Copenhagen Nightlife • A Complete Guide

Welcome to Copenhagen’s premier nightlife guide.

On this page, you’ll discover the vibrant and varied nightlife scene in Copenhagen. You’ll find the perfect venue for you and your preferred night out. Whether you want to go all-out clubbing or if you’d like a more laid back dinner and drinks with a view, we’ve got your covered.

Enjoy!

An Intro to Copenhagen

Copenhagen is the capital and most populous city of Denmark. Copenhagen is situated on the eastern coast of the island of Zealand, another small portion of the city is located on Amager, and it is separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the strait of Øresund. The Øresund Bridge connects the two cities by rail and road.

Copenhagen
Copenhagen At Night

Copenhagen is home to the FC København and Brøndby football clubs. The annual Copenhagen Marathon was established in 1980. Copenhagen is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world. The Copenhagen Metro launched in 2002 which serves central Copenhagen, whereas, serving roughly two million passengers a month, Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup, is the busiest airport in the Nordic countries.

Tourism is a major contributor to Copenhagen’s economy, attracting visitors due to the city’s harbor, cultural and nightlife attractions, and award-winning restaurants. Since 2009, Copenhagen has been one of the fastest-growing metropolitan destinations in Europe. Hotel capacity in the city is growing significantly. From 2009 to 2013, it experienced a 42% growth in international bed nights (total number of nights spent by tourists), tallying a rise of nearly 70% for Chinese visitors. The total number of bed nights in the Capital Region surpassed 9 million in 2013, while international bed nights reached 5 million.

Here in this article, we will provide all the necessary information related to nightlife features of Copenhagen, including a comprehensive list of the best destinations. You will find all the tools and necessary information here to organize your holidays in Copenhagen the most complete way to make your journey a beautiful experience.

The Nightlife of Copenhagen

The nightclubs and bars stay open until 5 or 6 in the morning, some even longer. Denmark has a very liberal alcohol culture and a strong tradition for beer breweries, although binge drinking is frowned upon and the Danish Police take driving under the influence very seriously. Inner-city areas such as Istedgade and EnghavePlads in Vesterbro, Sankt Hans Torv in Nørrebro and certain places in Frederiksberg are especially noted for their nightlife. Copenhagen has one of the highest numbers of restaurants and bars per capita in the world. So check out our recommended options here for the best venues available in Copenhagen and all are ready to make you happy while you are enjoying your nightlife experience over there:

The Nightlife of Copenhagen
The Nightlife of Copenhagen

Catch a film at VesterVovVov

 film at VesterVovVov
Catch a film at VesterVovVov

If catching a film in a charmingly restored old cinema sounds like something you would enjoy, then make sure to add VesterVovVov to your Copenhagen itinerary. The cinema often shows independent movies with limited releases that you would generally not find in mainstream cinema complexes, having refreshments in the delightful foyer cafe is very much part of the whole experience.

The Opera House

The Opera House
The Opera House

Futuristic in its visage, the Copenhagen Opera House is a true icon of the Danish capital and somewhere that should be visited by anyone who loves opera and theatre in general. The Opera House’s main stage `is able to accommodate up to 1,400 people, and together with its second stage, the Opera House hosts an always impressive variety of top-rated performances. In addition to the excellent shows you can catch at the Opera House, the Restaurant Kost& Mask, which sits at the top of the Opera House’s 14 stories, serves up an ever-changing selection of mouthwatering dishes, with the fare equally focused on vitality as on taste.

Jazzhus Montmartre

Jazzhus Montmartre
Jazzhus Montmartre

If jazz is your thing, then you have to pop into the legendary Jazzhus Montmartre, which is somewhat of a Copenhagen institution, having originally opened its doors in the 1950s. Easily regarded as one of, not only Europe’s, but the world’s premier live jazz venues, Jazzhus Montmartre presents regular performances from some of the jazz world’s best acts, as well as many up-and-coming artists. The venue also provides guests with delectable dining options, with its acclaimed restaurant serving up lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

Cycling

Cycling
Cycling

The Danish capital is known as one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world, with bicycles outnumbering its inhabitants. In 2012 some 36% of all working or studying city-dwellers cycled to work, school, or university. With 1.27 million Km covered every working day by Copenhagen’s cyclists (including both residents and commuters), and 75% of Copenhageners cycling throughout the year. The city’s bicycle paths are extensive and well used, boasting 400 kilometers (250 miles) of cycle lanes not shared with cars or pedestrians, and sometimes have their signal systems – giving the cyclists a lead of a couple of seconds to accelerate.

