Culinary Delights in Copenhagen

The term ‘new Nordic cuisine’ continues to captivate food enthusiasts around the globe. Consequently, any gourmet worth their salt (preferably French fleur de sel) places Copenhagen high on their food-fancying holiday itinerary.

As of 2018, the Danish capital boasts 15 Michelin-starred restaurants (12 holding one star, two holding two stars, and one, Geranium, holding three). Furthermore, with the recent reopening of the reinvented new-Nordic legend noma at its new location overlooking the free-spirited Christiania, Copenhagen’s influence on the culinary world stage continues to grow.

What has propelled this city from its traditional pork-and-potatoes cuisine to becoming a culinary powerhouse? A key factor is the new generation of chefs, many of whom trained under some of the most renowned culinary masters worldwide.

These chefs have harnessed their experiences, melding them with a commitment to enhancing Denmark’s local raw ingredients—such as exceptional pork, game, seafood, root vegetables, and berries—while emphasizing seasonal produce. This approach manifests in noma’s owner-chef René Redzepi’s avoidance of all non-local ingredients (no olive oil, for instance, nor tomatoes), and his playful use of often-overlooked foods like pulses and grains while foraging for fresh herbs. While techniques are executed to perfection, they never overshadow the predominant flavors.

Tasting Copenhagen

Despite the buzz surrounding high-end restaurants such as Geranium and noma—and new Nordic cuisine in general—this isn’t necessarily reflective of everyday dining in Denmark. So, where can visitors go in Copenhagen to experience a more authentic picture of Danish culinary traditions?

Smørrebrød

The nearly-unpronounceable smørrebrød is Denmark’s famous open sandwich, typically made with a slice of rye bread topped with roast beef, smoked salmon, pickled herring, liver pâté, or fried fish fillet, completed with an array of garnishes. Notably, the final creation often looks too stunning to eat. Generally served only at lunchtime, top locations for enjoying smørrebrød include traditional Schønemann and the more modern Aamanns, the latter offering both takeaway and dine-in options. Pro-tip: Attempt to pronounce smørrebrød as “SMUHR-bruth,” but don’t fret if your pronunciation doesn’t align with that of a local Danish speaker.

Pastries

With numerous locations around the city—including one at the airport and another on Strøget—Lagkagehuset is a bakery chain offering all the buttery, carb-loading delights you can imagine. Be sure to try rugbrød (rye bread); however, many visitors flock here for the sweet pastries. While termed ‘Danish pastries’ globally, they are referred to as wienerbrød (literally, ‘Vienna bread’) in Denmark.

Seafood

Situated in Copenhagen’s trendy ‘Meatpacking District,’ Kødbyens Fiskebar has sparked considerable interest since its debut nearly a decade ago and is a favorite among noma’s René Redzepi. The menu highlights the origins of all its seafood, featuring selections from Greenlandic snow crab to Danish Limfjord oysters and mussels. This spot also serves as a great place to savor Danish white wine (yes, it exists!).

Hot Dogs

A quintessential Danish street food is the pølser (hot dog in a bun), sold from ubiquitous pølser vogn (hot dog carts). DØP is arguably the finest in Copenhagen, offering delectable organic hot dogs for every palate, whether you prefer a traditional taste or a creative vegan alternative. Find their cart conveniently located next to Rundetårn.