With its colorful townhouses, cozy cafés, and free-wheeling bike culture, the Danish capital of Copenhagen simply overflows with “hygge” – the Danish word for the sense of coziness that makes visitors feel right at home! A delightfully walkable (and bikeable!) city laced with picturesque canals, and excellent fashion, Copenhagen had me charmed at every turn!
While renowned as a design and sustainability leader, Copenhagen has been an important Scandinavian hub for over a millennium. Founded in the 10th century as a Viking fishing village, it grew into a prosperous merchant center in the Middle Ages. You can still see remnants of its gilded past in the historic city core of Indre By, home to the iconic Frederiks Kirke (Marble Church) the stately Christiansborg and Amalienborg palace complexes!
Copenhagen’s stellar attractions run the gamut from the iconic Little Mermaid statue and Hans Christian Anderson’s grave to the ultra-modern design showcases of Designmuseum Danmark. You can’t miss Tivoli Gardens, a breathtaking historic amusement park offering rollercoasters, gardens, as well as concerts. Art lovers will want to spend time at the National Gallery housed in a striking modern building, while families will go wild at the Copenhagen Zoo.
Food is a huge draw for visitors to Copenhagen too. You’ll find exceptional new Nordic cuisine featuring imaginative seasonal Danish fare using foraged local ingredients. From Michelin-starred meccas like Noma to humble hot dog stands selling iconic red hotdogs topped with remoulade, crispy fried onions & pickles, there’s something for every taste. And it wouldn’t be a trip to Copenhagen without sampling hyper-hygge treats like warm cardamom buns, flaky kringles and scrumptious æbleskiver (spherical pancake puffs). If it’s your first time in Copenhagen, you’ll want to grab pastries and brunch at Juno the Bakery, Lille Grocery, Atelier September! For lunch, have some bites at Bottega Barlie, Villette, Palægade or the Hercules Pavillion Café located in the King’s Garden! The days are long in the summer, so head to La Banchina to grab a bottle of wine and hang by the water for a sauna + cold plunge (you’ll need to make reservations for the sauna in advance!). For dinner head to Bæst or ITALO DISCO for Italian or a more Danish experience, Barr, Kødbyens Fiskebaren, or Vækst! And be sure to grab cocktails or wine at Alchemist, Vivant, Duck & Cover, or Laban afterward! 
To Eat:
- Noma – Chef Rene Redzepi’s gastronomic mecca is creating world-class dishes presented in 20-course meals at this 3 Michelin-starred restaurant. The reservation is near-impossible to acquire, especially since they announced this will be their last year operating! The typical cost for a meal at this is around $450/person!
- Esmée – A French brasserie with a Nordic flair!
- Mimb Brasserie – Nimb Brasserie is a modern French restaurant located by the entrance to Tivoli Gardens!
- *Barr – Located on Copenhagen’s waterfront, everything we had here was incredible. The veal, chicken, beef tartare, and the hassleback potato are not to be missed!
- * Restaurant Møntergade – traditional Danish food
- *Bæst – Everything here is made from scratch – and you can taste it! Sourdough pizzas, homemade cheeses & cured meats!
- *Gasoline Grill – Best burger in town at this former gas station!
- Kødbyens Fiskebaren – Cool industrial-style restaurant in the former meat market serving simple, fresh seafood dishes.
- *Villette – Gret spot for brunch & lunch. Small plates with an extensive wine list and an outdoor patio!
- Fleisch – Combined butcher and restaurant in Copenhagen’s Meatpacking District.
- Formel B – This fine dining restaurant is a cornerstone of the Danish restaurant scene and has held a Michelin star since 2004!
- *ILUKA – Sustainable Scandinavian seafood at this high-end establishment. The unfussy menu champions fish and seafood plucked from the brackish waters found on Copenhagen’s doorstep
- Geranium – High-concept cooking with multiple course tasting menus, plus panoramic views from the 8th floor.
- Mother – Seasonal and organic sourdough pizzas, wine & cocktails with an unpretentious menu.
- (Pizza, Wine Bar in Meatpacking District,
- Hallernes Smørrebrød – Decadent and delicious open-faced danish sandwiches!
- Høst (at Cofoco Hotel) – Stylish dining room with white walls & rustic wooden tables, serving contemporary Nordic cuisine.
- *Bottega Barlie – Great for lunch, happy hour or dinner! A casual locale with outdoor seating serving breakfast staples & global bites, plus a large wine list.
- *ITALO DISCO – Great Italian food, nice atmosphere in a little cozy restaurant.
