Where to Eat in Copenhagen Discover the Best Restaurants & Bars

Copenhagen is our favorite city in Scandinavia – that’s why we’ve chosen the capital of Denmark as our home base. With some of the world’s best restaurants within the city’s borders, Copenhagen has earned its reputation as the food capital of the Nordics and the birthplace of New Nordic cuisine. From Michelin-starred fine dining to natural wine bars, bakeries, coffee shops, and casual neighborhood gems, there’s no shortage of places to eat well here.

In this guide to the best restaurants in Copenhagen, we’ve gathered all our favorite spots into one curated food map of the city. Whether you’re wondering where to eat in Copenhagen for a special occasion or just looking for a great bakery or wine bar, you’ll find our personal recommendations here. Use the interactive map to explore by neighborhood, click directly on each location, or scroll through the full list below – all organized geographically to make planning your visit easy.

Enter the world of Alchemist – part restaurant, part art installation, and part think piece on topics like sustainability and food waste. Chef Rasmus Munk’s visionary approach is paving the way for a new kind of dining experience, one that embraces multiple art forms and turns culinary issues into literal food for thought. Most of the meal takes place inside “The Dome,” where ceiling projections shift throughout the evening, transporting you to other worlds while you eat. During our visit, we saw sakura trees in bloom in Japan, the Northern Lights shimmering in a Scandinavian forest, and jellyfish floating beneath the sea. With fifty different impressions served over the course of the evening, this is a holistic dining experience like no other. Alchemist is one of the most innovative and exciting restaurants in the world.

Aure is a Nordic fine dining restaurant located in a historic gunpowder house on Refshaleøen, owned by chef Nicky Arentsen (formerly of AOC, Henne Kirkeby Kro, and Jordnær) and his partner, Emma Nørbygaard. Aure received its first Michelin star just 81 days after opening, making it one of the fastest stars awarded in the region. Meat is a rare sight on the tasting menu, which primarily features Scandinavian seafood, local herbs and flowers, and buttery French-inspired sauces. Dishes rotate with the seasons, but the meal always concludes with a decadent slice of sticky toffee pudding drenched in caramel.

On the cobbled streets of the charming Christianshavn neighborhood is Kadeau, the flagship restaurant of Nicolai Nørregaard, Magnus Høegh Kofoed, and Rasmus Kofoed. This New Nordic fine dining restaurant showcases the ingredients of Bornholm, the island where the trio is from. Nature is presented on your plate, almost naked and raw – the Kadeau team simply elevates it, extracting its true flavor and unlocking the full potential of each bite. Indulge in a 20-course tasting menu in a strikingly beautiful dining room where the style is a mix of Scandinavian and Japanese. The menu features plenty of balanced acidity from various fermentation and preservation techniques.

Ved Stranden 10 is one of our favorite hangouts in Copenhagen. With its white-painted wooden walls and vintage Scandinavian furniture, the old house has a unique atmosphere. In the summer, you can sit along the canal’s edge with a glass of natural wine in hand. Some favorite producers always on the shelf here include Gut Oggau, Heinrich, Loimer, Christian Tschida, and Matassa. There are always a few snacks on the bar menu, but if you get really hungry, you can walk around the corner to their restaurant, Admiralgade 26. Still thirsty? Check out our Copenhagen wine guide.

Two-Michelin-starred Kong Hans Kælder is tucked away in a basement near Kongens Nytorv. Stepping inside feels like entering another world, with swooping ceilings, Gothic arches, and chefs in tall toques. Yet it doesn’t feel stuffy – it feels just right for the style of food they’re serving. The menu begins with some of the tastiest snacks we’ve ever eaten, bite-sized explosions of flavor, and continues with premium seasonal ingredients doused in rich, buttery sauces. Best of all, warm baguettes and fluffy Parker House rolls are served endlessly throughout the meal. Expect fun tableside presentations and decadent trolleys piled high with fancy cheeses and petits fours – so don’t overdo it on the bread refills. Kong Hans is a world-class restaurant, offering a bit of France in Copenhagen. Dining here is the epitome of luxury, with exceptional service.

