Best places to eat and drink in Copenhagen

From street food to smørrebrød, here are some great places for eating and drinking in Copenhagen…

Kødbyens Mad & Marked – Located in the Meatpacking District of the trendy Vesterbro neighbourhood, this street food market buzzes at the weekends throughout the summer (there are occasional winter markets too such as Christmas – check the website for details). Here you can pick up culinary treats such as Korean bourittos, meatball wraps, Scandi snacks, mac ‘n’ cheese, truffle fries, gourmet burgers, Brazilian barbecue, Spanish tapas and so much more! Inventive cocktails and craft beers are also on sale, alongside gift stalls – DJs provide the tunes.

Kødbyens Fiskebar – In the same area is this specialist fish restaurant and bistro serving some of Copenhagen’s best seafood (it’s been awarded a Bib Gourmand in the Nordic version of the Michelin Guide 2015). The industrial interior harks back to its old meat hall days. Pull up a stool at the bar, take a seat outside in the summer, or go the whole hog with a slap-up dinner.

Bosch Bosch in Kodbyens
Bosch Bosch in Kodbyens

To be honest, head to Kødbyens and you’ll encounter enough inviting bars, cafes and restaurants to keep you going for a whole week or more. Regular new openings and old favourites keep this trendy ‘K’ zone one of Copenhagen’s most vibrant areas.

Mikkeller bar
Mikkeller bar

Mikkeller Bar – Located on the cosy Jægergårdsgade in Vesterbro is the bar of the famous Mikkeller brewery. All exposed bricks and filliment lightbulbs, this cool bar is small (very busy in the evenings) but with plenty of outdoor seating in the warmer months. As expected, the beer list is extensive with 20 rotating taps of Mikkeller’s best beers and brews from some of the world’s most interesting craft breweries. Snacks from Warpigs Brewpub and artisanal cheeses from Arla Unika are also available to soak up the booze.

The district of Norrebro, another hip neighbourhood, is also a food and drink hotspot. Turn into the boutique-heavy street of Jaegersborggade and you’ll find yourself in a foodie oasis. At no.41 is Relae, a restaurant opened by a former soux chef of Demark’s famous Noma, which itself has a Michelin star and is no.75 on the ‘World’s Best’ list. But for a quick drink and bite to eat, we tried…

Crate – This teeny tiny record store is also a craft beer bottle shop. Browse the vinyl then buy a beer (bottles or a few guest beers on tap) to drink on the rickety bench outside (oh how Copenhagen-ish…).

Crate, Copenhagen
Crate, Copenhagen

Grød – This is (wait for it) the world’s first porridge cafe! Yes, you can eat porridge for breakfast, lunch and dinner here, but don’t assume that just means the classic breakfast staple. This place serves all manor of imaginative porridge-type dishes from around the world – we tried a delicious and fragrant Vietnamese congee, washed down with a local beer. A quick, tasty and (rare in Denmark) very cheap dinner.

Congee at Grod, Copenhagen
Congee at Grod, Copenhagen

Cafe Wilder – A trip to Copenhagen wouldn’t be complete without eating smørrebrød, Danish open sandwiches. We tried some traditional smørrebrød at Cafe Wilder in the old town of Christianshavn. Typical Nordic combos of creamy cod with cucumber and red onion, or beef brisket with pickled vegetables were presented beautifully (small but filling), and salads (a sizeable toasted goat’s cheese and walnut salad was good) make up the lunchtime menu.

The 17th century waterfront of Nyhavn is a pretty location for dinner. The fairylight-strewn cobbled street is lined with restaurants all with outdoor seating (and heating!). Grab a table and watch the old ships bob up and down in the water. It’s a much more traditional tourist hotspot than Vesterbro and Norrebro so the restaurants and bars aren’t as different or exciting as other potential choices. However, it’s a romantic spot with plenty of decent food choices.

Nyhavn
Nyhavn

 

 

MummyTravels

How to eat your way through London’s food markets in a weekend

This post is sponsored by London Serviced Apartments

Food markets – street food, real food, slow food or farmers’ markets – are enjoying boom time right now.

The capital boasts dozens of food markets, from newbies to the well-established, meaning you can barely make it through a weekend without sipping a craft beer while wolfing down a grass-fed lamb burger with truffle coated fries ‘on the go’.

