Copenhagen: A town caught in between traditional castles, orderly house fronts and over-the-top amazing cafés. Ask me where to eat in Copenhagen and this is what I will guide you to: organic pizzerias, traditional sweets, diverse street food, homey hummus and handmade ice cream. (Stay tuned for more on delectable breakfast spots and traditional candy manufacturers.)

Where to Eat in Copenhagen:

After my second third visit to Copenhagen, I confirm that city life can’t get much better (except for the prices maybe).  This large town is covered in (other than bikes of course) individual and innovative cafés. Every second one has avocado toast on their menu, which seems to be a long-time ordinary meal and not some new hype that proves who you are. Copenhagen’s nordic kitchen is popular with meat, which might be why the vegans had extra reason to expand their offers: Now you can find plant-based foods as juicy pizzas, gluten-free pancakes, handmade ice cream, raw cuisine and hot porridge!  Lastly the amount of organic eateries is tremendous. (I marked them with an º below). This movement is thanks to the government, who is aiming to make the country’s whole agriculture organic and sustainable.

Despite of wanting to try every cool café (which would take a life time), three days is great start to experience this capital. As cozy as it is, I could walk anywhere I wanted. Still, cycling on your own lane through the city is a worthy experience too. But back to the food in Copenhagen. Below you will find my first collection of recommendations for where to eat in Copenhagen. Check the  exchange rate, you will want to know where to wisely invest your dough.

Neighbourhood Pizza: º

This organic pizzeria describes their craft as “salad on dough”.  The crispy, light and airy base is topped with juicy, fresh and pickled ingredients. A little pile of salad is always included on top. As their second specialty, Neighbourhood is a cocktail bar.  You can enjoy the mixes in the entrance area with some nibbles or alongside the crispy pizza for dinner. I recommend the latter, because the changing pizza menu surprises me every visit again. Their creations are just unique and delectable. Inside you’ll sit in dim lighting at rustic wooden community tables (loudish music inside, but perfect people watching outside).  Check the menu here.

(Istedgade 27, Vesterbro // organic, vegan options // Mo-Fr from 17:00, Sa-Su from 10 (for pizza brunch))

Danish Ice Cream (Vaffelbageren):

Google can show us Copenhagen’s “best ice creams”. I don’t agree with most . . . but some, like Vaffelbageren. It is a real experience to sit at the idyllic new harbor (aka Nyhavn), splattered with a paint box of house fronts, and try to finish this traditional Danish ice cream. The smallest portion includes two large fluffy scoops in a freshly baked and imprinted bright brown waffle, with whipped cream, a dollop of jam and possibly a flødeboller (chocolate covered cream puff).

(In Nyhavn // from 10-24:00)

that's only one side of the corner

that soft ice is real

I made them give me half the scoop, it's usually twice the size ;)

Papirøen:

This old paper factory has been turned into a lively hotspot for international street food. You can find anything from vegan gourmet pizza and raw rice-paper veggie rolls,  to burgers of pulled duck or shrimp, fish’n’chips or moroccan flatbread (this line filled up the whole aisle!). Inside it is quite dim, but with a cozy industrial flair.  If Copenhagen skies allow it, outside is even better where you can let your feet dangle and enjoy a view across town.

(Across from Nyhavn // many dietary options // 12-21/22:00)

Rice Paper Rolls

the most amazing veggie and vegan pizza

Meyer’s Bageri: º

They bake the best Kanelsnurre (lit. cinnamon swirl) that I have found so far and there is no reason to keep looking. The baker told me:

“Danish pastries are very sweet and very rich, they have to be enjoyed, bit by bit, next to your morning coffee.”.  

And it would be a shame to not appreciate them. I claim to love cinnamon rolls but am usually disappointed.  Not the slightest at Meyer’s Bageri . These are soft, super doughy and and like the fudgiest brownie – except as a cinnamon roll.  Please just try for yourself! Another of their specialties I fell in love with the Høj Snegle (literally means high snail). It is a taller version, made with flaky pastry dough (instead of yeast dough) and topped with chocolate. I would describe it as a fusion of pain au chocolate and cinnamon roll.  Now to sum up: I think I’d recommend the flaky one as an afternoon treat and the traditional Kanelsnurr to calmly start a weekday morning.

(Their couple locations // come early they sell out fast)

Morgenstedet: º

Amid Christiana, Morgenstedet is a volunteer based vegetarian/vegan eatery. They have a selection of fresh salads, soup and two warm dishes of the day. But even just get the bread and hummus, those especially surprised me. The bread was soft, doughy and flavourfully baked with a heap of delectable chickpea mush. The atmosphere is very friendly, modest and unflappable to the homeless people plucking their garden. We sat inside  – quite homey – watching the rain pour down, but on the occasional sunny day I can imagine the encircled wooden tables to be just as wonderful.

(In Christiania // daily 12-21:00 except Mondays)

Nice Cream: º

I craved Nice Cream’s açai bowl the whole trip. But when the time came to splurge, their peanut butter bowl beat the battle. I would describe it as half ice cream, half smoothie topped with seedy granola, fresh coconut, berries and fruit. So scrummy. Next time up is the ice cream sandwiches: The two spanish girls next to us exchanged astounded looks after biting into theirs.  Not to forget is that all is organic, vegan and homemade – except if that scares you off then forget I said it.

(Elmegade 30, Norrebro // organic, vegan, handmade // 11am-9pm)