Copenhagen, Denmark's Cafes
Copenhagen cafes are a mix of modern, old world,casual, and upscale.
Recommendations for cafes (great for lunch, drinks, pastries) in central Copenhagen near Stroget, the shopping district, and in Kungens Torv, one of the main squares.
Copenhagen, Denmark has a wide variety of cafes to suit many tastes and purposes, whether you want to have a nice meal, grab a coffee and a Danish pasty (called weinerbrod in Danish), sip a rich tasting Danish beer, or nurse a drink and people watch. Many cafes in Copenhagen are more expensive than cafes in other European and Nordic cities. Visitors might pay anywhere from 45-75 kr (8-13 USD) for a beer and simple meals average from 56 – 110 kr (10-20 USD). After a long day of touring they are nice places to hang out and watch the world go by.
Upscale Cafés
Café a Porta, located in one of Copenhagen’s main squares (Kongens Nytorv) and on the corner of the main shopping street (Stroget), has an elegant interior, a wood paneled bar, Danish beers on tap, and good food. While the prices are more expensive than other cafes, the atmosphere and the food make up for it. Sitting among the painted tin walls, wood trim, and tiled high ceilings, the atmosphere is 18th century classical mixed with 20th century Art Nouveau. During warm weather the proprietors open the sliding glass doors for patrons to enjoy the outdoor, covered terrace on Kongens Nytorv. The menu has a selection of salads, sandwiches, pasta, and more substantial meat entrees. The chicken Caesar salad and a Royal Brown draught ale hit the spot at lunchtime or for a light dinner.
Mid Range Cafés
Café Norden, on Stroget, is a popular, two storey café with large, glass windows, perfect for people watching. Select a pastry from one of the two glass cases downstairs, or head to the bar upstairs for a drink or to dine in the restaurant.
In Copenhagen’s Latin Quarter, near the University of Copenhagen, is the stylish Café Stelling created by renowned Danish designer Arne Jacobsen. Grab a table by one of the windows, enjoy the simple, elegant Scandinavian décor, and have a light lunch (chicken sandwich, quiche, salads, nachos) among the students catching up on their reading, well-off ladies who lunch, or young women with babies meeting their friends. The curious can browse through Danish magazines in the rack by the door.
Tucked in a small, quiet alley off Stroget is the café at 1 Pistrolstaede. During the weekday mornings the café has plenty of open tables for breakfast. Having a fresh chocolate weinerbrod or other fresh pastry is simply decadent way to start your day. Warm weather brings outdoor and covered patio seating. The patio has a rack of brochures for tourist sites and Copenhagen events. This is the least expensive cafe on this list. Forty five kr (about 8 USD) will buy you a weinerbrod and orange juice.
