Copenhagen, Denmark

Where to Eat and Drink

We had an insider among us- our daughter, Serena had been living in Copenhagen since August so she had a list of restaurants she wanted to try once her parents came! The Copenhagen Collective (COFO) is a great place to start when researching where to eat!

We dined at Høst which is focused on a contemporary version of Scandinavian fare – the atmosphere is cozy and cool.
We LOVED our meal (our favorite) at Delphine – a Mediterranean inspired restaurant – we could have been in Miami or NYC– which actually was a nice departure from easting more traditional Scandinavian and Nordic fare for the past 5 nights. The tuna crudo was second to none and all the dips and fish were incredible- as were the martinis!

For breakfast you can’t go to Copenhagen and not visit the oldest bakery, circa 1652in the city, St. Pedars — they are known for the traditional Danish breakfast rolls – The “Wednesday Snail “( best cinnamon roll) now available (if you go early enough) every day, but are discounted on Wednesdays! And can’t forget to mention the “BMO” which is delicious bread with butter and cheese that you take apart and eat it open-sandwich style.

We had the BEST ramen, yes you read that correctly at Slurp,  where they advertise, no bathrooms, no reservations and dogs allowed. It truly was the best broth I have ever tasted, perfect to warm you up on a cold Copenhagen day!

What to Do

Visiting Scandinavia in the winter is very different than the summer time, hence our activities tended to be more indoor-based.

• One thing we did that is a MUST is a canal side sauna and cold plunge, in the frigid waters- North/Baltic Sea just sounds cold)! There are lots of places to do it, we went to Winter Island – where we could sauna, cold plunge and then reward ourselves with a hot toddy or tea.
• A trip to Copenhagen is not complete without time at the Design Museum Denmark if you love textiles, furniture (CHAIRS!!) and pottery; an amazing collection and the space is very cool! A perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon.
• Copenhagen is a city known for biking — there seem to be more people biking than even walking! There is a code of rules to adhere to, but once you figure that out, it’s really the best mode of transport – unless it’s rainy and dark, which we experienced. There are Lime Bikes (electric) everywhere!
• If the weather had cooperated we had planned to take a boat tour– sadly it did not– but it’s a must if the weather is nice! Go Boat is fun bc you get your own motor boat to cruise up and down the canals (at a very slow speed).
• The Farmers Markets are unlike anything you have seen– if you love flowers, you could get lost in the maze of beauty– even at metro stations! We LOVED the food and flower market at the Glass Markets. Europe takes food courts to the next level and this is no exception! A feast for the eyes and stomach!
• Whether you are there in the winter (especially holiday season) or summer, a visit to Copenhagen is not complete without a visit to the Tivoli Garden and Amusement Park –– Walt Disney went there to get ideas! Need I say more?

SHOPS: This is truly a big part of what you do in Copenhagen. Wander around the street, in different neighborhoods falling in and out of cool home and clothes shops.

• Bakkekilde- We stumbled upon this gem in a small courtyard near our airBNB. Tony is the owner and he absolutely charming, as is the vintage Hermes tweed blazer I found! SCORE! @bakkekildevintage
• Anonymous- Very fun shoe and bag brand,; sustainable and designed in Denmark @anonymous_copenhagen
• Hello and Good Buy – (clever, right) Great vintage shop @hellogoodbuydk
• Tú a Tú- Another great vintage shop @tuatu_secondhand
• Norr- BEST collection of clothes and home decor- I could have moved in @norrcopenhagenstore
• Habiba – Coolest scarves (wearing one and framing one) and fun little gifts @habiba_salon
• Craft Sisters- Amazing quilts designed in Denmark and made in Africa by a women’s collective @craftsistersdk
• Pico – for fun hair clips (very big in Copenhagen) and reasonable jewelry @picostore
• Lou- Precious and very Scandinavian home/decor shop with jewelry and accessories @loushopdk
• Norte Dam- Think a department store with home and decor items, I could get lost for days @nortedamecph
• By Thiim- well edited clothes and gifts… found a really fun Sissel Edelbo (upcycled textiles designed in Copenhagen and sourced from India) @bythiim_store
• Studio Arjoj- If you love glassware and pottery you are in luck, the most amazing collection of handmade goods @studioarjoj
• Magnolias- High end vintage clothes @magnoliasluksus2ndhadn
• Petitgas-Mens headwater since 1857- my son got an amazing “eight piece hat” — just go, and see BernardI promise @petitgas1857

Inside Scoop

• Rent Bikes if weather cooperates, otherwise get a multi-day metro ticket. Super easy and cheap!
• Copenhagen has some of the best vintage clothing shops I have ever seen– bring an extra suitcase. Seriously.

What to Pack

Copenhagen is a stylish city– warm long coats from Max Mara were seen by the dozens, fun scarves and hats… color is big in this city, probably bc the winters are so looooong and dreary! Again, I wore my Penelope Chilvers (https://penelopechilvers.com)boots all day and all night and they were perfect- especially with cozy cashmere socks!