Before my trip, I never expected that I would be writing a food guide with the best restaurants in Copenhagen. I had been to Copenhagen years ago on a family vacation, and I didn't remember the food being anything to talk about. Since I'm starting culinary school soon, I was pretty much planning to cook most meals. In fact, I even packed a whole bunch of spices with me. While Melanie and I did have some "hyggeligt" dinners (candles lit and John Meyer playing the background), there were too many restaurants on our list to try. Needless to say, we ate our way through Copenhagen... Here is a complete guide to the best restaurants in Copenhagen:

Brunch

Mad og Kaffe:

This was my favorite brunch, tied with Livingstone (see below). We went with our friend Eva who was visiting from Amsterdam. The brunch is not only wayy Instagram-able but also tastes as good as it looks. At Mad og Kaffe, you have the option to choose either 3, 5, or 7 plates from a long brunch menu. They have pretty much everything you could be craving. The three of us all agreed that the avocado with beet hummus was the winner, so don't skip out on that!

Livingstone:

This brunch is very similar in concept to Mad og Kaffe except there is only an option to order 5 or 7 small plates. I made the mistake of not looking at the pricing before I ordered and realized afterwards that the 7 plates was only $5 more. The 5 plates was enough food, but the brunch was so good, I could have definitely gone for more! In addition to the delicious food, Livingstone has outdoor seating right by the lakes. It's a wonderful way to start your day!

Sidecar:

In my opinion, Sidecar came in third. Don't get me wrong - it was still amazing, but Mad og Kaffe and Livingstone were next level! At Sidecar, you order a combination from a short menu and then a brunch buffet spread is included, as well. The decor was rustic chic, and I felt like I had been transported back to Brooklyn.

Lunch

Torvehallern:

This is your standard food market and where many travel guides say to eat in Copenhagen. Think Chelsea Market in NYC or Faneuil Hall in Boston. Yes, it's touristy, but it is absolutely worth going to. In addition to the market where you can pick up fresh meats, fish, cheese, vegetables, flowers, etc, you can also pick up souvenirs or grab a quick meal. They have everything from Smørrebrød (traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches) to tacos to pizza to sushi. There's something for everyone and it's a fun experience. You can also go for dinner, but just be aware that it closes at 7. PRO TIP: If you go to a bakery or chocolate shop right around then, sometimes they will send you home with the goodies they have to throw out 😉

Grød:

Before I dive into my love for Grød, I bucketed it under lunch, but it's also a great option for breakfast or even dinner. To give you some background, Grød is a "porridge bar." As they say, they are looking to redefine porridge, and to show the world that porridge can be delicious, delicate and versatile. And, I think they did an outstanding job! They have your basic morning porridge (oats, chia seeds, etc), but they also do savory porridge for lunch and dinner. For breakfast one morning, I got the oatmeal with apple-vanilla compote, caramel and roasted almonds. It was simple, but delicious. But, my absolute favorite dish was their Mushroom Barley-otto - it's a must! Make sure to go a location that's not part of a market, like Torvehallern, because it's just not the same experience. I went to the one on Jægersborrgade (a little too much). It's also a cute shopping street, so factor that into your planning!

Union Kitchen

You'll likely be visiting Nyhavn (waterfront district) - as you should! Keep in mind, it is extremely crowded and there are quite a few tourist traps. If you walk down the side streets, you'll find a number of restaurants that appeal more to locals. You know what that means - higher quality and lower prices. Union Kitchen isn't cheap, but if you're going to pay the price, you deserve a good meal! They are known for their Danish meatballs, but I was kind of obsessed with The Green Bowl I ordered. It had lentils, shaved broccoli, poached egg, sweet potato, etc. I so wish I could've gone back before I left! Regretfully, I forgot to take a photo during my meal.

Apartment 38:

Full disclaimer, don't go out of your way for Apartment 38. But, if you're craving a fresh salad, this is the place to go. It is a quaint cafe, distanced from the main tourist destinations. It's owned by a young girl in her twenties, and it's just a great low-key, quick spot to grab a delicious salad. Like most places, the ingredients are seasonal. When I went the salad was packed with avocado, cucumber, chicken, mozzarella, apple, and seeds. I could've eaten it every day! Right by Apartment 38 is Granny's House (also located in Torvehallen), which has fresh sandwiches, salads, and baked goods. We ate there a lot because their tomato pesto was amazing. While I preferred Apartment 38, Melanie liked Granny's House better. You can't go wrong with either!

Social: 

Like Livingstone, Social is also located right by the lakes and has outdoor seating. Again, I wouldn't go out of my way to go to Social, but it's another great place if you're looking for a good salad - can you tell I like salad? I ordered the beef teryaki salad, which I would highly recommend.

