Danish design restaurants in Copenhagen

At Studio x Kitchen they know about design og good food. The café originates from the design boutique Studio X. Enjoy your breakfast served on the finest ceramics in the sun on the sidewalk or take a seat indoors on the beautiful wooden furniture. Whether you prefer bread with butter and cheese, yogurt with granola and compote, or a modern omelet, you must pay Studio X a visit.

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At Admiralgade 26, a small restaurant situated in one of the old, cobbled streets in the inner city centre, the guests are invited to unwind and enjoy dining in a simple room with everything decorated down to a tee. The venue is packed with chairs and tables made in wood and wicker, including design cabinets and the iconic Faaborg Chairs by Kaare Klint, and gives a great nod to the 20-century Danish craftsmanship. 

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At Aperitivo Bar, the rooftop terrace of the five-star boutique Hotel Sanders behind Kongens Nytorv and the Royal Danish Ballet, there’s definitely an atmosphere of international ambience. Yet, although the rooftop bar evokes Singapore’s famous Raffles Hotel, the comfy Charlottenborg rattan chairs and side tables were, in fact, designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1936, and they are said to have been his preferred chair at home. The sunlit space is perfect for breakfast or snacks from the bar later in the day and perfectly located for a break on a day out exploring Danish design and more. 

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Located nearby Hotel Sanders and within the courtyard of the historic cultural institution of the Charlottenborg Art Space at Kongens Nytorv, Apollo Kantine located behind the Apollo Bar serves an affordable daily vegetarian lunch from the open kitchen. The food is consumed around communal tables and paint-splattered Børge Mogensen chairs salvaged from the Royal Academy, and its custom-made marquetry tables are illuminated by large-scale PH lamps created especially for Charlottenborg’s exhibition rooms in 1979.   

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The Apotek 57 is a small eatery inside the Frama Studio Store, where one can experience both Frama’s designs as well as a collection of cutleries designed by the well-known Danish designer Ole Palsby together with Frama. Curated by chef Chiara Barla, the rotating menu features daily house-made seasonal bites for breakfast and lunch to enjoy while taking in the surrounding design elements. Therefore, Apotek 57 is the perfect gathering spot for the local community and design enthusiasts from around the world.

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Inside the 5-starred Copenhagen Zoo, the lovely Bistro Panpan is housed. Here, Danish star architects BIG have created an impressive house for the Zoo’s two Pandas. Norman Foster also created the Zoo’s Elephant House - and combined it with an excellent eatery. Expect custom joinery interior, bespoke two-tone chairs, hovering lighting, and amazing Panda views while enjoying a lovely meal.

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At Refshaleøen you'll find the café Connie-Connie at the international centre for contemporary installation art, Copenhagen Contemporary. Here each seat is entirely unique, and all chairs, tables, and benches are designed by 25 different Danish and international artists. Everything is for sale too, of course, and created of off-cut wood from Danish manufacturer Dinesen in collaboration with Tableau and Ari Prasetya. So while enjoying a cup of coffee and a bite for lunch, there's time to contemplate your next purchase.

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Food meets art and design at the world's best restaurant and 3-starred Michelin restaurant, Geranium, located in the charming district of Østerbro. This culinary powerhouse elegantly complements its gastro experiences with sleek and timeless furniture, including the stunning PK8 chairs by Poul Kjærholm. Grey walls with light-coloured floorboards make the venue seem light and airy, whilst black interior elements provide the right amount of contrast and opal glass lamps offer a soft and delicate addition to the space. In essence, Geranium is a driving force of Nordic inspiration not only on its plates but also in its personality.   

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Spacon & X are behind the spacial design at Hart Holmen, located in Mærsehuset on the island of Holmen. They have custom designed a variety of furniture objects and spatial elements, acknowledging the buildings’ historical and cultural legacy combined with Hart's innovative craftsmanship. The bakery, therefore, does not only offer a wider range of breads and pastries but also an innovative design-take on local craftsmanship as well as it is a tribute to the city’s cultural heritage.

