Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, a harbour city known for Nyhavn, Tivoli Gardens, royal palaces, design, cycling and some of Europe's best restaurants.
Copenhagen's table mixes Danish tradition with the New Nordic movement. The classic lunch is smørrebrød, an open-faced sandwich on dense rye bread topped with herring, roast beef, fried plaice or liver pâté, usually washed down with a cold snaps and a lager. Street-food markets, bakeries famous for cinnamon swirls, and one of Europe's densest concentrations of Michelin stars round it out. A casual lunch costs about DKK 100-200 (about USD 16-31), a mid-range dinner about DKK 350-650 (about USD 54-101), and a tasting menu at a fine-dining house from DKK 2,500 (about USD 388).
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Copenhagen.
Smørrebrød
Open-faced sandwiches on rye with herring, roast beef with remoulade, or fried plaice. Ordered one at a time, typically two to three per person.
Where to try: Restaurant Schønnemann, Told & Snaps, Aamanns 1921, Torvehallerne
Price: DKK 90-190 (about USD 14-29) each
Stegt flæsk med persillesovs
Crispy pork belly with parsley sauce and boiled potatoes, often called the Danish national dish.
Where to try: Det Lille Apotek and traditional inns
Price: DKK 150-250 (about USD 23-39)
Frikadeller
Pan-fried Danish meatballs served with potatoes, gravy and pickled red cabbage.
Where to try: Det Lille Apotek and Danish lunch restaurants
Price: DKK 130-220 (about USD 20-34)
Rødgrød med fløde
A thick red berry compote served with cream, a traditional summer dessert.
Where to try: Traditional restaurants and Torvehallerne stalls
Price: DKK 50-90 (about USD 8-14)
Kanelsnegl and Wienerbrød
Cinnamon swirls and laminated pastries, known abroad as Danish pastry.
Where to try: Hart Bageri, Juno the Bakery
Price: DKK 40-70 (about USD 6-11)
Pølse (Danish hot dog)
A red or brown sausage in a bun with remoulade, ketchup, mustard and fried onions, sold from sausage wagons.
Where to try: Pølsevogn stands around Rådhuspladsen and Nørreport
Price: DKK 40-65 (about USD 6-10)
Snaps
Flavoured aquavit drunk cold in small glasses with herring and smørrebrød.
Where to try: Told & Snaps, Restaurant Schønnemann
Price: DKK 50-90 (about USD 8-14) per glass
Risalamande
Cold rice pudding with whipped cream, almonds and warm cherry sauce, a Christmas dessert.
Where to try: Traditional restaurants in December
Price: DKK 60-100 (about USD 9-16)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
New Nordic
American
Bistro
Brasserie
Café
Danish Café
European
Experimental Tasting Menu
Porridge
Seafood
Food tours & tastings in Copenhagen
Eat your way through Copenhagen with a guide.
Browse food experiences in CopenhagenWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Reffen Street Food
Seasonal waterfront market on Refshaleøen with international stalls, bars and harbour views.
Find it at: Refshalevej 167A, 2300 København S; typically mid-March to end September, from about 12:00 PM
Broens Gadekøkken
Stalls at the Christianshavn end of the Inner Harbour Bridge, with benches on the water.
Find it at: Strandgade 95, 1401 København K
Pølsevogn (sausage wagons)
Traditional hot dog wagons found at Rådhuspladsen, Nørreport and many squares; open into the late evening.
Find it at: Rådhuspladsen, 1550 København V
Hija de Sanchez taco counter
Tacos with hand-made corn tortillas inside Torvehallerne.
Find it at: Frederiksborggade 21, 1360 København K
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Torvehallerne KBH
Two glass halls with about 60 stalls selling smørrebrød, seafood, cheese, produce, pastries and coffee.
Hours: Typically Mon-Thu 10:00 AM-7:00 PM, Fri 10:00 AM-8:00 PM, Sat 10:00 AM-6:00 PM, Sun 11:00 AM-5:00 PM; Frederiksborggade 21, next to Nørreport station
Reffen
Seasonal outdoor street-food market on the harbour.
Hours: Typically mid-March to end September, daily from about 12:00 PM-10:00 PM; Refshalevej 167A
Broens Gadekøkken
Waterfront street-food stalls beside the Inner Harbour Bridge.
Hours: Listed as daily from about 11:30 AM-10:00 PM; Strandgade 95; confirm seasonal hours at broensgadekokken.dk
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch is usually served 11:30 AM-3:00 PM and dinner from 5:30 PM; many smørrebrød restaurants close before 5:00 PM and some are closed on Sundays.
Service charge and VAT are included in menu prices and tipping is not expected; rounding up the bill is appreciated.
Book fine-dining restaurants such as Geranium, Kadeau and Alchemist weeks or months ahead through their websites.
Cards and mobile payment are accepted almost everywhere; many stalls and cafés do not take cash.
Smørrebrød is ordered one piece at a time; two to three pieces make a lunch.
Tap water is safe and free on request at restaurants.
Seasonal markets such as Reffen close in winter, so check opening dates before travelling.
- Vegetarian
- Easy: most restaurants list vegetarian dishes, and Geranium builds its tasting menu around vegetables; Grød Torvehallerne and Manfreds are vegetable-forward.
- Vegan
- Widely available in Nørrebro and Vesterbro; ask at Manfreds, Bæst and the Torvehallerne stalls.
- Gluten free
- Understood in most restaurants; say "glutenfri". Traditional smørrebrød uses rye bread, so ask for a substitute.
- Halal
- Halal restaurants cluster in Nørrebro and Vesterbro; check the menu and ask staff, since pork features in many Danish dishes.
- Kosher
- Kosher food is limited in central Copenhagen; contact the Jewish Community of Copenhagen (mosaiskasamfund.dk) before the trip.
- Allergies
- Restaurants must declare the main allergens on request; say "Jeg er allergisk over for" followed by the allergen.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | DKK 80-160 (about USD 12-25) per meal | A hot dog from a sausage wagon, a pastry and coffee from a bakery, street food at Reffen or Broens Gadekøkken, or a taco at Torvehallerne. |
| Mid-range | DKK 250-500 (about USD 39-78) per meal | Smørrebrød lunch at Schønnemann or Told & Snaps, or a dinner at Barr, Manfreds or Bæst. |
| Upscale | DKK 2,500-4,500 (about USD 388-698) per meal | A tasting menu at Kadeau, Geranium or Alchemist; check each restaurant website for the current menu price. |