Are you dining alone in Copenhagen? If you’re traveling on your own and wondering which restaurants are most friendly to solo diners, we’ve got you. We know it can be tough navigating an unfamiliar food scene, and we also know that not all restaurants welcome single guests. (We’ve been there!) But have no fear, we’ve compiled a list of the very best places in town that happily accept a party of one – or, as we like to call it, a party of fun! Keep reading to see a list of the best restaurants for eating on your own in Copenhagen – all the best chef’s counter and bar seats in the city for the adventurous solo traveler, whether you’re looking to walk in somewhere for a quick bite, or plan ahead and book a fine dining meal.
Alternatively, if you’re alone in Copenhagen and looking for company, join our food club, The Hungries. We have a community with hundreds of passionate foodies spread out around the world – and a lot of them are based here in Copenhagen! There’s always a Hungry ready and willing to meet you for a meal, or even join a reservation you’ve booked for more people than you can fill. We even have a dedicated reservations chat on our forum just for this purpose. Join the club today!
Looking for more great spots for food and drinks in Copenhagen? Check out our city map of Copenhagen!
Walk-In Only
Seks
Seks is a café with an ever-changing menu, inspired by the world travels of Monika and Jan Pawlak. Travel with your tastebuds to Alaska for the sourdough hot cake, to Thailand for the curries, and even to Mexico for the mole. A must-order on the menu is the sourdough bun with gzik (Polish fresh cheese mixed with cream), radishes, and chives. And don’t leave without trying a slice of Monika’s cheesecake! The cozy, eclectic vibe of the interior at Seks makes it feel like Copenhagen’s living room, and the large communal table is a great place to grab breakfast or lunch as a solo diner. You might walk in alone, but, chances are, you’ll walk out with at least a few new friends – other world travelers who also sought refuge in this cozy café.
SEKS Address & Contact Information Krystalgade 6, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram
Slurp Ramen
Like a true Japanese ramen bar, Slurp Ramen is strictly walk-in only, which makes it a perfect place for a solo diner. Everything is made in-house and from scratch – Slurp is dedicated to making their own noodles and broths, as authentically as possible, but with locally sourced ingredients. Choose from shio, shoyu, veggie, or miso (our favorite!), and maybe order some Korean fried chicken or gyoza on the side. Be warned: there might be a line outside when you arrive, but it moves quickly – you’ll be slurping in no time.
SLURP RAMEN Address & Contact Information Peder Skrams Gade 15, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
Omegn og Venner
Omegn og Venner is where you want to be eating if you’re hungry while shopping in Torvehallerne (Copenhagen’s biggest market). It’s half market stall, half counter restaurant – there are no reservations and just a few stools to saddle up on for a bite and a glass. The menu changes frequently, but always features decadent comfort food like chicken liver parfait alongside daily pasta specials. Omegn og Venner is perfect for lunch, or an early dinner – they close when the market closes, at 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. each night.
OMEGN OG VENNER Address & Contact Information Rømersgade 18, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
Silberbauers Bistro
Silberbauers Bistro is a slice of the south of France on the charming cobbled street of Jægersborggade, in the former venue of the iconic restaurant Manfreds. This simple French bistro is one of our go-to restaurants in Copenhagen, especially if we are looking for excellent seafood, fun wines, and indulgent desserts. The counter is reserved for walk-ins, so if you drop in as a party of one you’ll probably get a seat. If you don’t want to take your chances, you can make a reservation for one online and ask for the counter when you arrive. No matter where you’re seated, you’re guaranteed to have friendly service and a delicious meal.
SILBERBAUERS BISTRO Address & Contact Information Jægersborggade 40, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
Mid-Range & Bookable
Propaganda
Propaganda is a no frills, casual Korean restaurant and bottle shop from the team behind Barabba. The menu is pure comfort food, with dishes that pack some heat. Our favorites are the Korean fried chicken, kimchi and pork mandu (dumplings), and the galbi rice with pork neck and a cured egg yolk. If you’re thirsty, there’s both natural wine and Korean-inspired cocktails to choose from. Single diners can easily book a seat at the bar online.
