Top Restaurants Near Me: Copenhagen's Best Places to Eat & Drink in 2023

Want to know where to eat in Copenhagen? The list is almost too long. How about where to drink? The list is even longer! Copenhagen has no shortage of great spots to nosh or imbibe, and the best part is that there are new places opening all the time. If you haven’t had a chance to check them all out yet, we’ve compiled a list of the best recently-opened restaurants, bars, and cafes, so you can tick them off your list as you move through 2020.

These are the best new restaurants, cafes, and bars in Copenhagen:

Best New Restaurants in Copenhagen

Yolkie Egg Joint

A new eatery in Nørrebro, named after the humble egg yolk, is a must-try. We recommend it all, but the cheeseburger with caramelized onions, pickles, double cheddar cheese, chipotle ketchup, dijonnaise and a perfectly fried sunny-side-up egg in a warm brioche bun is heavenly!

Their eggs are organic and free-range, so is the meat. The decor of the place is funky, inspired by a classic burger joint in the U.S. but with its own Nørrebro twist. And for my Insta fam out there: the food is photogenic. So whether you’re in it for the food or the gram, your eyes and stomach will be pleased. Maybe a little too much.

Yolkie Egg Joint

Jagtvej 76, st th
2200 København N

Opening hours:
Every day 9:00 am – 9:00 pm

Aster

The king of vegan cafes and eateries in Copenhagen, period!  Aster is the rebirth of Acacia, a plant-based café that made its appearance in Copenhagen’s food scene two years ago and revolutionized the way the city interacts with vegan food.

Now called Aster, the cafe reopened in July 2019. Chef and co-owner Alice and her team pay the utmost respect to the food. Alice, half-British and half-Danish, is a vegan herself and loves to cook. Alice is incredibly creative, whipping up flavor combinations that astonish me and the rest of her loyal customers.

Aster

Gammel Kongevej 171
2000 Frederiksberg 

Opening Hours:
Mon & Tues Closed
Weds – Sun 9:00 am – 4:00  pm

Sasaa 

Sasaa is “a pan African restaurant that celebrates Africa, their culture, traditions and their people through food, art and music.” It’s one of those restaurants that is truly unique and pays respect to the founders’ roots, imparting culture, good vibes, and great food in Nørrebro. 

Sasaa is more than a restaurant; it truly celebrates the beautiful cuisines and cultures of Africa, with dishes you can’t find anywhere else in the city.

Sasaa

Blågårdsgade 2A
2200 København N

Opening Hours:
Every day 4:00 – 10:00  pm

Yellow 

Yellow is an all day bar and eatery located in one of Nørrebro’s most bustling corners that still feels a bit hidden. A modern gastro bar right by the intersection of the always-pulsating Nørrebrogade and Kapelvej, the place is unpretentious, cool, and eclectic.

With both Danish and international staff – both in the kitchen and service team – Yellow represents where Copenhagen restaurant scene stands nowadays: ambitious and creative chefs, great bartenders, attentive yet not overly friendly service, magnificent bottles of natural wine, and the love of food.  They take care to work with local partners, including beers from To Øl and wine from the folks at Melin and Rosforth.

Yellow

Kapelvej 1 
2200 København   N

Opening hours:
Wed 12-24 (Kitchen 12-16:30 / 18-22)
 Thur 12-01 (Kitchen 12-16:30 / 18-22) 
Fri & Sat 12-03 (Kitchen 12-16:30 / 18-22) 
Sun 12-18 (Kitchen 12-17:30)  

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.

Restaurant Tolv is a Scandinavian restaurant, clearly focused on seasonality of produce, nerdy wine knowledge, haute cuisine techniques, and inspired by the cuisine of other countries. They’ve thought of everything: food, decor, service, wine list, location.

The dish to try? The new potatoes with lovage, pickled chanterelles, roasted sourdough from Brød bageri, and Tomme cheese from Møn (NB their menu is seasonal).

Restaurant Tolv

Enghave Plads 12,
1670 København V

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

Men-O Ramen

The team behind Men-O Ramen make Japanese comfort food, sourcing produce locally and making the noodles fresh every single day. The spicy Miso Ramen has a mixture of three miso pastes. Miso is fermented bean paste, a staple in Japanese cuisine and capable of turning simple food into great food. You should note that the spicy Miso Ramen, while delicious, was not spicy (maybe they mean “spicy” in Scandinavian terms – as in, “not very”).

The Chicken Kaarage (chicken that has been marinated, then fried) is outstanding; juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Men-O Ramen is indeed a restaurant that deserves some attention on the Copenhagen food scene.

Men-O Ramen

Åboulevard 50,
2200 Copenhagen

Opening Hours:
Every day 12:00 – 10:00 pm

Gorda Empanadas 

This new spot in Copenhagen’s ever-evolving food scene is a must for all my Latinx folk out there. Empanada is a baked sort-of-pillowy sort-of-crunchy treat that wraps a filling that can be, in theory, literally anything.  Gonzalo, chef and owner, explains that in Argentina the word comes from “empanar,” which roughly translates to “covering something with or in bread.” It is a staple in Argentinian cuisine; a perfect street food eaten throughout the country and absolutely beloved.

Gonzalo puts this heritage and significance at the core of his restaurant.  The dough itself is perfect: crispy, tasty, prudently bodied and light brown when baked. These empanadas are some of the best bites you’ll find in Copenhagen right now.

