In Denmark's capital, there are more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita than in any other city in the world.
But beyond fine dining, the Danes simply love food - whether it's traditional dishes, hot dogs, or delicious cakes. For anyone passionate about gastronomy and restaurants, Copenhagen is the place to be.
Oysters & Grill
The first stop is Oysters & Grill in Nørrebro. This vibrant and youthful district is full of students, boasts a low average age, charming cafés, and late-night bars. You'll find small immigrant-owned shops and shawarma stands. Walking down Nørrebrogade, one of the main streets, and turning right onto Sjællandsgade, you’ll spot Oysters & Grill on the left. This two-story restaurant specializes in seafood and grilled dishes. Online reservations are essential - canceling outside the allowed timeframe will incur a fee, a smart rule that offers restaurateurs better planning reliability.
Simple white plates sit on colorful plastic tablecloths with floral patterns. A large swordfish hangs on the back wall. The service is cheerful and friendly, which seems to be a refreshing default in Copenhagen. The Dark & Stormy served as an aperitif is so excellent that you’ll likely order a second, despite the steep price. Alcohol is comparatively expensive in Denmark.
We ordered oysters: Poésie, Roumegous Spéciale, and Gillardeau Spéciale. Then came ceviche with mango and cilantro, steak tartare, and spareribs with lime, garlic, and rosemary. Oysters & Grill is the kind of place you easily fall in love with, remember fondly, and want to return to again and again. While the food is exceptional, it’s the overall experience - the evening’s atmosphere and the eclectic mix of diners - that makes it unforgettable. Alongside couples enjoying dinner, we spotted a distinguished family relishing their seafood platter with quiet delight, and right next to us, a group of heavy metal foodies who could have just come from Wacken Open Air.
Torvehallerne
Torvehallerne, the market halls near the central Nørreport station, are another must-visit. Over 60 stalls offer baked goods, meat, spices, tea, fresh fish, wine, and chocolate. There's a strong emphasis on craftsmanship: a butcher carves meat on a wooden block, and knives are sharpened at a dedicated stand.
A highlight here is Hallernes Smørrebrød, offering a fantastic variety of the iconic Danish open-faced sandwiches. Trivial as it may sound, these are works of art with toppings ranging from shrimp, pâté, and pickled herring to salmon, Danish meatballs, and curried chicken. In Denmark, these "butter sandwiches" are crafted with a level of care reminiscent of Japan’s meticulous culinary presentation. Smørrebrød is worlds apart from the hastily prepared rolls at German bakeries, where delicious toppings are drowned under cheap mayo and soggy tomato slices.
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Hija de Sanchez
Just outside the halls, near the fruit and vegetable stands, lies another gem: Hija de Sanchez, a taqueria founded in 2015 by Rosio Sanchez, the former pastry chef at René Redzepi's world-renowned Noma. Her tacos set an impressive standard. The menu rotates daily with three different fillings, but the real magic lies in the fresh tortilla dough, a far cry from supermarket tortillas.
The cheerful staff presses the yellow tortilla dough through a roller and grills the tortillas on a hotplate, filling them with delicious toppings. A dash of habanero sauce - mild or fiery, depending on your preference - completes the perfect taco. Pair it with a margarita, and you'll have a sublime time at the simple wooden tables in front of the market halls.
The Standard - Almanak
The Almanak is located in the stunning The Standard building near the Inderhavn Bridge and Nyhavn. Painted in two shades of petrol with a rounded corner on one end, the building houses four distinct dining concepts: the fine-dining STUD!O, Mission, which offers Mediterranean cuisine with Californian influences, an exclusive private dining room, and the Danish bistro Almanak.
Calling Almanak a bistro is classic Scandinavian understatement. In its long dining room with large windows, guests can choose between three- and five-course menus in the evening, which can be expanded with additional courses. The dishes showcase seasonal ingredients, from smoked scallops and poached cod from Langø with new Danish potatoes, lemon mayo, and wild garlic to grilled white asparagus with browned butter and pickled white currants. Dessert might include aged Danish cheese with caramelized quince compote, all prepared in the open kitchen. Almanak offers fine dining at its best in a relaxed and typically Danish atmosphere. At lunchtime, they serve a beautiful selection of Smørrebrød, which can be enjoyed on the waterfront terrace when the weather is nice.
And yes, we visited Noma. But no, we didn’t eat there—there simply wasn’t a table available. Like reverent pilgrims, we walked through the ramparts of Christianshavn in rainy weather to reach the quiet, waterside location that feels almost rural. We caught a glimpse of the long building, flanked on one side by greenhouses and garden beds where busy chefs were already at work.
It was clear: next time, we’ll dine there. Definitely.
Photo Credits Oysters & Grill | Chris Tonnesen, Nick Karvounis, Unsplash | Jay Wennington, Unsplash | Krisztian Tabori, Unsplash