Enjoying a meal or a drink in the sun isn’t just a thing in Southern Europe – it’s also very popular in Denmark.
When summer finally takes the chill out of the air in Copenhagen, people move outside onto pedestrianised streets, terraces and decks for a drink or dinner.
And if you sometimes need a patio heater or a blanket to make it comfortable, then so be it.
Copenhagen is a beautiful city, so if you have the chance, why not soak up the surroundings while having a bite to eat, a beer or a cup of coffee? Here are some of our favourite places in Copenhagen to eat and drink outdoors.
Brunch in the sun at Sixteen Twelve
What better way to start your day than with brunch in the sun?
The Sixteen Twelve is a bit outside the city’s tourism epicentre in the authentic neighbourhood of Nørrebro.
And this relatively new café has quickly become popular for its healthy and highly creative brunch menu, with plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians.
You can get your day in the capital off to the best start with a colourful bowl of fruity muesli or french toast with caramelized pineapple and salt-roasted coconut.
Sixteen Twelve is open seven days a week and has tables and benches outside on the pavement all year round.
So, you can sit in the sunshine and enjoy your meal or coffee while watching locals walk their dogs or swoosh past you on their bikes.
Jægersborggade 8, København N
sixteentwelve.dk
Is the Copenhagen Card worth buying?
Read this guide to see how much you could save during your trip!
Tables on the square at Café Bopa
In the city’s Østerbro quarter, just a stone’s throw – or football kick – from Parken, the Danish national stadium, Café Bopa has outdoor tables on the tree-dotted triangular Bopa square.
Sharing its name with the square, the café is French-inspired – you can have a go at a game of petanque (boules), dive into a plate of moules mariniére (mussels) or sink your teeth into a crispy Croque Madame, both found on the varied menu.
There’s outdoor seating all year round with large umbrellas to provide shelter from both the sun and rain.
And at weekends, it turns into a cocktail bar with live DJs and dancing.
Bopa Plads, Løgstørgade 8, 2100 KBH Ø
cafebopa.dk
Enjoy people-watching at Nyhavns Færgekro
The colourful Nyhavn quarter is without doubt one of Copenhagen’s most popular areas for outdoor eating and drinking.
That’s because it has views of the city’s picturesque harbour canal and is the perfect place to watch locals and tourists mingle on the cobbled streets.
Picking your spot can be challenging, but look no further than the blue facade of number 5 where Nyhavns Færgekro has tables outside come rain or shine.
Here they serve all the Danish smørrebrød classics – open rye bread sandwiches – as well as a legendary herring buffet with 20 different types of herring.
And why not spice up your meal with one of the restaurant’s homemade aquavits made from herbs and berries? There are 20 different flavours to choose from.
Nyhavn 5, 1051 København K
nyhavnsfaergekro.dk
Theatre and history at Alléenberg
Head west of the city centre to the affluent Frederiksberg neighbourhood for a journey back in time.
Just across the street from the lush Frederiksberg Gardens, the Alléenberg pub and restaurant has seen plenty of action since it first opened back in 1924.
Over the years, it’s been a regular hang-out for legendary Danish actors who dropped in after their performances at the nearby theatres. And the pub’s classic interior is little-changed since those days.
So, order a cold beer and head out to the terrace in front where the tables and chairs look out onto the street (these are weather dependent, though, and may not be open in colder weather).
Allégade 4, 2000 Frederiksberg
alleenberg.dk
Books and students at Paludan Bogcafé
Just a few minutes’ walk from Copenhagen’s main shopping artery Strøget, Paludan is Denmark’s oldest book café.
Located in the capital’s former Jewish quarter, it was once home to a publishing business too, but today the building houses an antiquarian bookshop and a café.
It has an elegant interior, while the tables on the cobbled street outside face the red brick beauty of Copenhagen University – and a long line of students’ bikes. So settle in to watch the students come and go, while you choose from a varied menu that runs from brunch to burgers and everything in between.
Fiolstræde 10–12, 1171 København K
paludan-cafe.dk
Chill out at the Café Månefiskeren
And for something a little different, try the open-air Café Månefiskeren (The Moonfisher) in Copenhagen’s legendary freetown of Christiania.
Set in a former heating plant and run by local volunteers, it’s a place with a varied history that oozes the essence of the rebellious and multicultural Christiania.
The large outdoor area is an excellent place to mingle with locals and visitors alike while eating brunch or just stopping by for a cup of coffee and some homemade cake. All the dishes on the short menu use ingredients that are sustainably sourced with an ecological focus – and the café is alcohol-free.
Outdoor seating is available all year round, and in summer live music and concerts add to the atmosphere.
Fabriksområdet 97 st., 1440 København K
maanefiskeren.dk
See also:
Free museums in Copenhagen
Where to go swimming in Copenhagen
Beyond weed: visiting Christiania
Unusual places to stay in Denmark
A guide to Copenhagen’s best parks