Best Bars in Copenhagen

Copenhageners always love to go out – especially on the weekends. Cocktails are popular, and you will find several bars where you can enjoy a colorful and delightful drink. If you are more of a beer person, this is the right place, Copenhagen offers various pubs, bars, and breweries as well. So, after a whole long day exercise of experiencing the city’s wonderful attractions and other things to do, you probably deserve a drink to satisfy your thirst, so check out our recommended options here for the best venues available in Copenhagen and all are ready to make you happy and kill your liquor desire:

1656

1656
1656

The cocktail bar 1656 bids you welcome with a wide selection of delightful cocktails with ingredients ranging from homemade apple syrup to melon puree and rhubarb compote paired with alcohol and garnishes of the highest quality. Innovation is the cornerstone of the cocktail menu, which changes with the seasons, taking full advantage of the seasonal produce. Look forward to seasonal cocktails amongst showy velour couches and old Chesterfield furniture at 1656 in Copenhagen’s hip Vesterbro area.

The Barking Dog

The Barking Dog
The Barking Dog

The Barking Dog is a cocktail bar in Nørrebro in Copenhagen, located in the narrow street between Sankt Hans Torv and the Lakes. The Barking Dog reminds of a pub in London with the bar, the covers on the walls and the nice and relaxing atmosphere. The bar wants to attract a more adult audience, so there is background music and room for a talk without any loud music disturbing your conversation. The Barking Dog wants to make sure that people do not wait too long for their drink so most drinks are pre-mixed and served from a large barrel.

Fisken Pub

Fisken Pub
Fisken Pub

It is one of the favorites is so small that it is very easy to miss. Located in the basement underneath the Skipperkroen Restaurant, the fisherman’s theme pub is decorated with maritime memorabilia and, despite its lack of authenticity, gives you a feel for what it must have been like in Copenhagen’s famous port 300 years ago. Sit outside in the sun or deep in the ship mess like a tavern, which plays host to live music Thursday – Saturday. It is the ideal place to order a shot of Fisk “Fisherman’s Friend” vodka, Ga-Jol liquorice vodka, Akvavit or Gammel Dansk.

Ruby

Ruby
Ruby

This superb speakeasy is a Copenhagen institution and can be found behind an unmarked door in an old apartment alongside the canal at Nybrograde, sharing the same doorway as the Embassy of Georgia. A mix between an old gentleman’s club and a luxurious house party, together with a great view of the Christiansborg Palace, there are leather sofas, paintings, rugs, and drinks cabinets spread across the various rooms, which also include a basement, a courtyard, and a smoking terrace. For some of the best drinks in Denmark, you will need to get there early as it gets very busy. Oh, and call it “Ruby” not “Ruby’s”, as that annoys the bar staff.

K Bar

K Bar
K Bar

This popular bar, dedicated to Martinis, is only a stone’s throw from Højbro Square in the center of Copenhagen. Sink into the soft lounge sofas and relax, while your favorite cocktail is being prepared by a staff of very skillfully bartenders. K Bar offers a selection of 13 different Martinis, including the renowned Monster Martini, but they also create a myriad of other tempting cocktails as well.

Gensyn Bar

Gensyn Bar
Gensyn Bar

Located in a former dive bar – known by Danes as “bodegas”, the owner Terkel is living his dream which is built around equals part homey vibes and quality cocktails at fair prices. Nothing fancy here on the corner of a pretty ordinary Frederiksberg residential building. Combining this feeling with his mixology skills, sense for great tastes and quality booze, Terkel decided to follow his dreams, and Gensyn was born. Gensyn (which means to see you again) is a low-key neighborhood bar where everyone is welcome for a drink and game of snooker.

