drinks with unusual components that many might consider to be a bit crazy.
Originally from the US, Canilao is more than a mad mixologist who dabbles in fermentation. He’s created a cozy, welcoming space that lives up to its logo by keeping things hygge. In fact, after we finished imbibing our cocktails, he took us on an impromptu tour and proudly introduced us to his laboratory.
Fun Fact
Merriam-Webster defines balderdash as nonsense.

Balderdash’s classic cocktails aren’t strictly traditional. The bar’s Espresso Martini recipe includes bacon salt which sounds intriguing. Since we didn’t need any additional caffeine after drinking flat whites all day, we instead ordered a Mushroom Alexander crafted with gin, mushrooms, chocolate, coconut cream and deer heart.
However, it was Balderdash’s seasonal Midnight Oil cocktail that burned its way into our hearts with ingredients like black truffle, banana, black garlic, hazelnut, vegan cream, coconut and chaga-black pepper dust. It was a tasty tipple and that’s not balderdash.
Pro Tip
Try one of Balderdash’s high-concept seasonal cocktail featuring unusual local ingredients. You can drink Gin + Tonic cocktails at home.
Balderdash is located at 1151 k, Valkendorfsgade 11, 1151 København, Denmark.
TaTa Cocktail Bar

Not your typical hotel bar, TaTa Cocktail Bar is a great spot for an intimate tête-à-tête involving crafted cocktails whether you’re staying overnight at the tony Hotel Sanders or not. Open since 2018, the bar has been recognized as the best in Denmark at the Bartenders’ Choice Awards in both 2018 and 2019. One of its bartenders, Henry Bell, has been similarly recognized as best bartender.
Named after the Royal Danish Theatre’s red velvet curtain, TaTa specializes in classic cocktails as evidenced by its menu filled with some of our favorites including the Clover Club, Mojito and Vieux Carré. The menu goes the extra step by describing each cocktail in three words and ranking its ‘boozyness’ level on a scale of one to four.

We started our visit with welcome drinks crafted with Copenhagen Distillery‘s Bay Leaf Gin and sherry. The refreshing combination tickled our tastebuds while we worked our way through the bar’s menu.
Wanting to try something new to us, we settled on the Cablegram crafted with Bulleitt rye whiskey, lime juice, simple syrup, ginger beer and a mint sprig. The menu described the cocktail as refreshing, citrus herbaceous and we agree. We also agree with its ‘boozyness’ ranking of level three.
Pro Tip
TaTa offers a curated selection of local and imported beers for those not in the mood for cocktails.
TaTa Cocktail Bar in the Hotel Sanders which is located at Tordenskjoldsgade 15, 1055 København, Denmark.
Den Vandrette

Wine is popular in Denmark despite the country’s limited viniculture production. Accordingly, wine drinkers visiting Copenhagen have several wine bars worth visiting. During our visit, we chose to drink wine at the slightly subterranean natural wine bar called Den Vandrette.
Don’t discount Den Vandrette based on its location near Nyhavn, Copenhagen’s colorful, touristic waterfront. The wine bar is a cosy spot to sip natural wine and nibble on small plates topped with items like wild mushrooms, sea buckthorn and celeriac carpaccio.

Choosing which wines to drink is a fun challenge at Den Vandrette. After ordering glasses of Burgundian Chardonnay and Emilian orange wine produced with Albana grapes, we kept things simple with a side of fresh cheese and sourdough bread. And by simple, we mean delicious.
Pro Tip
Although Den Vandrette literally translates to The Horizontal, we recommend that you remain vertical at this wine bar.
Den Vandrette is located at Havnegade 53A, 1058 København, Denmark.
BRUS

Brus has a lot going on. It’s a craft brewery that’s also a craft brewpub and a restaurant as well as a bottle shop. It’s also extremely popular as evidenced by the throngs of locals crowding the bar during our visit.
Located in Nørrebro next to Bæst (see above), Brus is a destination for many. For us, it was where we stopped for a pre-dinner drink before eating pizza. Choosing from 30 or so options once we squeezed our way to the bar, we ordered wild fermented organic Frankofil cider crafted by Æblerov. Since the bar was crazy crowded, we drank the funky cider outside.
Pro Tip
Go on a weeknight or arrive early to enjoy Brus’ hip industrial space filled with fermentation tanks and oak barrels. Otherwise, the space will also be filled with people.
BRUS is located at Guldbergsgade 29, 2200 København, Denmark.
Additional Copenhagen Bars

Which Copenhagen bar will be your favorite? The only way to find out is to do a proper bar crawl and try them all. Be sure to add the following watering holes to your Copenhagen drinking list:
Where To Shop In Copenhagen | Copenhagen Markets And Shops

Shopping for food in Copenhagen is fun due to the city’s stylish markets and the city’s commitment to sustainability. This commitment translates to local, seasonal products that typically cost less than food at Copenhagen restaurants.
It’s also fun to shop at food-related shops, especially those which sell ceramic plates and serving pieces. Buying is a different matter. Did you catch that everything in Copenhagen is expensive?
Whether you’re shopping or buying or both, don’t miss the following Copenhagen markets and shops:
Torvehallerne

Copenhagen staked a claim in the contest for best modern food hall when Torvehallerne opened in 2011. Centrally located near the Nørreport metro station, this food hall is a popular destination for locals and visiting foodies who want to taste the best of Copenhagen without breaking the bank.

