28 bars worth the trip across Denmark, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Denmark guides.

Ruby ★ 4.8 · Copenhagen

Nybrogade 10, 1203 København K

Ruby in a 1740 townhouse on Nybrogade in Copenhagen is the city's reference cocktail room, opened 2007 with a parliament view, jazz-club basement and bar.

Tip: Open until 02:00. The basement is the quieter room; the upstairs salon takes walk-ins after 22:00.

St. Pauls Apothek ★ 4.7 · Aarhus

Jægergaardsgade 76, 8000 Aarhus C

The most ambitious cocktail bar in Aarhus. The apothecary-themed room on Jaegergaardsgade runs a cocktail tasting menu format where each pour is built around.

Lidkoeb ★ 4.7 · Copenhagen

Vesterbrogade 72 B, 1620 København V

Lidkoeb on Vesterbrogade in Vesterbro spreads cocktails across three floors and a courtyard garden, with a whisky bar upstairs running flights on Friday.

Tip: The courtyard takes walk-ups until 22:00. Upstairs whisky bar is reservation-only Friday and Saturday.

Bird ★ 4.6 · Copenhagen

Gammel Kongevej 102, 1850 Frederiksberg C

Bird on Gammel Kongevej in Frederiksberg pairs precise classic cocktails with a vinyl jazz programme in a tight Frederiksberg listening room.

Tip: Walk-in only; the listening room takes a small number of seated guests on a first-come basis.

Gedulgt ★ 4.5 · Aarhus

Fredensgade 17, 8000 Aarhus C

Aarhus's open secret of a speakeasy, tucked behind an unmarked door on Fredensgade. Order the house-infused negroni variations. At Fredensgade 17.

Mikkeller Baghaven ★ 4.5 · Copenhagen

Refshalevej 169B, 1432 København K

Mikkeller Baghaven on Refshalevej in Refshaleøen is the wild and barrel-aged outpost of Mikkeller, set in a former shipyard building next to Reffen's street.

Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Weekend afternoons are the play; bike out from Christianshavn metro.

BRUS (Tapperiet BRUS) ★ 4.3 · Copenhagen

Guldbergsgade 29 F, 2200 København N

BRUS on Guldbergsgade in Nørrebro is To Øl's 750-square-metre brewpub inside an old metal factory, with 30 taps, an on-site brewery and a kitchen running.

Tip: Brewpub takes walk-ups; book ahead for the brewery tour. The patio is the summer play.

Mig og Ølsnedkeren ★ 4.2 · Aarhus

Mejlgade 12, 8000 Aarhus C

A two-storey craft beer bar on historic Mejlgade in the Latin Quarter, sister to Ølsnedkeren in Copenhagen. Twenty rotating taps cover witbiers.

The Library Bar ★ 4.2 · Aarhus

Banegardspladsen 14, 8000 Aarhus C

The bar inside the Hotel Royal on Banegardspladsen is Aarhus's most civilised drinking room, with leather chairs, a classical drinks list and bar staff who.

KORN ★ 4.2 · Aarhus

Graven 20, 8000 Aarhus C

A focused craft beer bar in the Latin Quarter with twelve taps exclusively from Scandinavian and Danish microbreweries. No cocktails, no wine.

Mikkeller Bar (Viktoriagade) ★ 4.2 · Copenhagen

Viktoriagade 8 B-C, 1655 København V

Mikkeller Bar on Viktoriagade in Vesterbro is the original 2010 Mikkeller bar, a semi-basement room with 20 taps from Mikkeller and the world's best craft.

Tip: Saturday afternoons are the easiest; arrive before 18:00 for a counter seat.

Mikkeller Bar Aarhus ★ 4.1 · Aarhus

Jaegergaardsgade 61, 8000 Aarhus C

Twenty taps of rotating Mikkeller and guest craft beers in the recognisable house design. Order the rotating mikkeller draft selection. Booking recommended.

GBAR ★ 4.1 · Aarhus

Skolebakken 5, 8000 Aarhus C

Aarhus's best-known LGBTQ+ bar and nightclub, run by LGBT+ HUSET. Drag shows, karaoke, Thursday quiz and a rooftop terrace overlooking the cathedral square.

