Denmark
Good food, great service. I like their seasonal menu card, which means you only get the best of the best.
www.kjobenhavn.dk/
Dronningens Tværgade 10, 1302 København K
+45 22 44 66 66
Google map: bit.ly/10kqH4p
Running Copenhagen offers running sightseeing tours in Copenhagen with a local guide.
It was great as it combined exercise, sightseeing and local knowledge. We did the City Tour which cost 20 Euros on the first day we were in Copenhagen and we covered all the main sights within 1.5 hour of running. The guide took pictures of us along the way which we later received by email and could view on Facebook. She also recommended a handful of bars, restaurants and cool galleries, which meant that we spent the rest of our holiday visiting some truly cool places.
Even if you are not the next Paula Radcliffe, you can still join this tour and experience Copenhagen in a fun and active way.
www.running-copenhagen.dk
The Hans Christian Andersen Statue by the Copenhagen City Hall
When Copenhagen goes all festive and international - I wish! Events are pretty much localized to Faelledparken. It tries to imitate the carnival in Rio de Janeiro but fails. Please don’t get me wrong, it is an amazing event in itself, in that Copenhagen goes multicultural for 48hrs. Fun is to be found for all ages, and the standard is high from those participating. They really, really try!
Faelledparken, opposite national football stadium (home of FCK), centre of Osterbro, follow Osterbrogade from Osterport Station and enter via Trianglen.
www.copenhagencarnival.dk/
A really nice bar, full of creative types and students. Serves some excellent Danish beers as well as the normal Carlsberg and Tuborg. Sit outside weather permitting, blankets provided if a bit chilly! All the furniture and fittings are supposedly up for sale, if you really fancy a chair with your beer, this is the place. In all the years I have been there I have never seen anyone do this ...
Blågårdsgade 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
+45 3536 9955
www.propscoffeeshop.dk
Google map: bit.ly/mSnR56
In my opinion The Globe is the best Irish bar in Copenhagen. It is hard to understand why, the drinks, décor and service are nothing special, you could even say that the drinks and ‘Irish pub’ décor are typical of its ilk. Service boarders on down-right depressing at times. But somehow the place grabs you and won’t let go. I could say it has to do with the authenticity of the pub culture demonstrated by the mostly authentic Irish staff. Brian the owner is obviously Irish and a big Liverpool fan too! Come and experience football here (especially when Liverpool are playing) on the big screen and assorted TV’s, packed like sardines in what is a big bar. Maybe it's the pub quizzes. It could be the food, standard pub fair but done really well! Mainly though I think it’s the people - there is always a mix of expats and locals and as in any good pub you get to know them.
Nørregade 43-45, 1050 København K
+45 33 32 08 60
www.the-globe.dk/
Google map: bit.ly/jv8efl
Another ‘artsy’ bar come restaurant, it’s been around for ages. Great relaxed atmosphere and has a very creative vibe - I always end up decorating the paper table cloths with ad-hoc doodling. The back of the bar serves as an excellent little eatery, although I found the quality very hit or miss. The bar itself serves mediocre pub grub but come here for a drink and catch a flavour of Vesterbro.
Café Hackenbush, Vesterbrogade 124 1620, Denmark
+45 33 21 74 74
Google map: bit.ly/kkoASD
A bar that is busy from early evening until very late! Filled with students mixed with local drinking crowd. Billiard and pool tables, table football. Cheep beer. When it gets rowdy it stays rowdy. Can be a bit cramped but that is half the appeal.
Nørrebrogade 24, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
+45 3537 0470
Google map: bit.ly/iFynlK
Is the only bar I found in KBH with a competitive pool table, winner stays on and you can wait hours for a game, the turn is indicated by hanging a key on a clock face. There are two pool tables in the back that can be hired if you want to play a bit more sedately. Packed on most nights and a bit of a cattle market during the weekend. Open very late. (Can be too busy to get on the good pool table and the service slows if you arrive in the wee hours!)
Sundevedsgade 2, 1751 Copenhagen
+45 33 23 77 20
Google map: bit.ly/mipT0c
The most arty of arty bars with really surreal sculpture that sets the mood - melted plastic, baby doll head lampshades etc. Great food too. The menu has been rather static for years but why change it when it works. Great beer and coffee, wine and tea, whatever your fancies are you won’t be disappointed. Filled with locals and arty types at all times so getting a table can be difficult, but well worth it.
Ahlefeldtsgade 29, 1359, Denmark
+45 33 93 69 88
www.bankeraat.dk/
Google map: bit.ly/jlM9A1
Faelledparken is a huge, green space at the heart of smart østerbro, play football, throw a Frisbee, sit and drink beer/wine, have an impromptu BBQ (but try not to destroy the grass!).
