Copenhagen cafés: Top 10 for brunch, lunch & coffee
The Copenhagen café scene is all about high-quality third wave coffee, bread and pastries by some of the most prominent bakers in the world, and a relaxed vibe in gorgeously designed settings.
Standards are sky-high (we Danes drink an average of four cups of coffee a day, and I kid you not, a sourdough bun with butter is a whole religion here), so hop and your bike and bring a good appetite; we’re going on a trip around the best (and prettiest!) cafés in town.
FLERE FUGLE
$ | Nordvest
If you’re looking for one of the newest and hippest bakeries in town right now, Flere Fugle in the up-and-coming North West checks all the boxes: located in an old garage with huge sliding doors and a cosy backyard, this local darling serves delicious home-baked goods, La Cabra coffee, and a couple of great options for lunch such as quiches, sandwiches and salads.
The place fills with young families with kids on early weekend mornings, and there’s often a concert going on on weekend evenings. Every Wednesday, an Italian inspired evening menu is served by the long wooden tables, and the vibe is always cool and relaxed.
Want to explore more of Nordvest? Bike out to Grundtvig’s Church for otherworldly architecture, don’t miss Bispebjerg Cemetery during Sakura season, enjoy a sourdough pizza in the evening sun from BEHOV NV, or get one of the best soft serves in town from Polarbar.
Backyard of Rentemestervej 57
Flerefugle.dk
FRAMA’S APOTEK 57
$$ | City centre
Quite a contrast to the industrial and trendy Nordvest, this next stop on our Copenhagen café tour offers a slightly more design-forward venue located in the beautiful and historical city centre. Apotek 57 is run by the always charming chef Chiara Barla, and should you walk in to the meticulously curated design showroom and café feeling overwhelmed, her always good spirits and welcoming chatter will make you will very welcome. The space is absolutely beautiful, Chiara’s seasonal menu leaves nothing to wish for, and sitting amongst the orange historic row houses of Nyboder is one of the best spots in town.
Fredericiagade 57
@Apotek_57
DARCY’S KAFFE
$$ | Nørrebro
Nørrebro will forever be one of my favourite parts of town—it’s where I lived for 10 years, and still where I’d choose to meet up with friends for coffee, drinks or dinner nine times out of ten. However, the neighbourhood was desperately missing Darcy’s. A good-looking café, serving quality food and pastries (oh my goodness, their sugar-coated brioches with filling, or scones, or lemony labneh sando’s with sweet beets on sourdough… ). Just go, promise me you’ll go, and carve out a few hours, ‘cause you will want to taste everything! I also love coming here to work on my laptop, and everyone’s welcome in the cosy venue on the blue Nørrebro corner.
Rantzausgade 2
@darcyskaffe
KAFETERIA SMK
$$$ | City Centre
Located inside the National Gallery of Denmark, Kaferia run by chef Frederik Bille Brahe (of Instagram darlings Atelier September and Apollo Bar) is a creative mix of interior design, art and food. Noguchi’s Akari-lamps, Enzo Mari’s wooden ‘diy’ chairs and tables, and pops of green, red and dark grey Kvadrat textiles add warmth and a sense of cosiness to the awe-inspiring room, and the simple menu offers a focus on seasonal vegetables and with Japanese touch.
Besides the daily special, you can enjoy breakfast (yoghurt with granola, bread with cheese and jam, and fried eggs with leeks and cheese), lunch dishes such as hummus with turnip and coriander; pumpkin served with feta cheese and rye, as well as a mushroom soup with white beans. Not to forget the home made cakes and dessert, and excellent coffee and lemonades.
Sølvgade 48
@kafeteriasmk
Still looking for more cafés to add to your list? Here are 6 more favourites:
Lille Bakery is your go to for a lavish breakfast or lunch in the hip Refshaleøen.
Visit Admiralgade 26 in the city centre, and pretend like you’ve been invited into a very chic Dane’s very chic living room. Menu here is delicious yet unpretentious, and the Japanese weekend breakfast is the best in town.
On Østerbro, Bottega Estadio has quickly became a local favourite; overlooking Østerbro Stadion, the menu is Mediterranean with a Mexican twist, and offers both light breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as coffee and drinks.
Studio x Kitchen is an extension to the much hyped interior concept store Studio X located in the heart of town. The café is open daily for breakfast and lunch, and the calm, beautiful space is definitely worth a visit.
Granola is one of the Copenhagen classics; a French café located on the charming Værnedamsvej. Their sidewalk tables (with outdoor heaters during winter) are a perfect spot for people watching while enjoying a coffee and Croque Madame.
Located in the very centre of town, Sonny is a hip café on a side street to pedestrian street Strøget (a place I’d actually stay away from). But, the surrounding side streets are charming and hold some great shops and cafés; the hip Sonny serving organic and seasonal food being one of these.
