The 10 Best Restaurants in Copenhagen According to Eric Vildgaard of Jordnær
The Danish chef behind the 57th-best restaurant in the world
The Relisher is the place where the world’s top chefs reveal their favorite spots in their home cities. This week, we spoke with Chef Eric Vildgaard, one of Copenhagen’s most exciting chefs and the co-owner of the two-Michelin-starred restaurant Jordnær.
Chef Eric opened Jordnær in 2018 and within 10 months landed his first Michelin star—this is something unheard of in the gastronomy world, especially considering he had never been a head chef at a leading restaurant. Two years later, he received his second star.
Chef Eric honed his craft at Noma having worked under Rene Redzepi (Noma’s world-renowned Head Chef) during the restaurant’s most exciting time when Noma went from zero to two-Michelin stars within two years. Eric Vildgaard, highly regarded as one of Copenhagen’s most sought-out chefs, takes us through the Danish capital’s best restaurants.
Kick Off Your Day With Superb Coffee & Pastries
“Grab coffee downtown at Coffee Collective; they’re scattered throughout the city. They source coffee beans and use top-notch ingredients from all over the world, but roast the beans in Copenhagen. I truly think they’re among the best coffee brewers in the world, so much so that we also serve them in the restaurant. Get the hand-brewed coffee—I like to have my coffee alone (e.g., without any pastries, sandwiches, etc.) so that I can fully taste all of the coffee’s aromas.”
“Next, head to Hart Bageri and order the Cardemom Croissant, a puff pastry made from croissant dough dipped in a special blend of cardamom sugar—this is the world’s best pastry by far. I like to have this croissant with Hart Bageri’s famous white tea to balance out the flavors. Copenhagen has so many excellent coffee joints and bakeries, but these are my favorites.”
Iconic Copenhagen Lunch Spots
“Copenhagen has a very strong hamburger scene. My favorite burger spot is the Gasoline Grill, which has been named the world’s best burger, and I always order the cheeseburger. It has super high-quality beef that you can really taste, a little bit of dressing, and onions. What makes their burgers stand out is that you can distinguish the taste of each of the ingredients—it’s a ‘no BS’ hamburger.
“When in Copenhagen you must try traditional Danish foods like open-faced sandwich smørrebrød at palægade—order here the shrimp with fried egg, beautiful spices and caviar. It’s so good.
“Also, try traditional Danish fast food at John’s Hot Dog Deli—he makes everything himself including the bun, an array of dips made of chunky remoulade, pickled vegetables and chutneys. I always order the wild boar sausage—it’s truly the best hotdog in all of Denmark.”
K Bar To Grab Pre-Dinner Drinks
“Copenhagen has a vibrant cocktail culture. I love going to pre-dinner drinks and after-dinner drinks at K Bar, which was Copenhagen’s first cocktail bar when it was first opened over twenty years ago. They serve excellent cocktails in a beautiful ambiance and are constantly pushing the boundaries of cocktail innovation. I always order Negronis here.”
Fusion Dining Feasting
“HÂIDAN is a new restaurant that opened less than a year ago, and I think it’s the most incredible meal that I had in the last five years! What makes this place particularly stand out is its eclectic blend of Nordic, Sicilian and Cantonese flavors — it’s a crossbreed between so many incredible cultures.
“Get the tasting menu and also make sure to try the steamed rice salad, it’s decorated with beautiful herbs and flowers, confit egg yolk, and a large spoon of caviar. This place is shooting into the Michelin heavens, and I believe that in a matter of months, they’ll receive their first star.
“If you’re looking for something more casual, go to Gaijin, an excellent natural wine bar serving yakitori and sashimi. This is high-end comfort food that uses high-quality ingredients, and it’s all affordable. Their signature dish is deep-fried chicken with caviar on top—it’s simply delicious.”
Once-In-A-Lifetime Dining Experience
“If you’re looking to splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime meal, visit three-Michelin star Geranium, the best restaurant in the world. Geranium’s Head Chef, Rasmus Kofoed , also won the gold, silver, and bronze for the best chef in the world category at the Bocuse d’Or awards , the most prestigious gastronomic competition in the world. Have everything on the menu, but also make sure to add the caviar experience.
An Exceptional Meal in a Beautiful Surrounding
“If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path dining experience, visit the Danish gastronomy establishment, Søllerød Kro (also sporting one Michelin star). It’s located outside of Copenhagen in a small idyllic village, with an old tavern and a small pond. It’s easily reachable by train.
“In the warmer months, they serve hybrid asparagus (half white and half green) with short shrimp — this is my favorite dish to indulge in during the summertime with a crisp glass of white wine.”
Where to Sleep
“A few cute hotels that champion Danish design and enjoy prime location are Nimb Hotel (5 stars), 71 Nyhavn (4 stars), and Next House Copenhagen (hostel).”
My Favorite Boutique in Copenhagen
“If you love cooking and appreciate culinary tools then you must visit Kunst og Køkkentøj. This is an incredible place that I like to visit to get inspired for new dishes or presentations to create. This is where Copenhagen’s leading chefs buy their utensils — it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll bump into one of them here.”
RESTAURANTS
CAFES & BARS
HOTELS
BOUTIQUES
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