Copenhagen & Food

Copenhagen is a small city that takes food very seriously. Noma put it on the map, but the obsession runs much deeper than one restaurant.

Geranium, Alchemist, and Noma all score a perfect 100 on Vota. But the depth below them is what really sets Copenhagen apart — Kadeau, Nr.30, and dozens of others are close behind, and the level stays high well into the middle of the market.

Pizza and casual places dominate by volume. French restaurants are surprisingly strong, and sushi has quietly become one of the better bets in the city. Eat cheap with smørrebrød (75–89 DKK) or a falafel plate; fine dining mains run 345–465 DKK. Even unremarkable-looking places tend to be decent — you have to work harder to find a bad meal here than in most cities.

Before you eat

Smørrebrød. Rye bread with something good on top. Herring, roast beef, egg, whatever’s in season. It’s a lunch thing, traditionally eaten with a beer. Schønnemann does it better than anyone.

New Nordic. Noma put Copenhagen on the food world’s map in the 2000s and that energy hasn’t gone away. Fermented things, foraged ingredients, hyper-seasonal menus. You’ll notice it even in mid-range places that probably weren’t thinking about it consciously.

Lunch vs dinner. Danes eat their main meal at lunch. Dinner starts late, around 7 or 8, and costs more. A lot of good restaurants do a cheaper lunch version of their dinner menu. Worth knowing if you’re watching what you spend.

Reservations. Fine dining places book up weeks or months out. Casual spots you can usually call a couple of days before. Pizza, kebab, sandwiches: just walk in.

Tipping. No tipping culture here. Service is included in the price. Rounding up if you had a great meal is fine but nobody expects it.

Budget. It’s expensive. A normal lunch will cost 150–250 DKK a head. Dinner is 300–500 DKK. Fine dining starts around 1,500 DKK and goes up from there. Pay by card everywhere, nobody uses cash.

Fine Dining

This is where Copenhagen made its name. Geranium (Vota 100) and Alchemist (Vota 100) are as good as restaurants get anywhere in the world, and the level stays high across the whole category. Nearly every fine dining place here scores 90 or above on Vota. Expect tasting menus, book well in advance.

100
Geranium
Tasting menus, panoramic views over Fælledparken. Widely considered one of the best restaurants in the world.
Fine Dining
Per Henrik Lings Allé 4, 2100 København, DK
100
Alchemist
Theatrical and unlike anywhere else. Part fine dining, part art installation. You’ll be talking about it for years.
Fine Dining
Refshalevej 173C, København, 1432, Denmark
100
Noma
The restaurant that changed how the world thinks about Nordic food. Still doing it.
Fine Dining
Refshalevej 96, 1432 København, DK

Pizza

Over 270 pizza places in Copenhagen, which tells you something. Most are pretty good and pretty cheap: 83–94 DKK for a pizza is hard to argue with. Pepperoni is on almost every menu. Little Brother (Vota 97) and Non Solo Pizza (Vota 96) are the standouts worth actually seeking out. Vota 75 or above and you’re in good territory.

97
Little Brother
Neapolitan pizza done seriously. Cocktails and a 3-course menu if you want to make a proper evening of it.
Pizza
Nørre Farimagsgade 54, 1364 København, Denmark
96
Non Solo Pizza
Crispy, fresh, doesn’t overload the pizza. Good ingredients left to speak for themselves.
Pizza
Nørrebrogade 18B 18F, 2200 København N
96
SURT
Lunch, dinner, take-away. Solid across the board.
Pizza
Bag Elefanterne 2, 1799 København, Denmark

Most popular dishes

Dish Typical price
Pizza Pepperoni 89 DKK
Pizza Margherita 84 DKK
Pizza Parma 94 DKK
Calzone 90 DKK
Pizza Gorgonzola 94 DKK

Burger

Copenhagen takes burgers seriously. The cheeseburger is on nearly 50 menus and costs 99–110 DKK, which is about right for what you get. POPL Burger (Vota 98) is the best in the city by the numbers, with Fatty’s (Vota 94) and Gasoline Grill (Vota 93) not far back. Veggie and halloumi options are everywhere too. Vota 75 or above is your filter.