Gorda Empanadas

 Enghavevej 5, st
1674  København   V

Opening hours:  
Mon – Fri 5:00 – 10:00 pm 
Sat – Sun 12:00 – 10:00 pm

Donda Eatery & Bar 

Donda is a restaurant for adventurous and curious eaters. A no-bullshit eatery that will become an obligatory stop for anyone in or visiting Copenhagen.

Donda is a place that really feels like home. Run by Qasim Khan, a French Pakistani chef, and his eclectic team, the restaurant exudes coolness, confidence, passion, and respect for food.  Inspired by Latin América, the team at Donda is in constant search of the freshest produce and best ingredients to compose a menu that stays true to the region and cuisine.

The cocktails are no exception. Try these on for size: Jalisco Martini (espresso, tequila, coffee liqueur, chocolate bitters) or Tegroni (tequila, campari, vermouth). Salud! Whether you go solo or with a date, your mom, your bestie or even a random person you met somewhere, Donda is one of those few places in Copenhagen where you will feel at home while having outstanding food and drinks. It’s truly a culinary experience.

Donda Eatery & Bar 

Strandgade 20, st. tv
1401  København K
 
Opening Hours:
 Wed – Sat 11:00 am – midnight
 

Yaffa 

 Flatbread, hummus with pickled chili and dukkah, falafel, fattoush, and onglet with cous cous and herbs. At Yaffa, you’ll experience an explosion of flavors, textures, aromas, and colors.

Yaffa is doing things right; infusing their food with emotion, passion, and top quality ingredients. Expect an elegant yet relaxed dining experience, very friendly and skilled service team, magnificent wines, and one of the best locations in town.

Yaffa 

Gråbrødtorv 16 kld
 1154 København k  

Opening Hours: 
Mon – Sat 11:30 am – 00:00 am

Best New Cafes in Copenhagen

Ø12 Coffee & Eatery

This awesome blend of kaffebar and all-day eatery gave me London vibes: it feels accomplished despite the fact that it only opened in August 2019. Coffee, food, drinks, and interior are all on-point.  The food menu is divided in evening (5 pm to 9 pm) an all-day (7 am to 5 pm) and it’s served every day of the week.

As for what to try on the menu: definitely give the avocado smash a go! The waffle with vanilla cream and berries, the Tartar, and the pastries are all worth your time.  Their concept is simple: redefine the all-day eatery in Copenhagen.

Owners Enete, Kasper, and Anders have made it their mission to bring the best possible coffee and food to the city. In order to do that, they own a KB90 from La Marzocco, the only restaurant in Denmark to do so. This beast of an espresso machine redefines what a cup of coffee can be. The coffee is superb; among the best in Copenhagen.  The food is of the same high quality, working with top-class ingredients and a creative approach.

Ø12 Coffee & Eatery 

Øster Farimagsgade 12
2100  København   Ø

Opening Hours:
 Mon – Thur 7:00 am – midnight
Fri 7:00 am – 1:00 am
Sat 8:00 am – 1:00 am 
Sun 8:00 am – midnight

At The Counter

Superb coffee, fantastic food, great service and a hyggeligt interior. At The Counter comes from the team of another favorite spot in town: Juno the Bakery. Emil, the owner of ATC, is Swedish, so the cafe brings a sense of Swedish fika to this quiet part of Østerbro. Opened in March 2019, it has become a temple for coffee-lovers in search of delicious food and a cosy spot to relax.

At the Counter

Randersgade 45, kld. tv
2100 København Ø

Opening Hours:
Wed – Fri 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Sat – Sun 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

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. Their style can only be described as “Australian brunch cafe on steroids.”

The idealistic minds behind the cafe 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. Be sure to make a reservation in advance if you’re going on a Saturday or Sunday; their small space fills up quickly on weekends.

The Sixteen Twelve

Jægersborggade 8 KL TH,
2200 København 

Opening hours:
 Mon & Tues closed
 Weds – Sun 8:00 am – 4:00 pm  

Bista 

Perhaps one of the coolest spots in Nordvest, Bista is a must-try brunch spot.  Run by two young Nepalese chefs, Bista features an extensive menu dedicated to more advanced breakfast and midday treats. The cafe is rapidly becoming a favorite among the locals in the area.  Both co-founder chefs have worked in several kitchens in Copenhagen, translating their knowledge into a creative menu that showcases classic and creative dishes. 

Try the fried egg with pork belly and homemade kimchi: just wow!  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 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

John & Woo 

This place will be a landmark on Copenhagen’s brunch scene in the near future.  The corner eatery is located near the always-pulsating Amagerbrogade, just a stone’s throw away from Christianshavn.  

A creative, contemporary, NYC-style approach to brunch dining is what to expect at John & Woo. It’s not just a typical café; it’s a place where, besides the delicious food, you will get good service, good wine, good coffee…you get my drift.  

Stop what you are doing now and try their steak & eggs as well as their créme brülee french toast, a caramelized butter toast with banana and mascarpone mousse. Wow!

John & Woo

Under Elmene 13 
2300 København S

  Opening Hours :
Every day 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Best New Bars in Copenhagen

Puss Puss

The history of the name of this outstanding cocktail bar is pretty cute. “Puss puss” means “kiss kiss” in Swedish, said as a goodbye to your loved ones.

Puss Puss is located right by Højbro bridge, a hotspot for restaurants, bars, and tourists walking by. It is a high-quality cocktail bar focusing on creating a fun, unique experience.

Their cocktails are unique, balanced, and complex yet unpretentious. Perhaps most importantly? They’re boozy (money well-spent).