Esperanza77

Again I don't write trip reports but a few words on Copen.

Went in December, cold but not extremely. Almost no rain.
Friendly locals but the food was the star of our trip.

We were there for 5 days and every, I mean every, meal we had ranged from great to fantastic. Fresh food cooked to perfection. The open sandwiches (Smørrebrød) were delightful. Wonderful, delicious pastries, the cinnamon rolls are the stars there. Everything is very expensive though, food, public transport, drinks, everything.

Also we caught some great jazz at the Jazz Cup.

Took an easy day-trip to Malmo where we also had some good tapas.

Would go back just for the food, the standards are very high.

PalenQ

Ah food for thought for folks planning European sojourns!

How about the beer?

Esperanza77

Hi PalenQ, we're not beer-drinkers, so I wouldn't know.

Checkout this street food destination which is a small island just opposite Nyhaven, a variety of street food stalls. I had braised duck there!

http://copenhagenstreetfood.dk/en/food-stalls/

it is also walking distance from Christiana.

autodidact

Agreed about the food. We did a 3-night beak there last May and had 3 fine dinners (at Radio, Cofoco and Uformel) plus a great smørrebrød lunch at Aamanns Deli.

We bought the 3-day Copenhagen card, which is expensive but worked out very well. Includes all transport plus free admittance to loads of galleries, plus Tivoli gardens and boat trip around harbour. It even allowed us train tickets to visit Louisiana art museum up the coast.

Other highlights: Grundtvigskirk; Rosenberg Castle and Treasury; Hirschsprung Gallery (if you like Krøyer and Hammershoi); swing band and dancing outdoors at night in Tivoli Gardens.

Yes, it's expensive. Exchange rate makes it more so. My solution was to pretend that the exchange rate was 10 to the Euro, not 7.5! Result: peace of mind.

We are already planning our next trip, as we didn't have time to visit Copenhagen Street Food, ​Christiania, The Cisterns, Frederiksborg Castle, Amalienborg, Christiansborg.

KarenWoo

Esperanza, was it comfortable to spend a lot of time outdoors in December?

Autodidact, what was weather like in May?

Can you give me average prices of hotels in Copenhagen? Would love to go sometime but am concerned about the cost.

Lenchik

Agree, Copenhagen Street Food market is by far my favorite place and I live in Copenhagen

PalenQ

I recall they have kiosks all over the main shopping drag selling "Polsers" - plain old but good hot dogs!

Esperanza77

Hi KarenWoo,
December was cold, especially at night but we did walk a LOT, although my husband objected but I'm a firm believer that walking is the way to go when travelling. Especially when you are trying to burn calories from all the pastries that you consumed.
Walking was doable, especially since public transportation and taxis are expensive,as we wore our thermals and just did it. Temperatures reached 3c but it was often windy, cold wind is not fun when you are walking. So make sure you have a scarf to cover your face.
At night we took taxis.
It did not rain a lot.
For me, the main problem was that a lot of venues were closed in the week of 20-25 December. It was my first European trip in Christmas. We also took a day trip to Malmo which was very easy.

Still, I would go back just for the food, maybe not in December though. The day was too short, sunrise at 8 and sunset at 4.

It was a different experience. It was a lot of fun.

I heard or read that the street food island will be converted to a residential area, so if you can go do it now. This was a culinary highlight. Seriously, Copenhagen offered fresh, delicious, and down to earth dinning, awesome.

bilboburgler

Did you not cycle?

Odin

If you go to Copenhagen during Christmas week, it would be too late for the ubiquitous julebord which is a shame as it is very traditional. Christmas week is a family time so a lot of restaurants are closed with some not opening until the new year, with some exceptions.
It was a mild Dec/Jan but Feb and now in March, has been very cold.
Everyone still cycles even in the snow, with their snow tyres.

tripplanner001

Glad I found this thread as I am headed to the Danish capital for 6 nights in mid-April. Esperanza77, would I be able to trouble you for the names of some of the restaurants you enjoyed? Others, please share your favorites too.

Fodorite018

Our DS did a study abroad semester in Denmark last year and we were able to go visit. Loved it!!! We had very good meals there too. Paper Island was one of our favorite areas. Loved having so many options all in one area.

tripplanner001--The places we enjoyed were Bistro De Paris (ate there twice it was so good), Nyhavns Faergekro (touristy area, but we had a very good meal there), and Mother pizza. Definitely go to Paper Island! The duck sandwich there was my favorite.

Esperanza77

tipplanner,

the standards of food are very high:

The best SMØRREBRØD we've had http://palaegade.dk/frontpage/ (book ahead)

Bistro de Paris: just off Nyhaven, https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...n_Zealand.html


-Street food island, a must http://copenhagenstreetfood.dk


-To die for pastries: Sankt Peders Bageria (for cinnamon rolls)

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...n_Zealand.html

and Lagkagehuset (many branches, it's a chain that you can find it everywhere). The cakes there are magnificent. Try to find a bigger branch for a better selection.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...n_Zealand.html


Enjoy

Odin

Restaurant Radio - loved this place, fabulous nordic cuisine
http://restaurantradio.dk/en/

Brasserie Degas - not expensive, great food and wine
http://degasbrasserie.dk/uk/

One of the oldest and most traditional restaurants in CPH, for a fix of old Danish cooking
http://www.groeften.dk/uk/welcome/

For cakes and coffee, one of the best in CPH
https://laglace.dk/en/besoeg-la-glace/

Cheap Eats
Top floor Magasin du Nord, there is a food court serving open sandwiches and traditional Danish dishes (roast pork etc). It is really quite good and you can get a view of the opera house.

Close to Magasin, old pub
http://www.hviidsvinstue.dk/en/index.html

Danish food, inexpensive
http://www.cafesorgenfri.dk/

Depending on budget, there are several others:-
Just outside CPH,
http://www.soelleroed-kro.dk/en/

In Klampenborg, an upmarket suburb, gorgeous area
http://www.denroedecottage.dk/en/home/

Central Copenhagen
http://www.geranium.dk/en/

If you are going on a trip to Helsingoer to see Hamlets Castle and want a lunch place, buy lunch tickets for the Aurora ferry on Scandlines and have the Scandinavian buffet. Inexpensive and better food than in many restaurants. Just stay onboard for as many crossings as needed to eat lunch (15 min crossing)

tripplanner001

Thank you all for the awesome suggestions. Honestly I did not think much about the food until I saw this thread; now I'm super excited.

Fodorite018

Esperanza--Oh wow, nice to see someone else found Bistro de Paris! The owner /chef was so nice and so chatty. I can't remember the other places that DS took us to, but we did not have a bad meal the entire time.

Esperanza77

mms, we found Bistro de Paris by chance. we liked the vibe and location so we decided to have dinner. The food was great and the service was friendly. And yes, there were no bad meals in Copenhagen.
I found the food the most exciting aspect of Copenhagen.

Enjoy your trip tripplanner and please let us know when you get back

tripplanner001

Thanks again Esperanza77. I intend to write a report of my visit.

Fodorite018

Esperanza--Same here, stumbled upon it and loved it! DS being a student was not up on those types of places He was great with where to get pastries and beer though, lol.

Esperanza77

mms, I also ate duck on paper island. ha
Apparently we think alike