Written by Alex Dazell
Two decades ago, Copenhagen changed the culinary world. Noma’s pioneering embrace of foraged, fermented, and fiercely local ingredients turned heads – and palates – towards Scandinavia. The result? A ripple effect of innovation that transformed the city from a culinary underdog into a global leader in sustainability and radical creativity. Now, Copenhagen is home to an ecosystem of daring chefs, ingredient enthusiasts, and design-savvy restaurateurs. Whether you’re chasing high-concept tasting menus or progressive plant-forward plates, this city delivers.
New Nordic, reimagined
Few places embody the evolution of the New Nordic ethos quite like Geranium (1), perched improbably on top of Denmark’s national stadium. Chef Rasmus Kofoed’s multi-course menu is meat-free and masterfully composed. He pairs aesthetics with environmental awareness, earning the restaurant the top spot on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2022. Every dish feels choreographed, each ingredient a nod to the region’s bounty. Then there’s KOAN (2), Kristian Baumann’s two-Michelin-starred homage to his Korean roots and Danish upbringing. Inside a moody former warehouse, diners experience 17 intricately plated courses – each fermented and fire-touched. Add a glass of makgeolli brewed in Copenhagen, and you have a menu that’s as philosophical as it is flavourful. Not far off is Alchemist (3), a restaurant that refuses to be just that. Under a vast planetarium dome, chef Rasmus Munk delivers 50 ‘impressions’ – each an art installation in edible form. Reservations are in high demand and released every three months for the following season – speak with our team to plan your booking.
Where fire meets soul
Copenhagen’s fine-dining finesse extends into more intimate spaces too. Alouette (4), tucked inside a converted pencil factory in the Islands Brygge neighbourhood, charms with its contrast of grit and grace. A weekly changing five-course menu showcases seasonal produce and fire-led cooking in a setting that feels both raw and refined. Meanwhile, Restaurant Barr (5), occupying a harbourside 18th-century warehouse, offers a tavern-style take on Nordic cuisine. Its frikadeller (Danish meatballs) and aquavit selection are standouts, The impressive interiors
feature undulating blonde oak sourced from the nearby surrounds, intricate beam ceilings, dried herbs on the walls, and Finn Juhl chairs. Arrive an hour before your reservation for a locally brewed beer in the buzzy 30-seat bar adjacent to the dining room. On the greener end of the spectrum, Lupa (6) leads Copenhagen’s vegan charge. From the team behind Ark, this Østerbro gem marries bold Mediterranean flavours with a Scandi sensibility. With its green Michelin star and low-key terrace, it’s proof that meatless doesn’t mean joyless.
Global flavours, Copenhagen heart
Copenhagen’s culinary identity isn’t confined to Scandinavia. At Hija de Sanchez (7), Noma-trained Rosio Sanchez brings Mexican soul to Danish soil. Her taqueria serves up pitch-perfect tacos and quesadillas using heirloom corn from Oaxaca and top-tier Danish produce. Come for the tortillas; stay for the mezcal cocktails. Cross town in Nørrebro, Bæst (8) takes Italian tradition and gives it a Danish twist. The pizzas here are fired in a custom-built Neapolitan oven and have become stuff of
legend. Local organic flour, house-made charcuterie, and natural wines from small Italian producers make for a slice that’s distinctly Copenhagen. Start your evening at nearby BRUS (9) – a brewery where craft beers and cocktails flow under vaulted ceilings.
Effortless cool by the water
No guide to Copenhagen’s food scene is complete without Kødbyens Fiskebar (10), the seafood stalwart that helped turn the former Meatpacking District into one of the city’s hottest hangouts. It’s sharp without being showy – think oysters on ice, razor clams kissed with citrus, and a bar that buzzes late into the night. In warmer months, the action spills out onto the pavement. Locals gather with glasses of pét-nat in hand, the mood equal parts casual and chic. It’s Copenhagen at its finest: stylish, sustainable, and always a few steps ahead.
Your culinary Copenhagen
From Michelin-starred marvels to backstreet brilliance, Copenhagen’s dining scene is both a mirror of its values and a stage for its chefs’ boundless creativity. We’re here to plan your food adventure by making reservations, planning your travel, and booking your hotels – with upgrades as standard with our Global Hotel Collection.
Your guide to Copenhagen’s food scene
Pinpoint the must-try restaurants with your on-the-go guide to the Danish capital.
