You can find some of the best foodie experiences in the world in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. It’s a hub for gastronomic delights that will wow all your senses from the taste, smell and sight. Copenhagen’s restaurants lead the world with innovation and the movements of slow food and ethical food practices. If you’re after the foodie experience of a lifetime then check out these great restaurants in Copenhagen.
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BREAKFAST AT THE AXEL GULDSMEDEN
It might seem strange to add the buffet breakfast at a hotel as one of the best food experiences in Copenhagen, but this was the best buffet breakfast I’ve ever had. Everything is organic and bio. Most of it is sourced from farms in Denmark and is carefully crafted to help you start your day with as much energy as possible.
Start your morning with one of their organic teas, or ethical coffees. Top up your immune system with a fresh juice or freshly squeezed ginger shot (feel the burn). Then move on to their wide selection of bread, catering to gluten intolerance, and make yourself a breakfast Smørrebrød with smoked cream cheese, Danish smoked salmon, fresh kale and whatever else you desire. The cereal and muesli section will please any foodie and there are breakfast cakes and Danishes.
It’s a pricy breakfast at twenty-one euros per person, but it’s so worth it. In summer you can sit outside in their Bali inspired courtyard and enjoy the long hours of sunshine. They also have an à la carte restaurant for lunch and dinner, so check them out for more tasty creations.
SELMA
Selma has quickly become an institution, and you definitely can’t miss it for a foodie experience in Copenhagen. In 2019 it was awarded a Bib Gourmand by Michelin and added to their Michelin Guide. Once you visit and try their creations there’s no question as to why this unpretentious café is receiving such high accolades.
Selma specialises in serving up the traditional Danish smørrebrød, an open sandwich made on dark rye bread and topped with different ingredients. They recommend three smørrebrød each for the full experience and that’s what we opted to do. Each one that came out was stunningly put together and they all looked like works of art. The waiters explain each smørrebrød when they place it on your table.
The flavours when you bite into them are truly the best part of the experience. They’ll use sour cream and pickled hearings and then dashes of salt with caviar or curry seeds. Sweetness comes from bright magenta beetroot and crunch with flakes of baked kale. Everything is so carefully crafted and the passion is obvious.
Accompanying this amazing foodie experience are local craft beers from Copenhagen and Denmark. I also recommend trying the schnapps that they make. When we were there they had a homemade Christmas schnapps (the happiest thing I’ve ever tasted) and a wasabi and lemongrass schnapps. Make sure you book in your experience as you don’t want to miss this.
HØST
Høst is one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Europe and is at the top of my list for best foodie experiences in Copenhagen. The restaurant has won design awards for its minimalist design with recycled timbers and an inside-out vibe. The word Høst means harvest and that is the root of their philosophy. Everything is sourced ethically and organically from farms in Scandinavia. Food waste is one of their main focuses and you can see this in the way the dishes try and incorporate every part of what it is showcasing.
The tasting menu is the way to go with Høst, and each dish is better than the last. You also get little extra side dishes that are not mentioned on the menu, so you will definitely walk out full and satisfied. The first dish we received set the tone of the evening. It was mushroom croquettes and mushroom soup with thyme, but the croquettes came out in a thyme bush so you could smell the herb as well as taste it.
Everything was more than just taste. They ask you to use your senses of smell and sight, creating an unforgettable experience. the food is presented in a way that uses the ingredients it is championing. The flavours are fresh and finely executed. The Lobster in lobster bisque was mind-blowing with its mix of savoury richness and the sweetness of the lobster. Even the desserts are works of art with sweet baby pine cones in yogurt snow and flowers and herbs used to give a sweet earthy tone to a green apple sorbet.
JOHN’S HOTDOG DELI
You can’t go to Copenhagen and not try one of their hotdogs, it’s one of their specialties and will save you some money after spending it all at the other great restaurants. It’s definitely a unique foodie experience in Copenhagen. John’s Hotdogs is in a little food stand and moves to different locations over the city. You can check out their Facebook page for updates. We found him by accident outside of the Central Station on the Tivoli Gardens side.
The hotdog selection is lengthy with many different types of sausage to choose from. You can have bread or no bread and there are different sauces and toppings to choose from. It was our simplest meal in Copenhagen, but it was still very tasty and well-executed. The hotdogs are quite small, so if you’re feeling really hungry you might need two.
KILDEN I HAVEN
Kilden I Haven is a fine dining restaurant in the Tivoli Gardens showcasing the Danish culture through food. The focus is green and sustainable cuisine. The restaurant will serve food sourced locally and based on the seasonality of produce. The kitchen also tries to incorporate a lot of traditional Danish techniques like pickling, smoking and fermentation.
Kilden I Haven is open for lunch and dinner. If you’re there for dinner you can sample from their A La Carte menu, or let them take control with their Tasting menu. Either way, both choices will give you delicious food and wine.
ANYTIME DINING AT TORVEHALLERNE MARKET
Stalls and events
The Torvehallerne Market is just down the road from Restaurant Selma and a twenty-minute walk from the city centre. It sells artisan foods from vegetables to fresh fish and free-range meats. There is an outside market and two inside spaces filled with little stalls and eateries. The buildings are made of lots of glass, so the light and atmosphere still feel like a market (but much warmer). You can do some unique shopping here for Danish foods to take home, or speciality products sourced from other countries.
Eat at one of the tiny cafes like Environs and Friends, who do a much-celebrated egg brunch every Sunday, offering different types of egg dishes. All sourced from the market of course. Le Petit Wine Bar is another institution in the market. They serve up delicious food and even do a meat-free Monday menu. Otherwise, just browse the different stalls and buy yourself a picnicking plater of artisanal cheeses, fresh fruits and cherry tomatoes and delicious Danish produce.
The market also offers weekly activities and special events. They do wine tasting courses, classes on how to shuck oysters, and fun days like I Am Sunday for the egg brunch and Funky Tuesday for drinks with vinyl records playing funky tunes. Other special events can be grinding workshops or learning how to pickle vegetables. You can contact the organisers via the Torvehallerne website to check what language it is held in.
TAKE A FOOD TOUR AND EXPLORE MORE
These restaurants I found through prior research before arriving in Copenhagen. If you want to explore more options and don’t have as much time then a food tour is the best way to explore the amazing culinary worlds of Denmark.
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