- *Les Trots Cochons (at Cofoco Hotel) – great lunch spot! Simple French country cooking in an airy, white-tiled former butcher’s shop with large windows.
- *à Terre (located at the Sanders Hotel) – Elevated French restaurant offering a tasting menu
- Palægade – For lunch, the menu offers open sandwiches “smørrebrød” interpreted in both classic and modern cuisine. In the evening, the menu changes to a concept that focuses on supper,
- Mangia – Great Italian!
- Paté Paté – Hip all-day eatery serving French, Spanish & Moroccan-inspired food & global wines by the glass.
- Radio – Restaurant RADIO is Danish gastronomy with an emphasis on seasons, local suppliers, and great tastes!
- *Restaurant Lev – At this Michelin guide restaurant, Japanese and Italian cuisines join forces at this stylish restaurant near Rosenborg Castle Gardens.
- *Rufino Osteria – This rustic and authentic Italian restaurant is making their pasta fresh daily as well as other Italian comfort foods!
- Bacon Egg & Cheese – Started by a New Yorker making NYC-inspired deli comfort foods in Copenhagen. Check their IG for their next collaboration and for pop-up info!
- Cofoco – An airy basement venue with an upbeat vibe serving inventive Nordic food with a Mediterranean edge!
- Vækst – Imaginative bi-level restaurant has greenhouse-inspired decor & elevated Nordic cuisine. Their delicious 3-course preset dinner is a great option!
- *Harry’s Place – A little north of the city center, but this is the best hotdog (stand!) in Copenhagen!
Coffee + Bakery:
- *Conditori La Glace – Elegant Danish pastry shop dating to 1870, featuring elaborate cakes, baked goods & other desserts. They’re the oldest cake shop in town! Must go get a slice!
- *Skt. Peders Bager – Cozy establishment offering up cinnamon rolls, breads & sweet treats in a long-standing building. This always tops as a favorite bakery, and you can’t miss the cardamom buns!
- *Juno the Bakery – Opened by a former NOMA pastry chef, this quaint corner bakery is serving up some of the best pastries I’ve ever had. You’ll have to get a few and try them all!
- *Atelier September – Easygoing vegetarian brunch destination with a bohemian vibe offering pastries, avocado toast & insane blueberry pancakes that aren’t to be missed.
- Granola
- *Lille Grocery – Some of the best-baked goods and pastries here!
- Mirabelle – Be sure to get the sourdough croissant at this beautiful bakery!
- *Original Coffee (at the Illum Café) – This rooftop cafe at the top of the Illum department store boasts some incredible views of the Stork Fountain & Højbro Plads!
- Mad & Kaffe – This cute cafe serves up quality coffee and delicious breakfast toasts & pastries! Great for brunch!
- Torvehallererne Market – Urban, covered marketplace featuring stalls with local produce, gourmet foods, beverages & desserts.
- Leckerbaer – A gourmet cookie, pastry, and coffee shop!
- Ro Chokolade – This chocolatier has boxed chocolates, and chocolate drinks and serves ice cream as well!
- Meyers Bageri – Every day this bakery grinds its own flower and bakes its breads and pastries fresh!
- Café Det Vide Haus – Purveyor of coffee and pastries, but perhaps best known for their Artisan Popsicle!
- Prolog Coffee – Chill space with outdoor seating offering artisanal coffee, ice cream sandwiches & other cafe fare.
- *The Coffee Collective – This delicious coffee shop has a few locations in the city!
- Ipsen & Co. – Breakfast, Lunch, Coffee, Juice, cakes & much more at this brasserie café!
- Sonny – a day-time place where you can enjoy home-made breakfast, lunch, and home-baked cakes along with specialty coffee, tea, and cold beverages
- *Buka – Great bakery featuring an all-day menu & classic Scandanavian baked goods &, plus espresso, wine & beer.
- A.C. Perchs Thehandel – Historic teashop boasting the largest quantity of imported teas and “an atmosphere of 1835”!
- Format Café – Located in the Designmuseum Denmark!
To Drink:
- *Alchemist – Unique cocktail bar offering an immersive experience & high-concept dishes, plus a robust wine list!
- Mikkeller & Friends – Trendy hangout serving draft artisan ales from Mikkeler & other micro-breweries.
- *Duck & Cover – A small cocktail bar focusing on local spirits and ingredients with mid-century decor and rotating, seasonal menus!
- *Vivant – Hip natural wine bar!
- Brus – Trendy, industrial brewpub featuring classic comfort food & a robust selection of craft beer.
