For the best places to eat, drink, see, shop and stay…
DRINK: Meatpacking District
The ultra-popular Meatpacking District is where new restaurants and bars have gentrified the area. Noho runs as a co-working space during the day and those afterwork cocktails though, are deliciously killer! The crowd is business-casual, international and local but everyone is beautifully friendly.
DRINK: Ruby
For the best speakeasy in town, Ruby is still THE place to go for the hip, trendy and global crowds. Serving craft cocktails, Ruby’s is retro with lush sofas, dimmed lights and gorgeous bartenders as eye candies.
DANCE: Arch
Copenhagen’s nightlife is far more vibrant and colorful than I expected. A capital known for cool things to do, it also hosts tons of bachelor and bachelorette parties. For a night out, don’t miss out on Arch, Culture Box, Jolene and many more.
EAT: Isted Grill
For the best late-night pork sandwich served in a Danish/Chinese fast food shop in the heart of Vesterbro district, you’ve gotta stop by Isted Grill.
EAT: Amass
For a truly gourmet meal, stop by Amass, led by San Diego native chef Matt Orlando who’s past includes UK’s The Fat Duck and New York City’s Per Se. After being Noma’s first Chef de Cuisine, Orlando started Amass to create an incredible restaurant that focuses on terroir and the ever-changing weather with the premium technique that pays the highest respect to nature and ingredients.
EAT: Kokkeriet
A completely different approach to Amass, Kokkeriet is a Michelin star restaurant known for transforming traditional Danish dishes into modern artistic plates. Chef David Johansen took his grandmother’s favorites and reimagined them into gastronomic fantasies. As the chef exclusively told Jetset Times, “I love having locals come in and say they used to eat this when they were little. I love reinterpreting our childhood memories into something that’s creative and artistic.” The restaurant is located in central Copenhagen and the interior is contemporary elegant.
EAT: Kødbyens Fiskebar
Like we mentioned before, the Meatpacking District is one of the hottest places to go out in Copenhagen. It’s where meat industry businesses used to be. Try Kødbyens Fiskebar, one of the prominent restaurants in the area for a cool industrial vibe that serves simple and fresh seafood and meat dishes.
EAT: Torvehallerne Food Market
One of the best places to get a quick bite to eat is the Torvehallerne Food Market! Over 60 food stands sell incredibly fresh produce to gourmet pastries. Staying true to the spirit of Copenhagen’s modern cuisine which honors nature at its most natal and essential state, each food stall here create meals that are innovative and tasty. One of our favorites is the GRØD (Ge) stand, which serves porridge bowels that combine oatmeal, fruits, yogurt…and whatever else is in season.
EAT: Copenhagen Street Food
Across the bridge, on the other side of Nyhavn is the Copenhagen Street Food which you simply can’t miss! By the gorgeous waterside is an old factory that hubs numerous food stands that feature dishes from around the world. From Korean BBQ, to French-inspired crème brûlée doughnuts, you’ll have tons of choices to choose from. Walking through the stands is an eye-opening experience in itself. We highly recommend grabbing a meal with a pint of beer, and indulge the outdoors by the water with local Danes.
EAT: Danish Hot Dog
So embedded in the Danish culture are the hot dogs! There are carts on every street corner in Copenhagen. They come with apple ketchup, mustard, chopped and fried onions, and sweet pickles. They’re delicious to the max!
EAT & DRINK: Atelier September
One thing that Copenhagen has got right is combining healthy eating and sophistication. Atelier September is a great example of this refined concept. The interior has display of Japanese porcelain, art that compliments well with a delicious cup of matcha. Copenhagen is known for its open sandwiches which you can get a healthier version of them here with avocado toast, rye bread with cheese and a vegetarian lunch including yellow beets lentils and mascarpone is also spectacular. Natural foods and organic coffee = what a great start of the day!
SEE: Nyhavn
Constructed by King Christian V in 1670, Nyhavn was dug by Swedish prisoners from the Dano-Swedish War. It was meant to be a gateway from the sea to the King’s Square, but it became more well-known as a place for sailors and prostitues having a good ol’ drunken time. The best way to enjoy it is to stroll through both sides of the canal, then grab a drink by the water with the view of deserted ships.
SEE: Freetown Christiania
Freetown Christiania is the self-proclaimed autonomous neighborhood. During 1970’s, protests broke out against the Danish government. In addition to lack of housing in the city, Christiania became a legal forbidden city. Anarchists, flower power, meditation, yoga, drug trafficking and social experimentation are all representative of the Christiania spirit. You’ll see bars, restaurants, beautiful graffiti, food stalls that show off a completely different side of Copenhagen.
SEE: Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens is the second-oldest operating amusement park in the world and was the source of inspiration for Walt Disney prior to creating Disneyland.
SEE: Gefion Fountain & St. Alban’s Church
On the way to The Little Mermaid, you’ll encounter Gefion Fountain and St. Alban’s Church which the locals call the English Church since it was built for the growing English congregation in the city around 1885. The fountain features large sculptures of animals driven by Norse goddess Gefjon. The wishing well is one of the largest monuments in Copenhagen.
SEE: The Little Mermaid
One of the most classic landmarks in Copenhagen is The Little Mermaid statue, which comes as a disappointment to many since it’s much smaller in real life. Commissioned in 1909 by Carl Jacobsen, the son of Carlsberg’s (beer company) founder. Jacobsen was enthralled with the fairytale ballet so asked ballerina Ellen Price to be the model for the statue. Created by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, the statue has been an icon and target of vandalism since 1913. It’s quite distant from the city, so the best is to bike there, it takes 20 minutes from the city center.
SEE: Christiansborg Palace
The former home of kings and queens, Christiansborg Palace is popular destination since it features the highest tower in Copenhagen. After a great fire, the royal family moved to the Amalienborg Palace but never returned here.
STAY: First Hotel Mayfair
The perfect home away from home in Copenhagen is the First Hotel Mayfair. Situated in the ultra-popular Vesterbro neighborhood, this boutique luxury hotel has 203 cozy rooms and spacious suites that are equipped with free Wi-Fi and great amenities for every kind of traveler.
SHOP: Wood Wood
Wood Wood is a smart combination of avant-garde, streetwear, and high-end fashion. It oozes a minimalistic vibe with outstanding collections of: clothing, shoes and accessories. It even carries its own brand of attire that are reasonably priced.
SHOP: Storm
By focusing on art, design, and fashion, Storm stocks some of Europe and Scandinavia’s most artistic brands inside its famous shop. Here you can find a beautifully curated selection of art books, high-end fashion lines for both men and women.
