The Best Dining in Denmark

It’s common knowledge Denmark is home to the repeated winner of the world’s best restaurant award, Noma, as well as 15 other Michelin-starred restaurants, but there’s a lot more to Danish cuisine than dozens of courses and a months-long waiting list. Pull up a chair to some of the Scandinavian nation’s best restaurants and sample Denmark’s flourishing food industry.

You don’t need a heavy wallet to sample Danish staples. During the morning or at night, chase down one of the rotating hot dog stands and try one of Denmark’s casual favorites. The tradition of the hot dog stand extends decades, and enjoying one on the go has grown into a Danish pastime.

If you’re visiting during the colder months and long to eat indoors, sampling smørrebrød is an absolute must. This thick rye bread is topped with anything and everything from fish to meat to veggies. Try the Danish classic at Michelin-starred Aamanns Etablissement or at the more casual Schønnemann.

Whether it is time for a quick morning breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up, Denmark’s pastries, or appropriately named danishes, are actually Viennese in origin but were first produced in Denmark. Cinnamon and Roman snails are the most popular, and the sticky flavors and gooey insides speak to their popularity.