8 Best Restaurants in Copenhagen to Eat Like a Local

8 Best Restaurants in Copenhagen to Eat Like a Local

Undoubtedly, Copenhagen is one of the best food capitals of the world. With all types of international cuisine and some of the best Michelin star restaurants, your only problem will be choosing where to go!

So, without further ado, in no particular order, avoid the touristy stuff and indulge like a local with eight of the best restaurants in Copenhagen below.

Read more: Explore all of Copenhagen like a local with my The Ultimate Local Guide to Copenhagen

1. Höst

If you’re interested in everything that contemporary Nordic cuisine has to offer (and you should be!), Höst is one of the best restaurants in Copenhagen. Every dish is carefully and beautifully prepared with only local ingredients. You can also have a sommelier introduce a wine pairing with each course. The combinations of food will keep you entertained the whole night through! Don’t miss this treat when you visit Copenhagen.

2. Paper Island (Papirøen)

Paper Island is across the channel from Nyhavn, the main Copenhagen harbor. It’s basically a massive indoor street food market housed inside an old warehouse. The food is delicious coming from all types of international cuisine. Grab a beer, wine, or cocktail, and eat like a local here at one of the best restaurants in Copenhagen! What makes Paper Island really special is that it’s right on the water. Enjoy the great view outside on the patio looking out over the harbor, opera house, and more.

3. Noma

No list of the best restaurants in Copenhagen would be complete without Noma. Consistently recognized as one of the best restaurants in the world, it’s known for its contemporary interpretation of Nordic cuisine. If you can find a reservation available, pre-paying for the menu will cost around $380. You will pay an additional $225 for a wine pairing. However, if you can afford the price, you will no doubt enjoy not only one of the best restaurants in Copenhagen but also one of the best restaurants in the world. Reservations often need to be made years in advance, so it’s best to think ahead with this one.

Read more: Adding Copenhagen to your Europe backpacking trip itinerary? Check out my Ultimate Backpacking Packing List for Summer in Europe!

4. Toldbolden

Eat like a local at one of the best restaurants in Copenhagen on the water. Toldboden has an ocean feel about it at Copenhagen’s old ferry terminal. Look out over the opera house and enjoy one of the city’s best brunches on a diverse menu! Toldboden is especially a great place to enjoy during the Danish summer.

5. Cafe Bopa

Cafe Bopa is one of the best restaurants in Copenhagen to eat like a local. Housed inside of a traditional old Danish building in the posh neighborhood of Østerbro, it is lit entirely with candles. This gives off a very Danish, hyggeligt feel. It’s a great place to get coffee and a bite to eat.

Interested in an all-inclusive food tour that will take you to the best foodie spots in Copenhagen? Check out my recommended tours below!

6. Bastard Cafe

Bastard Cafe is one of the best restaurants in Copenhagen to eat like a local for one reason: it has board games! It’s a very Danish activity to play board games, card games, and dice games with others. This especially goes for one of the many rainy afternoons you might experience in Copenhagen. So grab a coffee or drink, a snack, and settle down for a really hyggeligt time at Bastard Cafe.

7. Restaurant Kronborg

To truly eat like a local in Copenhagen, you need to enjoy some traditional Danish smørrebrød. Restaurant Kronberg is one of the best restaurants in Copenhagen to enjoy this delicious local food.

Smørrebrød literally means buttered bread. In Denmark, the moment you put butter on your bread (usually dark rye), it becomes smørrebrød. These open-faced sandwiches can come with pretty much anything on them. The most common toppings are:

• Butter
• Pickled herring
• Egg salad or boiled egg
• Liver-paste
• Remoulade
• Onion rings (not fried)
• Thinly-sliced cheeses of various varieties
• Sliced or pickled cucumber
• Tomato
• Mackerel in tomato sauce
• Deli meats
• Salmon

So order a pre-made combination or create your own! The possibilities are endless.

Read more: Check out the other best places to solo travel in Europe with my Ultimate Solo Female Travel Guide to Europe!

8. The Laundromat Cafe

Filled with locals, The Laundromat Cafe has locations in the neighborhoods of both Nørrebro and Østerbro. It’s one of the best restaurants in Copenhagen for all-day brunch. Bonus! If you have clothes to wash, this is the perfect place to pass the time with board games and about 4,000 books.