We’ve known it for some years now, but it’s worth repeating: Delicious food and fine dining experiences aren’t limited to restaurants in France, Italy, and Spain. Northern Europe, and Denmark specifically, is packed with award-winning venues. After all, there are a whopping 37 Michelin-starred restaurants in this teeny-tiny country. That means that if you’re the type who travels to eat (and who could blame you), Copenhagen should be your destination of choice. These are nine restaurants you can’t pass on during your next escapade to the Danish capital.
Tried and Tested Restaurants in Copenhagen
Some with two or three Michelin stars, and some with none. All of them worth visiting.
Jordnaer
Located inside the Gentofte Hotel, just 15 minutes outside the center of Copenhagen, Jordnaer isn’t new – it opened in 2017. And that same year, it got its first Michelin star. Today, eight years later, it has three of them (the maximum a restaurant can be awarded). Jordnaer’s chef-owner Eric Kragh Vildgaard offers a refined seafood-focused menu that blends Danish and Japanese influences. Every plate is delicate and gorgeous, more akin to a piece of art than an entrée. The chef’s use of edible flowers alone is a reason to visit. And if you haven’t yet cried over romanesco broccoli, you will.
Esmée
While not a recipient of a Michelin star, Esmée, open since 2021, should very much be on your must-eat-here list. The restaurant has a solid reputation for excellent food and the venue is luxurious, but the atmosphere is surprisingly relaxed and cozy. It shows in the way the dishes are plated – the servings are generous, and nobody’s using tweezers. The menu is influenced by multiple world cuisines, with ceviche, jamon Iberico, fish and ships, lobster à la presse, and more on offer. The cocktail menu is unique and worth testing, especially the Tarte aux Pommes (apple pie) concoction. It’s like apéritif and desert combined.
Koan
Koan opened in 2023 and just 10 weeks later, it received not one, but two Michelin stars. The restaurant is a mix of Danish and Korean influences, whether in the minimalistic decor or in the exquisite food. Korea-born Chef Kristian Baumann serves beautifully delicate dishes on Korean ceramics. His take on Kkwabaegi, a Korean donut, is one of the most praised items on the menu, but the very unique kombu ice cream with caviar and hazelnut oil is a close second.
Kong Hans Kælder
Good thing you don’t have to know how to pronounce the name of a restaurant to enjoy its food because Kong Hans Kælder is a mouthful — but you wouldn’t want to miss out. Not only does Kong Hans Kælder have two Michelin stars, but it’s also a member of the Relais & Château network, which means you’re in very safe hands. The venue is a white-washed cellar in the center of Copenhagen and the atmosphere is chic – think white tablecloths and candles. The cuisine is grounded in traditional French gastronomy with pithiviers, madeleines, and brioches galore. The plating is faultless (so are the actual plates), like you would expect from a restaurant of this caliber.
Kadeau Copenhagen
Not only does Kadeau Copenhagen have two Michelin stars to its name for excellent cooking, but it also has a Michelin Green Star. What’s that, you ask? Well, Michelin Green Stars are awarded to restaurants who follow sustainable practices. In the case of Kadeau that means using sustainably-sourced Nordic meat and seafood, as well as foraged herbs, and produce from its own garden. Kadeau Copenhagen also respects the rhythms of nature and therefore has two menus for the year, a Growing Season menu from April to October, and a Preservation Season menu for the rest of the year. The chef comes from Bornholm and the Danish island is an important source of inspiration and ingredients. The restaurant has an open kitchen so you can see everything that goes on behind the scenes while you dine.
AOC
Located in a 17th-century cellar, two-Michelin-starred AOC exudes Scandinavian elegance and simplicity. The decor is modern and minimalistic, with an abundance of white and wood, and simple furniture. In contrast, the dishes are colorful, elaborate, and decorated with more delicate flowers and herbs than most gardens. The grilled pigeon with lavender and heather is a riot of pinks, and the pickled Pear with walnut goma, thyme, and lemon verbena is all about the green hues. More than a restaurant, this is an artist’s studio-gallery.
New Restaurants in Copenhagen
In 2025, six new Danish restaurants received one star on the Michelin Guide, three of which are located in Copenhagen.
Texture
This basement restaurant owned and operated by French chef Karim Khouani opened in 2024 and it’s already got a Michelin star. No time wasted. But that’s not too surprising, considering Khouani previously obtained a Michelin star in two other restaurants that he used to run in Sweden. Texture, whose menu is inspired by French cuisine, only allows for six tables, so you’re sure to not only have the quiet and intimate meal you deserve, but also all the attention that you could possible hope for from the waitstaff.
Sushi Anaba
Right after moving to a new location on the waterfront in Nordhavn at the start of 2025, Sushi Anaba received a Michelin Star. The new premises have a minimalistic aesthetic and are on the small side, with only 14 seats. That said, a meal at Sushi Anaba includes entertainment, as every sushi is prepared Edomae style (i.e. at the counter). While the food is Japanese, the seafood is from a Nordic and sustainable source.
Udtryk
Guess who got a Michelin star after only 41 days of operation? That’s right — Udtryk. The refined venue, where the menu blends Chinese and European cooking, serves dishes like lobster sashimi with unripe gooseberry and toasted yeast, or even French Toast with Wagyu and Oyster. The chef, Edward Lee, used to work at the aforementioned three-Michelin-starred restaurant Jordnaer — so you know this is going to be good.
New Hotels Opening in Copenhagen in 2025
Because you’re going to need a place to rest after all the meals you’re planning to have in Copenhagen, we’ve selected three new luxury hotels opening in 2025.
Park Lane
Park Lane opened earlier this year in the town of Hellerup, just outside of Copenhagen. This boutique hotel is located in the heart of a wooded park, so you can have a tranquil and peaceful place to rest your head that’s only a skip and a hop from the city.
Orrilia Heritage
Ottilia Heritage will open in a former Carlsberg brewery building in the fall 2025. The newly renovated historical building will feature 14 luxurious suites, all uniquely decorated with a minimalist and ultra-modern aesthetic in mind. And no, you won’t sleep among kegs.
Hotel Hans
Hotel Hans will open on September 1, 2025. The modern hotel will have 91 rooms, including a suite with a private rooftop terrace.
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FAQs
Q: How many Michelin-starred restaurants are there in Denmark?
A: There are 37 Michelin-starred restaurants in 2025.
Q: How many Michelin stars does Jordnaer have?
A: Jordnaer has three Michelin stars.
Q: Who is the chef at Texture in Copenhagen?
A: Karim Khouani is the chef at Texture.
