iStock International

Copenhagen: Restaurants

Thanks to a band of adventurous young chefs who share a determination to boost the appreciation of Nordic cuisine, Copenhagen has the best restaurant scene in Scandinavia. Suddenly, foods once considered humble – berries, salt cod, barley – are starring on the best menus in the city. At the other end of the culinary scale, there are also many charming cafés that are perfect for a break from shopping and sightseeing. Do note that dining out is pricey. What seems moderate to Danes may seem expensive to visitors, and the best restaurants in town – places like Noma and Formel B – will sorely bruise your credit card.

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A.C. Perch's Tea Shop
For a restorative afternoon tea with cakes, sandwiches, and scones, go to the elegant little tearoom upstairs above...
tea

Café Europa
In the center of town, just opposite the Georg Jensen and Royal Copenhagen stores, this bustling café is a great...
continental

Café Glyptoteket
Every day this enchanting café in the Glyptoteket’s Winter Garden serves at least seven different types of...
family | great value | dessert

Café Victor
This classic, Paris-style bistro in the city center is perfect for lunch when you need a break from shopping. You’ll...
french

Café Zirup
Zirup is a good place to head for weekend brunch (served from 10am), especially on summer mornings when you can sit outside....
open late | patio | breakfast | brunch

Norrebro Bryghus
Don’t miss the surprisingly delicious raspberry beer and pub grub at this outstanding microbrewery whose founder was...
brewpub

Nyhavns Faergekro
This restaurant located on Nyhavn, a street that’s famous for its canal-side bars, is known for serving an excellent...
seafood | buffet

Custom House
Three restaurants in one — sushi bar, Italian restaurant, and American bar & grill — all housed in a converted...
trendy | italian | japanese | american

Formel B
Dishes at Rune Jochumsen and Kristian Møller’s wildly inventive gourmet restaurant range from turbot with...
reservations | nordic

Koriander
Unusual for Scandinavia, this gourmet Indian restaurant is housed in a gleaming-white, futuristic space – a sort of...
trendy | indian

Noma
Rene Redzepi’s food at Noma takes Nordic cuisine to dazzling heights. Dinner could begin with langoustines from the...
smart splurge | trendy | reservations | nordic

The 'polsevogne'
Eating cheaply in Copenhagen is far from easy, but for a late-night snack, maybe after visiting a bar, do like the locals and...
street food

Zirup
This laid-back sidewalk café is popular with locals recovering from a night out at the clubs. Start the weekend with...
trendy | continental