Urban Food Fest London
Urban Food Fest, Shoreditch, London

Here’s our pick of London’s food markets to try in one weekend:

Friday lunchtime

KERB – A favourite with office workers in its regular locations of Spitalfields and at The Gerkin in the City. But it’s at Cubbit Square, King’s Cross, where you can find KERB 12-3pm every weekday including Friday. From the regularly changing line-up of stallholders, you could be grabbing lunch from Spit & Roast, Fundi Pizza, Club Mexicana, Oli Baba’s, Moto Yogo, Original Fry-Up Material, Vinn Goute, Horn OK Please, and many, many more! An outdoor swimming pool is also promised to accompany KERB at this location….!

Friday evening

Summer Tales – The tropical pop-up from the Night Tales crew, Old’s Street’s Summer Tales runs throughout summer with street food, five bars and renowned DJs. Enjoy the jungle surroundings featuring hammocks, rope swings and a large sun terrace. Sample the cocktails at the Lazy Flamingo Bar before feasting on fare from Burger & Lobster, Forza Win, Bonnie Gull and Morty & Bob’s.

Saturday morning

Broadway Market – A favourite with London’s Field’s residents, this lively market can get crowded but it’s more than worth a visit. Buy organic fruit, veg, eggs, meat and more from local producers, take away delicious homemade cakes and pastries, and snap up one-offs from clothing and gift stalls. Artisan street food vendors cover everything from Scotch eggs to Persian tagines, and don’t miss ordering a Vietnamese coffee from Ca Phe VN. The market is also home to a host of cool indie shops, cafes and the infamous Cat & Mutton pub.

Saturday afternoon (from 5pm)

Street Feast – The mighty Street Feast is going from strength to strength. With ‘Feasts’ in Lewisham, Dalston, and the brand new 1,000 capacity Dinerama in Shoreditch, this is one hip street food happening you really need to experience! Depending on the market you plump for, you’ll have around 20-50 street food vendors to work your way around including Mother Clucker, Yum Bun, Up In My Grill, Crabbieshack, Meringue Girls, Killer Tomato, Som Saa, Luardos, Mama Wang’s Kitchen, and dozens more. The plentiful bars serving crafts beers and cocktails and the “vinyl gooves” keep up the good vibes.

Saturday evening

Urban Food Fest – If you’re not staying at Street Feast into the evening (and you can if you haven’t had your fill), hot foot it to Shoreditch for the Urban Food Fest until midnight. Described as “achingly cool” and an “amazing street food party” in the press, this Shoreditch night market boasts free entry and plenty of amazing global gastronomy to feast on. Chow down on Chinese jian bing crepes, pulled pork burgers, Austrian specknoedel, Mexican tacos, Portuguese desserts, fresh gyoza, Spanish tapas and much more… Live music and entertainment accompanies the feasting.

Sunday morning

It’s Sunday so let’s bring the pace down a bit…

Alexandra Palace Farmers’ Market – What better way to spend a lazy Sunday morning than by strolling along to your local farmers’ market for a great coffee and to pick up some local outdoor-bred pork sausages for brunch? This lovely market is full of local stallholders meaning you get to grab fresh veg, meat and fish to take home, or sample delicious treats from small artisan food producers – homemade granola and local honey anyone?

Most areas of London, particularly in the suburbs, will have a small farmers’ market so check your council website for details.

Sunday afternoon

Slow Food & Living Market – This new market in the serine courtyard of the Rosewood Hotel is an absolute gem. The organisers aim to recreate the sense of community that a local market brings by featuring local producers and artisans selling top quality, fresh produce that is in-season, free from GMOs, responsibly farmed or caught, and grown to high environmental standards. Sustainable gifts are also on sale, and a children’s area keeps little ones entertained. Shop from stalls including Oliver’s Bakery, Moonroast Coffee, Seaforth Chocolate Co., Greedy Goat, Chef & Butcher, Petersham Cellar, Wild Country Organics and Being Sophie.

If you eat like a local, why not live like a local? If you’re visiting London book yourself a stay at an apartment through London Serviced Apartments and really make a weekend of it. With access to over 1,400 luxury private homes, serviced like a hotel, you can rest any full stomachs in real comfort!

Feast at Malaysia Night, London

From laksa to satay, roti canai to beef rendang, we can’t get enough of Malaysian cuisine with its melting pot of influences, so it’s great news to hear that the Malaysia Night food festival is back!

Now in its fifth year, the free festival, organised by Malaysia Kitchen, will be taking over London’s Trafalgar Square on Friday 26 September. From noon until 10pm, you can feast to your heart’s content on Malaysian dishes from twenty restaurants and street food eateries. Live entertainment including songs in Malay by Bonnie Freechyld and performances by traditional Malaysian dancers will also be bringing a piece of this corner of SE Asia to the capital.

