Copenhagen: a city guide
Copenhagen is without a doubt one of my favourite European cities. The city is beautiful yet functional, clean safe, and easy to get around but also characterful and interesting. If you’re a fan of architecture and design, good food, and exploring a city on bike or foot, read on for my recommendations below…
To eat:
One of the most popular bakeries in Copenhagen, and for good reason. Visit early on weekends to beat the queue of hungry customers that will make the pilgrimage here for the best baked goods in the city. Alongside the sweetest, stickiest, softest cardamom buns you’ll ever encounter, you’ll find a tempting array of home baked cakes and pastries also on offer that are all worth trying.
A slick and stylish eatery situated inside Frama Studio Store (a homewares shop and apothecary) Apotek 57 provides a welcoming, minimal space that design lovers would enjoy. You’ll find a daily-changing and seasonal menu of cooked dishes and pastries here, including tasty dishes such as savoury Belgian waffle topped with herby creme fraiche and soft boiled egg, and Turkish eggs with chill yoghurt.
A café as famous for its Instagrammable Scandi-cool interiors as it is for its food. Here you’ll find a pared-back menu featuring breakfast classics: perfectly sliced avocado on toast sprinkled with chives and salt, boiled egg with rye bread, soft sourdough with delicious cheese and whipped butter…simple but fresh food served in a minimalist and cosy environment.
Located within the courtyard of the historic Kunsthal Charlottenborg (an arts and culture institution) and just steps away from bustling Nyhavn, Apollo Bar is an artsy bar space that has tables spilling into the nearby courtyard. The menu features a selection of sharing plates at dinner time that are fresh and seasonal: cacio and pepe butter beans, seabass and goji berry ceviche, and grilled peppers were some of the delicious dishes we tried here. There’s also an all-day brunch menu served during the day, and you’ll often find live gigs and events happening the courtyard while you enjoy your meal.
A laidback all-day cafe located in the centre of town, Sonny serves a range of seasonal dishes everyday such as salads, smorrebord, and homemade cakes. It’s a good stop for a cup of coffee while exploring Copenhagen’s Old Town, and is steps away from historic Magstræde (one of the oldest streets in the city).
Step into Vækst (located on the ground floor of Hotel SP34), and you’ll no doubt be blown away by the interiors: this light-filled space feels industrial but homely, and is filled with plants, hanging lights and an incredible greenhouse-like construction. The food here only seems to echo this: expect plate after plate of delicious and seasonal cuisine, including lots of veggie-friendly options.
One of Copenhagen’s most established specialty coffee micro-chains, you’ll find a smattering of coffee shops by the Coffee Collective across the city, all serving up great coffee in relaxed environments. They also have a bakery in Norrebro called Collective Bakery, where you can find a wide array of homemade pastries, and which is well worth a visit.
Nestled on the outskirts of the city centre in the Refshalevej neighbourhood, Lille Bakery is a converted warehouse-like building, now filled with sharing tables that spill outside. Queue here for a selection of delicious sandwiches, foccacias and homemade cakes - make sure to get here early on weekends, as you’ll find stylish locals crowding the industrial space as soon as it opens.
The pace at this coffee shop in Norrebro is always buzzing: Andersen and Maillard churns out specialty coffee and homemade pastries from their in-house roastery and patisserie to hungry customers every day. Whilst they offer a simple breakfast and lunch menu (granola, toasted sandwiches), you really want to get here early for one of their homemade croissants, or even better, their chocolate kouign-amann: a flaky, crusty swirl of goodness.
The closest you’ll come to an Australian brunch cafe in Copenhagen, The Sixteen Twelve is a trendy spot located in Nørrebro on Jægersborggade, one of the hippest streets in the city. You’ll find colourful, hearty brunch options here, such as inventive twists on your classic avocado on toast and shakshuka,
A sleek restaurant that serves Nordic cuisine using fresh, Danish ingredients. You’ll find seasonal and elegant dishes here that are perfect for sharing and all at a reasonable price: this spot would be perfect for date night.
And more: GRØD the original porridge cafe for warming bowls of porridge sprinkled with tasty toppings, Original Coffee and Copenhagen Coffee Lab for specialty coffee, and Kompa ‘9 for Danish smørrebrød (open sandwiches) in a cosy environment.
To stay:
I’ve previously always stayed in Airbnbs while in Copenhagen, but on my most recent trip I stayed at Hotel SP34 which was located right in the city centre, and had a trendy, budget hotel vibe. It was fairly pricey given that it wasn’t particularly luxurious, but you can expect a young crowd here, along with perks such as happy hour every evening. Having seen photos (and heard lots of good things) about Nobis Hotel and Hotel Sanders, I’d happily book myself into either of these hotels on my next visit for a more luxurious experience.
To visit:
One of my favourite spots in the city, located right in the heart of Copenhagen. This tower is a classic example of minimal Scandi architecture, and you’ll get fantastic views once you get to the top.
One of the most architecturally fascinating places that I have ever visited. Although a bit further off the grid, Grundtvigs Kirke is a must-vist: from the outside, the church seems to stick out from its surrounding scenery like a ugly, sore thumb; but step inside and allow yourself to be awed by its expressionist architecture. Unlike any other traditional European church I’ve visited, Grundtvigs is stunningly minimal, and on a sunny day, the light floods into the space beautifully.
A canal tour:
Both times that I was in Copenhagen, one of my favourite things to do was take a boat tour of the canals. You’ll inevitably end up strolling along Nyhavn (the city’s famous colourful harbourside), where you’ll be able to book a reasonably-priced spot on a tour - for a more intimate and exclusive experience, you can book a private boat via Airbnb Experiences instead. On the tour you’ll get to explore a fair amount of the city by boat, and pass by architectural highlights such as the Royal Danish Playhouse and the Royal Palace.
More: The Botanical Gardens (a peaceful and beautiful garden located in the centre of Copenhagen - the greenhouse is beautiful for photos), Tivoli Gardens if you wish to indulge in some rollercoaster fun, HAY House (for beautiful Scandi homewares and design pieces), and Church of Our Saviour (the church tower has a spiral staircase winding around the outside, which you can climb for incredible views…just don’t go if you’re scared of heights!)
