Vesterbro
Establishment
neighborhood
Mad & Kaffe
Sønder Blvd. 68, Vesterbro
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.
Øl & Brød
Viktoriagade 6, Vesterbro
Naming restaurants after what they serve seems to be a trend in Copenhagen and Øl & Brød (beer and bread) is the perfect example. Run by the same people as nearby Mikkeller, the beer-obsessed duo figured the best accompaniment to their artisanal brews is a good smørrebrød open-face sandwich. The interior looks more like someone's dining room than a restaurant, with porcelain plates on the walls and various bottles and cooking apparatus stacked on shelves. The smørrebrød are small, and around ten are recommended per person with beer pairings. If you want something stronger than beer, Øl & Brød happens to have the largest selection of aquavits and home-made schnapps in the city.
Lidkoeb
Vesterbrogade 72B, Vesterbro
Lidkoeb is one of the most hyggelig (warm and cozy, Danish-style) spots in Copenhagen. The interior is very cocktail-bar-meets-rustic-cabin with sheepskin throws over the backs of the leather seats, chevron redbrick floors, and a roaring open fireplace. Almost hidden upstairs, in the eaves of the attic, is the dark and moody, low-lit whiskey bar—perfect for an intimate drink with a significant other.
Bar Mikkeller
Viktoriagade 8, Vesterbro
Started by a former math teacher turned master brewer, Mikkeller is fast becoming one of Denmark's most successful micro-breweries. While the Mikkeller brews are sold at various spots around the world (including a new Mikkeller bar in DTLA), Copenhagen's Bar Mikkeller is the original spot, with up to twenty different taps. The space is a modern interpretation of a Danish pub, surprisingly light and airy with wooden furniture, gold fixtures, and a polished green floor.
Bertrams
Vesterbrogade 107, Vesterbro
One of our favorite parts of this boutique hotel is the outdoor garden—it's an an unexpectedly quiet, cozy place to have a drink in the middle of the city. In fact, the entire hotel feels more like visiting your friend's home, with an intimate downstairs lounge area that connects with the outdoor space and garden. Located in the heart of Vesterbro, the city's charming–and thriving–neighborhood that's brimming with design shops, cafés, and boutiques, this is an excellent place to stay if you want to be in the mix. (Pro tip: As customer service-driven this hotel is, it's not the best option for littles.)