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Carlsberg Byen, located right between Vesterbro, Valby, and Frederiksberg, is one of our favorite neighborhoods in Copenhagen. This area has an incredible history, which is evident in its unique and compelling architecture – passing through the iconic elephant gate feels like stepping into another world. Old meets new in Carlsberg Byen; this area is the former site of the Carlsberg brewery, and most of these buildings were built in the 1800s and were used for the beer production. Now, many of the historic structures have been preserved and renovated into modern apartments and concepts, like the Hotel Ottilia and the AIRE baths and spa. This area also boasts some of the city’s best new restaurants.
This beautiful neighborhood was previously closed off to the public, but now that the brewery has moved, they have opened up the space and revitalized it. It’s a very active area, filled with apartment buildings, offices, fitness centers, schools, shops, a hotel, a spa, and, of course, lots of restaurants. Carlsberg Byen curates and carefully selects high-quality concepts to come into the neighborhood, championing independent artisans and passionate craftsmen. It’s a diverse and international part of town, and the restaurants here reflect that. You’ll find our favorite burger in Copenhagen at Gasoline Grill, Japanese izakaya and omakase at kōnā, lobster rolls and fish and chips at Hooked, beer and bar food at Carl’s Øl og Spisebar, sourdough pizza at Surt, and a new bakery and brunch spot, Cadence.
The area won’t be finished for a couple more years, but it’s amazing to watch the neighborhood develop. Every time we come back it feels like a new restaurant has opened. Keep reading to see our full guide to Carlsberg Byen!
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The Best Restaurants in Carlsberg Byen
Surt
Pizzaiolo Giuseppe Oliva opened restaurant Bæst with Christian Puglisi in 2013, where he helped develop the pizza recipe. In 2019, he branched out to open his own restaurant. Now, Surt is one of Copenhagen’s best pizzerias. “Surt” is the Danish word for “sour” – all of the dough here is handmade daily from a sourdough starter, and the fluffy, crispy crust is unlike anything we’ve tried before. The sourdough is extremely thin, and has a nice crispy structure while still having a soft and bouncy texture. These extremely thin pies are topped with seasonal toppings from local, small-scale farmers, such as leeks, mushrooms, and herbs. For lunch, Surt serves a “Sur Pie”; the dough for this pie is fermented twice as long (so it has more of a sour flavor), and it’s cooked in a pan directly on the burning embers of the fire.
SURT Address & Contact Information Bag Elefanterne 2, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
kōnā
Philipp Inreiter, the chef from Slurp (our favorite ramen shop in Copenhagen), opened a new restaurant in Carlsberg Byen at the end of 2020. kōnā (translated: corner) is a Japanese eatery with an izakaya, a cocktail bar, and an omakase bar. Order katsu sandos, fried chicken karaage, and yakitori upstairs in the izakaya, or head downstairs to try the chef’s curated tasting menu. Jessica Natali (formerly of Noma and Inua in Tokyo) is the head chef of the omakase counter; her menu highlights local Danish seafood and seasonal vegetables – no meat is served downstairs. To drink, enjoy yuzu lemonade, Japanese highballs, or Austrian natural wines.
KŌNĀ Address & Contact Information Bag Elefanterne 15, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram
Gasoline Grill
One of the newest locations of our favorite burger chain, Gasoline Grill, is in Carlsberg Byen. Located on the large open square in Bryggernes Plads (translated: the brewers’ place), this is Gasoline’s biggest venue, with bar stools and a U-shaped counter for eating inside, and picnic tables and foosball outside. In addition to serving our favorite cheeseburger in Copenhagen, Gasoline Grill’s menu also includes a delicious hot fried chicken sandwich (the newest addition), crinkle cut fries, milkshakes, and beers. All of their ingredients are organic and locally sourced. In the morning, you can swing by for a croissant and a cup of Prolog Coffee.
GASOLINE GRILL Address & Contact Information Bryggernes Plads 1, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
Cadence
Cadence is a bakery and café with Aussie-inspired brunch dishes from the people behind The Sixteen Twelve (a coffee shop and eatery on Jægersborggade). Grab loaves of bread, pastries, cookies, or lattes to-go, or sit down for reinvented brunch classics like smashed avocado toast, sweet potato hotcakes, and grilled polenta. In the evening, you can find house-made kombucha and natural wine alongside small shared plates from head chef Cannelle Deslandes.
