18 Of The Best Bars In Copenhagen

The natural accompaniment to New Nordic cuisine, organic and biodynamic bottles are taking over wine lists across the city. There’s also fun to be had exploring Copenhagen’s cocktail bars – and the beer scene is bubbling up too…

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Bird

COCKTAILS

Duck & Cover

At this basement bar in cool Vesterbro, elegant leather seating, wood-slatted walls and some gently dramatic spotlighting transport guests back to the golden age of Danish modernism. The outstanding drinks help too. Menus change with the seasons but the concoctions will always be serious and their names playful – come summer, there might be a bourbon sour-ish Peachy Bastard with added amaro, clementine and chamomile. The classic Nordic spirit akvavit is another regular presence.

Visit DUCKANDCOVERBAR.DK

Bird

Bird is a neighbourhood bar close to the centre of town. The music’s as important as the cocktails here – jazz tends to get first spin, but you might also catch some poppier electro beats. Menus lean classic, with batch-made negronis and martinis subtly tweaked for contemporary palates.

Visit BIRDCPH.DK

Balderdash

Jaded by simple mini martinis and cask-aged negronis? This is where you take the friend who has reached the end of the London bar scene. In an 18th-century building, Balderdash owner Geoffrey Canilao presides over a hyper-experimental menu. Typically untypical options might include The Crow On Steroids (vodka, red beet-raspberry, vanilla, verjus and goat’s cheese-coconut foam) or Dusty Piratos (rum, salty liquorice, lemon curd and leek-coconut dust).

Visit BALDERDASH.DK

Pulp Bar

The retro approach of Pulp is much more light-hearted than that of your regular, reverential speakeasy. Here, on a lively square in boho Nørrebro, a rum sour becomes a Cloak & Dagger (aged rum Agricole, gold rum, soured apple and Danish apple amaro) and a margarita a Dusk Till Dawn (tequiliana, honey melon, agave syrup, chilli, fresh lime juice and strawberry-tomato vinegar).

Visit PULPBAR.DK

Bird

The Barking Dog

The name and the general aesthetic of this tiny place in Nørrebro could make it seem like a pub. But it’s stated ambition is to be a ‘really good bar’ and that’s exactly what it’s achieved. Agave spirits are its leading lights, featuring in house classics like the Lagerita, the Margarita Highball and even the intriguing Negroni Tonic (with added mezcal).

Visit THEBARKINGDOG.DK

Ruby

In a historic canal-side townhouse in the Indre By, Ruby has shone brightly on the Copenhagen cocktail scene for almost 20 years. Classic cocktails have been perfected, but the changing menu of the house’s own concoctions is the one to explore. Try a smoky, earthy and umami Jord & Blomst (gin, mezcal, pear, shiitake and lavender) or a smooth and herbaceous Vitamin D (tequila, lemongrass, coconut, nettle and avocado).

Visit RBY.DK

Lidkoeb

Over in Vesterbro, Ruby's sister bar splits across multiple floors of an old pharmacy, each with a distinct personality. The main bar on the ground floor is a relaxed space with an open fire in winter. In summer, the festoon-lit courtyard is the place to be. Upstairs, a more intimate whisky bar opens at the weekend, turning out Biscoff Old Fashioneds, Cosmo Highballs and seasonal sours.

Visit LIDKOEB.DK

Tata

The bar at Hotel Sanders (see our Sleep section) is named after the red velvet curtain at the Royal Theatre next door. With high-backed banquettes, moody lighting and a crackling fire, it puts on a good show of its own. Established favourites on the menu include the Manzai Martini (akvavit, gin, sake and genmaicha) and the East West Sazerac (rye whisky, cognac, foraged fig leaves). On summer weekends, Tata Rooftop up above is an appealing spot for an aperitivo.

