10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Copenhagen

Mad & Kaffe in Copenhagen is popular with locals particularly thanks to its brunch, as it seems to be the preferred place to enjoy a late breakfast in the Danish capital.

With a focus on good ingredients and a great atmosphere, you have the option of composing your very own menu, which includes avocado cream with dried tomatoes, red grapefruit with passion fruit sugar, fluffy croissants with coffee syrup and a delicious – and photogenic – macha latte. Everything is served on a parade of colourful ceramics and tableware, which really adds some spice to your Sunday morning – just in case the food and atmosphere weren’t enough.

Live the American dream at The Midwestern Diner, which offers authentic American food. An American couple runs the restaurant, which has become a popular eatery for local Copenhageners as well as Americans who miss their famous food. Sink your teeth into a juicy double cheeseburger accompanied by a freakshake – one of the diner’s specialities. For your sweet tooth, your options include deep-fried Oreos with vanilla ice cream.

Discover all the different flavours that a diner has to offer when the focus is on quality ingredients. There is limited room, so make sure to reserve a table in good time.

At Zahida, you can enjoy a warm atmosphere and the aroma of fresh spices. Zahida was founded by two brothers from the UK and named after their mother – a tribute to good homemade food which takes traditional Pakistani and Indian food culture to the next level. Zahida is a popular restaurant among locals, and it is a place where you can enjoy juicy and spicy masala lamb chops with mint sauce, daal or butter chicken. Top off the evening with a mango kulfi, the Indian version of ice cream.

Zahida focuses on a few, carefully selected courses, which are served as if you were a member of the family, in a warm, homely atmosphere.

Il Buco is an Italian-inspired restaurant on Islands Brygge in Copenhagen, which emphasises sustainability and organic ingredients. Here, you can enjoy Italian dishes like risotto, pappardelle with ragu, and tiramisu. Enjoy one of Il Buco’s natural wines with your meal. However, Il Buco is particularly popular among locals for the double-baked, crisp croissant – which is, of course, 100% organic.

Il Buco focuses on seasonal, organic ingredients from local farmers and producers. The high-quality raw ingredients are treated with love and care, from farm to table.

The Meatpacking District (Kødbyen) in Vesterbro in Copenhagen has flourished as a popular, trendy district full of bars, restaurants, art and culture. The Meatpacking District was originally home to businesses in Copenhagen’s meat industry, but today you can find a broad selection of restaurants and cafés, where you can enjoy Copenhagen’s modern culture in industrial style.

Fiskebaren in the Meatpacking District offers a broad selection of wild fish, shellfish and oysters, which can be washed down with a classic cocktail or some chilled bubbly. Restaurant KUL takes grilling to new heights, and here you can choose all the selected small courses or large courses for sharing. You can also visit Paté Paté, the oldest restaurant in the Meatpacking District, where you can enjoy a French, Spanish or Moroccan-inspired meal.

Mangia is top of the list when local Copenhageners are hungry for a classic Italian pasta dish. This is Italian gourmet food in heaping portions, which will satisfy anyone.

Try everything from Mangia’s plin, filled pasta with pork and veal, pappardelle with lamb ragú or, for the vegetarians, a tortelli, pasta filled with ricotta and spinach. Mangia also serves delicate antipasti and other main courses, and you can end the evening with something like caramelised apple pie for your sweet tooth or a selection of Italian cheeses.

Bottega Barlie in the Inner City is a cosy café and restaurant surrounded by narrow streets and colourful, crooked buildings in the heart of Copenhagen. Barlie is often visited by people from the neighbourhood and local Copenhageners. Bottega Barlie’s offers Mexican and Spanish-inspired cuisine. Here you can enjoy a croissant or huevos rancheros (typical Mexican breakfast with eggs) with your morning coffee, tapas for lunch or one of their signature dishes for dinner, accompanied by a glass of natural wine.

Barlie’s menu changes every month, but you can stay updated on Instagram.

At the family-owned restaurant Husmanns Vinstue, located in cosy, homely basement premises in the heart of Copenhagen, you can find an endless selection of traditional Danish open sandwiches. They offer open sandwiches stacked with layers of filling, including the highly-recommended herring with raw egg yolk, smoked leg of lamb with scrambled eggs or spareribs with barbecue sauce. Husmanns Vinstue also hosts gentleman lunches and custom menus, where you can eat your fill of tenderloin or warm brisket of beef.

There is definitely something for everyone here, and if you aren’t already full, you can also enjoy a traditional Danish dessert to top off the meal.