Madam Chu’s

Madam Chu’s
Madam Chu’s

The cocktail bar, Madame Chu’s, is located in beautiful surroundings down at Gammel Strand, together with all the other trendy cocktail bars in Copenhagen. Madam Chu’s is inspired by Chinese style, where the black walls are decorated with patterns and red lamps are hanging around the room. At the bar, the atmosphere is good and the music is playing, so it is possible to talk with your friends. Let yourself into the Chinese atmosphere and enjoy (strong) cocktails at Madam Chu’s.

The Bird & The Churchkey

The Bird & The Churchkey
The Bird & The Churchkey

The Bird & The Churchkey is Copenhagen’s only gin and beer bar and is situated in beautiful surroundings at Gammel Strand together with Copenhagen’s other trendy bars. The atmosphere is relaxed and you can just lean back in one of the armchairs in the corner and enjoy a drink or beer. The bar has an enormous gin collection, which contains over 100 different gin sorts. You can, for instance, choose the very popular Mr. Hendrick Hammer, which consists of Geranium gin, Fevertree Tonic and Red Grape Peel. Besides the many different kinds of gin drinks, the bar offers more than 10 different draft beers and 30 kinds of bottled beer as well.

Strom Bar

Strom Bar
Strom Bar

Art Deco is synonymous with glamour, and while Strøm Bar, which pays homage to this design era, is certainly sexy, it is not the least bit ostentatious. This cocktail joint, located next to Gråbrødretorv square, is run by two savvy bartending brothers. Tuck into one of the booths and while away the evening sipping different cocktails. Begin, perhaps, with the grapefruit-accented Gin & Tonic, here made with Geranium Gin and Campari ice spheres, or order the Champagne Colada, with pineapple and toasted coconut flakes, followed by the Dark & Stormy on tap.

Lidkoeb

Lidkoeb
Lidkoeb

Lidkoeb, situated in an old pharmacy production facility with a courtyard, turns out clever and delicious cocktails. But with Chesterfield sofas and roaring fireplaces, this tri-level bar in Vesterbro has a more brazen streak that perfectly matches the neighborhood’s edgy spirit. The crisp, white, sprawling space, which has arched windows and plenty of light wood, is always packed with an upbeat crowd. Despite Lidkoeb’s high-energy vibes, the bartenders remain focused on quickly turning out cocktails, like an Old Fashioned with peanut-butter-fat–washed bourbon and banana syrup.

Andy’s Bar

Andy’s Bar
Andy’s Bar

Located in the center of the city, close to Rosenborg Castle Gardens and the famed Hans Christian Andersen statue, Andy’s is an institution. Copenhagen teems with swank, lounge-like lairs, but Andy’s Bar- much to the delight of locals is not one of them. Here you will find late-night revelers, amped by the jukebox, nursing beers until the 5–7 am closing time. Andy’s opens in the afternoon as well, it’s best to visit in the middle of the night, when the customers, spanning old-timers and students, are especially colorful.

Best Bar Restaurants in Copenhagen

Copenhagen has exceptionally countless Michelin-starred restaurants, than any other Scandinavian city. The city is increasingly recognized internationally as a gourmet destination. There are remarkably plethora of best-frequented restaurants in Copenhagen including NOMA, which was ranked as the Best Restaurant in the World by Restaurant in 2010, 2011, 2012, and again in 2014, sparking interest in the New Nordic Cuisine. Apart from the selection of upmarket restaurants, Copenhagen offers a great variety of Danish, ethnic and experimental restaurants. It is possible to find modest eateries serving open sandwiches, known as smørrebrød – a traditional, Danish lunch dish; however, most restaurants serve international dishes. Here we have come up with some of the best and premium restaurants available in Copenhagen so you don’t find yourself in the hassle of looking for:

Noma 

Noma 
Noma

Noma has made itself only responsible for putting Copenhagen on the heights of the culinary map. If you are lucky enough to have gotten a reservation at Noma, be sure to arrive at the restaurant on time – you won’t want to miss a second of the entire experience. That’s what Noma is: an experience. From the moment you arrive at the new location of the restaurant, a waterside space designed by Bjarke Ingels, you will want to take in every tiny moment. A tasting menu here features creative dish after creative dish, all presented on bespoke ceramics. Make your reservation even before you book your ticket to Copenhagen. If you manage to get a table, plan your trip from there accordingly.

