What Copenhagen is known for eating
Copenhagen has two reputations at once: a city of everyday, unfussy Danish food, and a capital of inventive restaurant cooking. Since the early 2000s the New Nordic movement, with its focus on local and seasonal ingredients, has drawn food-minded travellers. Alongside it, traditional dishes such as open sandwiches, roast pork and hot dog stands remain part of daily life. This guide covers the main things to try and how to approach them. Restaurant names, prices and opening hours change often, so check current details before you go.
Smørrebrød
Smørrebrød is the dish most often linked with Danish cuisine. It is an open-faced sandwich built on dense, dark rye bread (rugbrød), spread with butter and topped with ingredients such as pickled herring, roast beef with remoulade and crispy onions, smoked or cured fish, egg with shrimp, or liver pâté. Traditionally it is eaten at lunch, often with a knife and fork. Rye bread with toppings is also a staple in Iceland; see Icelandic breakfast recipes. Many smørrebrød restaurants and food hall stalls serve it, so you can try a few small pieces rather than one large plate.
Danish hot dogs
Street-side hot dog stands (pølsevogne) are a Copenhagen fixture. The classic is the røde pølse, a bright red pork sausage, served in a bun with ketchup, mustard, remoulade, pickled cucumber and fried and raw onions. Some stands also offer organic or gourmet versions. It is a cheap, quick bite between sights.
Danish pastries and cardamom buns
What the rest of the world calls a Danish pastry is known in Denmark as wienerbrød, or Viennese bread, a hint of its history. Bakeries sell laminated pastries, cinnamon swirls, and cardamom buns, which have become closely associated with modern Copenhagen bakeries. Mornings are the best time to find them fresh. Another city with a strong sweet-baking tradition is Brussels; see our guide to Brussels famous food for its waffles and speculoos.
Denmark’s famous dishes: flæskesteg and frikadeller
If you are asking what Denmark’s famous dish is, there is no official answer, but two names come up often:
- Flæskesteg: roast pork with crisp crackling, traditionally served around Christmas with caramelized potatoes and red cabbage. Our Scandinavian potato recipes explain how those potatoes are made.
- Frikadeller: pan-fried Danish meatballs, usually made from pork or a mixture of pork and veal, served with boiled potatoes, gravy and pickled beetroot or red cabbage.
Smørrebrød has also been put forward as a candidate for national dish.
What do Danes eat for breakfast?
A typical weekday breakfast is simple: rye bread or other bread with cheese, jam or cold cuts, yogurt or oat porridge, and coffee. Sweet pastries are more often a weekend treat. Danish hotel breakfasts often include a buffet with bread, cheeses, cured meats, boiled eggs and pastries.
New Nordic cooking
New Nordic cuisine emphasizes seasonal, regional ingredients, foraging and fermentation. At the high end this means tasting menus that need to be booked well ahead. You can also try the style at more casual venues, where a seasonal set menu or a few small plates are available at lower cost. If you want a restaurant meal, reserve early and be prepared for prices that are high even at the casual end.
Seafood, street food and markets
Seafood plays a big role, from pickled and marinated herring to fresh fish and shellfish. Food halls and markets are a convenient way to sample several things at once, including smørrebrød stalls, pastries, coffee and international options. Copenhagen’s food scene is not limited to Danish cooking, and Mexican, Asian and other restaurants are well established.
Drinks
Coffee culture is strong, and Danes drink a lot of it. Beer is widely available, and aquavit, a caraway or dill-flavoured spirit, is traditionally served with herring and other cold dishes. At Christmas time, look for gløgg, a spiced warm wine, often served with æbleskiver, small round pancakes. For another Nordic Christmas table, see Icelandic Christmas food recipes.
Tips for eating well in Copenhagen
- Eating out can be expensive, so lunch menus and food halls are a good way to try more for less.
- Book popular restaurants ahead, especially on weekends.
- Try smørrebrød at lunch rather than dinner, when it is more traditionally eaten.
- Tap water is generally safe to drink, and most places will serve it free or cheaply.
FAQ
What food is Copenhagen famous for? Smørrebrød, Danish pastries, hot dogs from street stands and New Nordic restaurant cooking are the best-known answers.
What are some must-eats in Denmark? Smørrebrød, flæskesteg, frikadeller, a røde pølse and a fresh pastry are a solid starting list.
Is Danish food mainly pork? Pork features heavily in traditional dishes, but fish and shellfish are also central, and many restaurants now offer vegetarian options.