A perfect weekend guide to Copenhagen
Coming from a former local
You know when you go somewhere for a long weekend and you find yourself looking in estate agent’s windows during your trip and leave thinking ‘I could live here’? Well that’s how I found myself moving to Copenhagen 7 years ago. So much has been developed in the city since my last visit but the fundamentals of why I love it remain — dreamy cycle lanes across the city, my favourite being along the Lakes (I think I’ve realised I need to live in a bike friendly city to be truly at peace), great food and drink options with new places opening all the time (and plenty of outdoor seating come the Spring and Summertime) and easy access to swimming spots should the weather be warm enough (I could never reach true Dane status of a winter swim). Really it’s a city where it’s HARD to have a bad meal, but here are my favourite spots from our trip alongside where to stay and what to get up to while you’re there.
Eat + Drink
A no-reservations small plates restaurant with a real neighbourhood feel. They have great wines on offer by the glass and stacks of outside seating in their courtyard should the sun be shining. If the fried chicken with fish sauce caramel glaze is on the menu order it! Make sure you pair your visit with going to their nearby wine bar, Pompette, too.
Located on the ever-popular Nyhavn (you know, the one from every postcard of Copenhagen with the canal boats and colourful buildings), you’ll find Apollo Bar tucked away in the quiet courtyard of the Kunstal Charlottenbourg, a gallery and culture centre. Expect beautifully plated small dishes and a small but perfectly formed drinks menu offering everything from natural wines to green juices. Booking recommended if you’d like to sit inside but their outside area is a real sun trap to laze away a few hours in.
As mentioned above, the Danes love a swim, even in sub-zero temperatures and La Banchina is the place to do it. This is a small cafe and restaurant right on a sheltered swimming spot covering every possible base with delicious but simple meals with wines or coffees and cakes to enjoy after a morning swim. The place to be if the sun is shining.