Sct. Clemens Bar ★ 4.1 · Aarhus

Kannikegade 10, 8000 Aarhus C

The ground-floor bar at Bryggeriet Sct. Clemens, separate from the restaurant downstairs, where the house-brewed beers are poured in a vaulted stone space.

Apollo Bar (bar) ★ 4.1 · Copenhagen

Nyhavn 2, 1051 København K

Apollo Bar inside Kunsthal Charlottenborg on Nyhavn 2 in Copenhagen serves natural wine, beer and snacks from a courtyard-facing bar through the afternoon.

Tip: Daytime cafe, evening wine bar; the cobbled courtyard is the summer seat.

Aboulevarden Bar Row ★ 4.0 · Aarhus

Aboulevarden, 8000 Aarhus C

The Aboulevarden canal strip hosts Aarhus's most social outdoor drinking scene from May to September. Order the cold danish lager and aperol spritz.

Radar ★ 4.0 · Aarhus

Skovgaardsgade 3, 8000 Aarhus C

The successor to the old Musikcafeen on Mejlgade, now resident at Godsbanen's cultural complex. Order the draft beer and house cocktails. At Skovgaardsgade 3.

Villa Bar ★ 4.0 · Aarhus

Frederiksgade 42, 8000 Aarhus C

A compact cocktail and wine bar in Frederiksbjerg favoured by the after-work crowd. Order the house negroni and seasonal gin and tonic. At Frederiksgade 42.

WarPigs Brewpub (bar) ★ 4.0 · Copenhagen

Flæsketorvet 25, 1711 København V

WarPigs Brewpub on Flæsketorvet in Vesterbro's Kødbyen pours 23 craft beers brewed on site with Mikkeller and 3 Floyds, with a Texas barbecue kitchen.

Tip: Brewpub bar runs walk-in only; the on-tap rotation refreshes weekly. Friday nights are the busiest.

Salling Rooftop Bar ★ 3.8 · Aarhus

Sondergade 27, 8000 Aarhus C

The rooftop bar on top of the Salling department store has the best free panorama in Aarhus. Order the danish craft beer with city views. At Sondergade 27.

Tokio Bar ★ 3.8 · Aarhus

Skolegade 23, 8000 Aarhus C

An international rock and roll bar on the same Skolegade strip that built the Aarhus music underground. The playlist runs from garage to punk to early stones.

Bar 3 ★ 3.8 · Aarhus

Mejlgade 53, 8000 Aarhus C

A late-opening cocktail bar on Mejlgade popular with the 25-35 creative crowd. Order the seasonal spritz and house cocktails. At Mejlgade 53.

Fairbar ★ 3.8 · Aarhus

Klostertorvet 6, 8000 Aarhus C

A volunteer-run non-profit bar on Klostertorvet that hosts more than 200 free events a year covering live music, talks and DJ nights. At Klostertorvet 6.

Musikhuset Cafe Bar ★ 3.7 · Aarhus

Thomas Jensens Alle 2, 8000 Aarhus C

The bar inside the Aarhus Concert Hall serves pre- and post-show drinks with a food menu suited to the intermission crowd. At Thomas Jensens Alle 2.

Tir Na Nog ★ 3.7 · Aarhus

Aboulevarden 3, 8000 Aarhus C

The best-known Irish pub in Aarhus, sitting on the corner of Aboulevarden and the canal. Order the guinness and irish whiskey. At Aboulevarden 3.

Sherlock Holmes Pub ★ 3.6 · Aarhus

Frederiksgade 76A, 8000 Aarhus C

The most reliable English pub in Aarhus with real ale, a darts board and the Premier League on screen. Order the real ale and guinness on tap.

Cafe Jordan ★ 3.6 · Aarhus

Jægergårdsgade 38, 8000 Aarhus C

One of Aarhus's oldest neighbourhood bars, in the student-heavy Frederiksbjerg strip. Order the danish lager and local schnapps. At Jægergårdsgade 38.

Hvide Svin ★ 3.5 · Aarhus

Studsgade 16, 8000 Aarhus C

A no-frills late-night bar near the university with a kitchen open until 02:00 doing hot dogs and burgers for the closing-time crowd. At Studsgade 16.