Budget food in Copenhagen
 

We will be arriving in Copenhagen early afternoon after having flown all night from NY. We wil take a taxi from the airport to the Marriott where we will spend the night prior to a cruise the next day. Any recommendations for where to find a simple late afternoon - early evening meal in the area or maybe around Nyhaven. We wil be tired and not really interested in any long drawn out expensive meal but maybe better than McD. Also what should we expect to pay for such a meal. Is there "fast food" in Copenhagen? Can one use US dollars in Copenhagen or will we need krone? Any other suggestions for this short visit to Copenhagen would be appreciated.

We did not succeed in finding anything budget in Copenhagen, but you do need Danish currency, not US dollars.

The Marriott is within walking distance of the railway station and Tivoli as well as parts of "downtown" but I'm not sure you'll find anything "budget" although you don't have to spend a fortune, either.

Will you have access to the Marriott's executive lounge?

You will need local currency; either use your ATM card at the airport or in the machine in the Marriott lobby.

I always like to get out for a walk upon arrival, and Copenhagen is a great walking city..starting from the main square you will pasin the first section, but I would keep going to the department stores---Magasin and Illum. They are about mid-way, and oOne of them (I think it is Magasin) has a large and well-designed food court on the lower level, with various prepared foods on offer and tables where you can sit. We often get lunch there; I assume they are still open in late afternoon/early evening for the people heading home after work.

Or keep going to reach Nyhaven, and buy Polser (Danish hot dogs) from the vendor cart there, and sit on the edge of the canal with the Danish kids while you eat. Or sit down at a table at one of the outdoor cafes and get a beer and light snack and enjoy the scene, then get a waffle cone at the ice cream place to finish the meal.

Riz Raz is a vegetarian buffet for around 79 kr at lunch and just off the walking street. I haven't been there in 10 years but I did enjoy it then.

Another vote for <B>pølser</B>! There's a cart on every street corner - and don't miss the <I>taffel sennep</i> (Danish mustard - think spicy Dijon) that's served with them!

I have friends who start longing for Pølser before we get off the plane. So a Pølser stand is our first stop, after dropping bags at the hotel. (I can't eat sausage but I go along for the walk). The favorite stand is the one in the square just before Nyhaven---I think it's Kongens Nytorv.

I agree with the poster who recommended Riz Raz - it was cheap and good when I was there last year.

Another suggestion is Cofoco Le Marche, a small takeaway place that I believe is an offshoot of a nice restaurant. It sells one reasonably priced take-out dinner (it changes every few days - check the website). It was coq au vin when I was there and it was very good. Our hotel was near the train station and it was about a 10 minute walk if I recall correctly. We took it back to the room and got our own beverages from the convenience store nearby.

I wasn't the biggest fan of the famed pølser myself. (Maybe I just hit a substandard stand).