Copenhagen: My Ultimate Guide
Here are my insider tips for where to eat, sleep, and play
Copenhagen is my second home. I was born in NYC and grew up in America, but my dad is Danish and therefore I am a dual citizen. I moved to Copenhagen when I was 18 to study my bachelors and then my masters. It’s the city where I started my career, first fell deep in love, and got my first apartment(s). It’s a city that has deeply shaped who I am and has me coming back time after time because so many of my favorite people live there.
It’s also an incredible hub for food.
In my 10 some years of living in Copenhagen, I have tirelessly tried everything this little city has to offer. I experienced it as a poor student, as a fine dining nerd, and now as someone working on food system transformation. No matter who you are or what you’re into, it has something delicious to offer you.
I recommend going May - September. The rest of the year is dark and reliably rainy. If that’s what you’re into, it can be fun but from spring to late autumn, Copenhagen and its residents show off their best sides. The weather is also super volatile so always plan to pack layers.
You can check out my other city guides for Colombia, Portugal, Mexico, and NYC here (Note: paid subscribers get full access. Upgrade here). You can read more about how I like to travel here to see if we share the same tastes here.
BREAD & PASTRIES
Bread & pastries are deeply ingrained in Scandinavian culture. When I visit, my daily bread consumption goes up 250%. It’s normal for someone to bring cake to work nearly every day and you will notice parents primarily giving their kids buns as a snack. So, if you get hungry while walking around I suggest you duck into a bakery for coffee & pastries. Make sure you also try a dish or buy a loaf of rye bread (rugbrød).
Brød: I’m a die hard fan of their olive bread
Il Buco: Best croissants in the city and highly recommend a sourdough bun with cheese and butter (super Danish breakfast). This is right next to the Copenhagen harbor so also good for a walk.
Darcy’s Kaffe: My fav place to cowork for the day over multiple cups of coffee
Seks: The owners of this bakery and eatery have traveled the world and written multiple cookbooks about their adventures. The menu reflects their stories and everything is delicious!
Hart Bakery: Many would argue this is the best bakery in Copenhagen
AMAR
Alice
Juno the Bakery: their cardamom buns are to do die for! Check out this episode with their lead baker Noah Erhun. We discuss the importance of heritage grains.
COFFEE:
Prolog: located in the meatpacking district, they take coffee very seriously
Kaffeplantagen: they have a few locations throughout the city and are a reliable place to go. Riccos’s is also a chain that’s pretty good!
Original Coffee at the top of Illum department store: this location will give you a view of the city at no cost!
Rist: this little coffee shop is located on one of the cutest streets of Copenhagen
April Coffee: if you are an absolute coffee nerd, you have to go here. It’s expensive, but their baristas will show you a side of coffee you’ve never seen before.
Pauldan Bog Cafe: I can’t say the food or coffee is good here, but its a bookstore and very charming. It’s also between a lot of attractions and a nice place to rest. I used to study here every week so holds lots of nostalgia. If books are your vibe, you’ll want to take a pause here.
Coffee Collective: It’s mandatory for me to get a cappucino from one of their many locations across the city. Listen to the podcast I did with Founder Klaus Thomsen on sustainability in coffee:
The next section is available to paid subscribers only and includes recommendations for dining, cocktail bars, wine bars, activities, museums, undercover gems, where to sit and enjoy the city, how to get around, and places to stay. Upgrade to access the entire guide.