20 Best Bars in Copenhagen, Denmark

Whether you’re looking to buy vintage furniture or just have a glass of wine, you’ve come to the right place. This Francophile combined coffee shop, wine bar, and furniture store is a delight for the eyes and taste buds.

Around since the 1720s, Hviids Vinstue attracts all kinds, young and old, singles and couples, for a glass of wine or cognac in its atmospheric basement with dark, wooden furniture, stained-glass windows, and leather couches.

A must for jazz lovers. This is Copenhagen's quintessential jazz dive, with sagging curtains, nights that turn into mornings without you noticing it, and hepcats.

Located in the heart of a historic hotel, this bar is an elegant and romantic spot for a quiet but pricey drink. It has golden wood, leather chairs, and walls carpeted by books. In December, a Christmas tree hangs from the atrium---upside down.

Some of the bigger names in Danish music (pop, rock, and urban) and budding artists from abroad play at this medium-size venue in Christiania, which is run by volunteers and known for spotting the next big thing on the international alternative rock and indie scene. Covers range from DKr 50 to DKr 350.

One of Denmark’s most legendary bars, this beloved institution has served beer, wine, and stronger spirits for decades. It’s long been popular among journalists and in the publishing world.

Ruby was one of the first serious cocktail bars to open up in Copenhagen, and it's still one of the best. Inside an unmarked building, Ruby feels more like a private party in a luxury apartment than a cocktail lounge. It buzzes with a mixed clientele. The cocktail bars Lidkøb and Brønnum are run by the same team.

This three-story complex houses some of Copenhagen's best concerts and parties in some of the city's most unusual, beautiful surroundings. Store Vega is where larger concerts are held; Little Vega hosts smaller concerts and turns into a nightclub on Friday and Saturday. Next door is Ideal Bar, a good place to have a drink on your way in or out of Vega.

This unpretentious wine bar is an excellent place to explore the world of natural wine. There's no menu; instead the friendly, knowledgeable bartenders will guide you, letting you try a few different wines so you find one that you love. The bar snacks—such as caramelized cherry tomatoes with Danish burrata (fresh cow-milk cheese made from cream and mozzarella) and toasted, oiled sourdough bread—are excellent, too. 

This cozy café and bar was one of the first hip places to open on Istedgade, and it's still a favorite among locals.

The popular venue Bremen Teater, which hosts everything from concerts to comedy shows and talks by intellectual superstars, has opened a nightclub in the foyer. The crowd is slightly older than at most other nightclubs, thanks to the 23+ age restriction.

The BrewPub microbrewery and restaurant has a beer garden with 11 beers on tap as well as a beer-sampler menu and dishes made using beer.

At night Café Zirup is a modern and busy hangout. The café has a good variety of sandwiches and a popular "hangover" brunch.

The small Centralhjørnet is in a house that dates from 1802. Now a bar catering to the LGBT+ crowd, it has a busy events calendar with drag shows, live music, and holiday-themed events.

Charlie's Bar is a small, British pub that has 19 drafts, six of which are cask-conditioned ale—unfiltered, unpasteurized beer served from casks. There's a wide range of international and Danish beer, including the house lagers Hancock and Thisted.

The large Copenhagen Jazzhouse attracts international names to its chic, modern, barlike interior. The downstairs concert hall turns into a dance club on Friday and Saturday after the jazz acts end. You can buy tickets at the door starting an hour before it begins.

The microbrewing empire Mikkeller seems aimed at world domination, but this massive beer garden next to the water in hip Refshaleøen is one of the best places to taste the beers.

Popular with the LGBT+ crowd, Oscar is a relaxed spot for a drink or a cup of coffee and a chat with locals.

The hippest veterans on Copenhagen’s nightclub scene---the club kings Simon & Simon, as they’re called by locals---recently took over the pleasure pavilion that sits on a heavily trafficked bridge in the middle of the Copenhagen lakes. There’s a hip restaurant, a garden, and several bars and dance floors.

With a view of Christiansborg and an ever-popular terrace on the canal, this wine bar and shop is as famed for its location as its wine list. There’s a focus on wine from Eastern Europe, tastings on Wednesday, and staff-like dinners on Monday.