Hi lovely NoMo readers!
Kristoffer from 🌴 Jungle here. We are a community-driven platform, dedicated to Copenhagen’s independent food scene. We specialize in insider recommendations from local chefs, sommeliers, bakers and baristas.
On top of that, we do a weekly calendar of pop-ups, openings and food related events in the city.
This summer, NoMo and Jungle decided to trade pocket guides for Malmø and Copenhagen respectively, and we are excited to share them with you.
With that being said, and with our focus on indie places and pop-ups we hope to offer you a different guide than what you might find elsewhere around the web.
Let’s go!
Events and Festivals
15-18 August: Streetfood om Søerne, is a street food festival that’s been gathering pace over the last 5 years or so. Expect loads of food stalls, lots of fun and happy winners. It’s a space where you’ll discover some of the rising stars on the food scene before everyone else - and you’ll find Michelin-chefs who use street food as a way to get back to their roots and express themselves.
1-3 August: O Days Festival, at Refshaleøen is a music, culture and food festival powered by ÅBEN, a young brewery that’s really managed to establish themselves over these last few years. Of course, we are mostly interested in the food, where new indie places and producers get to showcase their craft - but the music lineup looks pretty banging too.
Pop-ups this summer
Our pop-up calendar is filling up fast, so make sure to check it before crossing the bridge. But here are a few things we think you’ll like:
26-30 June: World of Coffee is Coming to Copenhagen
26-30 June: World of Coffee is also at Wild Horses in Sydhavn
28 + 29 June: Café Sandø x Rouge Oysters invite you to an Oyster Party in Chr. Havn
6 July : Jazz, Grapes and Grains: Sæsonmelier x Jazzed on Grains invite you to music, wine and food
10 August, The Caribbean Housewife invites you to her Legendary Indoneasin Rijstaffel at her newly opened Caribbean Embassy
Again, do check the calendar before going. There are about 15 pop-ups each week.
Brunch, Coffee and Bakeries
Cadence in Carlsbergbyen takes brunch to another level, and a perfect place to start an excursion around Carlsberg Byen, Vesterbro and parts of Frederiksberg. Head baker Meagan Benell of MORETOAST says:
“Their menu reminds me of brunch in my hometown Toronto. So much inventiveness - especially with eggs (sorry boiled egg with Rugbrød)! The service is super welcoming and the space is light and full of plants. I would go for poached egg on cheesy polenta and convince my table to share the hot cakes. Finish with a cannelle from the bakery and espresso.”
The Bird Places, aka Flere Fugle, FOVL and now Lille Fugl is a quality set of stops for coffee and bread-related goodness too. Flere Fugle is their biggest place, located in the Democracy Garage in Nordvest (The area you’ll want to tell your friends about), here you can also enjoy great breakfast in the morning - and sourdough pizzas in the afternoon/evenings.
Tue Bach from Volatil Winebar says of Flere Fugle:
“Always full of people and filled with the good local feeling that makes everyone part of the cafe. Busy place, but no compromises on the quality of the ingredients - from their baked works to a cup of tea. I especially love the Sunday morning visit with my friends.”
Nordic Roasting Co. in Amager is another of those places you’ll tell people about. Julia Prokopenko of Julias Food Feels tells us:
“Scandinavian simplicity in a nutshell; not only is the coffee excellent with their actual roasting ‘factory’ in the back, but they also serve other well crafted other creamy beverages. Aga, the brewer, is doing everything to perfection despite only 5 seats available.“
There are too many good places to mention when it comes to coffee and quality bread, so note down ORSA (Vesterbro), Arrebro and reversly named Oberra, (Nørrebro) as well as Dallas (Østerbro), newly opened and fantastic LIDO (City) - not to mention April Coffee (Østerbro) the Noma of coffees, if you will.
Enough with the coffee.
Food on the go
Copenhagen is a relatively kebabified city. For a quick, but seriously good roll on the go, we’d highlight Killer Kebab (Now multiple locations like Vesterbro, City, Frederiksberg) Durum Symfoni (Nørrebro) and Kebabistan (Vesterbro).
Bernardo Salazar de Sousa from Café Yellow in Nørrebro says of Killer Kebab:
“Makes my favourite Kebabs and Falafels right now. They build their own marinated lamb shawarma meat cone and make their own sour dough flat bread. It makes for a fantastic Kebab with well spiced and succulent meat! Their Falafels are crunchy and delicious. - I'm fully addicted to both.”
For Durum Symfoni in Nørrebro, Kai Semple of YAM says:
“Where do I start with Durum Symfoni? Good overall local joint serving amazing durum wraps that are made to order when you arrive. I definitely recommend their falafel.”
For quality sandwiches, you’ll want to swing by Abrikos (City) who recently got embroiled in somewhat of a flamewar, with a larger chain of restaurants seemingly copying their winning style of sandwiches. At Jungle, we always root for the indie places, so we were happy to read that Abrikos still have the goods on the bigger guys.
Doomsday Deli (Nørrebro) is another place that takes sandwiches to the next level:
Birk Voss of Rouge Oysters and Espehus Kro says it straight:
“A new favourite In the sandwich landscape.The Air schnitty sando is f*cking amazing.Great coffee, good vibe and real people.But the sandoes is the best!”