Malaysia Night, Trafalgar Square London

Interactive cookery demos and food market

Enjoy interactive cookery workshops with Malaysian chef, Norman Musa. Watch cookery demonstrations by BBC Masterchef Champion 2014 Ping Coombes and Masterchef Champion 2011 Dhruv Baker alongside Caroline Mili Artiss, TV chef and one of the original Youtube chefs.

Inspired by some authentic recipes, you can then shop at the Malaysian food market selling everything you need to recreate those mouth-watering dishes at home. (We’re told the infamous durian fruit will be on sale – try it if you dare…!).

Visitor info: Entry is FREE; 12noon to 10pm (live entertainment from 5pm), Friday 26 September 2014.

Where: Trafalgar Square, London (nearest stations – Charing Cross, Leicester Square, Picadilly Circus)

For more information visit: www.malaysiakitchen.co.uk

Restaurants appearing at Malaysia Night

  • Resta Sambal Shiok
  • Puji Puji
  • Rasa Sayang
  • Uncle Lim’s Café
  • Azi’s Kitchen & Catering
  • Satay House
  • Pak Awie
  • Bonda Café
  • Pelangi
  • Makan Café
  • Malaysia Corner
  • Malaysia Deli
  • Kerisik
  • Tukdin
  • Pan Chai
  • Bunga Raya
  • Penang Laksa Co.
  • Roti King
  • C&R Restaurant
  • Mangosteen

 

Malaysia Night

 

Best of British at the Urban Food Fest, London

Shoreditch’s favourite street food market is back and celebrating the best of British…

Foodies should add this to their diaries for Saturday 30th August – ‘Do not eat breakfast, skip lunch, head to Urban Food Fest in London!’. The food market’s ‘Viva Britannia’ theme is promising a gluttony of British dishes which you’ll really want to leave room for, so turn up hungry!

Urban Food Fest, Viva Britannia (3)

Some of the artisan street food on offer will be chipolata and Kentish plum huffkin, sausage bubble and squeak, English goat’s cheese and honey toasties, and old-fashioned British collar bacon heritage bread. Vegetarians and vegans can also rejoice as ‘V Corner’ remains offering British veggie and vegan dishes.

If that doesn’t fill you up, move onto pudding with a choice of apple cobnuts, Gypsy tarts and English filled doughnuts.

The street food market will also feature a bar serving specially created British cocktails including the ‘Queen Lizzie Special’, Somerset craft cider from Orchard Pig, premium craft beers, English wine, prosecco, champagne and thirst-quenching soft drinks.

Visitor info:

Free Entry

The Urban Food Fest takes place at Euro Car Parks, 162-175 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6HU.

5pm – midnight every Saturday until 25 October (‘Viva Britannia’ is only on 30th August).

For more information visit www.urbanfoodfest.com

Urban Food Fest, Viva Britannia (4)

Urban Food Fest London returns with ‘V Corner’

We’re excited to hear that last summer’s street food ‘hit’, the Urban Food Fest in Shoreditch, East London, is back for another season of fine foodie treats from Saturday 12 April. And alongside the usual plethora of organic, local, free-range, handmade and natural street food and drinks on offer, Urban Food Fest has now added ‘V Corner’ – a whole area dedicated to vegetarian, vegan and (very) raw gourmet delights!

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Promising to offer more than the token ‘salad in a pitta’, ‘V Corner’ will serve up a mouth-watering range of vegetarian, vegan and raw food delights that may turn even the most committed carnivore – think vegan sweet potato maki sushi, veggie wild mushroom burgers, veggie tofu hotdogs, raw mezze, egg-free chocolate fudge sponge, and dairy-free apple crumble pie.

Each week, the night food market (located in an unused car-park space near Shoreditch High Street station – but don’t let that put you off, it adds to that urban east London vibe!) will be filled with 15 different food trucks and stalls selling a selection of gourmet street food dishes, many created exclusively for Urban Food Fest, alongside fab cocktails, craft beers and imaginative soft drinks.

Chow down on Chinese jian bing crepes, pulled pork burgers, sliders, Austrian specknoedel, mac ‘n’ cheese, gourmet salads, Mexican tacos, Portuguese desserts, fresh gyoza, Spanish tapas, cupcakes and much (much!) more… Live music and entertainment accompanies the feasting, as well as a theme – 12 April is ‘Where’s Wally’ with free cocktails for the best fancy dress.

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Visitor info: Free entry; 5pm ’til midnight every Saturday from 12 April to 21st June 2014

Location: Euro Car Parks, 162-175 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6HU

For more information visit www.urbanfoodfest.com