4 Mouthwatering Copenhagen Food Markets
Do you love street food? Then you'll love these 4 Copenhagen food markets!
I think we can all agree that one of the best ways to explore the culture of a country is through its food. Whether you're traveling alone or with friends, food is something that unites us all. A super cheesy slice of pizza in Naples, a sticky, syrupy Baklava in Istanbul, a delicious stuffed Pierogi in Warsaw, we can all remember the best dishes we've eaten when we're abroad, and we often can't wait to make recommendations to friends and family upon our return.
Today, we'll be talking about the best Copenhagen food markets. Copenhagen is perhaps not a city you'd expect to be brimming with street food options, but over the last few years, the amount of food markets (and good food markets) has grown and grown, and it now has a thriving street food scene.
Dining For Solo Female Travelers
Dining is an activity that fills many solo travelers with dread. Whilst going for a hike alone is fairly common, solo travelers often worry about eating alone and how it will make them look or feel.
You don't need to worry about feeling like the odd one out at the Copenhagen food markets as they are a casual affair, packed with food stalls and picnic benches. Due to their nature, they attract a lot of tourists, so take a look around and you may see several other solo female travelers.
Food is an excellent conversation starter, so if you don't want to eat alone, sitting next to another traveler doesn't need to be awkward, as you can compare dishes to break the ice. Solo travelers are often very open and welcoming to conversations with other tourists. There may even be another female from our community, which is a hub for like-minded women from all around the world who love to travel, sitting nearby who would also like some company. Find out more about our community and what is has to offer here.
As these food markets attract all sorts, they are a fantastic place to simply sit back and people watch, but If you're feeling awkward about the idea of eating alone, here are a couple of ideas to help you feel more relaxed. You could read a book while enjoying your meal. Alternatively, you could call a friend or listen to a podcast. All of these activities will distract you and provide you with something to do to help you feel less alone.
Copenhagen itself is an extremely safe destination for solo females, and you can feel safe walking alone, even at night, which is good news if you're heading to these food markets later in the day. You can breathe a sigh of relief in this city because harassment of any kind, including whistles and catcalls, is very rare. Saying this, please use common sense when traveling alone to any destination.
4 Copenhagen Food Markets
Whichever part of Copenhagen you're in, a food market is never far away. You should definitely add visiting at least one of these markets to your itinerary while you're in the city, as they are an activity all by themselves.
Torvehallerne
We can’t mention Copenhagen food markets without speaking about Torvehallerne. This is the original food market in Copenhagen, which opened in 2011. Easy to visit, this food market is situated right by Nørreport Station and is open 10am-7pm every day except Sundays when it is open 10am-6pm.
This glass food market is made up of two different buildings and is not just a tourist trap, foreigners and locals alike love visiting for its vast array of delicious foods. Over 80 shops are here, and that includes some of Copenhagen’s best restaurants.
Torvehallerne has got it all. You can buy fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, local Danish pastries, coffee, sandwiches, do we need to go on?
It is not just Danish food you can find at the market, there are spice shops, Mexican food, and an Asian store that sells all the best-loved foods from the continent.
In fact, there’s not much that you can’t buy from Torvehallerne, and it’s the perfect lazy Sunday morning activity to wander around the market with a coffee in one hand, seeking out the best brunch you can find.
Some spots you should definitely check out include The Coffee Collective for…you guessed it, coffee, Is a Bella for homemade ice cream, Grød for a traditional Danish breakfast, and Bingo for authentic Chinese Jian bing crepes.
Tivoli Food Hall
Another food hall that is full of culinary delights from around the world is Tivoli Food Hall. This is a smaller food market than some of the others mentioned but is definitely still worth a visit.
The food market can only be described as a luxury food court and the tag line is 'experience fast gourmet'.
From February 16th, the Tivoli Food Hall is open 11am-9pm Sunday through Thursday, and 11am-10pm on Friday and Saturday and is located on the corner of Tivoli. Visitors can get confused by the Tivoli Gardens which has an entrance fee, but the Tivoli Food Hall is free to enter and explore.
There are 15 different food outlets where you can find classic Danish treats such as smørrebrød from Hallernes Smørrebrød, Asian style seafood from Lobster Shack, and sustainable sushi from Letz Sushi.
Whilst this is not the largest or most exciting of the food markets in Copenhagen, if you're heading to the Tivoli Gardens which is a major attraction in the Danish capital, you should pop by and try some of these dishes.
Reffen
Reffen is more of a cultural market than a straight-up food market, a place for entrepreneurs and creatives to come together. As well as food stalls, you’ll also find bars and workshops, talks, concerts, and community events such as weekly bingo and quizzes. The goal of the market is to create a sense of community that is inclusive of everyone.
There are 34 food and drink stalls representing more than 18 different nationalities, offering everything from Greek gyros, to Philippine meat skewers,
Reffen opened in 2018, replacing the old PapirØen street food market. Reffen is closed during the winter but opens every summer to serve up new and delicious foods and a whole host of other activities, right on the waterfront.
Some of the delicious food the market serves includes Gambian peanut stew from Baobab, iced coffee from Reffen Coffee Roastery, and to finish off a meal, delicious Icelandic skyrcakes from Reykjavik Skyrcake.
The Bridge Street Kitchen
The owners of the Reffen food market founded The Bridge Street Kitchen, also known as Broens Gadekokken, with some of the owners of restaurant Noma, which was crowned The World's Best Restaurant in 2021, and is known for its 20-course meals.
It opened in May 2018 and is located on the Greenlandic Trade Square, overlooking the harbor. This year, the market opens on June 5th and will be open 11.30am-9pm every day.
There are 12 food stalls, all offering different and exciting foods, both local Danish dishes, and international flavors.
Head to Haddock's for sustainable fish and chips, Dhaba for award-winning lamb karahi, Aamanns Gadekøkken for Danish pork sandwiches, and Organic Boho for plant-based dishes packed with superfoods.
Final Thoughts
Copenhagen is certainly not a place you will go hungry. There's something for everyone at these Copenhagen food markets, whether you're into fine dining, bold flavors, organic, or traditional Danish food. Not only is the food mouthwateringly delicious, but these food markets build a sense of community and you can find locals and foreigners alike delighting in being brought together by food.