PROPAGANDA Address & Contact Information Vester Farimagsgade 2, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
Barabba
Contemporary Italian restaurant Barabba is one of our favorite hangouts in Copenhagen. Head chef Marco Cappelletti’s pastas are some of the most sinful in town, loaded with buttery sauces, and often topped with generous amounts of truffles or caviar. Barabba also has one of the best natural wine cellars in town (and that’s saying a lot considering Copenhagen just might be the natural wine capital of the world). This is one of the few places that’s open late (even on Sundays), and it’s a great place to dine alone as well. Let sommelier and host Riccardo Marcon take care of you, but, be warned – you might drink a lot of grappa. If you’d like to sit at the bar, just make a note when you book for one.
BARABBA Address & Contact Information Store Kongensgade 34, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
Iluka
The name Iluka means “by the sea” in Australian, and that’s exactly the feeling you get when dining at chef Beau Clugston’s sustainable seafood bistro. Clugston comes from a small fishing village in Australia, and worked at Noma for ten years. Now, he works with local fishermen to showcase the absolute best of Scandinavian seafood, from Danish crayfish to Faroese shellfish to Norwegian scallops. To drink, enjoy delicious natural wines and the world’s best limoncello – and do so at the bar seats, which are easily bookable on Iluka’s website.
ILUKA Address & Contact Information Peder Skrams Gade 15, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
Esmée
Chef Andreas Bagh’s Kongens Nytorv hotspot Esmée is a place to see and be seen in Copenhagen. This iconic venue (that once housed restaurant Geist) is known for turning into a bit of a club scene when it gets later in the evening. The cocktail bar section at the back is walk-in only (and a great option if you’re just looking for a drink and a bite), but if you want a full meal, you can book the counter by the open kitchen as a party of one. The menu is à la carte; we highly recommend the truffle gougeres, the jamón ibérico and gruyere toast, and a soft serve sundae.
ESMÉE Address & Contact Information Kongens Nytorv 8, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
Goldfinch
Next door to Esmée is newcomer Goldfinch, a casual Chinese restaurant from chef Will King-Smith. Smith was previously the head chef of Geranium before opening Will at the Bridge at the street food market Broens Gadekøkken. At Goldfinch, he has expanded his offerings to include a wide range of dumplings, noodles, and traditional Cantonese dishes. For single diners craving Chinese food in Copenhagen, you’re in luck: parties of one can book a seat at the kitchen bar online. Some seats are also kept open for walk-ins.
GOLDFINCH Address & Contact Information Kongens Nytorv 8, st. tv., Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram
Polly
Polly is your one-stop shop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner satisfaction in Frederiksberg. In the daytime, we love sitting outside in the sun (if the weather allows) and enjoying one of the best brunches in town, but the restaurant is open from morning until night serving food all day long. Solo diners looking for dinner and a show can book a stool at the “spisebar” (the eating bar) and pick either the four-course set menu or go for seasonal à la carte options.
POLLY Address & Contact Information Gl. Kongevej 96, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
kōnā
Craving simple comfort food? The fried chicken counter at kōnā in Carlsberg Byen is a great option for a casual, yet finger-lickin’ good food. Book a seat online at the gorgeous U-shaped counter, and choose from fried chicken wings, thighs, drumsticks, and sandos alongside fresh sides like kimchi, pickles, and salads. You can also book a seat at the bar in kōnā’s izakaya section upstairs, and enjoy Japanese small plates alongside sake, natural wine, and cocktails. Choose your own adventure!
KŌNĀ Address & Contact Information Bag Elefanterne 15, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram
Møntergade
Møntergade is one of our absolute favorite restaurants to indulge in Danish classics. At lunch, choose from a wide selection of smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches) – the rødspætte (fried plaice) and roast beef are our favorites. At dinner the menu has more traditional fare, from appetizers to mains to desserts. For lunch or dinner, it’s possible to book a table for one online – you can specify in a comment if you’d like to sit at the counter, or if you’d prefer a table.
