Copenhagen Specialty

All the artisanal chocolates and ice-cream sold at this tiny store are made on site in the back room—which explains the rich, chocolatey scent the second you walk in.

In Copenhagen's rapidly gentrifying Meatpacking district, Prolog Coffee occupies what was the old neighborhood bookstore. It's one of those coffee shops that has indie magazines and books stacked on the counters, encouraging you to stay awhile and read. The best-kept secret here is their interpretation of the classic Italian afternoon pick-me-up, affogato: Prolog pours their coffee over soft serve ice-cream using a syringe and tops it with grated chocolate.

Known for its organic bread, cakes, and most importantly, the best kanelsnurrer in Copenhagen (it's essentially a cinnamon bun layered with Vahlrona chocolate), Meyers Bageri is the brainchild of Danish entrepreneur and chef Claus Meyer. It's tiny (read: fits five people) so it's always packed. Get there early before everything sells out.

Arguably the best brunch in a city obsessed with breakfast, Mad & Kaffe's menu is pretty DIY. Here's how it works: You choose a few (or several) options from the menu and everything comes out at once in small bowls on a tray—essentially like building your own breakfast tray. The scrambled eggs and chorizo sausages are tasty, but the smoked salmon bagel is insanely good. This café doesn't take reservations so on weekends get there early—by 10am is best.

The unmistakeable scent of sugar and dough baking in the oven hits you as soon as you enter this unassuming 16-seat patisserie. Founded in 2015 by chefs Jakob and Gabi Bär Mogensen, the whole idea behind Leckerbaer is to allow guests to sample several sweet treats at once. All the confections in the case are bite-sized and look more like miniature works of art; it goes without saying they taste incredible. We've heard good things about the profiteroles made with salted caramel and Oreo-style cookies, too.

This glass-enclosed market has some sixty stalls manned by butchers, florists, bakers, and vegetable sellers alongside several restaurants, and coffee counters. (All of Copenhagen's best chefs buy their produce here.) Wander through the market to sample the assortment of—ridiculously decadent—Danish specialty's like snaps (herb infused spirits) and, at Christmastime, risengrod (a thick rice pudding topped with butter, cinnamon, and sugar). If you happen to be in Copenhagen during the summer months, stop by Hija de Sachez, a taqueria run by former Noma alum Rosio Sanchez. It's as authentic as it comes in this part of the world. (They're open seasonally April-October.)

Located on a highly foot trafficked street in Fredericksburg, Ipsen & Co is a trendy café that doesn't come across as trying too hard. There are ample single and communal wooden tables and floor cushions. Aside from the consistently good coffee you find almost everywhere in Copenhagen, Ipsen & Co serves up vegetable-filled rye bread sandwiches and hearty soups that will keep you full until dinner.

Run by couple Sara Wreschner and David Andersen, this French-inflected cafe brings a taste of the high-end coffee bars common to Europe's more continental cities to Copenhagen.

Founded by four friends, the Coffee Collective is all about sustainability—meaning, all the beans are direct trade only and roasted to perfection in their own energy-efficient roaster. The café itself has a modernist vibe and is sparsely furnished with stone floors and low-hanging light bulbs. For a taste of this artisan coffee on the go, pop by their second location at Torvehallerne market.

An ice-cream-meets-espresso bar, Det Vide Hus manages to stay busy round-the-clock: locals flock to this under-the-radar spot to grab their morning coffee, and later in the day for a sweet fix. Snag a spot at one of the wicker tables outside for some good people-watching.