Heading to Denmark, I knew the food scene in Copenhagen was good, but I didn’t expect it to be so great.

Before my late summer trip to Copenhagen, I read the Danes have achieved a quality and vibrancy of life that’s often missing in America. Colorful houses, cobblestone streets, wonderful people, and Scandinavian functionalism at every turn. If you haven’t been to Copenhagen, please go.

And, while you’re there, these places are my favorites for coffee, eats and drinks.

WHERE TO GET COFFEE

Strong roasteries and beautiful, Danish interiors set the stage for the perfect cup of coffee.

The Coffee Collective: A must visit, for sure. Wildly delicious coffee
The Living Room: The literal definition of hygge
Democratic Coffee Bar: Order an almond croissant and a flat white, you’ll thank me
Kent Kaffe Laboratorium: They do all the brewing methods here. We popped in for an on-the-go espresso, but this would be a great place to linger for a bit as well
Mirabelle: Cozy bakery with great coffee

WHERE TO EAT

This was sooo tough to narrow down to just a couple recommendations, so I’m giving a few bonus ones. 🙂

Mother: Awesome sourdough-crust pizzas, and plenty of seating, indoors and outdoors
Baest: Fantastic pizza, the dough is next level. This place also turns out a mean negroni, and I mean, what could be better than excellent pizza and a good drink?
Osterberg: Delicious ice cream. You may be thinking, ‘ice cream in Denmark, really?’, but trust me- this place is not to be missed
Kodbyens Fiskebar: All of the seafood we tried was great, but the Danish oysters are a must order
Host: Affordable fine Nordic food (read: set menu) with a focus on raw materials. Phenom Danish cheeses
Grod: Do the build your own porridge, I don’t know how they make something so simple so good, but it’s excellent. Big fan of the apple + raspberry + dulce de leche combination
Meyers Bageri: Y’all know I love my pastries. Ended up here three times, the kanelsnurrer were that good

And, two food hall recommendations with something for everyone:

Papiroen: Located on Paper Island, near Nyhavn, this street food market sells everything from Danish hot dogs to Mexican tacos to Belgian frites to cheesecake and mojitos. The best part? You can enjoy meals from around the world while supporting local traders.

Torvehallerne: A food hall like Papiroen, but located in the middle of city center. There are two main halls, as well as an outdoor farmer’s market. The tacos at Hija de Sanchez were killer.

Some may say I should have mentioned Atelier September, but I can’t because I don’t like/eat avocado, and therefore, can’t vouch for how incredible their avo toast is rumored to be. Also, I had the extreme fortune of dining at Noma on my trip, but chose not to include it here because it’s closing at the end of February, and I recognize Noma isn’t a reality for the majority, which makes it more of a once-in-a-lifetime experience than recommendation for somewhere to eat in my book.

WHERE TO HAVE A DRINK

Ruby: Hidden behind an unmaked door, Ruby has everything you want in a cocktail bar. Walking in feels like you’re discovering a secret, and whether you sit in the cozy library, on the bright terrace, or on a window ledge next to a candelabra, you know you’re in a special place. The staff really knows their stuff too- you don’t become known as the best cocktail bar in Copenhagen for nothing

Salon 39: Truly unique cocktails here, I had a martini with eucalyptus vodka- equal parts weird and enjoyable

Mikkeller Bar: Huge craft beer selection. Normally not a “beer drinker”, it was on this trip I learned I actually do like beer, if it’s good beer. The Airbnb I stayed in was right around the corner from this gem, so most nights ended here with a pint or two

Curfew: Seriously good cocktails and lovely bartenders, imagine my delight when I learned this place was also around the corner from my Airbnb. I’ll most definitely come back on a return visit to Copenhagen

Lidkoeb: One of the hottest cocktail bars in the city, the drinks here are expertly mixed. If you’re here on a warm night, enjoy your drink in the outside space

If you’ve been to Copenhagen, where were your favorite places to eat or enjoy a drink? 

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