Chef Alexander Baert and restaurant manager Mattia Spedicato (both former Geranium alumni) recently took the reins at French fine dining restaurant Marchal, which has held a Michelin star since 2014. The tasting menu begins with indulgent, caviar-topped snacks and cheesy truffle gougères before continuing with stunning culinary works of art. One signature dish folds multicolored strips of carrots into flower petals filled with different flavored purées – carrot, orange, and smoked yogurt. There’s handmade pasta, top-tier seafood, and roast chicken with a rich vin jaune sauce. But don’t stop there; go all out with decadent pastry-wrapped pies and “canard à la presse” – a whole duck pressed tableside on a trolley.

Esmée is a French brasserie from chef Andreas Bagh, the former head chef of Marchal. The vibe is fancy, fun, and unfussy – it’s the kind of place where you can drop by for a seafood platter and a glass of bubbles on the terrace, or settle in for a full meal. At the heart of the restaurant is an open kitchen with a rotisserie, and the food is rooted in classic French dishes with a lighter, fresher Nordic touch. Start with snacks like crispy potato bites topped with beef tartare and truffles, hand-peeled Danish fjord shrimp with burnt lemon mayonnaise and toasted brioche, and the light-as-air spicy fried chicken nuggets with ranch dressing. Still hungry? Try the grilled ribeye, served on the bone with truffle béarnaise and French fries – or go for a side of buttery Robuchon potatoes. Don’t miss the seasonal soft serve for dessert.

If you find yourself craving authentic Chinese food in Copenhagen, you’re in luck. Follow the neon red signs from Kongens Nytorv into a secret back courtyard and you’ll find restaurant Goldfinch, the Cantonese restaurant from chef Will King-Smith. The stunning venue is outfitted with large booths and Lazy Susans perfect for sharing modern, playful dishes. There’s also a kitchen counter ideal for solo diners or small groups. Don’t miss the scallop toast (our favorite!), the char siu buns, the salt and pepper squid, or the char siu pork. And definitely save room for the Hong Kong-style French toast – a triple stack of deep-fried, house-made milk bread layered with chestnut pureé, topped with evaporated milk ice cream and condensed milk flakes.

Punk Royale is a dining experience like no other. This restaurant is the epitome of high brow / low brow: “punk” defines the atmosphere, and “royale” defines the food. It’s not fine dining – it’s fun dining – with all the luxury ingredients you’d expect from a Michelin-starred restaurant, set in a completely inappropriate environment. Expect strobe lights, fog machines, vodka shots, a copious amount of caviar, and possibly some nudity. (Leave the kids at home!) In contrast to the rock-and-roll vibe, the menu showcases some of the world’s most luxurious ingredients. Prepare to be spoon-fed lobster by the chef and eat a scoop of caviar straight from your hand, paired with a vodka shot.

You’ll feel transported to France at Bistro Boheme, a truffle, caviar, and Champagne lover’s paradise. Get lost in the luxurious ingredients, bathe in the sauces, and bask in the attentive and friendly service. This is classic French food at its finest. Don’t miss Per Thostesen’s signature fried eggs with duck confit, truffle mashed potatoes, truffle sausage, hazelnuts, and a mountain of shaved truffle. Be warned: this is not a light meal. Want access to a secret tasting menu here with even more truffles and caviar? Join The Hungries.

If you’re looking for fuel, look no further than Gasoline Grill. This world-famous burger joint is located inside a still-operating gas station, hence the name. Not only does Gasoline Grill make our favorite burger in Copenhagen, but they’ve also perfected the art of high-quality fast food. Gasoline Grill uses better quality meat and ingredients than any other fast food burger spot we’ve seen – everything is organic. Each shop grinds their own meat daily, semi-smashes it on a griddle to get perfect caramelization, and sandwiches it inside a freshly baked potato bun. The flavors of the cheeseburger are simple: melt-in-your-mouth meat and cheese, onions and pickles for acidity, and Gasoline’s signature sauce, a tart and tangy chili mayo.

Alouette is, quite literally, a hidden gem. The front door is conspicuously concealed in a Copenhagen courtyard, and the journey to the dining room feels a bit like entering Narnia. The location begs the question: are you ready for a culinary adventure? The fire is the beating heart of the open kitchen. Expect punchy flavors from chef Nick Curtin and rich, decadent sauces to sop up with their signature pain au lait. Sustainability – both in the kitchen and the workplace – is a major focus at Alouette, and the menus read like love letters to the local farmers. Alouette has immense appreciation for the producers they work with, seeing themselves as a conduit, a middleman, between farmer and guest. It’s more than just “farm to table” – it’s a celebration of the soil and the land. Alouette is our favorite restaurant in Copenhagen.

