The Most Aesthetic and Cozy Cafes in Copenhagen

All cafes in Copenhagen are characteristically cozy, with soft lighting, blankets, and great interior design. Virtually all cafes follow this unique Danish cultural concept called Hygge, which emphasizes coziness, comfort, and balance. But not only are cafes nice to sit in, but they also have great coffee and Danish pastries and treats that pair perfectly together. Together, they create destinations popular for socializing, working, or taking aesthetic pictures. I love café-hopping in Copenhagen—every café is so beautiful and comforting to sit in, and often make it a destination in my day-to-day explorations. You might not have extra time to try multiple cafes, and especially on a shorter trip. So, I’ve put together a compilation of the best, most aesthetic, yet quality cafes in Copenhagen that you have to visit.

What is Hygge?

Hygge (pronounced “hooga”) in Danish culture is a concept of enjoying life’s simpler pleasures, mostly, in the form of spending time with people either chatting or relaxing. It encompasses comfort, warmth, and togetherness, and what other way to experience that than in a beautiful location?

During the summer, many people flock to parks or seaside docks for a picnic or meal. But during the harsh winter, most stay inside or look for cozy cafes to socialize in. As a result, cafes create cozy, comforting interiors that invite Danish people to stay and socialize.

And with a country famous for its design, you’ll see that many cafes have similar design aspects. Cool lighting fixtures with soft light, wood furniture, minimalist wall décor, a neutral colorway, and more. This design is super aesthetic and make them perfect spots for unwinding and savoring. Hygge is a quintessential part of Danish culture that is becoming more and more globally popular, alongside Scandinavian design.

So, that’s why cafe culture is integral to experiencing Copenhagen. It’s a very Danish way of life that helps people appreciate the simple joys in life. Very rarely are cafes such an integral part of a culture, which gives you even more reason to enjoy them in Copenhagen! So, which cafes in Copenhagen are the best?

The Most Aesthetic and Cozy Cafes in Copenhagen

Here are some of the best Copenhagen cafes you must visit. I’ve visited all these cafes personally and love the design and vibe of each one. You’ll find coffee beverages at all of them, and quintessential Danish pastries that you’ll only really get to try in Denmark. This is a curated guide to the most charming and aesthetically pleasing cafes the city has to offer.

Lille Bakery

Address: Refshalevej 213B, 1432 København, Denmark

Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM Wed – Sun

This is technically not a café, as it’s a bakery, but they offer meals and beverages just like a café would. I would say Lille Bakery is both a café and bakery and is an extremely popular spot for locals and tourists alike. I first discovered it on Pinterest for its gorgeous interior that features two stories and an open-air concept.

Lille bakery prioritizes fresh, locally sourced produce that they use in their meal offerings and fresh bread, pastries, baked goods, and more. They only offer filter coffee, but it’s from a local roaster and offer other locally made beverages like kombucha and others. They’re popular for pretty much everything they offer, but particularly their lunch and bread.

On a sunny day, the light illuminates the space so beautifully. The best shot of the café is from the second floor, where you can enjoy your coffee and food and people watch! It’s one of my favorite cafes in Copenhagen, along with many other people as well. It gets super busy around lunch time, and they run out of baked goods by the time lunch rolls around, too. This is a must visit café in Copenhagen.

HANS Coffee

Address: Boldhusgade 6, 1062 København K, Denmark

Hours: 7:30 AM – 5 PM Mon – Fri, 9 AM – 5 PM Sat – Sun

The Gammel Strand location is in a basement and has the coziest vibes of any café in Copenhagen. It’s a café that specializes in good coffee and uses in season produce for their baked goods. I once saw some of their staff peeling a bucket of plums inside! There’s lots of interior seating perfect for catching up with a friend or studying/working.

But in my opinion, they have the best Tebirkes in town, which are Danish poppy seed pastries. It’s two parts of flaky, buttery, layered pastry (similar to croissant dough) filled with a layer of marzipan and topped with a generous layer of poppy seeds. Theirs is shatteringly crispy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside. It’s heavenly.

It’s cozy atmosphere and tasty baked goods keep pulling me back. It’s also central so it’s close by to a lot of tourist attractions, like Stroget and Nyhavn. There’s free wifi and outlets available, too. There’s just something about going down a staircase to a semi-hidden café that makes it feel like a hidden gem.

ORSA Coffee

Address: Vesterbrogade 46, 1620 København, Denmark

Hours: 7 AM – 5:30 PM Mon – Fri, 8 AM – 5 PM Sat – Sun

Calling all music and coffee lovers! ORSA Coffee is the best café for you. Located in Vesterbro, this café prides itself on being the intersection where coffee and music meet. They’ve got high fidelity music playing from quality sound systems and great coffee as well. The interior is hip, trendy, and stylish.

They also have a no laptop policy, as they prioritize social interactions between people. The coffee is nice and smooth, and their banana bread and cream are so good. They seem very community oriented, as they host events and pop-ups with locals from time to time. It’s a nice coffee shop with loads of seating inside, and a great place for an afternoon pick me up.

