Making a list of the 50 best smørrebrød restaurants is a daunting task. I have been wanting to make such a list for several years but shied away from it, since I like most of the restaurants mentioned, and dislike the idea of disappointing any by ranking them lower than their colleagues.
But the with so much growth and so much talent, the current situation calls for a list that can serve as a kind of road map over the ‘land of smørrebrød.’ Denmark has thousands of restaurants, shops and other outlets of smørrebrød, so naturally some are disappointing. Bad smørrebrød is out there, believe me.
Of course, I can’t offer any guarantees, but I think you can be sure of having a nice experience (the number of stars I’ve awarded each place suggests exactly how nice), when you follow my list. It may not be complete – I may have missed a restaurant or two and if so; please send me an email; your recommendation may show up in my next book. The address is ole@troelso.com.
Practical information:
Ranking: The list is based on the weighted average of the following six criteria: food, drinks, service, comfort, hygge and variety.
Location: Most of the restaurants are in Copenhagen, marked Cph, the others have a mention of town or city.
Phone: If you are calling from outside Denmark, put the international dialing code 45 in front of the listed phone numbers.
Booking: Most of the restaurants can be booked via dinnerbooking.com
1. SCHØNNEMANN • Hauser Plads 16 • Cph • 33 12 07 85. Traditional style served in classic basement restaurant with Denmarks largest selection of smørrebrød. Personally run by owners and hosts Juliette and chef Thomas Gaarn Rasmussen. 6*
2. MØNTERGADE • Gl. Mønt 41 • Cph • 33 33 06 10. Modern style served in stylish setting with exquisite wait staff offering best beer/wine list in the business. 6*
3. SELMA • Rømersgade 20 • Cph • 93 10 72 03. Modern and very creative style in youthfully decorated surroundings. Best beer selection in the business. Owned and run by chef Magnus Pettersson. 5*
4. ANX • Oddervej 21 • 8000 Aarhus • 20 83 77 79. Modern style inspired by Michelin starred parent restaurant Frederikshøj in the city of Aarhus. Owned and managed by Michelin star chef Wassim Hallal. 5*
5. HOS • Kongensgade 65 • Odense • 93 10 00 92. Modern style, cosy family run place with moderate selection, good service and fine wine list. Personally run by owners and host Michelle and chef Jacob. 5*
6. AAMANNS 1921 • Niels Hemmingsens Gade 19 • Cph • 20 80 52 04. Modern style served in beautiful aesthetic surroundings. Owned by chef Adam Aamann, kitchen managed by chef Max Surdu. 5*
7. LUMSKEBUGTEN • Esplanaden 21 • Cph • 33 15 60 29. Traditional/modern style served in very charming surroundings in old wooden building near the harbour. Owned by chef Erwin Lauterbach, kitchen managed by chef Lisa Ballisager. 5*
8. KRONBORG • Brolæggerstræde 12 • Cph • 33 13 07 08. Traditional style with a modern twist. Situated in a basement with lots of hygge in old part of town. Owned and managed by hosts Claes and Walther. 5*
9. CAFE GAMMELTORV • Gammeltorv 20 • Cph • 33 12 87 86. Traditional style. One of Copenhagens oldest restaurants, lots of hygge in authentic old-fashioned interior. Owned and managed by hosts Fabienne and Steen. 5*
10. TOLD & SNAPS • Toldbodgade 2 • Cph • 33 93 83 85. Traditional style with a precise modern twist. Strong focus on aquavit offering many homemade types. Owned by host Mette, kitchen managed by chef Per Stokholm. 5*