Reffen:

Reffen is similar in concept to Torvehallern in that it is also a food market. However, it is "street food" with 54 food trucks that offer cuisines from around the world. Reffen is across the water from The Little Mermaid in a part of Copenhagen you normally wouldn't see. It's also right near the Mikkeller brewery which could make for a fun afternoon!

 

Dinner

Mirabelle:

Hands down, this was my favorite dinner. Even more so than the Michelin Star restaurant we went to (Marv & Ben). Mirabelle was kind of an accident for us. We went to Bæst for pizza, but weren't getting good vibes. Famished, we ended up at Mirabelle right down the street. Mirabelle and Bæst are both owned by the same owner as the Michelen star restaurant Relae (which I really need to go to next time!). We both ordered the daily special which was beef, potatoes, carrots, and shallots in a citrus broth. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! I know it's a tall claim, but it was possibly the best meal of my life to date... and it cost roughly $25. Needless to say, it is one of the best restaurants in Copenhagen and you gotta go! Plus, it was right across from Brus, the awesome brewery our Airbnb host owns! Shameless plug! They also have a pasta tasting menu, which I would love to try another time.

Mother Pizza:

I feel like I'm doing a lot of raving in this Copenhagen food guide... and Mother Pizza is no exception. I'm making all of these tall claims, and Mother Pizza is right up there - one of the best pizzas I've ever had. Seriously. The fresh ingredients did not go unnoticed and I savored every bite. We each ate our own pizza, which was kind of comical. I'm not sure if the wait staff was impressed or horrified, but it happened. I say, pat on the back!

Gorilla:

Another spectacular meal, but quite different than Mirabelle and Mother. Unlike Mirabelle and Mother which are traditional Italian, Gorilla has an innovative tasting menu. For the tasting menu, we were served prosciutto, beef tartar, leeks, handmade pasta (this was my favorite!), and a sorbet.

Hanzo:

This was the only Asian meal we did the entire trip. We went with my new friend Astrid (you should follow her blog!) and did a tasting menu again. While I didn't love my main course (chicken curry), the rest was phenomenal! Like most restaurants, the menu changes based on seasonality. In fact, when Mel went back a week later, they had already switched it up. Assuming you go in the summer, order the rice paper roll appetizer, and if you are a chocolate lover like I am, the Jasmine chocolate dessert was so rich and heavenly!

Dessert:

Osterberg:

Oh man, I can't even express how much I miss Osterberg ice cream. In addition to standard flavors like chocolate or vanilla, they use seasonal ingredients around the world for new and different flavors. Expect to see flavors like jackfruit, dragon fruit, tamarind, or soursop. If you like refreshing, sorbet-like ice cream, then you have to go here! If you're going on an off-peak time (i.e. not summer), they offer ice cream making classes, which I would've loved to do.

Conditori La Glace:

This is the oldest and "probably best" confectionery according to their site. It's right off of the Strøget (the shopping street), so is a great mid-shopping snack if you're craving something sweet. They are known for their layer cakes, which is basically a whipped cream pie. I ordered The Sports Cake which consists of crushed nougat, whipped cream, a macaroon bottom and caramelized choux pastry. It was quite big, so I only ate half and brought the rest back to share with Melanie later. PRO TIP: If you get it to-go, they give you a cute little tote bag to take it home in, which makes for a great souvenir!

Meyers Bageri:

This was my favorite bakery, but mostly for the Kanelsnurre (Danish Cinnamon twists) because I actually preferred the Hindbærsnitte (raspberry tart) from Granny's House. Meyers Bageri is located right by Grød, so you can kill two birds with one stone! In addition to the bakery, there is also a Meyers Deli (I didn't end up going) and a location where you can take workshops and courses. They cooking school was on summer break while I was there, otherwise I would've booked a class in a heart beat! Unfortunately, I didn't have much self control and ate the pastries before taking a photo. You know what? No regrets!

Coffee Collective:

Hands down, the best coffee ice cream.  Ever. They serve their soft-serve ice cream topped with ground coffee. It's not to be missed! They only serve their ice cream at certain locations, so keep that in mind. The Coffee Collective at Torvehallen definitely serves it.

Well, I can't say I've ever written this much in my life! If you couldn't tell by my enthusiasm, the food was probably the highlight of my trip (that, and meeting Astrid!). I hope you find this guide to the best restaurants in Copenhagen helpful and feel free to leave any questions. Please do let me know if you are going to Copenhagen and planning to visit any of these best restaurants in Copenhagen!