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The Danish Design Studio OEO has led the interior decoration of the two Michelin-starred restaurant Kadeau. Kadeau opened in 2007 on the rock island Bornholm, where the two founders, Nicolai Nørregaard and Rasmus Koefoed, were born and raised. And it is this rock island that permeates the entire restaurant, from design to the food. With a vision of translating the gastronomic philosophy into a physical environment, OEO Studio has designed the space with an earthy-toned colour palette and in natural materials like oak. The furniture is either specially made for the restaurant or curated classics combining timeless Scandinavian classics with contemporary art pieces. The design process of the restaurant eventually becomes dynamic, as the restaurant’s design, colours, and feel gets revised for every new menu that Kadeau launches, which is twice a year. As a design bonus, the ceramics used are designed especially for every menu made and are created by a ceramist from Bornholm. The kitchen at Kadeau is ingredient-led and showcases Bornholm’s unique flavours and produce with a clear focus on foraging and preservation.

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noma, the five times world's best restaurant and the 3-starred Michelin restaurant, is amongst the best Copenhagen has to offer. Chef and co-owner René Redzepi’s key consideration is to provide a sense of space and for everything to feel handcrafted. Every design item used at the restaurant has been carefully selected, curated, or designed, offering a sense of coherence and a 360° holistic approach. The overall mood at noma is thus Scandinavian, honest, simple, and not over-designed. noma’s rather unusual ‘village’ construction was created by Bjarke Ingels and BIG. But for the interiors, Danish architect and designer David Thulstrup, was invited on board, adding many Danish design items like solid oak planks by Dinesen, lamps made of seaweed by Jonas Edvard, local glassware by Nina Nørgaard, loudspeakers by ArtCoustic, and, of course, tailor-made designs like the ARV chairs.

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At POPL in Copenhagen’s picturesque Christianshavn neighbourhood a minimalistic Scandinavian design meets gourmet delights. The culinary team behind POPL have worked closely with Spacon & X in order to create an informal restaurant culture, alongside an adventurous menu of gourmet burgers and carefully considered design. The minimalist interior pairs custom elements, such as wooden furniture, exclusively designed by Spacon & X and produced in collaboration with German design pioneer e15, with bespoke artwork, handcrafted seaweed lamps made in collaboration with the Danish designer Jonas Edvard, and a warm colour palette of poppy reds, dusty greens, and meadow flowers to reflect Denmark’s four seasons and POPL’s seasonal menu.

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Restaurant Esmée on the historic Kongens Nytorv Square in the city centre is designed by the Danish design duo Space Copenhagen as an ‘urban orangery’, combining a classic brasserie style with a courtyard feel. This restaurant’s aesthetics focuses much on light with pale tones, natural materials, and lots of plants. In particular, the colour green is used in a multitude of shades, both on the walls and on the upholstery, creating a light and naturalistic tapestry.

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Located in the inner city, Restaurant Höst is decorated in a raw style with recycled wood, granite, concrete, and zinc, and with cosy plaids and lambskin on the chairs to counterbalance the raw décor. The restaurant has won two prestigious international awards for its distinctive Nordic design, created by Norm Architects and Danish design company MENU. The starting point for its interior began with Norm Architect’s new dinnerware, designed for MENU, combining wood and slate in blue-grey glazes. It was also inspired by the Nordic nature, as well as elements of the New Nordic Cuisine dogma created by local Danish chefs, focusing on organic, sustainable, and local produce.

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Located in one of Copenhagen’s most beautiful settings at The Royal Danish Horticultural Garden in the Frederiksberg district, lies gastro hotspot Mielcke & Hurtigkarl. Here, the outside is brought in by dressing its walls with drawings by some of the most prominent artists, designers, and furniture of Denmark in the last decade, including the likes of Henrik Vibskov, Andreas Emenius, Margrethe Odgaard, and Mads Vegas.  

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At Restaurant Møntergade, located right at the intersection where Gammel Mønt meets Møntergade in the city centre, the focus is on traditional Danish food of the best quality, especially smørrebrød (Danish open-faced sandwiches). Sitting comfortably whilst enjoying it is close to guaranteed as you rest on the famous Wishbone Chair by Hans. J. Wegner.