Copenhagen Food and Wine Guide
Copenhagen is officially one of my top 3 favorite cities. Not only is it extremely beautiful, but there’s so much to see and do. The people are friendly, the food is delicious, and the wine keeps flowing.
Not to mention, Copenhagen is the most sustainable city in the world. The city’s efforts in supporting local businesses and giving back to the environment are inspiring.
We visited in the summer (end of August), and happened to get lucky with the weather. It was still chilly, so pack layers.
Copenhagen Food and Wine Guide
While food and wine is obviously the most important topic for me when I travel, I also wanted to share overall tips for your next trip to Copenhagen.
Here’s where to stay, where to eat and drink wine, and what to do in Copenhagen, Denmark.
where to stay in copenhagen
We flew in and out of Copenhagen for our Euro trip, so we were able to explore staying in two different neighborhoods.
My top neighborhood was Nyhavn (the iconic harbor street with colorful buildings). That said, this is one of the easiest cities to get around, so you’d likely be happy no matter where you stay.
Meatpacking District
First, we had an AirBnb at the Eric Vogel apartments in the Meatpacking District. It was great to be close to the metro stop and walking distance to many restaurants.
Nyhavn
On our way out of Europe, we stayed in Nyhavn at Hotel SKT. Annae. This was my favorite stay of the trip, as it’s a cute and cozy spot in a great location. You’ll be walking distance to the main street of Nyhavn, the ferry to Refshaleøen, and Broens Gadekøkken; and it’s overall just a lovely little neighborhood.
Vesterbro
If you’re looking for something more central, the Vesterbro neighborhood is easy to get to and full of restaurants, bars, and plenty of shops. Coco Hotel is a charming boutique hotel with a beautiful courtyard and daily wine hour.
best restaurants in copenhagen
Fine Dining Restaurants
Brace: Italian tasting menu with the prettiest interior I’ve ever dined in. I loved watching the chefs through the open kitchen, and we devoured the 48-hour fermented bread (seriously, it’s the best bread ever). The wine list highlights artisan Italian producers - I started with a méthode champenoise Chardonnay and then tried a new (to me) white grape called Timorasso. Both were fantastic.
Amass: Tasting menu restaurant by former head chef of Noma, Matt Orlando. We sat right next to the open kitchen, so it was fun to be close to the action. The restaurant is also located in the most beautiful garden, and you’ll taste plenty of its fresh herbs. They have a great wine list, too!
Casual Restaurants
Barraba: Italian restaurant famous for its caviar spaghetti. The service was incredible and I was also impressed by their natural wine list. They’re great at pairing your wine with the dishes you order, so let them handle your wine selections.
Amass Fried Chicken: Fast-casual fried chicken concept in the same building as Amass. This was one of my favorite meals. Not only is the fried chicken is amazing, but you can also grab a glass of natural wine and enjoy the garden at sunset. Truly unbeatable.
La Vecchia Signora: Hole-in-the-wall, authentic Italian spot. Don’t skip the pizza or the spaghetti alle vongole. Their house wine was even good!
Hija de Sanchez: Hip spot for affordable tacos. Easy for lunch.
Kutteren: Best fish and chips ever (but the burger was also good). You can sit on the boat or right next to it and enjoy the waterside views.
Kødbyens Fiskebar: We stumbled upon this spot near our AirBnb, and we couldn’t have been happier with this find. Best mussels and bread. You also have to try the turbot and peas. Although its situated in a parking lot, you have a great view of the sunset and the casual ambience is a vibe.
Food Hall Types
Torvehallerne: So many options and everything looked amazing. We went with the Smørrebrød, which is a quintessential Danish dish you must taste at some point during your stay in Copenhagen. They even had a stall that sells natural wine - this would be a great spot to pick up a bottle if you’re looking to try Danish wine.
Broens Gadekøkken: Casual, outdoor area with food stalls and bars. If you’re a burger fan, go for Gasoline Grill. I also thought the gyro spot was delicious.
Tivoli Gardens: You can eat at the food hall without paying for a ticket to the park. This is a collection of casual eateries in an indoor setting. It’s hard to choose a spot, but we went with the Mexican place. If you do end up going into the park (highly recommend), be sure to stop at Cakenhagen for a pastry and coffee or champagne.
Reffen: A collection of food stalls representing global cuisines. You can grab a drink at one of the many bars, get some food, sit around the firepits, and enjoy the fun vibes (there’s even a skate park in the middle). Highly recommend the ravioli with truffles from PastaLab.
Best Bakeries / Bagerier in Copenhagen
Juno the Bakery: Cardamom buns and chocolate croissants are crucial. The bakery also has immaculate vibes inside and out. If it’s not raining, enjoy your pastries and coffee in the garden.
Hart Bageri: You must try the cardamom buns and chocolate chip cookies. Some of the best pastries you will ever eat.
where to drink wine in copenhagen
Copenhagen is chock-full of natural wine bars and adorable places to enjoy a glass with friends. Beyond just bars, I was also impressed with the diverse wine lists at the restaurants we visited.
Den Vendrette: Sit waterside during the summer and people watch, or grab a glass in the Georgian-inspired interior. Impressive selection of natural wines from all over.
Pompette: cozy vibes and natural wines. They only pour a few options BTG, but I don’t think you could go wrong.
Amass Fried Chicken: Yes, this is a fried chicken restaurant, but they have a cool list of natural wines that you can enjoy in the most beautiful garden. It’s truly the most peaceful experience.
Other wine bars on my list to visit next time:
what to do in copenhagen
Tivoli Gardens: The most beautiful amusement park in the middle of Copenhagen. Even if you typically don’t like theme parks, it’s a pretty place to spend the afternoon admiring the gardens, shopping, or eating at one of the many restaurants.
Cisternerne: Art installation underground. Cruise the dark canals in a row boat and admire the exhibition. One of the coolest and most unique experiences.
Shopping: So many cool shops to explore. Spend the day walking around the city and popping in and out of shops for ceramics, fashion, furniture, jewelry, etc.
Canal cruise: You can pick up a one-hour cruise from Nyhavn or Ved Stranden. A great way to see the city from the water, but it is a little pricey.
Planning a trip? Check out these top tours and activities in Copenhagen:
I hope this inspires you to book a trip to what I believe is one of the most beautiful cities on earth. If we could have, we would have stayed at least another week.
If you have more recommendations to add, or you visit any of these spots, let me know what you think in the comments below. Enjoy your stay in Copenhagen!
Know before you go: check out my tips about how to order wine off a restaurant’s wine list.
Ready to further your wine education? Enroll in a WSET class today and use code LexiStephens for a discount.
