Food · Copenhagen · Denmark
What to eat in Copenhagen
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Copenhagen, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Moahim, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Smørrebrød, Danish pastries and Danish hot dog. The glass market halls at Nørreport combine smørrebrød counters, fishmongers, bakeries and coffee bars, the easiest place to sample Danish food in one stop. Service is included in Danish prices, and tap water is usually served free on request.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Smørrebrød
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- Service is included in Danish prices, so tipping is not expected.
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Dish
1.Smørrebrød
Open sandwiches on dense rye bread topped with pickled herring, roast pork, egg and shrimp or potato with crispy onions, eaten with a knife and fork. Tradition says herring first, then other fish, then meat and cheese.
Where: Traditional lunch restaurants in Indre By and Nyhavn, and modern counters at Torvehallerne.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
2.Danish pastries (Wienerbrød)
Laminated butter pastries that Danes call 'Viennese bread': the cinnamon swirl (kanelsnegl), the custard-filled spandauer and the poppy-seed tebirkes.
Where: Bakeries across the city, many with queues out of the door on weekend mornings.
Street food
3.Danish hot dog (Pølse)
A red sausage or a ristet (grilled) hot dog from a pølsevogn, topped with remoulade, ketchup, mustard, crispy fried onions and sliced pickled cucumber.
Where: Sausage wagons on Strøget, City Hall Square and near stations.
Dish
4.Stegt flæsk med persillesovs
Crisp fried pork belly with boiled potatoes and creamy parsley sauce, chosen as Denmark's national dish in a public vote.
Where: Traditional Danish restaurants and lunch places (frokostrestauranter).
Dish
5.Pickled herring (Sild)
Herring pickled in vinegar, curry, mustard or sherry marinades, served on rye with onion and capers as the traditional first course of a Danish lunch.
Where: Lunch restaurants and Christmas lunches (julefrokost); delis sell jars to take home.
Dish
6.Frikadeller
Pan-fried pork and veal meatballs, flatter than Swedish meatballs, served with potatoes and brown gravy or cold on rye bread.
Where: Traditional restaurants, lunch places and bakery-delis.
Bakery · Vegetarian
7.Rugbrød
Dense, dark sourdough rye bread packed with whole grains and seeds, the base of smørrebrød and a staple of every Danish lunch.
Where: Bakeries and supermarkets; served with almost every lunch.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Æbleskiver
Round pancake balls dusted with icing sugar and dipped in jam, eaten with gløgg (mulled wine) in the weeks before Christmas.
Where: Christmas markets and cafés in November and December.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Koldskål
A cold, sweet buttermilk soup flavoured with vanilla and lemon, eaten with small crisp kammerjunker biscuits on summer days.
Where: Supermarket chill cabinets and cafés in summer.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Akvavit
A caraway- or dill-flavoured spirit (snaps), drunk ice-cold from small glasses alongside herring and smørrebrød, with a toast of 'skål'.
Where: Traditional lunch restaurants and bars; specialist shops sell bottles.
Drink · Vegetarian
11.Danish beer
Copenhagen is the home of Carlsberg and of many craft breweries; seasonal Christmas beers in November and Easter brews (påskebryg) in spring are local favourites.
Where: Brewpubs and beer bars in Vesterbro and Nørrebro, and any café or bar.
Food experiences
Lunch at Torvehallerne
The glass market halls at Nørreport combine smørrebrød counters, fishmongers, bakeries and coffee bars, the easiest place to sample Danish food in one stop.
Street food at Reffen
Reffen on Refshaleøen gathers dozens of food stalls in shipping containers by the harbour, usually from spring to autumn; cycle there or take the harbour bus.
New Nordic dining
Copenhagen helped launch New Nordic cuisine built on seasonal, local ingredients; top tasting menus need booking months ahead, but many bistros apply the same ideas at lower prices.
Bakery morning
Danish bakeries open early; join the queue for a cardamom bun (kardemommebolle) or a cinnamon swirl and a coffee before the day starts.
Quick bites and street food
- Danish pastries — Bakeries across the city, many with queues out of the door on weekend mornings.
- Danish hot dog — Sausage wagons on Strøget, City Hall Square and near stations.
- Rugbrød — Bakeries and supermarkets; served with almost every lunch.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Danish pastries, Rugbrød, Æbleskiver, Koldskål, Akvavit and Danish beer. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Service is included in Danish prices, and tap water is usually served free on request.
- Many places are card-only; carry a contactless card or phone rather than relying on cash.
- Smørrebrød is a lunch dish, and many traditional lunch restaurants close by late afternoon.
- Danes eat dinner earlier than southern Europeans, from about 6pm; book popular places a few days ahead.
- Eating out is expensive, so lunch menus, food halls and bakeries help keep costs down.
Tipping
Service is included in Danish prices, so tipping is not expected. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for exceptional restaurant service is appreciated but optional.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hej | Hi |
| Tak | Thanks |
| Tusind tak | Thanks a lot |
| Undskyld | Excuse me / sorry |
| Skål | Cheers |
| Farvel | Goodbye |
| Hygge | Cosy togetherness |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Copenhagen famous for?
Smørrebrød, Danish pastries, Danish hot dog and Stegt flæsk med persillesovs. Open sandwiches on dense rye bread topped with pickled herring, roast pork, egg and shrimp or potato with crispy onions, eaten with a knife and fork.
+Is Copenhagen good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Danish pastries, Rugbrød and Æbleskiver.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Copenhagen?
Service is included in Danish prices, so tipping is not expected. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for exceptional restaurant service is appreciated but optional.