Darcy’s Kaffe

Address: Rantzausgade 2, 2200 København N, Denmark

Hours: 7:30 AM – 5 PM Mon – Fri, 9 AM – 4:30 PM Sat – Sun

Darcy’s looks like it came right out of a Pinterest board. It’s a popular neighborhood café that has coffee, pastries, and small lunches. It’s incredibly cozy, with Scandinavian décor, loads of tables and seating for a great chatting environment.

They have some seating where no laptops are allowed, with designated laptop tables. I personally found their coffee and pastries to be just okay but find myself re-visiting for the interior. Just something about their cozy design makes me keep going back, haha.

Andersen & Maillard

Address: Nørrebrogade 62, 2200 København N, Denmark

Hours: 7 AM – 6 PM Mon – Fri, 8 AM – 6 PM Sat – Sun

Another cozy café with tons of comfortable seating, good ambiance, and good coffee. This is the type of café that makes you want to stay a while. Their Norrebro location is super roomy, with ample seating and personal space that makes it extremely comfortable to just sip and chill.

They don’t allow laptops on the weekend, which makes it the perfect place to work or study during the week. Their coffee drinks are on point and have a wide selection of baked goods. I love the interior and would be my go-to café if I lived nearby it.

Prolog Coffee Bar Randersgade

Address: Randersgade 45, 2100 København, Denmark

Hours: 7 AM – 6 PM Mon – Fri, 8 AM – 6 PM Sat- Sun

One of my favorite coffee shops in Copenhagen, and serves coffee that most Copenhageners probably have tried! Prolog roasts their own coffee and supplies most of the bakeries in the city with filter coffee beans. So if you’ve been to popular bakeries like Lille, Hart, Juno the Bakery, Bakery Benji, etc. and have gotten coffee, chances are you’ve had Prolog coffee.

But not only do they serve amazing coffee, but their coffee shops are also beautiful. It’s chic, minimal, and cozy, with an emphasis on relaxing tunes and creating an environment that makes you stop and smell the roses. I’ve personally only visited their Randersgade location, which sells Juno the Bakery pastries, and love their interior.

Apotek 57

Address: Fredericiagade 57, 1310 København, Denmark

Hours: 8 AM – 3 PM Mon – Fri, 9 AM – 3 PM Sat – Sun

This café is straight out of Pinterest—wood furnishings, Scandinavian design, fresh flowers, and coffee mugs and pastries. It’s around the corner from another Pinterest café called Atelier September and has brunch as well as small bites and beverages. It’s ultra popular for brunch and it’s hard to snag a table during brunch or lunch hours.

There’s always cool girls inside and outside the café, either chatting or snapping pics. Their drinks are good, but they’re pricey and come in a small cup… I think it’s worth going for the vibe and checking out the interior but I wouldn’t revisit this café for their food or drinks.

Pods of Beans

Address: Ny Kongensgade 14, 1472 København, Denmark

Hours: 10 AM – 6 PM Tues – Sun

An unconventional café that serves up delicious cocoa and chocolate drinks. It’s run by a nice New Zealand uncle who loves all things chocolate and has the best hot cocoa you’ll ever have. Pick from a variety of cocoa offerings and choose flavors like chili, cinnamon, and have it with hot water or milk. The cocoa is rich and delicious, and you sweeten your drink however you’d like.

It’s a cozy place with lots of seating and the owner is super nice and friendly. Great for a chat or pick me up, especially if you’re looking to switch up your coffee or tea routine.

ARKET Café

Address: Møinichen Mansion, Købmagergade 33, 1150 København, Denmark

Hours: 9 AM – 6 PM Mon – Fri, 10 AM – 6 PM Sat – Sun

Fancy a brunch or coffee with a bit of shopping? ARKET Cafe is for you! Located in Stroget, ARKET Cafe is attached to the popular ARKET store, a fashion brand selling Copenhagen clothing and more. It’s aesthetically pleasing clothes also translate to their cafe, with healthy and beautiful dishes and hand-crafted beverages. The ARKET Cafe embraces hygge, with stylish seating and even blankets during the colder months.

It’s a healthy cafe with dishes made with fresh produce and in season veggies. You can grab a nice soup and sandwich for a deal, or try some of their coffee or teas. It’s a great place to rest during an errand or shopping day, and soak in the calming vibes.

Et Cetera

Address: Haraldsgade 3, 2200 København, Denmark

Hours: 8 AM – 3 PM Wed – Fri, 9 AM – 4 PM Sat

This modern Asian brunch cafe is located in the Nørrebro neighborhood, and features a minimalist interior and exterior. They offer contemporary Chinese dishes and are most famous for their biang biang noodles.

It’s hip and trendy, and their food is good! This is a great place to go if yo’re feeling peckish and want a light meal while also having great matcha or tea drinks with your meal. I recommend their noodles and milk tea—it’s the perfect combo!

Coffee Collective

Address: Varies

Hours: 7 AM – 8 PM Mon – Fri, 8 AM – 7 PM Sat – Sun

This Copenhagen coffee chain is all over the city, but bangs out great coffee. They have great coffee beans and are known for their silky and delicious white coffees (think: flat white). Not only known for their coffee quality, the interiors of all their locations are beautiful and comfortable, making them popular choices to catch up with friends.