Bar Vitrine is a restaurant from Riccardo Marcon (Barabba and Propaganda) and chef Dhriti Arora (formerly of Noma). The name "vitrine" means "glass cabinet" and refers to the beautiful, glass-walled space on a quintessential Copenhagen corner. Arora serves flavors unlike anything else in town. The small, à la carte menu is inspired by her Indian roots, but without borders or restrictions. Offerings rotate frequently, but you’ll likely find spice-forward dishes featuring local Danish ingredients, flaky flatbreads, and cardamom-laden desserts. Accompanying the punchy plates is a small, curated wine list of bottles Riccardo loves. With an insanely high level of cooking at an affordable price point, Bar Vitrine is one of the restaurants we frequent most.

Led by sommelier Rasmus Amdi Larsen, restaurant manager Simon Olesen, and chef Karina Pedersen, Møntergade serves up some of the city’s finest traditional Danish smørrebrød with a modern twist. Here, sweet and plump shrimp are stacked high atop toast with dollops of mayonnaise and sprinkles of herbs and flowers. Another favorite is the deep-fried plaice (rødspætte), served on rye bread. The combination of crunchy, juicy fish with the slightly spicy, sweet, and acidic curry remoulade is simply irresistible. For those craving more, don’t miss the indulgent puff pastry tartelette filled with stewed chicken and asparagus – though it’s certainly not a light option. Feeling extra hungry? Grab a bite at their neighboring snack bar, Apéro, before your meal.

April Coffee is a roastery and café from award-winning coffee brewer Patrik Rolf. The sleek, sophisticated space feels more like a designer store or an art gallery than a coffee shop. Drop in to sample April's full range of high-quality offerings, from pour-overs to espresso-based drinks, and shop their innovative brewing gear for travel. There’s also a coffee tasting menu available for those looking to delve deeper. Still need caffeine? Check out our Copenhagen coffee guide.

Geoffrey Canilao is the mastermind behind Copenhagen’s best cocktail bar, Balderdash. The motto here is “keep it hygge,” and the friendly staff makes you feel like a regular just seconds after you walk through the door. The creative cocktail menu changes regularly – some drinks include crazy ingredients from their in-house lab. The “Let’s Get Weird Martini” is made with an ostepop (cheese puff) distillate, while the “Mushroom Alexander” comes topped with grated deer heart. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone! Our favorite cocktail is the “Blonde Ambition,” made with gin, vermouth, cardamom, bergamot, and elderflower. We also love the boozy milkshakes!

When we’re craving steak, Bar'Vin is our go-to. This cozy little wine bar instantly transports us to Paris, and the signature côte de bœuf is worth a visit alone. The dishes draw inspiration from French and Spanish cuisines, featuring Danish seasonal ingredients. Enjoy rustic food in a relaxed setting, complemented by a bottle (or two… or three…) of excellent wine. Start with some truffle salami, pata negra, and Comté while waiting for your steak to cook. But don’t fill up – you’ll want to save room for the crispy hasselback potatoes and sauce choron that come with your meat.

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 to Mexico for the mole. A must-order on the menu (if you arrive before it sells out) 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 interior at Seks makes it feel like Copenhagen’s communal living room, a shared gathering place for the community. It’s the perfect place to enjoy an exceptionally brewed cup of joe from coffee nerd Jan.

Swedish chef Magnus Pettersson has shaken up the Danish smørrebrød scene with his restaurant, Selma. Despite being non-Danish, his reinvention of Denmark’s beloved open-faced sandwich has earned Selma a top spot in many hearts, including ours. Each buttered slice of bread at Selma is a culinary work of art, boasting stunning, vibrant hues – from herring stained purple with blackcurrants, to the best shrimp smørrebrød we’ve ever tasted. Tiny shrimp are piled onto a brioche so buttery it eats almost like a cake, with pops of heat from jalapeño and bursts of lemon acidity. Selma also delights with rotating seasonal vegetable sandwiches; our favorite is the tomato smørrebrød, with ripe, pickled, and dehydrated tomatoes layered atop rye bread. Pair your meal with craft beers, natural wine, or explore their extensive house-made snaps selection.

When the noodle cravings hit, Slurp Ramen is the place to go in Copenhagen. You might need to wait in line to grab a seat at this counter-seat-only ramen shop, but we promise it’s worth the wait. Start with a few small dishes, like Korean fried chicken and potato salad, and then choose between the limited ramen offerings: shio, shoyu, veggie, and ’nduja-miso. Slurp crafts their own handmade noodles and cooks their broths in-house, enhancing them with local, seasonal ingredients. It’s Tokyo-style ramen with an experimental twist! Slurp has also opened a second location on Borgergade.

