The Monthly Bite: Best New Openings in Copenhagen Vol. 3

Copenhagen loves to eat: let’s start there. The vibrant Danish capital and its residents, both Danes and the rest of us, are always searching for a great restaurant, café, bar, or brunch spot that can take care of our gastronomic needs.

But being in constant search of the hottest eatery does not necessarily mean you know about food. I have lived in Copenhagen for over nine months (not to mention the many visits before) and I see its culinary scene from three perspectives: a natural one as a food lover from Peru; a professional one as a chef and food writer/blogger; and an external one as a curious immigrant that wants to understand the culture.

The amount of burgers consumed in this town is ridiculous. On top of that, people eat them with knife and fork; a burger is one of those foods meant to be eaten with your hands! Sure, a burger can be absolutely delicious, but it is not a meal, period (Editor’s note: Daniel’s opinions are his own and do not reflect those of Scandinavia Standard).


With the Monthly Bite I want to prove that Copenhagen has so much more to offer than what’s fast and easy. I encourage you to open your mind and palate to explore the featured eateries this month: two brunch spots, one so-under-the-radar hotel restaurant and Vesterbro’s hottest opening.


Here are the best new openings in Copenhagen:

The Sixteen Twelve

THE king of the brunch scene in Copenhagen! 
Having opened their doors less than three months ago, this next-level brunch spot in one of the coolest streets in Copenhagen, Jægersborggade, has already changed the game. I remember the times when I lived in Stockholm and came to Copenhagen every month in search of the hottest brunch place. I had a little obsession, as I love eggs and all things brunch. Stockholm’s brunch scene is small but growing, so coming to Copenhagen was heaven for me.

And then I tried The Sixteen Twelve. What the fuck, man, those guys are wild!
 The idealistic minds behind this project are Gareth, Rhys and André. 
Gareth, from Wales, is the coffee and service master with a background on cocktails and nighttime service.

Prior to this project he was the boss behind the bar at Nimb Hotel. Thanks to his welcoming nature, the customer service is top-notch; truly the best you’ll find in Copenhagen.

Rhys, the chef, is also from Wales and has a background in baking and bar management. On my first visit I had the pleasure to talk to Rhys about food and lemme tell ya’ll, the man has a passion that we all need. He was kind enough to show us the process of making the pickled red cabbage. A one-metre-tall bucket filled with vibrantly red/purple cabbage soaking in its juices: mind-blowing to see! He explained the whole process with such enthusiasm, I was moved. I love passionate people.

For the food, 
I will let my photos speak for themselves. Now all you need to do is go to the Sixteen Twelve as soon as possible!

The Sixteen Twelve

Jægersborggade 8 KL TH,
2200 København


Opening hours: 

Mon & Tues closed

Weds – Sun 8:00 am – 4:00 pm



Bista


Another awesome brunch opening in town, and perhaps one of the coolest spots in Nordvest. 
Run by two young Nepalese chefs, Bista features an extensive menu dedicated to more advanced breakfast and brunch treats. The cafe is rapidly becoming a favorite among the locals in the area.


When biking to the place and immersing into the quiet streets of a rather calm neighborhood, I began to doubt if I had typed in the right location. Bista is located right in the middle of a street where the only other business is a supermarket (although it is nearby to the wonderful BEHOV pizza).

Bista opened a month ago, but both the food and the service feel more experienced than that. Both co-founder chefs have worked in several kitchens in Copenhagen, translating their knowledge into a creative menu that showcases classic and creative dishes.


The plate that got my palate’s attention was the fried egg with pork belly and homemade kimchi. Just wow! I never could have conceived adding kimchi to my fried egg. I don’t love kimchi so I was skeptical, but boy was I wrong. 
The pork belly is a glorious bite in-and-of itself. This one was crispy and juicy, complimenting the rich runny egg yolk: really amazing in its simplicity. The kimchi balanced it all in a way that is necessary for me to be able to really enjoy a dish. 
The rest of the menu is an almost never-ending list of well-composed, adventurous, colorful, healthy, and, most importantly, delicious brunch foods.


Bista

Smedetoften 25
2400 København

Opening hours:

Mon – Sun 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

NOI by Nobis

Have you heard about the restaurant at the Nobis Hotel? …
Well, neither had I, and what a shame! Noi is one of those hidden gems that every single Københavner should know about. 

In a total of three magnificent visits (two dinners and one brunch), my jaw dropped at how good this restaurant really is: food, service, cocktails, decor, you name it!
 The philosophy of Noi is very simple: they source the best possible ingredients and produce some of the best bites in Copenhagen’s dining scene – mark my words.


Their homemade sourdough bread with whipped butter is just divine. 
A classic in the Mediterranean: “gambas, ajo y pejerjil:” my life is complete. Shrimps fried in a LOT of garlic, parsley and olive oil. *Chef’s kiss!*


Another killer dish is the raw beef, so finely sliced and paired with pickled white onions, greens, and watercress emulsion. The experience at Noi is playful and relaxed; it’s refined but not snobby. I really love that! Hats off to the entire team at Noi. Yes, sometimes a food experience makes me emotional, as this one dud; please allow yourself to experience the same!

NOI by Nobis

HC Andersens Boulevard 34
1553 København V

Opening Hours:
Breakfast
Mon – Fri 6:30 am – 10:30 am

Sat – Sun 8:00 am – 11:00 am


Dinner: 
Tues – Thurs. 6:00 pm – Midnight (Kitchen closes at 10:00 pm)

Fri – Sat 6:00 pm – Midnight (Kitchen closes at 11:00 pm)

Restaurant Tolv

This place is a pearl in Vesterbro. Opened in August 2019, and almost instantly given a 5 out of 6 star review by Politiken, Restaurant Tolv is literally in every foodie’s mouth these days.

It’s not just hype. Lemme tell ya: diners were wowed all around this fine dining with a down-to-earth eatery on Enghave Plads, one of the hottest locations in the neighborhood.

Restaurant Tolv is a Scandinavian restaurant, clearly focused on seasonality of produce, nerdy wine knowledge, haute cuisine techniques, and inspired by other countries. They’ve thought of everything: food, decor, service, wine list, location. 
On top of that, they have made sure to hire professionals to handle a key side on food businesses nowadays-often forgotten: their digital presence! It’s so important in communicating their mission and vision.

As for the food (you know, the good stuff): every dish I had was on-point. It felt like elevated comfort food. You could clearly see the ingredients and recognize them, but each and every one was so fresh and had been treated with such respect that the flavors just popped. 
My favorite dish was the new potatoes with lovage, pickled chanterelles, roasted sourdough from Brød bageri, and Tomme cheese from Møn.

Are you a skeptic like me when it comes to food? Don’t take my word for it – go there yourself. I promise you’re in for a treat.

Disclosure: Daniel was invited to this meal. All opinions are his own.

Restaurant Tolv

Enghave Plads 12,
1670 København V

Opening Hours:
Tues – Sat 5:30 pm – Midnight

Best new restaurant, bar, and café openings in Copenhagen 2019:

Want more of the best Copenhagen restaurants, bars, and cafés?