Food specialties to try out in Copenhagen

There are many food specialties to try out in Copenhagen , so I’ve made you a list of the most famous and tasty ones ! 

And if you are coming to Denmark and Copenhagen especially, you cannot miss the many open-air food markets there. 

Whether it is their famous Smørrebrød, Danish hot dogs or the delicious Danish pastries, I’ll list here what specialties you can find and where to try them.

The savoury food you’ll find on everywhere in Denmark is Smørrebrød. These are pen-faced rye bread sandwiches with various local toppings like herring, roast beef, and liver pâté.

Another typical dish in Copenhagen is the Danish hot dog or Ristet Pølse : It’s typically a red sausage made of pork, served in a bun with a variety of toppings, including crispy onions, pickles, mustard, ketchup, and remoulade. We got to try a really good one at Reffen (I’ll explain more about this place at the end of the article).

Other specialties include : 

• Sild : Pickled or marinated herring, often served with rye bread, onions, and capers.
• Gravad Laks : Salmon cured with salt, sugar, and dill.
• Rugbrød : Dense rye bread, a staple for every meal !
• Leverpostej : Danish liver pâté, served warm on bread with pickles or bacon.
• Stegt flæsk med persillesovs : Crispy pork belly with parsley sauce and potatoes
• Frikadeller : Danish pork or veal meatballs, usually served with potatoes and gravy.

First thing first, we have to mention the Danish pastries, also called Wienerbrød. These are famous flaky and buttery pastries, often filled with custard, jam, or marzipan. Wienerbrød popular varieties include Spandauer (round pastry with custard in the center, see picture 2), Kanelstang (cinnamon-filled pastry, see picture 1), Frøsnapper (pastry with poppy seeds, often with a bit of marzipan, see picture 4).

They all are absolutely delicious ! Bakeries are a real institution there, you have to come inside at least once.

For bakeries recommendations, I’ve listed some of the best I tried further down.

Other sweet specialties include :

• Æbleskiver : Those are delicious round fluffy pancake balls, traditionally served with powdered sugar and jam.
• Drømmekage : A sponge cake topped with caramelized coconut.
• Rødgrød med fløde : A red berry compote served with cream, a traditional Danish dessert.
• Flødeboller – Chocolate-covered marshmallow treats, with a crisp base.

Prices in Denmark and especially Copenhagen restaurants are quite expensive, for example some of the most affordable restaurants were around 20-30€ per person for a dish.

I will however list here some affordable and good restaurants of open-air food markets we tried on our stay in Copenhagen and that I would recommend :

• Reffen Copenhagen Street Food : Located on the waterfront in the Refshaleøen area, this open-air food market with industrial vibe features a wide variety of international food stalls. From pizza to Asian street food, including local Danish specialties. Plus, prices are affordable so it’s a great spot to eat out in Copenhagen if you are on the budget ! (for example, a Danish hot dog is 65 DKK or 8,5€).

• Ismageriet Refshaleøen : Located right outside Reffen, this is a really good ice cream shop with affordable prices as well (6€ for 2 scoops). They offer high-quality, handcrafted ice creams and sorbets using local and seasonal ingredients.
• La banchina : Also located in Refshaleøen, this is a waterfront café, restaurant, and sauna. They offer seasonal dishes, scenic views of the harbor, and sometimes even live music. This is a spot where guests can dine on the outdoor deck or take a dip in the water before enjoying a sauna session. Typically Danish !

• Jagger burger : Another great spot if you want to save your money in Copenhagen ! It is a popular fast-food chain known for its high-quality burgers made with fresh ingredients, and its crispy fries, served in a retro diner setting. It’s 65 DKK (8,5€) for the lunch menu,.
• WokShop : This is a great Thai restaurant, and really affordable compared to everything else in the city. Their red curry is delicious, and lunch menu are 85 DKK or 11€.

And last but not least, here is a list of some great bakeries, with even greater pastries to try :

• Bageriet Brød : Located 10 minutes from the Elephant gate, this bakery serves freshly baked classic Danish treats like cinnamon rolls. Pastries cost around 25-28 DKK (3,5€).
• Skipper bageri : Located a bit outside the city center, it is also a really good bakery with pastries around 25-28 DKK (3,5€). I did not recommend the very famous one nearby called Juno, because I don’t think you should ever have to queue for 1+ hour for an expensive croissant !
• Hart bageri : This bakery has many locations across the city, I would not consider it the best we tried, but it is really convenient when you are looking for a Brötchen (small, crusty bread roll), which cost 16 DKK (2€). Pastries are around 42-50 DKK (5-6€).

That’s it for my recommendations on the food specialties to try out in Copenhagen. We had a wonderful time trying all the best food specialties in Denmark, and I’m sure you will too ! 

If you plan on visiting Copenhagen any time soon, check out my article about a two days itinerary, or this one, detailing everything to know before coming to Denmark.

If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.