Riviera is a contemporary Italian-inspired café, bakery, and eatery from chef Chiara Barla (Apotek 57, Lido). Our favorite pastry here is the cardamom bun – a sticky, syrupy, layered swirl oozing cardamom flavor between moist, buttery layers. We also enjoyed the stunning seasonal spandauer, with apple slices fanned into a beautiful rose atop a vanilla cream. With a generous custard-to-croissant ratio, it just might be the best spandauer in town. Riviera also offers a full menu of breakfast and lunch items, like fluffy buttermilk pancakes (with sweet or savory toppings), French toast, and egg dishes served with toasted sourdough bread. To drink, there is coffee from La Cabra. Craving more pastries? Check out our Copenhagen bakery guide.

Nr.30 is the quintessential Copenhagen restaurant, with tables on the street and hipsters sitting on the stoop with a glass of wine. The menu isn't huge, but that's a good thing because each dish is thoughtfully composed and packs a serious punch. Nr.30 is a place you can (and should) have a full meal, but you could also drop in and just drink some great wine. Their list is extensive, chock full of so many of our favorite natural producers at really good prices. The must-order dish is the confit potato; strips of potato are swirled in a beautiful spiral, served atop almond cream and a rich chicken stock sauce. The potato has a soft center, but the edges are wonderfully crispy. The cherry on top? A healthy sprinkle of caviar! This dish is divine and worth a visit alone! Nr.30 is a Copenhagen gem, and the food is as strong as the wine list.

Saji always satisfies our cravings for spicy, authentic Indonesian food. Chefs Samuel Tobing and Jimmy Orlando have been friends since culinary school, and serve straightforward food inspired by their home country. The menu changes frequently, but dishes we’ve loved include the signature fried chicken, the beef rendang sandwich, the vegetarian yellow curry, and the corn fritters with pineapple chili. If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to try the “bandros” – warm coconut cakes with pandan ice cream and ginger syrup.

Copenhagen’s best pasta can be found at a tiny underground restaurant with only five tables. Unfortunately, this “hidden gem” is quite popular with locals, so you’ll need to make a reservation months in advance to secure a spot. But those who plan ahead will be rewarded with a decadent pasta tasting menu: three servings of handmade pasta in different shapes and sizes, plus a generous charcuterie board with tigelle (Italian flatbreads), and dessert. A staple on the menu is their signature tortellini – the best we’ve ever had – filled with pork and served with Parmesan cream and pops of balsamic and truffle “caviar.”

Propaganda is a casual, à la carte restaurant famous for its fridges of natural wine and crunchy, candied Korean fried chicken: sweet-and-spicy perfection glazed in gochujang and topped with aioli and peanuts. Next Door, located literally next door to Propaganda, is an intimate space where chef Youra Kim serves a Korean-inspired, daily changing market menu. Highlights from our visit included a play on mandu (Korean dumplings): tofu-filled tortellini served in a rich, salty sauce of fermented soybean paste and mushrooms, and a sweet-and-savory charred corn tart with crème fraîche. This was such a unique dessert, with a natural caramelized sweetness, a velvety custard texture, and a buttery pastry crust.

Rosio Sanchez’s tasting menu restaurant, Sanchez, serves some of the most authentic Mexican food you’ll find in Scandinavia. The weekend brunch is packed with locals and tourists alike, clamoring for breakfast tacos and chilaquiles. If you come at night, you’ll get to taste the “dirty carnitas” tacos with a melted cheese crust inside the tortilla (our favorite!) and Rosio’s signature open-faced churro topped with vanilla parfait, mezcal negroni cream, and orange zest – sweet, bitter, smoky, and delicious. Rosio also owns the Hija de Sanchez taquerias; try the "gringa al pastor" there – it’s our favorite taco in town.

The founders of the popular bakeries Benji (in Nørrebro) and Alice (in Amager) have teamed up to open Københavns Bageri in Carlsberg Byen. Inspired by Danish baking history and traditions, they serve modern versions of old-fashioned treats. Whether you’re craving a bit of nostalgia or just looking for something buttery to satisfy your sweet tooth, this is one of the best bakeries in Copenhagen. Be sure to try a slice of the “kringle” – a layered pastry filled with almond remonce, prunes, macarons, and cardamom. For handcrafted ice cream, head next door to their sister shop, Aurora. Craving more pastries? Check out our Copenhagen bakery guide.

