Copenhagen has a reputation for being an expensive place to eat, and it is, but it's also one of the European capitals where you eat best: from classic smørrebrød and hot dog stands to sourdough pizzerias, waterside street food markets and neighborhood bistros. In this post we share where to eat in Copenhagen according to our guide, organized by type of food and with ideas for keeping costs down.

Every restaurant we mention is saved in our Copenhagen map for Google Maps, and in our Copenhagen travel guide in PDF you'll find the full list of restaurants by type of food, plus cafes, hotels by price and itineraries. If you're looking for a spot for coffee and a cardamom bun, you'll find that in the prettiest cafes in Copenhagen; here we focus on lunch and dinner.

Where to eat in Copenhagen: quick summary

• Smørrebrød: Selma, plus the stalls at Torvehallerne for something quick.
• Street food: Reffen, Broens Gadekøkken, Torvehallerne and Tivoli Food Hall.
• Hot dogs: Harry's Place.
• Pizza: Bæst, Mother and Surt.
• Burgers: Gasoline Grill and Tommi's Burger Joint.
• Ramen: Slurp Ramen Joint, our favorite.
• Bistros and Nordic cooking: Silberbauers Bistro and Barr.
• Wine by the water: La Banchina and Den Vandrette.

Smørrebrød: the first thing you need to try

Smørrebrød is the quintessential Danish dish: a slice of buttered rye bread topped with just about anything, from pickled herring or egg with shrimp to roast beef with horseradish or potato with mayo and chives. You eat it with a knife and fork, usually at lunchtime, and traditionally you start with fish and finish with meat.

Selma

It's at Rømersgade 20, very close to Torvehallerne and the Botanical Garden, and it's the spot in our guide for a really good smørrebrød. At lunch they serve smørrebrød on homemade rye and sourdough bread, and in the evening there's a tasting menu. It's small, so it's worth booking. Closed on Tuesdays.

Torvehallerne, for a quick smørrebrød

If you don't want to sit down in a restaurant, the covered market at Torvehallerne, next to Nørreport station, has smørrebrød stalls with takeaway. It's the most practical way to try it between sights.

Street food and food markets

Markets are the best way to eat well in Copenhagen without the bill getting out of hand, and they work really well if you're in a group and everyone wants something different. These are the ones in our guide:

Reffen (Refshaleøen)

It's the city's big street food market, in the old shipyard area of Refshaleøen, with stalls serving food from all over the world, bars and outdoor tables by the water. It's open daily from mid-March to early November (in 2026, until November 2) and closes for the winter. It's a bit far from the center, so the best way to get there is by bike or on the harbor bus, and stay for the sunset.

Broens Gadekøkken

It's next to the Inderhavnsbroen bridge, on Strandgade, between Christianshavn and Nyhavn, and it's the most central street food option. It has stalls with burgers, sausages, fish, pizza and Indian food, with harbor views. It runs seasonally, so check their social media before you go. If you're there in winter, our guide mentions the ice rink they set up next to it.

Torvehallerne and other markets

Torvehallerne is two glass halls full of food stalls, fruit, fish and local produce; it's open year-round and perfect for lunch. Next to Tivoli there's also Tivoli Food Hall, and in Vesterbro, West Market. And if you're there on a sunny weekend, our guide also includes Frederiksberg Madmarked.

Danish hot dogs: Harry's Place

Pølser (Danish sausages) are Denmark's classic fast food, and Harry's Place is an institution: a small stand that opened in 1965 at Nordre Fasanvej 269, between Nørrebro and Nordvest. The thing to order is the Børge sausage, their specialty. It's not a place to sit down for a meal, but to stop, order and keep going.

Pizza: Copenhagen's surprise

Copenhagen has some of the best pizzerias in northern Europe, almost all of them using sourdough and local produce:

• Bæst (Guldbergsgade 29, Nørrebro): wood-fired pizzas with mozzarella they make themselves. It's one of the classics in our guide, and it's worth booking.
• Mother (Høkerboderne, in Kødbyen): wood-fired sourdough pizza right in the Meatpacking District. A great choice before a night out in the area.
• Surt (in the Carlsberg district): also sourdough, a bit further from the center but ideal if you're visiting the old brewery area.

Burgers and ramen

Gasoline Grill

It started out in an old gas station and is one of the most famous burger joints in the city: a very short menu, quality beef and brioche buns. It's another of our classics. They stay open until the day's meat runs out, so don't leave it too late. If it's not near you, the guide also has Tommi's Burger Joint, Cocks & Cows and Burger Anarchy.

Slurp Ramen Joint

It's our favorite ramen in Copenhagen and it's on our bucket list for the city. They make everything from scratch and there's usually a line, so allow some extra time or go early. A bowl of ramen on a cold Danish day is exactly what you want.

Bistros and Nordic cooking for a special dinner

Silberbauers Bistro

It's at Jægersborggade 40, one of the prettiest streets in Nørrebro, full of small shops and cafes. It's a French bistro with fairly reasonable prices for Copenhagen. Closed on Mondays, and it's worth booking for dinner.

Barr

It's in the building that used to house Noma, at Strandgade 93 (Christianshavn), right on the water. They serve Northern European cooking, the classic kind but done really well. It's a good choice if you want a treat without going for a tasting menu. Book ahead.

Wine by the water

In summer, Copenhagen eats and drinks by the water. Two from our guide that we love:

• La Banchina (Refshalevej 141, Refshaleøen): a little house with a dock over the harbor, natural wine and simple dishes. Lots of people take a dip in the harbor before or after eating, and there's a sauna in the colder months. Pair it with Reffen, which is right next door.
• Den Vandrette: a natural wine bar near Nyhavn, perfect for a glass and a few bites at sunset.

More restaurants from our guide

The guide has many more, sorted by type of food. For sushi, for example, Sticks'n'Sushi; and if you're after healthy or vegan food, there's a whole section. Keep in mind that small places in Copenhagen often change their hours with the seasons, so check before you go.

Tips for eating in Copenhagen without breaking the bank

• Make lunch your main meal: many restaurants have lunch dishes that are cheaper than the dinner menu, and smørrebrød is a lunchtime food.
• Use the markets: Reffen, Broens and Torvehallerne are the most affordable way to eat well.
• Skip the Nyhavn waterfront for meals: it's beautiful, but the front-row restaurants are expensive. Walk a couple of streets away.
• Book the well-known places: Bæst, Selma and Barr fill up, especially on weekends.
• Too Good To Go: Danes use it a lot and it's an easy way to save money at bakeries and restaurants.
• Pay by card or phone: you almost never need cash. MobilePay is the app locals use.
• Travel insurance: we always travel with IATI Seguros.

And to plan the rest of your trip, here are the 10 must-sees in Copenhagen.

Take every restaurant with you on your phone

Download our Copenhagen travel guide in PDF, with restaurants by type of food, 30+ cafes and brunch spots, hotels by price, markets, shops, summer and winter plans and 3- and 14-day itineraries, or take every spot with you in the Copenhagen map for Google Maps.