CADENCE Address & Contact Information Ny Carlsberg Vej 40, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram
Carl’s Øl og Spisebar
The neighborhood that was once a brewery would be incomplete without a proper beer bar! Carl’s Øl og Spisebar is appropriately located inside a converted malt silo, where grains used to be stored for Carlsberg’s beer production. You can drop in for a beer and a snack if you’re looking for a quick bite, or you can try some of the bigger dishes if you’re looking for a full dinner. Carl’s also serves a smørrebrød lunch, and brunch on the weekends. The bar has twenty beers on tap (including a special sour beer made with leftover sourdough from Surt), and lots more by the bottle.
CARL'S ØL OG SPISEBAR Address & Contact Information Bag Elefanterne 20, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
Hooked
The third and biggest location of popular fish eatery, Hooked, is located in Carlsberg Byen. They serve lobster rolls, fish and chips, poké bowls, fried fish sandwiches, mac and cheese balls, and more. To drink, enjoy taptails (cocktails on tap), beer from To Øl and Brus, or wine.
HOOKED Address & Contact Information Thorvald Bindesbølls Pl. 36, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
This is just the beginning for Carlsberg Byen! Stay tuned to our rumors page to find out what restaurants will open here next.
Other Attractions in Carlsberg Byen
Hotel Ottilia
Named after Carl’s wife, Ottilia Jacobsen, Hotel Ottilia is a hidden gem in the Copenhagen hotel scene. Ottilia is part of the Brøchner Hotels group, and the historic building housing the hotel dates back to 1881. Perhaps the most recognizable design feature of the hotel are the charming circular windows in the bedrooms overlooking Bryggernes Plads (and Gasoline Grill!) in the courtyard. The lobby has a chic, industrial vibe, with artistic light fixtures, communal tables for working, and plenty of cozy nooks and couches to cuddle up in. Guests will surely become acquainted with this space since the hotel offers a nightly wine hour here, with a free glass of wine (or two!) for all guests. Hotel Ottilia’s fitness center is open 24/7, and they also have fitness kits you can bring to your room if you want to work out privately.
Guests are invited to the organic breakfast buffet in the rooftop restaurant each morning, with freshly baked bread, yogurt with homemade toppings, cold-pressed juices, smoothies – and bubbles on the house! This rooftop is also the best place to catch sunset in Carlsberg Byen, with 360º views of Copenhagen. Hotel Ottilia also has bikes available for rent for those looking to explore the city on two wheels.
HOTEL OTTILIA Address & Contact Information Bryggernes Plads 7, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
AIRE Ancient Baths
The high-end spa chain AIRE (with locations spanning from New York to Barcelona) has just opened a Copenhagen outpost of their ancient bath house. Time stops at AIRE – this relaxing oasis is the perfect escape from the busy city life. Take a deep breath, step inside, and be magically transported to a place of peace and tranquility. The cavernous underground spa is illuminated by candlelight and filled with thermal baths of varying temperatures – from ice cold to body temperature to boiling hot. Recharge in the steam room, float in the salt bath, and massage your feet on smooth pebbles as you walk through an icy foot bath. End your AIRE experience with a massage, or their signature couples’ wine bath.
AIRE ANCIENT BATHS Address & Contact Information Ny Carlsberg Vej 101, Copenhagen, Denmark Website Instagram Facebook
There are also fitness studios, furniture stores, parks, and fashion designers in Carlsberg Byen. In the coming years, even more concepts will open, including a food hall and a movie theater. We can’t wait to watch this vibrant neighborhood continue to develop.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Carlsberg Byen? Let us know in a comment below.
Disclaimer
This is paid promotion by Carlsberg Byen. The selection of places to feature was curated by us.
Super informative and really well done. I didn’t know there were so many great places in Carlsberg Byen!
It’s definitely a neighborhood worth exploring!
Such a great guide of a very unique part of Copenhagen!