Pizzaiolo Peppe Oliva helped Christian Puglisi open Bæst before branching out to open his own pizza joint with his brother in Carlsberg Byen. “Surt” means “sour” in Danish – all of the dough here is handmade daily from a sourdough starter, and the fluffy, crispy crust is somewhere between a Neapolitan and Roman style. These extremely thin pies are topped with seasonal ingredients from small-scale farmers, such as leeks, mushrooms, and herbs. Wash it all down with a beer, a spritz, or a glass of Sicilian wine.

If you’re starting to crave Latin flavors after days of feasting on smørrebrød and New Nordic cuisine, head to Gorda. This cozy Vesterbro shop sells all sorts of homemade Argentinian empanadas. They’re small, street-food sized, so you can try a few flavors – our personal favorites are the braised beef, the caramelized onion and cheese, and the caprese (which tastes like pizza!). A full Latin American tasting menu is also available, with dishes like tuna tostada, ceviche, tiradito, and chicken skewers. Be sure to save room for the dulce de leche flan!

The former head chef and sommelier of Geist, Malte Sørensen and Jeppe Nørfelt, opened their own restaurant together in Frederiksberg. The venue is designed like a Parisian bistro, an intimate, cozy space with colorful art on the walls and small tables spilling out onto the street. The menu is à la carte, with lots of vegetables and seafood. It generally follows the seasons, and therefore changes semi-frequently, but you can always expect completely original dishes and uncommon flavor combinations. Some favorites from our visit included grilled peas with pistachio cream and lemon verbena oil, scallops with tomato and strawberry, and grilled sweetbread with potato mash. But the pièce de résistance was their take on the Danish “brunsviger” pastry, oozing with brown sugar and topped with tonka bean ice cream. It was one of the best desserts we’ve ever had!

Auren’s Deli is a gem of a neighborhood bodega and organic grocery shop in Frederiksberg, with a surprisingly large food menu. The menu highlights the fresh produce on the shelves, so from spring through fall, the offerings are a bit more robust. You can often find some kind of tart – we enjoyed a buttery puff pastry pie stuffed with courgettes, ricotta, and leeks. Another signature is the open-faced tartine topped with fresh cheese and roasted vegetables (exceptionally sweet tomatoes, in our case). Weekday lunches have a more concise menu, but there are always two sandwiches available for dine-in or takeaway. We loved one with mortadella, stracciatella, and a sweet pistachio paste on fluffy focaccia. Evenings feature more small plates and wine, while weekend lunches are a clear-out-the-cabinets situation.

Coffee Collective paved the way for specialty coffee in Copenhagen when they opened their first shop in 2008. They set the standard for how a Danish light-roasted coffee should be made, and are passionately focused on "sustainability from seed to cup.” Jægersborggade is the original location of Coffee Collective, and their other shops are located at Torvehallerne, Bernikow, Godthåbsvej, and Sankt Hans Torv. Don't miss out on their espresso soft serve when it's available during the summer. Still need caffeine? Check out our Copenhagen coffee guide.

Inspired by his time cooking in Nice, Danish chef Mathias Silberbauer transformed the former Manfreds venue into a cozy French bistro where traditional Niçoise dishes and local seafood take center stage. The menu at Silberbauer’s Bistro changes constantly – even hourly. The chefs cook whatever they get from the fishmongers that day, and when something sells out, it’s crossed off the blackboard. The food is simple in the best way, with only a few ingredients highlighting the pure, clean flavors of the fresh fish. If you love classic desserts, you’ll be in heaven here – the lemon tart, affogato, and crème brûlée are all exceptional.

Bæst is an authentic Italian pizzeria founded by chef Christian Puglisi (Relæ). They make their own charcuterie and fresh cheeses – including ricotta, mozzarella, and burrata – and bake sourdough in their bakery, Mirabelle, located just next door. The pizza here is some of the best in Copenhagen: bouncy, fluffy dough topped with fresh farm-grown ingredients. Our favorite is their take on the Margherita pizza, with the option to add stracciatella cheese. In our opinion, adding stracciatella is never optional – it’s essential!