MØNTERGADE Address & Contact Information Møntergade 19, Indre By, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
Donda
Christianshavn gem Donda serves some of the best Latin American food in the city. Both a set menu and à la carte options are both available, including dishes like Peruvian ceviche, tuna tiradito with truffle oil, a chanterelle quesadilla, and family-style pork cochinita tacos with house-made flour tortillas. To drink, there is both natural wine and fresh house-made cocktails (margaritas, palomas, pisco sours, etc.). Parties of one are happily welcomed to book a seat online, and if you’d like to sit at the counter just say so in a comment!
DONDA Address & Contact Information Strandgade 20, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
Fine Dining – Book in Advance
Sushi Anaba
With only eight counter seats, Sushi Anaba is one of the hardest-to-snag reservations in Copenhagen, but if you can snag one it’s totally worth it. Not only is it the best sushi we’ve had in Scandinavia, but it’s also the best omakase we’ve had in our entire life. Chef Mads Battefeld trained in Tokyo before opening his own sushi restaurant in Nordhavn. The omakase primarily features sustainable seafood from Denmark and Norway. Go, solo diners, go!
SUSHI ANABA Address & Contact Information Sandkaj 39, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
JATAK
One of Denmark’s newest Michelin stars is JATAK, a Cantonese-inspired fine dining restaurant from Jonathan Tam (the former head chef of Relæ). The name stems from the most common reply from a cook to a head chef in Nordic kitchens, “Ja, tak!” (meaning, “Yes, thank you!” or “Yes, chef!”). The flavor profile is very New Nordic and leans heavily on Scandinavian seafood. The tasting menu changes constantly, on our visit we enjohyed a youtiao with Norwegian uni, Danish pork neck and pork belly “char siu” style, lap cheong (Chinese sausage), and an egg tart with poppyseed and black tea glaze for dessert. Solo diners can book a seat at the kitchen counter online. Added bonus: the extended tasting menu is exclusively available at the counter!
JATAK Address & Contact Information Rantzausgade 39, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram
Studio
Restaurant Studio (which previously was located inside The Standard building) has moved premises to the historic neighborhood of Carlsberg Byen, on the old brewery grounds. The ambitions are high: chef Christoffer Sørensen and his team hope to reclaim the Michelin star that Studio received back in 2014 when Torsten Vildgaard was head chef. Solo diners can book a seat at Studio’s kitchen bar online on the website.
STUDIO Address & Contact Information Paulas Passage 5, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram
Alouette
A long-time Copenhagen favorite of ours is Alouette. The seats at this saucy Michelin-starred restaurant fill up quickly, but did you know there are two chef’s counter seats that are not bookable online? That’s right, these seats in the kitchen are exclusively bookable for members of our food club, The Hungries! Join the club to snag one of these seats and embark on a truly one-of-a-kind restaurant experience. Trust us, Alouette will put the fun in your party of one.
ALOUETTE Address & Contact Information Sturlasgade 14, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
Where are your favorite places to dine alone in Copenhagen? Let us know in a comment below.
Thanks for this restaurant Guide. So many great options in Copenhagen!
how do you book the chef’s counter seats at alouette?
Hi, Emily. They can only be booked by VIP members of our food community, The Hungries, but anyone can join our club! You can read more about The Hungries here.
Thanks Anders! I found it on discord!!
I’m coming to Copenhagen solo and while I already expected it to be a perfect place for solo dining, this is a very highly appreciated list!
I’ve booked:
Silberbauer’s
Anarki
Jatak
Alouette
Det Lille Apotek
Aamans 1921
Møntergade
…does this sound good? I figured I’d leave lunch open a few days and go to Torvehellarne and Carlsberg Byen.
Are Jordnaer or Kadeau absolutely must try’s??
Hi, Bill. Most of those places are indeed recommended by us on our Copenhagen map. You should join The Hungries before your trip! We can give you personalized tips and recommendations, and you can get even more advice from hundreds of local foodies who are part of the club. Members share reservations they can’t use themselves, so we often have hard-to-book tables available (Noma, Alchemist, Geranium, etc.), or even spare seats at other member’s tables, in case you want to meet up and dine with someone else during your trip. If you choose the VIP membership, we also have cool perks at restaurants (plus select hotels and shops).