98
POPL Burger
Organic beef, handmade veggie patties, decent wine and beer list. Feels a bit more grown-up than a typical burger place.
Burger
Strandgade 108, København, 1401, Denmark
94
Fatty's
Freshly ground meat, good ingredients, no fuss. Consistently very good.
Burger
Njalsgade 19D, 2300 København, DK
93
Gasoline Grill
They cook until they run out, then that’s it for the day. Pre-order if you want to be sure.
Burger
Værnedamsvej 2, 1619 København, Denmark

Most popular dishes

Dish Typical price
Cheeseburger 110 DKK
Chicken Burger 99 DKK
Veggie Burger 100 DKK
Classic Burger 110 DKK
Halloumi Burger 109 DKK

French

The French category has the highest median Vota score in the city: 96. Most places land in the 80s and 90s, which is unusually consistent. It’s not cheap. An omelette or croque monsieur runs 140–158 DKK, steak frites or lobster more like 325–346 DKK. Kong Hans Kælder (Vota 100) and Grønnegade (Vota 100) are the top two. A Vota score of 80 gets you into the good stuff.

100
Kong Hans Kælder
French fine dining in a vaulted cellar from 1976. One of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city.
French
Vingårdstræde 6, 1070 København K
100
Grønnegade
Modern French with a Nordic edge. Stylish space spread across multiple levels.
French
Grønnegade 39, København, 1107, Denmark
100
Calma
French and Italian à la carte. Seasonal menu, changes regularly.
French
Jægersborggade 34, København, 2200, Denmark

Most popular dishes

Dish Typical price
Omelette 140 DKK
Salmon 184 DKK
Croque Monsieur 158 DKK
Lobster 346 DKK
Steak Frites 325 DKK

Italian

Italian is the biggest sit-down category in the city. Pizza Parma and Margherita are the most ordered, both around 90–102 DKK. Pasta costs more: ravioli is typically 152 DKK. Tavola Calda (Vota 100) and Rufino (Vota 100) are at the top, and there’s a solid group of 90+ places just below them. Vota 75 or above is a safe bet.

100
Tavola Calda
Rustic and unpretentious. Does dine-in, takeaway, and catering. The kind of Italian you want to be your local.
Italian
Rebekkavej 34, 2900 Gentofte, Denmark
100
Rufino
Traditional, warm, and focused. Exactly what a neighbourhood Italian should be.
Italian
Strandgade 14, 1401 København, Denmark
99
Locale 21
Antipasti, seafood, modern Italian. Open for lunch, dinner, and drinks.
Italian
Ny Østergade 21, 1101 København, Denmark

Most popular dishes

Dish Typical price
Pizza Parma 90 DKK
Salmon 147 DKK
Pizza Margherita 102 DKK
Ravioli 152 DKK
Pizza Pollo 119 DKK

Seafood

Denmark is a coastal country and the seafood here reflects that. Shrimp, salmon, and poke bowls are the most ordered, running 135–174 DKK. Lobster is 225 DKK if you want to push it. Barr (Vota 100) and FEED (Vota 100) top the category. Most places score in the 70s to 90s so there’s not much separating a good choice from a great one. Vota 70 or above.

100
Barr
Scandinavian cooking with strong local sourcing. Baked cod, veal shank, things that taste of where they came from.
Seafood
Strandgade 93, 1401 København, Denmark
100
FEED
Fish and meat mains, good small plates, wine list put together with care. Cocktail bar on weekends.
Seafood
Vesterbrogade 1P, 1620 København, Denmark
100
Palægade 2.0
Classic Danish lunch and dinner. Elevated smørrebrød alongside more modern dishes.
Seafood
Palægade 8, København, 1261, Denmark

Most popular dishes

Dish Typical price
Poke Bowl 135 DKK
Shrimp / Prawns 145 DKK
Salmon 174 DKK
Fish & Chips 145 DKK
Lobster 225 DKK

Kebab

Cheap, fast, open late. Falafel shows up at over 30 places and usually costs 70 DKK, which is about as good as it gets in this city for a proper meal. Most dishes are 70–85 DKK. A full kebab plate can be 122 DKK. Kebabbro (Vota 75) is the best rated, with Killer Kebab (Vota 70) close behind. Vota 50 or above gets you the better end of the category.

