Where to eat in Copenhagen: New Nordic cuisine

New Nordic cuisine is probably THE gastronomic discovery of the 21st century. Originated in Copenhagen with René Redzepi (chef of Noma) in the lead, it focuses on organic locally produced food cooked in a simple but elegant way. However, due to the hype that this movement is getting and the level of creativity these chefs show, the prices have escalated accordingly.

Although not easy to find, there are some restaurants serving quality New Nordic food for a fraction of the price. However, this is still more expensive than other cuisines in the city, so taking that into consideration, I will divide this section into “affordable” and “blow-out”, instead of the usual “budget/mid-range/luxury”.

New Nordic cuisine

Affordable

One of my go-to places and probably the cheapest one of this list is 20A. This little restaurant reduces the prices by simplifying the menu. Each day you can choose among one starter, a main of either meat or fish and a dessert, all New Nordic with French influence, simple and tasty.

The cozy terrace at 20A is a fantastic place to have dinner on a summer night. Photo credit: Maria Sattrup

Other options are Manfreds, one of the many children of Noma and a vegetarian restaurant known for its beef tartare and with a wonderful wine menu; Bodil, a classic-meets-new Danish restaurant with a cozy atmosphere; or some of the restaurants from the Cofoco brand, like Cofoco itslef, Vækst or Høst, all delightful in food and ambiance and with affordable set menus, which is not easy to find!

Vaekst’s dining room take with a green house atmosphere. Photo credit: Chris Tonnesen

A delightful New Nordic meal at Høst. Photo credit: Chris Tonnesen.

Blow-out

If you don’t look at prices anymore, you can go for the big fishes with Michelin stars like Noma, the cradle of New Nordic cuisine (you can read more here). Ranked as best restaurant in the world during four years, if you have the money, this is THE spot you need to visit in Copenhagen. Other options include Geranium, the only three-starred restaurant in the city; AOC, with two stars and with a focus on sensorial experiences, Relæ, with a more casual atmosphere, or 108 (CLOSED), with a very ambitious take on modern Nordic gastronomy and more affordable than the former.

Reindeer feast at Noma: reindeer heart tartare, sweetbreads wrapped in reindeer moss, brain pie, barbecued tongue with pine. It doesn’t get more nordic than that! Photo credit: Ditte Isager.

You can find Michelin-star quality food by star-less restaurants in BROR, where they use the least popular parts of animals and vegetables to create delicious food for the most daring  (closed in 2018), or Marv & Ben, an enthusiastic restaurant with dining split in two floors and with organic seasonal produce.

Restaurant BROR focusing on underappreciated products. Photo credit: Rasmus Flindt Pedersen.

Closing statement

New Nordic cuisine deserves all the hype it’s getting and, if you know where to go, it can be for all budgets! So make sure to include a stop in one of these amazing restaurants.

Make sure you have a look at Feast of Travel’s other top picks for places to eat and drink in Copenhagen. You can also browse by category:

→ Where to eat in Copenhagen: Traditional Danish food

→ Where to eat in Copenhagen: International food

→ Where to eat in Copenhagen: Breakfast and Brunch

→ Where to drink the best coffee in Copenhagen, Denmark

→ Copenhagen nightlife: Pubs, Wine bars and Clubs

Copenhagen has a lot to offer in the kitchen, but also much more! Have a look at our guide of Copenhagen and the day trips you can take while staying in the city:

→ Top 15 things to do in Copenhagen, Denmark

→ Day trips from Copenhagen: Top 9 excursions

If you’re interested in Copenhagen, you’ll probably like this one too:

→ North Jutland: a beginner’s guide to the North of Denmark

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