COPENHAGEN: a city guide
Copenhagen, my love! A very dear place I used to call home for a number of years hence, the extensive list featuring many of my favourites!
Let me start by saying that I’m not really a coffee person, and places like Lousiana and Juno must be on your go-to list already. So rather than sharing places that quick google search will do, I want to share Copenhagen - my way.
Places I lived, loved and always enjoy returning to. Below is a selection from my insider city guide.
FOOD:
From breakfast to lunch, these two seamlessly blend together since most places cater as all day eateries til late afternoon hours.
Apollo - for literally everything from breakfast, lunch, coffee or afternoon pick-me-up. Even wine! Its location within the courtyard of Kunsthal Charlottenborg makes it for great outdoor spot right in the city.
Apotek 57 - eatery ideal for design and pastry enthusiasts.
Grød - a must for all the oatmeal lovers! Try their signature combo of salted caramel-fresh apple-almonds or invent your own. You will always find one seasonal dish as well some juices, hot drinks and savoury bowl food like risotto or dal.
Lille - located just slightly off the city centre, this seasonal eatery is solely supplied by local farmers. They also run bakery workshops and variety of events too.
Lille Petra - perfect for breakfast, lunch or just a coffee in their inner courtyard garden.
Original Coffee (at Illum) - part of local chain, this cafe is very dear to me and offers fantastic views from their rooftop. Big plus is also their opening hours until 8pm every day.
La Banchina - idyllic place by the water, great for breakfast or late summer dips with some wine. There is also a sauna and Fridays open for dinner too.
Raw 42 - as the name suggests, many healthy options including raw meals right in the inner city,
Sonny - all day cafe serving organic and seasonal dishes, along their very own microbakery.
BAKERIES:
Special mention goes to pastry treats as the city has one of the most innovative approaches to baking.
Andersen & Maillard - are you looking for a cube-shaped croissant? Look no further.
Andersen Bakery - try their apple pie before or after a stroll around Islands Brygge.
Bodenhoffs Bageri Christianshavn - a default place for a buttered sourdough bun with Comté!
Buka - a place for flakiest croissants and other buttery goods.
Brød - great for many things, but their hazelnut croissant is my go-to here.
Hart Bageri - with a few locations around the town, a good pastry is always just a short walk away.
Meyers Bageri - for organic sourdough and sinful cinnamon swirls.
Rug - if you need a pastry boost before your commute from Central Station.
Skipper Bageri - eat in or take out, this is a great meeting point when in Østerbro.
WINE
Bar’Somm - a cosy, hidden gem with great wine and food too.
Noorbo Handelen (at Torvehallerne) - for the best-mulled wine (gløgg) in town.
Pompette - small and cozy just as Copenhageners like it! Great for natural wines.
Vinoria Lilo - a great place in the inner city for wine, appetisers and seasonal menu.
Vinbaren Vesterbro Torv - aka your new corner shop with an extensive worldwide selection of wines.
VinVeto (at Torvehallerne) - all-time favourite at my favourite market!
DINNER
Ark - plant-based fine dining with the first Green Michelin Star in the Nordics.
Bæst - if you’re as fond of sustainability and highest quality organic produce as me, you’ll love this place!
Cleo - quite a newbie and quite a cool place! Very casual and always with great music.
Delphine - as I lived in both Greece and Italy, this place always hits the spots. Expect an airy, casual set-up with a modern twist on both cuisines.
Høst - a new-scandi cuisine with set menus always according to seasonality with wonderful juice pairings!
Les Trois Cochons - just the right amount of French bistro in town for when you need a bit of French l’amour in your life.
Osteria 16 (the one at Haderslevgade 16) - low key and always pleasantly crowded, this place offers only a fixed selection of appetisers and a great wine selection.
MARKETS
Torvehallerne KBH - my most favourite place! Located in the heart of the city where you can find everything from bakeries, hot oatmeals, and smørrebrød (open sandwich), as well as wine stops and a big selection of gourmet groceries. Oh, and the outdoor flower & veggie market is just gorgeous all year round!
Reffen - slightly different vibe than above, this serves as a big outdoor hut with a lot of cuisines to choose from. It’s best on a good weather day and it’s nice to cycle there too. Especially during summer is it very lively with many outdoor parties, skating and swimming in the canal.
WALKS TO TAKE & AREAS TO EXPLORE
If not exploring by bike, then foot is it! Given the city is so flat, it will make your walking pleasantly easy and enjoyable.
Haveselskabets Have - a quiet garden which is in fact a free public park! Picturesque, great for picnics and even summer sunbathing. It also connects with Frederiksberg Gardens and makes for a great loop to walk or run too.
Ovegarden Oven Vandet - just a street really but so stunning! Leading to/from Nyhavn, here you will find typical Danish houses facing the canal with cobbled pavements. My favourite stroll!
Assistens Kirkegård - it is a cemetery but very popular place for walks, meet-ups or just to pass through. It featured H. Andersen memorial too.
Jægersborggade - from dodgy to hip, this street in the Nørrebro neighbourhood now makes for one of the buzzing areas with its many cafes, independent shops, eateries and pretty buildings, of course.
Meatpacking District - lively area for a night out with many options to eat and drink.
Stroll around The Lakes - those five connected lakes in the very heart of the city.
Botanical Gardens - forever favourite! It is great for botany nerds seeking a nature fix in the capital with over 13,000 plant species.
Kastellet - a fortress open to the public to walk around which resembles a star from the above.
Østebro, Vestebro and Frederiksberg are all great neighbourhoods to wander around and blend into the local lifestyle.
For a nice panoramic view, visit a tower at Church of Our Saviour.
4x MUST-DO THINGS WHEN VISITING COPENHAGEN
Rent that bike!
Go for a cardamon bun to Juno (yes, you really want to try this!)
Stroll around Nyhavn and towards Ovegarden Oven Vandet by the water.
If summer, go for a late night dip. If winter, go for a gløgg at Torvehallerne.
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