Poulette is a spicy fried chicken sandwich shop from the owners of the next-door natural wine bar, Pompette. Be prepared for some heat – Poulette is the first place in Copenhagen to serve Nashville-style hot chicken! To make their signature sandwich, Poulette first brines the chicken and then coats it in a panko crust. Once fried, it’s topped with a secret spice mix, a dollop of Kewpie mayo, a slice of iceberg lettuce, pickles, and served on a toasted brioche bun. The meat is juicy with a perfect amount of fat and great flavor. They also have a vegetarian option: a fried mapo tofu sandwich topped with Sichuan chili oil and a mapo mayo made from doubanjiang (a fermented Chinese bean paste). Can’t handle the heat? Both sandwiches come spicy by default, but a non-spicy version is available by request. Hungry for more? Check out our Copenhagen cheap eats guide.

Slice, slice baby! The pizza joint Diamond Slice is serving legit New York-style pizza. Our favorite flavor is the Hot Honey – sweet and a little spicy – with four types of cheese (including lots of ricotta), roasted garlic, double cream, and a drizzle of hot honey. We also love the tomato slice, topped with a rich and concentrated tomato paste and roasted tomatoes. (Pro tip: add stracciatella on top.) The dough has a hearty whole wheat flavor, with a thin, crispy bottom and a spongey crust – excellent for dipping into one of their crust dips. (The black garlic cream is our favorite.) Large slices and whole pies are available for dine-in, pickup, or delivery. Hungry for more? Check out our Copenhagen cheap eats guide.

German meets Austrian food with a modern twist at Botschaft. Copenhageners finally have a place where they can satisfy their cravings for Käsekrainer (cheese-filled sausages) and Käsespätzle (basically German mac and cheese), as well as discover dishes they didn’t even know they needed in their life – like “Hawaii-style” bone marrow topped with ham and pineapple, or spaghetti ice cream (yes, really). It’s fun, it’s playful, it’s delicious – and it’s totally unlike anything else in Copenhagen. This is rich, hearty comfort food served with a smile, alongside steins of beer or glasses of natural wine. Every other weekend, Botschaft hosts “Schnitzel Sundays,” when they serve a classic Wiener schnitzel with lingonberries and potato salad. There’s also a speakeasy bar in the back that features chef pop-ups and DJs.

With only six tables, modern French restaurant Texture is one of the city’s most intimate fine dining experiences. Chef Karim Khouani invites guests to relax and feel at home in his restaurant, where beautifully balanced butter sauces are in the spotlight alongside high-quality seafood, caviar, and truffles. Highlights from our meal included a lobster bisque-filled doughnut, hand-dived Norwegian scallops in a hazelnut foam, turbot with beurre blanc, and fluffy duck fat brioche. It’s a luxurious tasting menu in a homey setting, with warm service and thoughtful, personal details.

In 2023, chef Kristian Baumann’s restaurant Koan finally moved into its permanent home in Copenhagen after years as a pop-up. Almost instantly, Koan received two Michelin stars – a new record in the Nordics. The interior is inspired by traditional Korean design, from the ceramics to the silk mat coasters, as well as the ash wood and rice paper cabinet doors. Baumann used the years of the pandemic to lean in and explore his Korean roots, which he showcases in his new restaurant. Still, you’ll see a focus on Nordic ingredients, with Scandinavian seafood starring in signature dishes like the fjord shrimp mandoo. The bread serving, a play on the Korean street food doughnut, kkwabaegi, also has a Nordic twist – Koan’s version is savory, sprinkled with pine salt and served with salted whipped cream. Our meal at Koan was truly flawless; Baumann introduced fresh, inventive, and inspiring flavors to Copenhagen’s culinary scene.

Head chef Rasmus Kofoed is one of the world's most decorated chefs, and the only person ever to win bronze, silver, and gold in the Bocuse d’Or. Together with sommelier Søren Ledet, he runs the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Geranium on the top floor of Copenhagen's main football stadium. Geranium is one of the world's most beautiful dining experiences. You feel almost as if you're attending a ballet rather than a meal, with the servers floating around the dining room in complete synchronization. But unlike other restaurants of this caliber, it never feels stuffy or overly formal – the friendly team at Geranium makes you feel relaxed and at ease. Chef Kofoed's interpretation of New Nordic cuisine is simultaneously precise and poetic – food art on a plate. It's no surprise that Geranium has climbed to No. 1 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list.