Edel Sauntes Allé 13, 2100 København, Denmark +45 33 66 34 80
Google map: bit.ly/iLRkhM
As it's name suggests a place to drink beer (lit. 'beer bar')
Was my favourite bar for a while, well I had a friend working there who really knew his beer and the education was very intoxicating! Truly the samples of 10% beers do go to the head. A great, cosy bar, great music and huge selection of beers from all over the world as well as many introductions to some of the more alternative Danish beers. The staff know their stuff and are always willing to help. Don’t follow the hype and go to Norrebro’s Bryghus, come here and have a much nicer time.
Elmegade 2, 2200 København
www.olbaren.dk
+45 3535 4534
Google map: bit.ly/mONWUD
Nyhavn is not just a pretty tourist attraction. All year round the locals gather here to chug down bottles of beer and wine bought from the warehouse-like kiosks hidden just off the tourist drag! Avoid the over-priced bars and restaurants. In the summer the place becomes a street party, bring your own deckchair and picnic, the Danes do! Most Danes will try to tell you that all the drunks are Swedish and Norwegian tourists, don’t believe them, I think only half are.
Google map: bit.ly/im7hBu
Out partying into the wee hours and the bar closes? Yes it happens in Denmark too, the only difference being it is now morning. Still thirsty and want to continue? Well head off to Hong Kong a small nats vaertshus, and one of the first in KBH to go 24hrs. It's a really unimpressive, scruffy bodega generally full of drunks and the like. Oh yeah, by this time you will fit in just fine! Just take it from me the cobbles outside lining Nyhavn are not that comfy to sleep on!
Nyhavn 7, 1051, Copenhagen, Denmark
+45 33129272
Google map: bit.ly/jztOlA
Drinking establishment that does not break the bank.
A very easy going bar, full of locals with character and friendly staff. Has four or five Danish billiard tables, a great game when you learn how to play it and the best thing is that you can play for free for as long as you like, ask for your balls at the bar (they give you the pins too.) When it gets busy you are expected to give up the table when someone marks your scoreboard within two or three games depending on how long you have been there - they may even ask to join in. Has a pool table, table-football and darts too. You can even watch the football on TV. Small outside area for the summer and the smokers. Only nachos and snacks for those with hunger pains but grab a kebab or pizza locally and come back for more - you are allowed in with your food!
Stefansgade 22, 2200 København N
+45 3585 5822
Google map: bit.ly/k8CRDi
For a really great cycling holiday try the cycling paradise of Denmark. There are lots and lots of dedicated cycling routes with maps and guides freely available from tourist information offices. Virtually every road has a cycle path, motorists give way to cyclists and it's almost flat. Combined with fantastic coastline and interesting scenery inland, and lots of superb places to visit - all in all it's a cyclist's dream.
Throughout Denmark
When the sun shines the Danish really know how to enjoy it. If you manage a trip to Copenhagen in the summer months, do not miss this outdoor swimming spot which pretty much sums up the Danish attitude to design: simple, effective and beautiful. Kastrup Søbad literally meaning sea bath, is a large wooden pavilion leading from the beach. The structure undulates and curves creating a buffer from sea winds and various points for sitting, sunbathing and diving into the Baltic Sea. The lowest level steps down into the water and contains showers and lockers. The highest point gives fantastic views of the beach and Sweden across the sea. The surroundings are brilliant for walking, biking and roller-skating. There is also a marina and facilities nearby for wind surfing, kite surfing and canoeing.
An easy ten minute walk from Femøren underground station along the beach. The station is on a line between Copenhagen and Copenhagen airport, it takes a maximum of 15 minutes from the centre of town and trains are frequent.
Amager Strandvej 301, 2770 Kastrup
Google map: tinyurl.com/3xnu6ge
This neighbourhood wine bar/cafe has so many great things going for it: charming staff, the tiny menu (one soup, one tapas platter, one sandwich), interesting wine menu and cosy, super-relaxed ambiance. A great place to while away an hour or so on a chilly CPH day.
www.falernum.dk/
Værnedamsvej 16
1819 Frederiksberg, Denmark
3322 3089
Google map: tinyurl.com/ykexro7
Part of a small chain of genuinely eco-friendly boutique hotels, this doesn't stint on quality, from the toiletries to the bed linen and the sumptuous, cheese-tastic organic breakfasts.
hotelguldsmeden.com/axel/english/
Axel is one of three Guldsmeden hotels in Vestrobro, a 10-min walk west of Copenhagen's central station.
Helgolandsgade 11
DK-1653 København V
Phone: +45 33 31 32 66
Google map: tinyurl.com/yhc8eho
A four star hotel, but it feels like a five star one. A really beautiful place - quiet and exclusive, but still in walking distance from all the major sights and shopping. I loved the historic feel of the hotel.
www.kongarthur.dk
Nørre Søgade 11
DK-1370 København K.
Tlf.: +45 33 11 12 12
Google map: tinyurl.com/ye3u6aq
Friendly staff. A hotel with lots of atmosphere and reasonably priced for Denmark/Copenhagen. Great breakfast and nice rooms. Wonderfully located. Try the tapas-bar next door!
Vendersgade 23, 1363 Copenhagen K, www.ibsenshotel.dk
Google map: tinyurl.com/yevsvd4
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