Visit HOTELSANDERS.COM

Duck And Cover

Ruby

WINE

Pompette

This Parisian-style corner spot in Nørrebro is all about natural wine. There are plenty on offer by the glass, and hundreds more available by the bottle from its cellar. Pompette means ‘tipsy’ in French, and the bar offers cheese, charcuterie and other snacks to keep everyone on that happy plateau. For something more substantial, owner Martin Ho is also behind the Poulette fried-chicken joint right next door.

Visit ETTEETTEETTE.DK

Den Vandrette

This Nyhavn bar and bistro is run by pioneering natural wine importer Rosforth & Rosforth, which also opens its waterside showroom beneath Knippelsbro bridge for relaxed daytime tastings that can get pleasantly busy and fill the pavement outside. At Den Vandrette, small sharing dishes made with organic local ingredients are designed to complement a short, well-chosen list of biodynamic wines by the glass.

Visit DENVANDRETTE.DK

Josephine

A trip of ex-Pompette employees have drawn on everything they learnt from that fine establishment to create this mid-century-style bar in Amager. Organic, biodynamic and natural wines from small European producers are once again to the fore and offered at fair prices. In a relaxed atmosphere, the expertise of the staff is worn lightly, but worth tapping into.

Visit JOSEPHINE.DK

Lidkoeb

Pompette

Vinhanen

‘Vinhanen’ means ‘wine tap’ and that’s exactly what you’ll find at this cool neighbourhood spot in Nørrebro. Glasses are filled direct from tanks, which are themselves filled direct by producers across Europe. The removal of bottling costs means high-quality wines become available at accessible prices. This being Copenhagen, natural wines are of course a focus.

Visit VINHANEN-BAR.DK

Ved Stranden 10

Another one with a no-nonsense name, Ved Stranden means ‘by the shore’ and that’s where you’ll find it – on the waterfront of Holmens Kanal. White wooden walls, a no-reservations policy and monthly family-style ‘Monday Meals’ – details usually drop on social media – all enhance the appealingly rustic ambience. A block away, sister bistro Admiralgade 26 is a refined spot for a laidback lunch.

Visit VEDSTRANDEN10.DK

Kind of Blue

The open-minded, improvisational spirit of jazz infuses everything at this cosy wine bar in Nørrebro. Candles that look like they’ve been burning ever since Kind of Blue opened 15-odd years ago, and a piano in the corner, set the classic atmosphere, though the wine selection is thoroughly contemporary.

Visit KINDOFBLUE.DK

Roots Vinbar

Roots Vinbar lays on midweek ‘apero tastings’ at its places in Østerbro and Sydhavn. In the spirit of Italian conviviality, guests come together to try four interesting wines, each paired to a small bite. At other times, you’re free to explore the intriguing wine list at your own pace, accompanied by food from sister restaurant Rufino Osteria. If you’re hitting Østerbro on a Friday night, you’ll find a DJ too.

Visit ROOTSVIN.DK

Ved Stranden 10

BEER

Kihoskh

This hipster haven on Vesterbro’s busy Sønder Boulevard presents as a grocery store. That’s what it opened as back in the 1980s but it has become a meeting point for locals wanting to explore the contents of its extensive beer cellar. When the sun’s out, a place on its outdoor terrace is among the city’s most prized real estate.

Visit KIHOSKH.DK

Brus

Brus in Nørrebro is everything a modern taproom should be. In airy industrial surrounds, it has 32 taps pouring mainly its own in-house beers. There are decent cocktails on offer too, as well as quality bar snacks and burgers, and some nice outdoor seating for the warmer months.

Visit TAPPERIETBRUS.DK

Folk Kombucha

There’s a new kind of fermented beverage brewing in the city’s Meatpacking District. Folk’s on-going quest to create flavourful wellness drinks sees it combine living, unpasteurised kombucha with the likes of sea buckthorn and sour cherries in truly innovative ways. To pay a visit, hit them up on Instagram.

Visit FOLKKOMBUCHA.DK

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