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Copenhagen, Denmark

Eat by area: our top restaurant picks in Nordhavn, Copenhagen

Nordhavn is Copenhagen’s compact waterfront neighbourhood where the food scene is starting to punch above its size. Everything sits within an easy walk, which makes it simple to hop from a quick lunch to a proper dinner without overthinking logistics. We rank our top restaurant picks here, so you can book fast and skip the filler.

Not sure where to begin in Copenhagen? Start with our Copenhagen city guide.

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Top photography courtesy of Esse

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Only Copenhagen’s 100+ essential spots • Curated by our editors • Desktop and mobile friendly
Esse Copenhagen Denmark restaurant review

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29/10

Esse

Copenhagen, Denmark

After years shaping Copenhagen’s food scene, Matt Orlando, the American chef behind Amass and a former Noma alumnus, opens Esse in Nordhavn – a former industrial harbour district north of the city centre. Esse is described by Orlando as a place for depth, process and restraint. The cooking centres on whole ingredients, from vegetables to animals, with fermentation, ageing and preservation forming the backbone of the kitchen. Sustainability is not framed as a concept but as a working method, guiding sourcing, techniques and menu structure. The space is pared back and calm, designed to keep attention on the plate. Esse is not an extension of Amass, nor a return to Noma. It is a focused expression of Orlando’s own cooking philosophy, refined and intentional.

Esse
Trelleborggade 13A/13B
Copenhagen
Denmark

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Photography courtesy of Esse

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Sushi Anaba

Copenhagen, Denmark

At Sushi Anaba, Mads Battefeld serves omakase with a steadiness that puts all the weight on the fish, the rice and the order things arrive in. Edomae technique runs through the meal, but the sourcing stays close to Nordic waters, which gives the sequence its own character. Some pieces are aged, some are served with a little warmth, and the differences register without needing explanation. Mathias Mentze’s interior keeps the same discipline: oak, paper walls and a counter that holds your attention where it should be. You sit down and follow the meal from one piece to the next.

Sushi Anaba
Mariehamngade 23
Copenhagen
Denmark

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Photography courtesy of Sushi Anaba
Akme Copenhagen Denmark restaurant review
Akme Copenhagen Denmark restaurant review

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6/2

Akme

Copenhagen, Denmark

Akmē brings a fresh perspective to Copenhagen’s dining scene with its innovative French-Japanese fusion cuisine. Led by chefs Emil Hassan Lyngbæk and Valdemar Junge Norvang, both alumni of esteemed establishments, the restaurant offers an intriguing blend of culinary traditions. The interior design reflects the minimalist elegance characteristic of both French and Japanese aesthetics. The menu showcases dishes that seamlessly merge the two influences, including a delicate miso-infused bouillabaisse, highlighting the depth and balance of flavours. Akmē continues to push boundaries, offering a dining experience that embraces both precision and creativity.

Akme
Sandkaj 39
Copenhagen
Denmark

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Photography courtesy of Akme
Hija de Sanchez Cantina Copenhagen Denmark restaurant
Hija de Sanchez Cantina Copenhagen Denmark restaurant

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Hija de Sanchez

Copenhagen, Denmark

One of several Hija de Sanchez addresses across Copenhagen, the Nordhavn cantina is the one to pick when tacos need a longer sitting and a drink to match. Rosio Sanchez, the former Noma pastry chef, gives this room more range than the quicker taquerias, with tostadas, ceviches, tacos, cocktails and churros in a proper dining room on Hamborg Plads. OEO Studio handled the interior and kept it from going generic, pulling Mexican craft and colour into a palette of reds, earth tones, graphite and coal. Come after Sandkaj, order broadly and let dinner stretch a little.

Hija de Sanchez
Hamborg Pl. 5
Copenhagen
Denmark

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Photography courtesy of Hija de Sanchez

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