11. MEYERS I TÅRNET • Christiansborg Slot • Kongeporten • Cph • 28 10 14 02. Modern style. Unique setting in a stone tower above the Danish Parliament. Owned by catering contractor Meyers, kitchen managed by Maria Junker. 5*
12. ALMANAK • Havnegade 44 • Cph • 72 14 88 08. Modern new Nordic oriented style served in stylish surroundings near Nyhavn with harbour view. 4*
13. REMOULADEN • Stævnen 55 • Vejle • 75 73 83 00. Modern style smørrebrød served with a view over Vejle Harbour in Jutland. 4*
14. SLOTSKÆLDEREN HOS GITTE KIK • Fortunstræde 4 • Cph • 33 11 15 37. Traditional style in Denmarks most charming authentic historic basement restaurant. Owned and managed by host Frank Due. 4*
15. MORTENS KRO • Mølleå 2-6 • Aalborg • 98 12 48 60. Modern style served in stylish setting and good service. Situated in the city of Aalborg in northern Jutland. Owned and managed by Morten Nielsen, kitchen by chef Maria Hartmann. 4*
16. FRU NIMB • Tivoli • Bernstorffsgade • Cph • 88 70 00 00. Traditional style in stylish and comfortable setting inside Tivoli Gardens. Owned by Tivoli Gardens. 4*
17. FRIHAVNEN • Amerika Plads 28 • Cph • 21 95 70 99. Modern style in stylish settings inside a very charming old railway station building near the cruise port. 4*
18. AMALIE • Amaliegade 11 • Cph • 3312 8810. Traditional style offered with beer and aquavit pairing in small elegant basement restaurant run by hosts Pernille and Kenneth Brønd. 4*
19. TIVOLIHALLEN • Vester Voldgade 91 • Cph • 33 11 01 60. Traditional style served in historic basement restaurant run by veteran smørrebrød chef Helle Vogt and her family. Packed with hygge. 4*
20. AAMANNS ETABLISSEMENT • Øster Farimagsgade 12 • Cph • 20 80 52 00. Restaurant next to Aamanns deli serving modern style. Part of the Aamann chain. 4*
21. CARL NIELSEN • Toldbodgade 5 • Cph • 70 25 16 25. New opening in 2020 serving modern gourmet style in cosy surroundings near Nyhavn. 4*
22. GONZALEZ FEILBERG • Axeltorv 4 • 4900 Nakskov • 21 70 60 25. Modern style served in similar surroundings on the island of Lolland 170 km south of Copenhagen. Personally run by owners and hosts Maria Gonzalez and chef Jim Feilberg. 4*
23. AAMANNS COPENHAGEN AIRPORT • Between Gates B and C • 32 48 31 46. One of 4 outlets in the Aamann chain. Run as airport franchise but quality is consistent. 4*24. HUSMANNS VINSTUE • Larsbjørnsstræde 2 • Cph • 33 11 58 86. Traditional style in one of the oldest and most charming basement restaurants. Run by host Johnni Frost, second generation of the owner family. 4*
25. RØNNEDE KRO • Vordingborgvej 530 • Rønnede • 44 22 30 00. Traditional style with modern twist at charming old country inn located south of Copenhagen. 4*
26. BRDR. PRICE • Tivoli Gardens • Cph • 38 41 51 51. Traditional/modern style served in a charming glass walled restaurant inside Tivoli Gardens. 4*
27. CHRISTIANSHØJKROEN • Segenvej 48 • Aakirkeby • 56 97 40 13. Traditional/modern style served in very charming old inn on the island of Bornholm run by owner, chef Troels Madsen. 4*
28. MEILLE • Sankt Peders Stræde 24 • Cph • 53 65 14 53. Modern style, small selection of high quality served in simplistic surroundings. Owned by seasoned smørrebrød chef Mads Magnusson. 4*
29. AAMANNS DELI • Øster Farimagsgade 12 • Cph • 20 80 52 00. The original Aamanns deli, modern smørrebrød to go or to eat seated in the shop. Part of the Aamann chain. 4*