75
Kebabbro
Focused menu, does delivery too. Consistent.
Kebab
Folmer Bendtsens Plads 6, 2200 København, Denmark
70
Killer Kebab
Lamb and falafel in sourdough flatbread. The fries are seasoned well. One of those places you come back to.
Kebab
Viktoriagade 11, 1655 København, Denmark
66
Pita Kebab
Kebab
Amagerbrogade 216A, 2300 København, Denmark

Most popular dishes

Dish Typical price
Falafel Dish / Plate 72 DKK
Cheeseburger 85 DKK
Kebab Dish / Plate 122 DKK
Chicken Burger 80 DKK
Classic Burger 73 DKK

Casual Dining

This is the everyday backbone of Copenhagen eating. Fried plaice or cod is the quintessential Danish lunch, usually around 122 DKK. Most mains here are 122–148 DKK. Judie (Vota 99) and VIE (Vota 99) are the best in class, and there’s a lot of good cooking in the 65–80 Vota range if you know where to look.

99
Judie
A proper smørrebrød place. Traditional, no fuss, very good.
Casual Dining
Nyhavn 26, 1051 København, DK
99
VIE
Modern bistro food with French and Nordic roots. One of the better value finds in the city.
Casual Dining
Århusgade 128E, 2150 København, DK
97
Brdr. Price Tivoli
Casual Dining
Vesterbrogade 3, 1620 København, Denmark

Most popular dishes

Dish Typical price
Fried Plaice / Cod 138 DKK
Smørrebrød 164 DKK
Chicken Salad 139 DKK
Tartare 165 DKK
Grilled Chicken 260 DKK

Sushi

Sushi has gotten good here. Most places score in the 70s to 90s and the prices are reasonable: California Roll and Spicy Salmon around 70 DKK, Rainbow Roll at 128 DKK. Sushi Anaba (Vota 100) does traditional edomae-style and is the best in the city. Sticks’n’Sushi (Vota 97) is the one with multiple locations and the crowd that keeps coming back. Vota 70 or above.

100
Sushi Anaba
Traditional edomae sushi with a focus on Scandinavian fish. Intimate, serious, very good.
Sushi
Mariehamngade 17, 2150 København, DK
97
Sticks'n'Sushi
Sushi and grilled skewers across several city locations. Halal options available.
Sushi
Istedgade 62, 1650 København, Denmark
96
Sticks'n'Sushi - Tivoli Hotel
Sushi
Arni Magnussons Gade 2, 1577 København, DK

Most popular dishes

Dish Typical price
California Roll 70 DKK
Spicy Tuna Roll 75 DKK
Rainbow Roll 128 DKK
Spicy Salmon Roll 75 DKK
Crispy Ebi 89 DKK

Sandwich

Sandwiches are cheap and everywhere. Tuna is the most popular filling by a long way. Most cost 75–89 DKK. Schønnemann (Vota 98) is the place for smørrebrød, a Copenhagen institution that’s been doing it for decades. Wedo/BoHo (Vota 92) is the more modern option. Vota 70 or above and you’re finding the good spots.

98
Schønnemann
The best smørrebrød in Copenhagen. Been doing lunch here for over a hundred years. Beer and schnapps are part of the deal.
Sandwich
Hauser Plads 16, København, 1127, Denmark
92
Wedo/BoHo
Casual bistro, broader menu. Good if you want something a bit different.
Sandwich
Amagerbrogade 82, København, 2300, Denmark
90
Grøften
Inside Tivoli Gardens. Danish homestyle cooking and smørrebrød with a lot of atmosphere. You’ll need a Tivoli ticket to get in.
Sandwich
Vesterbrogade 3, 1620 København, DK

Most popular dishes

Dish Typical price
Tuna Sandwich 75 DKK
Meatball Sandwich 87 DKK
Roast Beef Sandwich 84 DKK
Mozzarella Sandwich 79 DKK
Falafel Sandwich 84 DKK