If you’re in the centre of the city, hop down to Strutto for their Cresia - and there are so may class places like Poulette, Harry’s Place, and of course Gasoline Grill.
Nichlas Jaime Frese fom Andersen Bakery says of Gasoline Grill :
“In my opinion the best burger in Copenhagen. Very simple and honest, full of flavor. The perfect spot for a quick lunch.”
Really good Casual Eateries and Restaurants
In Copenhagen, we are super proud of our fine dining scene with places like Geranium, Jordnær, Kadeau and of course Noma leading the charge, earning their stars, and also causing waves downstream on the indie food scene where Jungle lives.
Now, we’d like to tell you more about some of the smaller indie places
Fabro Pasta (City) is one of the most recommended places, when we ask chefs and other industry people where they eat out.
Darcy Millar of Darcy’s Kaffe says
“Delicious pasta dishes in a casual spot in the center of town for a more than decent price. I would get pomodoro (with a healthy dollop of stracciatella) and a beer.”
MaMeMi Pizza (Vesterbro), recently crowned no. 23 in all of Europe is another stop you’ll want to add. Bang in middle of Vestero, yet super cozy. Great for an evening out.
Marco Bon, who’s behind loved indie wine bar Bar Poldo, says of MaMeMi.
“The best place in town if you are a pizza and wine lover! A nice selection of gourmet Roman pizza, based on unconventional ingredients, and classic Italian starters and desserts. The wine list is worthy of a Michelin restaurant, curated by the co-owner and sommelier, Danilo. The wines are Italian, natural, and low-intervention.”
Silberbauers Bistro is a must , and you’ll want to head to Jægersborggade on Nørrebro anyways. So many good spots and shops there. Kenneth Foong of Noma says
“Mathias (Silberbauer ed.) is an amazing chef and on top of that he doubles as this establishment's congenial host. Provençal fare in a neighbourhood setting with a wine list that has quite a few hidden gems if you know where to look.If I could, I would be there constantly, indulging on a perfectly cooked steak and a hearty bottle of wine.”
If you love thai food, stop by Baan Thai Isarn (Vesterbro), and if you’re really really nerdy about your meats, hop down to Dandelion Burger (City). There are so many amazing c
To experience the best of Danish food, go off the beaten path and head out to Espehus Kro in Rødovre.
And look, there are so so many amazing indie spots, that don’t really know where to stop, like Janice (Nyhavn), Italo Disco (Vesterbro), Judie (Vesterbro). Pauli (Sydhavn), indonesian bistro : Saji (City), Omar (Nørrebro), Safari (Nørrebro), Baka D’ Busk (Plant-based, Nørrebro) and V’italian (Plant-based, City) and Kanalhuset (Chr. Havn) - ok we’ll stop. Oh and Mangia (Vesterbro), Circolo (Vesterbro), Contento (Nørrebro), Il Buco (Islandsbrygge)
Get out
Kilden in Dyrehaven - Located near Bakken in Klampenborg, “Kilden” is a sensational spot for barbeque, natural wine, and taking in the beauty of Dyrehaven.
Lunden is a relaxed, hip garden party in the middle of city (Nørrebro) situated between tall buildings you’ll find a great place spend one of those afternoons that turn into evenings before you know it.
Wine bars
Ved Stranden 10, is THE most recommended place on Jungle, so we feel like it has to be in a guide like this. Maddy Kostros of Simply Grapes Wine says:
“One of the main reasons I decided to live in Copenhagen is because of this incredible place. It is a home and refuge for so many, a true delight to the senses and there is always something new and fresh while retaining the comfort of familiarity.“
Josephine on Amager, is a relatively new wine bar for natural wine, tuesday tastings and good snacks. It’s situated in one of those old bodegas, and some of the old clientele still hang out there. The good people behind the bar always has a cold beer ready for them. The rest of us sip on a seriously good selection of natty wines.
Esther Karczag from Il Buco says of Josephine: “Spacious natural wine bar with a professional team, right in the middle of Amager. We are very happy that they've set up shop in our hood, and we're especially proud, that they chose our bread for their amazing small dishes.“
Den Vandrette, is on Nyhavn. Over the years, the changing chefs have made their mark, and it’s definitely a wine bar that you’ll also visit for the food.
Xavier Aronson, the man behind Copenhagens now famous B.E.C. sandwich and pop-ups says :
“Den Vandrette puts Georgian-inspired delicacies on the map. The atmosphere is cozy, the cellar is a portal into the juiciest wines you've ever had, and their kitchen creates a rotating menu of scrumptious seasonal treats. Close your eyes and point at anything on the menu and you won’t be disappointed. And order a Chinkali or Khachapuri, if you know what’s good for you.”
Again, there are so many amazing wine bars, that can’t recommend enough, like Nr 30 (City), Veranda (N’rrebro), Ancestrale (Vesterbro), Den Lille Franske (Frederiksberg) and Lille Blå (City)… omg the list goes on
Make sure and check thejunglelist.com for more reccos from local chefs - and for all those lovely weekly events.
Hope you have a great summer!