Copenhagen’s hottest ice cream shop is 100% worth the hype – it’s our new favorite in town. This tiny gelateria churns out an impressive variety of flavors, from classics like pistachio, hazelnut, almond, and creamy milk with olive oil and sea salt, to seasonal fruits like fig, sea buckthorn, and yuzu kosho, as well as creative combos like coffee and cardamom, roasted corn, strawberry chili chocolate, and their signature golden stracciatella with turmeric. Our absolute favorite? The pandan gelato! Made with one of our favorite ingredients from Southeast Asia, it’s sweet, creamy, and herbaceous – the nutty, aromatic flavor is enhanced with a drizzle of concentrated pandan oil on top, resulting in the most intense pandan flavor we’ve ever had in ice cream. Get it in a house-made vanilla cone that tastes like a buttery, crispy cookie – or in an icy cold coupe with cone chips. Be sure to go early – everything is handmade in small batches and sells out fast!

Copenhagen’s best bakery serves classic Scandinavian buns alongside laminated French viennoiserie. The signature at Juno is the cardamom bun – a light and airy miracle that’s fluffy, buttery, and oozing with cardamom and sugar. But don’t leave without trying the almond croissant – it’s like a warm cookie, still soft and slightly underbaked on the inside, with croissant layers on the bottom, a rich almond filling, and a perfect texture of sliced, toasted almonds on top. We also adore the vanilla bun, the laminated brioche with strawberries, and the seasonal cream bun. The best part? Juno bakes their pastries all day long, so they never sell out – and they’re pretty much guaranteed to be warm and fresh from the oven. This is a can’t-miss spot in Copenhagen. Craving more pastries? Check out our Copenhagen bakery guide.

Chef Matt Orlando is best known for creating Amass, widely regarded as one of the world’s most sustainable restaurants. Esse is the continuation of the Amass legacy, and undoubtedly the cool kid on the Copenhagen fine dining scene, located in a restored warehouse space with colorful painted walls, rap music playing over the speakers, and shelves lined with jars of fermenting ingredients that double as decor. Guests can expect a delicious and innovative tasting menu rooted in zero-waste philosophy, local ingredients, and creative reuse. They use every part of the ingredients they cook with – even pulverizing fish bones into powder to make noodles. And yes, the world-famous potato bread is still on the menu.

Akmē is the sibling restaurant to Sushi Anaba, located in its former venue in Nordhavn, from chefs Emil Hassan Lyngbæk and Valdemar Junge Norvang. The intimate space has only sixteen seats, including a beautiful chef’s counter. Akmē serves a seafood-focused tasting menu featuring exceptionally high-quality Scandinavian produce. The menu is a seasonal omakase, Japanese in style, with fun twists on classic French sauces and techniques. A highlight dish was marinated akami tuna served with a fluffy sauce made from grilled apricot and salted egg yolk. While the combination might sound unusual, the flavors were electric – sweet and salty, bursting with intensity. Akmē is refreshing and totally unique, unlike any other restaurant in town.

With only 14 counter seats, Michelin-starred Sushi Anaba is one of the toughest reservations to score in Copenhagen. Chef Mads Battefeld trained in Tokyo before opening his own sushi restaurant in Nordhavn. The space is zen-like and minimalist, blending design elements from Japan and Scandinavia. Anaba serves Edomae-style sushi; the omakase primarily features sustainable seafood from Scandinavia, such as Norwegian scallops and langoustine, and Danish mackerel and shrimp, alongside Japanese ingredients like yuzu and wasabi. Anaba’s sushi rice is made with dark vinegar, giving it a rustic flavor reminiscent of Danish rye bread. The omakase begins with otsumami (small dishes), continues with nigiri, finishes with a soup made from fish bones and shrimp heads, and ends with tamago, the Japanese omelette. Wash it all down with wine, sake, or Japanese whiskey.

Three-Michelin-starred Jordnær is located just twenty minutes outside of Copenhagen in Gentofte. Tina and Eric Vildgaard have transformed the ground floor of an old inn from the 17th century into a modern setting for Nordic fine dining. It's the picture of elegance. Chef Vildgaard is committed to sourcing the highest quality ingredients; “only the best for our guests” is not just a catchy slogan but a way of life at Jordnær. The decadent tasting menu showcases seafood accompanied by buttery sauces, often topped with a healthy amount of luxury ingredients like caviar and truffles. The cooking is precise and technically perfect, yet chef Vildgaard also takes risks and dares to dream with his inventive flavor combinations. The food at Jordnær is truly some of the best in the world.