Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Sild is Danish pickled herring served at lunch: cured fillets in vinegar brine, plated with red onion, capers, dill and dense rugbrød. Anchors the lunchtime smørrebrød frokost.
Pickled herring has been the keystone of Danish coastal cuisine since the Middle Ages, when the Baltic herring trade financed Copenhagen's medieval economy. Sild moved from preservation necessity to lunchtime ritual through the 17th and 18th centuries; the Christmas lunch (julefrokost) cannot start without a herring plate. Modern Copenhagen restaurants run multiple cures from a single kitchen: classic curry-cured, mustard-dill, sherry, and the spiced karrysild. Schønnemann (founded 1877) plates eight to twelve versions on its herring page; Aamanns 1921 runs a refined modern version; Restaurant Barr's Noma alumni include cured herring on the open-sandwich-and-snack carte.
3 editor picks for Sild (pickled herring) in Copenhagen, ranked by editorial score. All Copenhagen signature dishes · Sild (pickled herring) across every city.
Schønnemann on Hauser Plads in Copenhagen has served smørrebrød since 1877, with house-baked rye, a 140-bottle snaps cabinet and lunch-only service.
OrderMarinated herring with raw onion, capers and rye, plus a glass of cold akvavit.
TipLunch only, closed Sunday and books a week ahead. Walk in at 14:30 for the best chance of a counter seat.
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.
OrderThe lunch tasting of four smørrebrød with a glass of snaps and a beer chaser.
TipOpen seven days for lunch and dinner; dinner books on the website. Closed Sunday evening from October.
Restaurant Barr at Strandgade 93 in Christianshavn cooks the food of the North Sea coastline: schnitzel, sausages, a beer-driven menu and lunch smørrebrød.
OrderThe Wiener schnitzel with potato salad and the house pilsner from the on-tap rotation.
TipReopened at Strandgade 93 from 1 June 2026 after a residency at the noma space. Walk-ins on weeknights are realistic.
Sild (pickled herring) makes more sense with someone from Copenhagen explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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