30. IDA DAVIDSEN • Store Kongensgade 70 • Cph • 33 91 36 55. The unique smørrebrød style of iconic smørrebrød chef Mrs. Ida Davidsen served in the family run basement restaurant. Host is her son Oscar Siesbye Davidsen. 4*
31. POMLENAKKE TRAKTØRSTED • Midtskovvejen 1 • Horbelev • 5444 5131. Traditional with modern twist served in beautiful surroundings south of Copenhagen between forest and sea. Run by gourmet chef Christopher Brink. 4*
32. KOEFOED • Landegreven 12 • Cph • 56 48 22 24. Modern style inspired by the island of Bornholm, served in stylish surroundings. 4*
33. KASTELLET • Amaliegade 41 • Cph • 33 12 94 67. Traditional style served in classic and rather elegant surroundings. (The former Café Toldboden). 4*
34. CHRISTIANSHAVNS FÆRGECAFÉ • Strandgade 50 • Cph 32 54 46 26. Traditonal style served in old inn with seats in adjoining ship near Christiania. 4*
35. SKOEMAGERKROEN • Landevejen 4 • Kirke Såby • 46 49 19 30. Traditional style with modern twist, homemade charcuterie etc. at charming country inn. 4*
36. SANKT ANNÆ • Sankt Annæ Plads 12 • Cph • 33 12 54 97. Traditional style smørrebrød served formally in elegant surroundings. Good wine selection. 4*
37. KOMPASSET • Nyhavn 61 • Cph • 44 22 52 22. Modern gourmet oriented style served in elegant basement restaurant in picturesque Nyhavn. Owned by restaurant chain Tholstrup, kitchen managed by chef Emil Eshardt-Nielsen. 4*
38. MALT • Torvet 19 • Køge • 23 60 00 50. Modern/traditional style at small family run restaurant south of Copenhagen. Offer pairings with local beer and aquavit. 4*
39. ORANGERIET • Kronprinsessegade 13 • Cph • 33 11 13 07. Modern style in very charming surroundings inside an old orangerie in Kongens Have park. Owned and run by hosts Marie and chef Jasper Kure. 4*
40. MADKLUBBEN SMØRREBRØD • Store Kongensgade 66 • Cph • 33 32 32 34. Modern style served in comfortable basement with modern interior. Part of chain Madklubben. 4*
41. DEN BETTE KRO • Vingårdsgade 5 • Aalborg • 98 31 90 00. Traditional style in old fashioned surroundings with lots of hygge. Situated in North Jutland. 4*
42. BRØNDUMS HOTEL • Anchersvej 3 • Skagen • 98 44 15 55. Traditional style served in charming surroundings in historic hotel at the top of Jutland. 4*
43. SMÖR • Ny Vestergade 10 • Cph • 53 61 14 16. Modern style served in stylish interior at the restaurant inside The National Museum. 4*
44. NORRLYST • Kompagnistræde 8 • Cph • 61 42 95 81. Modern style served in small, charming basement restaurant in old part of Copenhagen. 4*
45. PIIL & CO • Dyrehaven 7, Kirsten Piils Kilde • Klampenborg • 70 26 02 12. Modern style served in old log cabin style restaurant in forest near Bakken amusement park. 4*
46. GRØFTEN • Vesterbrogade 3, Tivoli • Kbh. • 33 75 06 75. Traditional style served in charming surroundings inside Tivoli Gardens. 3*
47. HALLERNES SMØRREBRØD • Hallerne/Magasin/Tivoli/LyngbyStorcenter • Cph • 60 70 47 80. Modern/traditional smørrebrød to go with some seating as well. 3*
48. CARLS ØL & SPISEHUS • Bag Elefanterne 20 • Cph • 26 33 16 33. Modern style served in a newly established modern eatery. Good beer selection. 3*
49. UNICO • Ny Moesgaardvej 50 • Århus • 86 27 66 11. Traditional/modern style served at golf court on the outskirts of Aarhus. 3*
50. CAFE & ØLHALLE • Rømersgade • Cph • 33 33 00 18. Traditional style, museum quality authentic interior looking like it did in 1892. 3*