At first glance, the market’s two buildings designed by Hans Hagens are a show stopper. However, the stands and stalls inside are the reason to visit Torvehallerne for breakfast or dinner or any time in between.
Besides food that runs the gamut from fresh oysters to sweet treats, the market also has an array of potential edible souvenirs including Summerbird chocolate treats and bottles of Mikkeller craft beer.
7-Eleven

You might be surprised to find 7-Eleven in this guide but trust us when we say that you’ll be happy for the convenience store’s presence in Copenhagen. You may even say “oh thank heaven” a time or two.
More than just a spot for a quick coffee or slurpee, these convenience stores sell a variety of baked goods, savory sandwiches and hot dogs. While not the best in town, the food at 7-Eleven is relatively cheap and surprisingly decent.
Pro Tip
Stock up on candies like salty black licorice and Danish chocolate to enjoy once you’re home.
7-Eleven has multiple locations in Copenhagen. We frequented several during our visit.
Royal Copenhagen Flagship Store

The china at the Royal Copenhagen flagship store in Copenhagen is neither hip nor trendy. And why should it be? The company has a history that dates back to 1775 when it started operating as a purveyor to her majesty the queen of Denmark.
Still, there’s something fun about browsing through the multi-floor store filled with porcelain pieces that span the centuries. We particularly enjoyed the walls filled with limited edition Christmas plates – one for each year going back more than a century.
Pro Tip
While most Royal Copenhagen pieces are dishwasher safe, this is not the case in regards to microwaves. Be sure to read the label whether you purchase china in the Royal Copenhagen’s flagship store or online.
The Royal Copenhagen flagship store is located at Amagertorv 6, 1160 København, Denmark.
Tasja P. Ceramics

The ceramics at Tasja P. Ceramics couldn’t be more different from those sold by Royal Copenhagen. For starters, artisan Tasja Pulawska crafts each piece by hand in Copenhagen whereas the bigger company outsources much of its production to Thailand. Then there’s her style which is more earthy and less formal.
Born in Poland and formerly a graphic designer, Pulawska apprenticed with potter Eric Landon before opening her own Copenhagen studio in 2016. It’s a happy place filled with vases, cups, bowls, jars and teapots. We bought two pieces during our visit and were tempted to purchase more.
Pro Tip
Contact the artist directly if you don’t find what you want on her website.
Tasja P. Ceramics is located at Mimersgade 21, 2200 København, Denmark.
Studio Arhoj

Colors explode and cultures collide at Studio Arhoj in central Copenhagen. In our opinion, both are a good thing.
After a stint in Tokyo, potter Anders Arhoj combines Danish and Japanese aesthetics in his pottery pieces. Some are classic while others are whimsical. The only way to see which you prefer is to peruse the artist’s vast selection in his Copenhagen store or online.
Pro Tip
If you see something you like, buy it in the shop and carry it home. Shipping is possible but pricey.
Studio Arhoj is located at Skindergade 7, st, 1159 København, Denmark.
Additional Markets And Shops

Those who like to shop til they drop will want to add the following additional spots to their Copenhagen itinerary:
Copenhagen Restaurant FAQs
Many Copenhagen restaurants serve new Nordic cuisine and traditional Danish food. However, it’s also possible to find global food in Denmark’s food-forward capital city.
Yes. Copenhagen restaurants are expensive compared to restaurants in other European capital cities.
No. Tipping is optional in Denmark.
Anthony Bourdain focused his Copenhagen visit at Noma while filming the second season of Parts Unknown.
Phil Rosenthal visited Aamann’s Deli, Amass (permanently closed), Balderdash, DØP, Gasoline Grill, Hija de Sanchez, Kødbyens Fiskebar, Noma, Petersens Pølser, Restaurant Barr and Tivoli Gardens while filming the second season of Somebody Feed Phil.
People typically eat dinner between 7pm and 9pm in Copenhagen.
Yes. Reservations are necessary at most restaurant in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen currently has 15 Michelin-starred restaurants. These restaurants include two three-starred restaurants (Geranium and Noma), five two-starred restaurants (a | o | c, Alchemist, Jordnær, Kadeau and Kong Hans Kælder) and eight one-starred restaurants (Alouette, formel B, Jatak, Kiin Kiin, Kokkeriet, Marchal, The Samuel and Søllerød Kro).

Hungry For more In Copenhagen?
Check out our guides to the city’s food favorites, bakeries and specialty coffee shops.
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About The Authors
Daryl & Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on their website 2foodtrippers. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers a unique taste of the world.
Disclosures
Article Updates
We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.
Funding
We self-funded our trip to Copenhagen.
Original Publication Date: February 5, 2022
FRIDA VAN BREMEN
Tuesday 7th of February 2023
BESSSSST FOOD GUIDE EVER, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE DETAILS amazing really!!! No words, will use it a lot :)
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Wednesday 8th of February 2023
Thank you and enjoy your trip! Copenhagen is a beautiful city.
Jonas
Thursday 4th of August 2022
A rental car for Copenhagen? ;-)
As a Copenhagen native I have to say - excellent guide. I would even suggest this to Danes coming to Copenhagen for a holiday. But don't rent a car, rent a bike/e-bike or use the excellent and safe public transportation. The car will get you stuck in traffic and you will use all your money on parking, if you can even find a spot.
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Friday 5th of August 2022
Thanks for your feedback. We include the rental car link for travelers who may want to explore the surrounding area. As for us, we traversed Copenhagen by food, bus and metro.