Best restaurants in Copenhagen

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Nørrebro & Østerbro

On the 8th floor of Parken Stadium, Geranium is the only restaurant in town sporting three Michelin stars. At the helm is Bocuse d'Or prize-winning chef Rasmus Kofoed, who transforms local, organic ingredients into edible Nordic artworks like lobster paired with milk and the juice of fermented carrots and sea buckthorn, or cabbage sprouts and chicken served with quail egg, cep mushrooms and hay beer. The tasting menu comprises around 17 dishes, and those not wanting to sample the award-winning wine list can opt for equally enlightened juice pairings. Reservations essential.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Nørrebro & Østerbro

Owned by powerhouse Italo-Scandi chef Christian Puglisi, Bæst remains hot years after its 2014 launch. Charcuterie, cheese and competent woodfired pizzas are the drawcards here. The produce is sustainable and organic, and both the commendable charcuterie and hand-stretched mozzarella are made upstairs (the latter made using jersey milk from Bæst's own farm). To fully appreciate its repertoire, opt for the sharing menu (lunch/dinner 225/375kr). Bæst also has an adjoining bakery and cafe called Mirabelle.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Nørrebro & Østerbro

Convivial Manfreds is the ideal local bistro, with passionate staffers, boutique natural wines and a regularly changing menu that favours organic produce (most from the restaurant's own farm) cooked simply and sensationally. Swoon over nuanced, gorgeously textured dishes like grilled spring onion served with pistachio purée, crunchy breadcrumbs and salted egg yolk. If you're hungry and curious, opt for the good-value seven-dish menu. The option of bar seating makes it a good spot for solo diners.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Vesterbro & Frederiksberg

This pâté factory-turned-restaurant/wine bar gives a modern twist to Euro classics. The competent, regularly changing menu is designed for sharing, with smaller dishes like organic Danish burrata with salted courgette, spring onions, chilli, basil and walnuts, or veal tartare with harissa, mustard-pickled shallots and dukkah. Hip and bustling, yet refreshingly convivial, bonus extras include clued-in staff, a diverse wine list, and solo-diner-friendly bar seating.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Nørrebro & Østerbro

Finger-licking surf and turf is what you get at this rocking, unpretentious neighbourhood favourite, complete with kitsch vinyl tablecloths and a fun, casual vibe. The shellfish is fantastically fresh and, unlike most places, ordered by weight, which means you don't need to pick at measly servings. Meat lovers won't to be disappointed either, with cuts that are lustfully succulent. The kitchen closes at 9.45pm; book ahead.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Nørrebro & Østerbro

Established by prolific chef Christian Puglisi, Relæ was one of the first restaurants in town to offer superlative New Nordic cooking without all the designer fanfare. One Michelin star later, it remains a low-fuss place, where diners set their own table, pour their own wine and swoon over soul-lifting dishes focused on seasonality, simplicity and (mostly) organic produce. Book ahead.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Vesterbro & Frederiksberg

Wise locals join the queue at this little, organic Frederiksberg bakery. Their reward: superlative baked goods that make shameless finger-licking inevitable. The classic Danish kanelsnegl (cinammon roll) and tebirkes (poppy-seed pastry) are both wonderfully buttery without being overly rich, while the range of Instagram-worthy tarts come in appetite-piquing flavours like meringue and salted caramel. We also love the choice of almond, soy and oat milk for your latte, not to mention the stack of old Monocle magazines for a little urbane downtime.

Restaurants in Nørrebro & Østerbro

Kiin Kiin serves clever, contemporary Thai. It's the only Thai restaurant in Europe to hold a Michelin star, and one of the few Michelin-starred restaurants in Copenhagen open on Mondays. The dining experience begins with street-food-style snacks in the lounge, then continues in the dining room with six beautifully and sometimes unusually presented courses packed with vibrant flavours like tamarind, lemongrass and galangal. Kiin Kiin offers a set menu only, with the option of wine or juice accompaniments. The regular menu is six courses, and the early bird theatre menu (from 5.30pm to 7.30pm) consists of four courses – both menus include pre-meal nibbles.

Restaurants in Vesterbro & Frederiksberg

Modernist Danish furniture and a muted palette of greys and greens offer the perfect backdrop to high-end, contemporary lunchtime smørrebrød. Raise your glass of (craft) beer to beautiful combinations like smoked mackerel with scrambled egg and chives or dill-pickled herring with potatoes and mustard. The dinner menu offers revisited Danish mains; think whole butter-fried flounder with parsley sauce and potatoes. The restaurant claims Denmark's largest collection of akvavit and snaps. Take note that the kitchen closes at 4pm on Tuesday, 8.30pm on Thursday and Sunday, and 9.30pm Friday and Saturday.

Restaurants in Vesterbro & Frederiksberg

Cooking in the New Nordic style, Radio combines innovation in its dishes with a casual, rustic style, driven by a connection to people and landscapes. The menu is entirely seasonal, featuring vegetables grown in the restaurant's very own fields on the Danish island of Lilleø, with additional ingredients contributed by local farmers and fishers. A more affordable option for those looking to experience high-quality New Nordic cuisine, Radio is a collaboration between the co-founder of renowned restaurant Noma, Claus Meyer, and former Noma chef Jesper Kirketerp, who also worked at the three-Michelin-starred Geranium.

