Copenhagen’s nightlife is wonderfully varied, with a range of going-out options whatever your preferences. Culture Trip has picked the best places to party in the Danish capital, from mainstream discos to underground clubs.
Whether you want to dance until dawn to deep house, chill out with a drink at a relaxed late-opening bar or party to ’90s tunes, the Danish capital has you covered. Arantxa Landa, who got to know Copenhagen as a student by exploring the city after dark, and local expert Iliyana Ivanova share their favourite nightspots.
Jolene Bar
Bar, Cafe, Cocktail Bar, Nightclub, Danish, Pub Grub, $$$
Kødbyen – Copenhagen’s so-called Meatpacking District – is well known for its party scene. The area is brimming with restaurants and some of the best nightclubs in the city, including Jolene Bar. “If this club has something, it’s definitely character,” says Landa. The party takes place in an old butcher’s house, making it a truly unique place to hang out, and attracts many different people. The DJ line-up is always excellent and often features top Danish acts. With free entrance and fair drink prices, nothing stands between you and a memorable night on the dance floor.
If electronic music is your thing, hit up Denmark’s most prominent Berlin-inspired, Boiler Room-style nightclub. “Culture Box is the bomb,” says Landa, who praises the club for its “different music rooms and DJs”. Dance your way from one rhythm to another, with sounds from the underground music scene’s best artists. Divided into three spaces, the venue has a pre-clubbing area (Box 54) and a more intimate lower floor (the Red Box), but if you’ve come to lose yourself to the beat of the sound system, head directly to the Black Box.
Inside an unassuming Danish-style building thrives Chateau Motel, a nightclub playing a variety of genres. Enter through heavy black curtains to discover a 19th-century chandelier lighting up the first dance floor, before climbing the stairs to experience other rooms showcasing different musical styles. The four-storey club lies in the heart of the city and is only open on Fridays and Saturdays, making it the perfect place to visit if you’re in Copenhagen over a weekend and are looking for great cocktails and impressive decor.
Step into a ‘Mad Men’-style world at The Jane | Courtesy of The Jane
Step into a world that smells of cigar smoke, has cabinets filled with whisky bottles and where DJs play a mix of electronic, pop, R&B and deep house. The Jane is a fantastically atmospheric, candlelit nightclub with a Mad Men-esque vibe. Lose your inhibitions to the sound of DJ Rømer or Kenno, two of Copenhagen’s finest in their craft.
NOHO is one of the coolest cocktail bars in Copenhagen | Courtesy of NOHO
NOHO is one of Copenhagen’s coolest hang-outs, and while you can sip fancy coffee here during the day, the venue is also worth visiting in the evening when it hosts late-hour parties. Surrounded by many other cool venues in the Meatpacking District, NOHO hosts some of the city’s best DJs and “its decor is one of a kind”, says Ivanova. The bar has a New York vibe, with bright, fluorescent signs, an eccentric plant-covered wall and a pink flower ceiling in industrial surroundings.
As its residents are masters of hygge, a Danish way of life characterised by cosiness and contentment, relaxed nights out are particularly popular in Copenhagen. “In Denmark, partying is more chill,” explains Ivanova, referring to the preference for late-night drinking in bars. At PS Bar and Grill, hang out with a cocktail and friends while the venue’s DJs play pumping house music. “Make sure you savour a pitcher of its sangria,” says Ivanova, especially if this is your first time here. Another New York-inspired space, the bar is ideally located right in the centre of Copenhagen.
Inside a former (and transformed) meat freezer, Noaa is a stylish bar that hosts a range of events, from themed nights to concerts. There are many cocktails to choose from, and the atmosphere is always welcoming. However, it’s the music that really draws in the crowds, with famous DJs from Denmark and elsewhere getting everyone on their feet on Fridays and Saturdays.
One of the newest additions to Copenhagen’s nightlife scene is ARCH. Opened in 2016, this nightclub has psychedelic lighting and chic interiors, with an unusual ‘beehive’ ceiling of rhomboid shapes that light up in different colours. It’s a place where art meets music, and music meets design. It’s a little more pricey than many of the other nightclubs in Copenhagen but totally worth it.
