A heaven for food lovers, Copenhagen has everything you could possibly want from a foodie weekend break. From Michelin starred dining to edgy food hangouts in the meatpacking district and healthy brunch spots in trendy Nørrebro, Denmark's capital is a hotbed of culinary delights.

After a recent trip to Copenhagen, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite places to eat in this Scandi-chic city. Forks at the ready…

Gorilla

Situated in Copenhagen’s hip meatpacking district, what is now the bustling Gorilla restaurant was once home to an abattoir. As you might expect, the decor is pared-back and industrial in a nod to the building’s former life, but the beautiful mural artwork adorning the walls breathes a new life into the space.

Offering tapas-style dining at its very best, Gorilla’s menu is an eclectic mix of flavours from around the world, with a distinctly Scandi twist. We’d recommend opting for the 10-course tasting menu - the salted scallops with sesame seeds, seaweed and wasabi was a particular highlight, as was the coffee-infused beef tartare and cod with fried cabbage and mussel sauce. The dishes were all well-presented, tasty and great for sharing. Our only complaint? Some of the dishes were slightly too small, as both of us wanted to guzzle the lot…

To compliment our tasting menu, we opted for the paired drinks and sampled a delicious range of organic wines from across Europe. Keep your eye out for the stunning blood orange wine - a new grape that’s becoming increasingly popular across Scandinavia. The service was exceptional throughout, with the friendly, knowledgeable waiters happy to explain the tasting menu and wine pairings as we tucked in.

The vibe at Gorilla is buzzing and lively, particularly at the weekends when tables are pushed aside to create a dancefloor in the same space where you were eating just minutes before. Tourists looking to make friends and live like a local will have no problem at Gorilla as the enthusiasm of the staff and regulars is infectious.

Restaurant Gorilla, Fisketorvet 63, DK-1711 København K - restaurantgorilla.dk/forside

STUD!O

A Michelin star restaurant, STUD!O has grown from strength to strength since it opened in October 2013. Head chef Torsten Vilgaard received the venue’s first Michelin star, with Damian Quintana taking the helm in February 2019 and retaining the star six months later.

We enjoyed the STUD!O lunch experience, which is a great introduction to fine dining if a lengthy dinner tasting menu is a little intimidating. The menu menu consists of five servings, beginning with two snacks, a starter, a sharing main course and finishing off with a sweet dessert.

Celebrated as a true Nordic kitchen, each dish was beautifully presented and made use of Scandinavia’s wonderful natural larder, with lots of local produce used throughout. It is, however not for the faint-hearted - our menu included pigeon legs (with feet and claws still attached) for the starter, and a plate of almond, cep mushroom and balsamic vinegar for dessert. We enjoyed the Michelin star experience, but would recommend going in with an open mind, particularly those who aren’t adventurous eaters.

With views over the water and a busy open-plan kitchen, there’s plenty to admire as you eat. Trendy turquoise tiling and minimalist fittings and furniture add to the restaurant’s Nordic vibe.

STUD!O, The Standard, 44 Havnegade, DK-1058 København K - thestandardcph.dk/en/studio

Vækst

Vækst means “growth” in Danish and is a reference to the restaurant’s own freshly grown produce, with much of the menu revolving around vegetables, herbs and other flora grown in the venue’s greenhouse. Headed up by chef Jonas Christensen, the menu is rustic, light and fresh and the greenhouse oasis creates a laid-back, relaxed ambiance which both compliments and enhances the food served.

We chose the evening set menu which includes an aperitif, three courses and wine pairings, plus coffee to finish. The pork belly main was the stand-out dish, served with truffle glace, celeriac and watercress - but the heavenly salted caramel dessert came a close second. A special thank you to Rosaura, who was extremely well-versed on the menu and wine pairings - good service goes a long way.

Vækst is the thirteenth opening from local restaurant group Cofoco, which also includes favourites like Höst and Llama. This restaurant, which is located in the superbly stylish Hotel SP34, offers summer garden vibes, with charming outdoor string lights, vibrant plant pots and the signature indoor greenhouse. The perfect mix of city and garden, this place is highly Instagrammable but it’s not a case of style over substance here - the food is just as excellent as the surroundings.

Vækst, Sankt Peders Stræde 34, 1453 København K - cofoco.dk/en/restaurants/vaekst

Wulff and Konstali

Wulff and Konstali is a group of trendy Copenhagen bakeries, serving up a wide range of sweet and savoury delicacies to suit all tastes. On arrival at the the Nørrebro bakery, we were given a personal menu to check off the items we like with a pencil, choosing either a five- or seven-course brunch.

There are 22 items to choose from, including pastries, bread, eggs, continental meats, waffles, chia porridge, yogurt, granola, avocado and so much more. After what felt like hours of deliberating, we went for the seven-dish brunch which was more than enough to last us until dinner time. Everything is prepared from scratch, which really makes a difference - particularly their heavenly buttery croissants.

Sunday brunch at W&K boasts a lively, buzzing atmosphere with young Danes debriefing over their weekend antics, alongside families enjoying a relaxed start to the day. The decor is cosy but minimalist, with space to sit with a group - although it can get busy on weekends, so we’d recommend getting there early as you can’t book ahead.

The staff were friendly and didn’t seem fazed by the every-growing queue of people waiting for a table. The food only took around 15-20 minutes to arrive, which was surprising considering how busy they were. The locals clearly know a good thing when they see it - join the crowds and try this innovative brunch concept when visiting the Danish capital.

Wulff and Konstali Nørrebro, Skt Hans Torv 30, 2200 København N - wogk.dk

Osteria 16

Although we’d highly recommend sampling plenty Scandi cuisine while you’re in Copenhagen, don’t forget about the exciting flavours from some of the city’s European and global-inspired restaurants. One of our favourites was Osteria 16, a small neighbourhood antipasti restaurant, serving simple and authentic Italian food and wine.

The restaurant has just one menu, consisting of eight ever-changing, seasonal antipasti dishes. Some are served together, and some after each other, and all are made using fresh ingredients imported directly from Italy. We started with a delicious octopus carpaccio, together with a chickpea salad and anchovy zucchini. These dishes, together with the five dishes that followed, were all amazing. The Piemonte wines that were paired with the food worked well and added to the continental atmosphere.

Intimate and cosy, the restaurant only has 35 seats and the small tables are crammed together, giving it that old-school Italian vibe. The decor is simple and rustic, and the large arched window ensures it feels cosy and comfortable rather than cramped. The staff were fun and friendly, if not distracted at times, and we had a thoroughly enjoyable evening there.

Where to eat in Copenhagen