Modern Danish$$$christianshavnMon-Sat 11:30-02:00, Sun groups only
Restaurant Kanalen on Wilders Plads sits canal-side in Christianshavn in a former harbour-master's cottage, with Peter Yung running a modern Danish menu.
Signature: Grilled langoustine with parsley butter, Lamb with green asparagus and black cardamom, Fried ling with pak choi and mussel sauce
Order: The grilled langoustine with parsley butter plus the fried ling with pak choi and mussel sauce.
Tip: Open Monday to Saturday with a long 11:30-02:00 service; the canal terrace is the summer seat.
French-italian Bistro$$christianshavnMon-Thu 09:00-23:00, Fri 09:00-00:00, Sat 11:00-00:00, Sun 11:00-22:00
Café Wilder on Wildersgade in Christianshavn is one of the oldest bistro rooms in the area, opened 1984, with a French-Italian menu and a corner-room canal.
Signature: Steak frites, Daily pasta, Mussels and chips
Order: The steak frites or the mussels in white wine; the kitchen has run the same plates for decades.
Tip: Open daily for lunch and dinner; reservations via the website are the safer route on a Saturday.
Modern European$$$indre-byDaily from 17:30
Restaurant Pluto on Borgergade in Copenhagen has been the city's sharing-plate room since 2012, with a long bar menu running to 02:00 on Friday and Saturday.
Signature: Sharing-style small plates, Pluto burger, Daily fish
Order: The four small plates plus the off-menu burger; the kitchen lets you build the meal at the counter.
Tip: Open seven days from 17:30; the bar takes walk-ups after 22:00 when the dining room slows.
Smørrebrød$$$indre-byMon-Thu 11:30-22:30, Fri-Sat 11:30-23:00, Sun 11:30-17:00
Aamanns 1921 on Niels Hemmingsens Gade in Copenhagen serves Adam Aamann's modern smørrebrød at lunch and a Nordic dinner menu, with a silver organic dining.
Signature: Roasted pork smørrebrød, Smoked salmon, Frikadeller
Order: The four-piece smørrebrød lunch with a glass of snaps and a beer chaser.
Tip: Open seven days for lunch and dinner; book dinner on the website.
Smørrebrød$$indre-byMon-Sat 11:30-16:00, closed Sun
Restaurant Sankt Annæ on Sankt Annæ Plads in Copenhagen has served traditional smørrebrød since 1894, a short walk from the Royal Palace with tree-lined.
Signature: Stjerneskud, Marinated herring, Liver pâté on rye
Order: The stjerneskud (shooting star) with fried plaice and salmon, plus a glass of akvavit.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday lunch only, 11:00-16:00. Walk-ins likely after 14:00.
Italian$$$norrebroDaily 17:00-22:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-14:30
Christian Puglisi's Bæst on Guldbergsgade in Nørrebro pulls wood-oven sourdough pizzas, cures its own charcuterie and makes mozzarella from Danish milk.
Signature: Sourdough pizza, House charcuterie
Order: The Margherita with house mozzarella plus a plate of charcuterie from the salumeria.
Tip: Book weekend evenings online. The 18:00 service is easier than the 20:00 turn.