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Ved Stranden 10 – A tranquil corner bar serving and selling wine to patrons and like-minded since 2009. Situated in front of Holmens canal in a historic tea shop!
- The Jane – This bar is located in the heart of Copenhagen and offers both a cozy lounge atmosphere and an electric nightclub vibe.
- The Barking Dog
- Lidkoeb – A cocktail bar with two floors of cocktails and the top floor is a whisky bar.
- *Balderdash – a cozy cocktail bar nestled in the center of the oldest neighborhood in Copenhagen serving whimsical but innovative classic cocktails and a “hygge” atmosphere.
- *Tata Cocktail Bar – Located in the ground level of Hotel Sanders.
- Laban – cozy wine bar located in Copenhagen’s meatpacking district!
To Do:
- Visit the Tivoli Gardens, a 19th-century amusement park with antique roller coasters
- Visit The Happiness Museum
- Picnic at the King’s Garden
- Take a sauna & dip at La Banchina – a must!
- See the changing of the guards at Amalienborg – the Queens’s Palace!
- See the city from the water on a Canal Tour
- Reffen Food Hall – fun outdoor food market 15/20 min outside of the city on the river
- walk up the Round Tower
- see Hans Christian Anderson’s Grave
- *visit the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art – Notable one of the best museums in Copenhagen! Worth the 40-minute trip, if you can spare the time or make an afternoon out of it!
- Shopping:
- *Illums Bolighus – A department store with lots of Danish designers
- Filippa K – menswear
- *NN07 – One of my favorite menswear brands, and they’re based in Copenhagen!
- *Les Deus – A favorite menswear shop! A few stores in the city
- The Apartment – Furniture shop
- *Storm – Cool store, local designers & fragrances
- *Henrik Vibskov – Danish designer for men & women
- *Georg Jenson – jewelry & home goods
- Mads Nørgaard – Menswear & women’s fashion
- *Beau Marché – home goods store serving coffee with a wine bar
- Stilleben – Home goods
- Normann Copenhagen – Scandinavian home goods
- Norse Projects – Menswear
- Hay House – Scandinavian-designed home goods
- Keramiker Inge Vincents – handcrafted ceramics
- *Royal Copenhagen Flagship Store – Chinaware
- *Grocery – A great selection of Scandinavian menswear
- *Goods – good brand (in pretty area)
- Game & Gun – Elevated hunting apparel
- New Mags – Curated coffee table books
To Stay:
- *Sanders Hotel – This elegant boutique hotel is situated in a historic building and is tucked away on a small quiet street. While still being centrally located, it boasts being on the Michelin Guide for best hotels and has one of Copenhagen’s best cocktail bars TATA on its ground floor.
- Hotel SP34 – Possibly the most luxurious hipster hotel you’ll find in Copenhagen! Hotel SP34 is a trendy 4+ star luxury boutique hotel set in the hippest neighborhood – the Latin Quarter!
- Hotel d’Angleterre – Established in 1755, the 5-star Hotel d’Angleterre is an icon and a historic landmark in Copenhagen centrally located right on the King’s New Square.
- *Copenhagen Admiral – Copenhagen Admiral Hotel is a four-star hotel located in the heart of Copenhagen between theatres, the city’s best shopping, and the biggest tourist attractions. From the hotel, there is a view of the waterfront, the Opera House, and the Playhouse, while Amalienborg Castle, The Little Mermaid, the impressive Gefion Fountain, and Amaliehaven are less than one minute away.
- *Villa Copenhagen – Experience a hotel stay like no other at Villa Copenhagen. Located in the heart of Copenhagen, this gorgeous hotel in officially opened on 1st of July 2020. The 390-room villa is housed in the old Danish Central Post and Telegraph office and boasts a stunning Neo-Baroque architecture that will take your breath away.
- Coco Hotel – Copenhagen’s boutique hideaway Coco Hotel is very Danish– with its bold design choices and hygge attitude, oh-so-cool Vesterbro setting, and bikes to borrow – but it’s cherry-picked Paris’s chicest traits, too. Its bistro has a striped awning and leafy interior courtyard, the bar has more than 150 cult and niche wines (largely French), and the food has a Gallic feel. So, a stay here is like taking two cosmopolitan trips in one!
With its seamless blend of old-world charm, cutting-edge architecture, and sustainability, Copenhagen is a well-rounded gem of a city that keeps you returning to uncover more of its hygge-filled wonders. Just don’t forget to rent a bike to experience this cycle-centric hub like the jovial locals do. Have you been to Copenhagen yet? You’ll have to let me know what your favorite things were that you did while there!
Stay Risky,
– John