Restaurants in Vesterbro & Frederiksberg

Candlelit industrial tiles, old Danish crockery, crooked old photos: this former basement factory finds its muse in the Danish bars of yesteryear. Here, every part of the animal is used to cook up honest, rustic, made-from-scratch fare. The surf-turf menu is short, seasonal and ethical: the meat is from welfare-minded farms and the produce is mainly organic and from small, local producers. In the warmer months, tables are set outside, with industrial Kødbyen your gritty, evocative backdrop. The kitchen itself closes at 10pm Monday to Thursday and at 11pm Friday and Saturday.

Restaurants in Vesterbro & Frederiksberg

Hija de Sanchez serves up fresh, authentic tacos in the Meatpacking District. Expect three rotating varieties daily, from traditional choices like carnitas and al pastor to 'El Paul' – crispy fish skin with gooseberry salsa. There's always a vegetarian option, as well as homemade Mexican beverages like tepache (fermented pineapple juice). Chicago-native chef-owner Rosio Sánchez hails from renowned restaurant Noma, ie serious culinary cred. Her original Hija de Sanchez location at Torvehallerne market operates from April to October.

Restaurants in Nørrebro & Østerbro

A reformed workingmen's bar, neighbourly Fischer serves Italian-inspired soul food like grilled flatbread topped with tomato, goat's cheese, dates and basil, or house-made maltagliati pasta with rabbit, mint and chilli. That it's seriously good isn't surprising considering that owner and head chef David Fischer worked the kitchen at Rome's Michelin-starred La Pergola. Breakfast options feature some over-the-border dishes, including a hearty croque madame. The kitchen closes at 10pm Monday to Saturday and at 9pm on Sunday.

Restaurants in Nørrebro & Østerbro

Møller is a cosy and rustic all-day-breakfast haven with a focus on quality local ingredients. Eggs, meats, cheeses, breads and more are offered individually so you can create your own meal according to your tastes – a sort of tapas-style breakfast. The house-made sourdough bread, fresh nuggets with mayo, and the half avocado filled with crumbed almonds, chilli and crème fraiche are especially delicious. Møller does not take reservations, so there can be a wait, especially on weekends. The kitchen itself closes at 3pm.

Restaurants in Vesterbro & Frederiksberg

Set in a former royal summer house adorned with contemporary, botanical murals, Mielcke & Hurtigkarl is as ethereal as its menu is heavenly. Executive chef Jakob Mielcke's inspired approach to local and global ingredients shines through in bold, whimsical creations that fuse Western and Eastern flavours. The result: dishes like flawlessly seared sweetbread paired with eggplant puree, ponzu and crisp, sea buckthorn-spiked tuile. From Tuesday to Thursday, a 800kr tasting menu is also offered. Book ahead.

Restaurants in Vesterbro & Frederiksberg

Concrete floors, industrial tiling and a 1000-litre aquarium meet impeccable seafood at this ever-popular, buzzy haunt, slap bang in Vesterbro's trendy Kødbyen (Meatpacking District). Ditch the mains for three or four starters. Standouts include the oysters and lobster with beer meringue, as well as the dainty, delicate razor clams, served on a crisp rice-paper 'shell'. While you can book a table, dining (and slurping cocktails) at the Manhattan-style bar is much more fun. The kitchen closes at 11pm.

Restaurants in Vesterbro & Frederiksberg

This is the cheaper bistro spin-off of Copenhagen's Michelin-starred Kadeau. While the New Nordic grub here is simpler, it's no less nuanced and seasonal; think cured brill with gooseberries and dried brill roe, or roasted wolf fish with summer cabbage, black cabbage, nasturtiums and crispy grains. The on-point wines are organic and from smaller producers, and the vibe intimate and convivial. Book ahead, especially on Friday and Saturday.

Restaurants in Nørrebro & Østerbro

Decked out with bold geometric floor tiles, artisan bakery-cafe Mirabelle is owned by Michelin-lauded chef Christian Puglisi, who also owns popular restaurant Bæst next door. It's a slick, contemporary spot for made-from-scratch pastries, simple breakfast bites like eggs Benedict, and a short menu of Italo-centric lunch and dinner dishes, including house-made charcuterie, cheeses and organic-flour pasta. Good coffee to boot.

Restaurants in Nørrebro & Østerbro

From humble food-truck origins, casual Hooked has evolved into a bricks-and-mortar go-to for smashing fish and chips with vinegar fries. The batter is flawlessly crisp and the fish soft, flaky and fresh. Other bites include a honey-mustard-spiked burger and two types of lobster rolls: American and Asian. The latter is one of several Asian-influenced options, among them scallops with Hoisin sauce. Of course, it just wouldn't be a modern fish-and-chippery without both craft beers and cocktails on tap. Gin and yuzu, anyone?

Restaurants in Nørrebro & Østerbro

Wulff & Konstali offers up one of the best brunches in town – quite an accomplishment in this brunch-loving city. Choose a five- or seven-item spread, mixing and matching from offerings such as panini with mushroom, Parmesan and truffle, and chocolate waffle with sea-buckthorn cream. Accompany with fresh juices and smoothies for a delectable dining experience. Brunch 9am to 3pm daily. Outside of brunch hours, stop in for coffee, breads, cakes and pastries – the lemon swirl is especially delicious.