If you’re not picky with your cafes or looking for one to start with, Coffee Collective is a great choice! It was the first cafe I visited on my first trip to Copenhagen so it has a special place in my heart.

The Growth House at The Opera Park

Address: Ekvipagemestervej, 1438 København K, Denmark

Hours: 9–11 AM, 11:30 AM–3 PM, 5–11 PM Mon – Sun, 9 AM – 3:30 PM Sat

You can’t miss the Opera House in Copenhagen, it’s iconic! But don’t stop there; the Opera Park is a must-visit green space and cafe! The Opera Park attaches to the Opera parking lot and the Opera park cafe, and inside there is a free botanical garden. The building architecture is stunning, and is a must-see.

There are large windows that let all the sunlight in, and lots of indoor and outdoor eating to enjoy a coffee, wine, or tea. It’s a change in scenery from the enclosed cafes you’ll find in the city, and worth checking out! I personally haven’t had coffee there, but people seem to love it with the view.

Studio x Kitchen

Address: Dronningens Tværgade 52, 1302 København, Denmark

Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Daily

This stylish cafe is a popular brunch spot, serving up fresh Danish dishes and coffee beverages. It is also a beautifully designed cafe, with minimalist, light and airy interior design with light wood furniture. There’s lots of seating inside and outside, but it gets full during busy hours. They’re really popular for their Danish breakfast, coffee, and ceramics! I had brunch here with a friend and we loved sitting and chatting and the food. I recommend their ciabatta sandwich which is so balanced and delicious.

Lille Fugl

Address: Læderstræde 91201, København, Denmark

Hours: Varies

This cozy cafe in Gammel Strand caught my eye for its cool, artsy sculptures outside its front door. Similar to HANS Coffee, it’s also in a basement but has a wider entrance. It’s incredibly cozy inside, with ample seating inside and outside. They have coffee, pastries, beer, waffles, and small lunch plates, perfect for a light meal or afternoon break. They get extremely popular during the warmer days when everyone is enjoying the sunshine on their outdoor tables.

Honorable Mentions

These next set of cafes I have not visited personally, but they are so beautiful (at least in photos) that I would recommend checking them out!

• Dallas Coffee
• Arrebo
• Seks
• Atelier September: This cafe has made its rounds on social media… It’s insanely popular for its interior but I’ve heard the food is not that good. I haven’t tried cause the queue is always long, but one day!
• Sonny
• Dzdira

Understanding Danish Pastries

What people outside of Denmark know of danish pastries is the cheese circle “Danish pastry”. A flat, glazed circular pastry with a cream cheese center. But this “danish” doesn’t exist in Denmark.

Danish pastries are similar to Vienna or French viennoiserie, which is multilayered, laminated dough and made into a sweet pastry. This type of pastry was brought over by Austrians in the 1800s and fused with the local palette. As a result, bakers created delicious sweet and savory pastries that Danes enjoy daily!

Every cafe in Copenhagen will sell pastries, and some even bake them in house! There is no shortage of fresh pastries in Denmark, and its an important part of cafe culture. There are a few special must-try Danish pastries you have to try when in Copenhagen:

• Tebirkes: Laminated pastry with remonce and poppy seeds on top. Think a croissant with a sweet butter paste filling and toasted poppy seeds. Just divine.
• Kanelsnegle: Danish cinnamon roll.
• Kardemommeboller: Scandinavian cardamom buns; these are a must try! It’s heavenly…

Tips for Cafe-Hopping in Copenhagen

Here are some things to note before you go cafe hopping in Copenhagen:

• Visit During the Late Morning: Many cafes in Copenhagen are open from early morning to late afternoon. A typical opening schedule is 7 or 8 AM to 4 or 5 PM. Rarely will cafes open past 6, so if you’re eyeing a cafe make sure to go in the day to avoid disappointment!
• Leave Cash at Home: Many places in Copenhagen are cashless, so there is no need to withdraw cash. Many places even prefer cashless, so you can use any major credit card and Apple Pay.
• Order First: Many cafes in Copenhagen operate on an order first, sit after basis. Meaning once you walk in, order at the front counter, then find a place to sit.
• Get Food Early: Note that kitchens close an hour or half hour before closing so make sure to go earlier in their opening hours if you want to try a certain dish.
• Ride a Bike or Take Public Transport to the Cafe: There’s no need for a car in Copenhagen, just hop on or rent a bike or take the subway or bus to get to the cafe! It’s easy, clean, and fast.

Experience Danish Hygge in Cafe Form

Copenhagen has some of the best cafes I’ve been to and their cafe culture is one of a kind. Hygge is an important part of the Danish lifestyle and cafes are a great way to experience it. It’s all about taking a moment for yourself and spending time with loved ones, best with pastries and coffee. It’s a great way for visitors to immerse in the beauty and warmth of Danish culture. Definitely try some Danish pastries and admire the amazing Scandinavian aesthetics. Hopefully, this informative blog post on the cozy and aesthetic cafes of Copenhagen helps you find your new favorite cafe—perfect for coffee lovers and culture enthusiasts alike! Happy travels!