The Best Restaurants In Copenhagen, Denmark

Noma was founded with the aim of reinventing Nordic gastronomy; it showed the world the true Danish passion for flavor and the restaurant was acclaimed as the best in the world a mere six years after opening. Today it offers one of the most sought after dining experiences in Europe with its meticulous focus on creativity, ingredients and design. Serving dishes such as smoked quail egg presented on freshly burnt hay, wild Danish flowers arranged with rich fruits and images of insects in nature created through arrangements of legumes and leaves, Noma’s dishes draw inspiration from Denmark’s natural beauty.

One of Copenhagen’s first designer sushi and yakitori restaurants, Sticks’n’sushi is a veteran Japanese cuisine destination that unites flavor, atmosphere and personality. While there are multiple Sticks’n’sushi venues throughout Copenhagen, one of the best has to be the Tivoli Hotel restaurant. Located on the 12th floor with panoramic windows, the restaurant provides incredible views of the city in a beautifully designed setting. There is also a rooftop bar with an even more encompassing view of the city. Sticks’n’sushi describes their food philosophy ​​as ‘pampering — without gorge’, serving small, minimalist delicacies that create inspiring flavors.

Passionate about pushing the boundaries of Thai cuisine, Kiin Kiin boasts a Michelin Star. The dishes served here re-explore the traditions of Thai gastronomy, combining classic recipes with modern techniques. The small plates served are designed to unite together as a culinary journey across Thailand. Favorite dishes include crispy fish with tamarind and lemongrass, and laab isaan salad with mint duck and a spicy marinade. Curry sorbet has also featured on the changing menu, transforming Thai favorites into new delicacies. The restaurant consists of three dining atmospheres: a candle lit wine cellar, a sophisticated lounge and the main restaurant, all of which are filled with exemplary work by Thai designers.

With executive chef David Johansen at the helm, Kokkeriet is an attractive restaurant that is committed to sophisticated elegance in both its setting and dishes. The restaurant is housed in a stunning building of historic architecture and the interior features designer furniture pieces. Focusing on reinventing and reconstructing traditional Danish dishes, Johansen describes his food philosophy as aiming to evoke memories while also having a surprising quality. This can be seen in dishes such as fruit and kernels with smoked eel, horseradish and akvavit, affectionately named ‘Grandma’s Pickled Pumpkin’.

Located in Copenhagen’s old meat hall, Kødbyens Fiskebar contrasts with the area’s history through its inspiring dedication to seafood. The restaurant’s menu changes daily depending on the catch of the day. Guests can choose from options such as king crab from Norway, blue mussels from Limfjorden steamed in apple cider, and razor clam from Scotland with malt bread, fennel and hazelnuts. The restaurant offers several dining experiences including quick bites at the bar, casual dining in the lounge, full meals in the restaurant and outdoor eating on sunny days. The interior of Kødbyens Fiskebar exudes a charming atmosphere and the centerpiece fish tank has become an icon of the venue.

Set in an iconic Art Deco building in Copenhagen, The Standard was created by the renowned chef Meyers Madhus and jazz musician Niels Lan Doky. The building is immense and offers four distinct dining experiences: modern Danish cuisine at Almanak, Nordic gastronomy at the Studio, contemporary Pan-Indian cuisine at Verandah, and international jazz performances at the Jazzclub. With each setting focused on top quality gastronomy, this eclectic range of experiences is one of the most exciting aspects of The Standard. The Jazzclub offers unique performances by some of the world’s best musicians in an intimate 68 seat setting.

Höst has previously won the Restaurant & Bar Design Award for Best Restaurant and Best European Restaurant. Höst’s interior is stunning, exuding a raw aesthetic of recycled wood. This motif of raw and rustic continues into the menu with the dishes centering on creative and contemporary Nordic cuisine. Their menu includes dishes such as rare ribeye with pickled trumpet and fried beech mushrooms, wild watercress and warm karl johan mayo, and Norwegian lobster with sea buckthorn, juniper cream, roasted hazelnuts and browned butter.

Palæo focuses on a concept called ‘Stone Age dining’ — modern gastronomy using materials and ingredients that were available to our ancestors in the Stone Age. A radical approach to food, the movement avoids grains and uses organic berries and vegetables with local meats and fish. There are two Palæo outlets in Copenhagen, offering visitors takeaway options, sit down meals and bench top dining. Some of Palæo’s signature dishes include vegetable spaghetti with spicy meat sauce topped with homemade parsley pesto, and organic beef with pepper-cream, chili, and pickled mushrooms, served with a slice Stone Age bread of nuts.

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