Restaurant Alouette

Restaurant Alouette
Restaurant Alouette

Located in an unassuming building in Copenhagen’s less-visited Islands Brygge waterfront neighborhood, Alouette is completely off the tourist track. The newbie is hidden behind a carved wooden door and set in a bright, sun-filled space with beautiful wooden tables and chairs from CPH Joinery next door. You are in Copenhagen so – surprise, surprise! – There’s a wine pairing option to accompany your five-course tasting menu. There is also a non-alcoholic pairing as well.

AOC 

AOC 
AOC

Hidden in the basement of a beautiful brick building, AOC is not a restaurant that is obvious from the street. Inside, space has a bright, white vaulted ceiling and a cool atmosphere with an array of round tables dressed in stiff white linens. Oh, and did we mention this place has two Michelin stars? Yep, that is right: This is where you come to sample some of Copenhagen’s finest haute cuisine. Each tiny dish is carefully curated by the head chef using Nordic ingredients. It’s fancy, fussy, and oh-so-good.

Restaurant Relae

Restaurant Relae
Restaurant Relae

In 2010, Chef Christian Puglisi opened a restaurant in a crappy space. That restaurant, Relae, has gone on to win nearly every global accolade, including a Michelin star, and has helped to transform Jægersborggade into one of the nicest stretches in the neighborhood. These days, as Puglisi’s empire has grown to include a pizzeria and experimental farm outside of the city, the kitchen is run by the gifted Jonathan Tam.

Best Nightclub in Copenhagen

If dancing throughout the night to some incredible tunes is high on your Copenhagen wishlist, you will be guaranteed an unforgettable night out experience in one of the city’s many night clubs and dance venues. From mainstream dance clubs playing commercial music to underground venues pumping out somewhat more experimental sounds, there is somewhere in Copenhagen to suit every type of nightlife lover. Refer our recommendations here and keep the nightlife activities going on at the optimum best night clubs in Copenhagen:

Ideal Bar

Ideal Bar
Ideal Bar

Ideal Bar is the music venue VEGA’s concert hall and bar located in the Vesterbro district of Copenhagen. Ideal Bar is an integral part of VEGA, but the intimate bar lives a life of its own every weekend as a popular nightclub. Several times a month, Ideal Bar hosts intimate concerts, and sometimes it will be open before concerts at big brother VEGA. On weekends Ideal Bar turns into a popular nightclub with drinks, DJs and a dance floor. When there are live concerts on, Ideal Bar opens one hour before the concert starts.

The Jane

The Jane
The Jane

The nightclub and cocktail bar, The Jane is located in the heart of Copenhagen on Gråbrødre Square. Here you are invited into rooms in best ‘Mad Men’-style. When you walk down the stairs to the nightclub, you will see a fireplace and a large bar where the bartenders are ready to satisfy your booze desire. You can enjoy your cocktail at the bar or in an adjacent room, where you can sit in Chesterfields and plush chairs. In some of the rooms, there are old bookshelves, which during the evening open and reveal hidden doors. Behind these doors, there are several other bars. If you like to dance, a DJ will play around midnight.

Culture Box

Culture Box
Photo by Flemming Bo Jensen

Culture Box is considered the best electronic-music venue in Denmark and one of the best in Europe. In the 12 years that it has been running, it has hosted several international-music artists. In 2016, it was ranked 13th at inthemix’s list of 20 of the world’s best small clubs. It has also earned the title of the ‘Best Danish Club’ at Danish DeeJay Awards six times. The club’s two separate venues, the Red and the Black Box, open at around midnight and different DJs fill the air with their uplifting tunes until the morning hours.

Rust

Rust
Rust

Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Guldbergsgade Street becomes packed with Copenhageners. The three-floor club has been welcoming a wide and mixed crowd for more than 20 years offering some of the most vibrant parties in the city. Music played includes anything from rock and electronic to R&B and reggae with DJ sets and live concerts taking place on the main floor and the basement. Ideal for a break from dancing, the lounge and cocktail bar area can be found on the first floor.

Bakken Kbh

Bakken Kbh
Bakken Kbh

Bakken Kbh adds its own note to the already vibrant Meatpacking District with its ‘Brandy Thursdays’ events and DJ sets live concerts during the weekend. Before hitting the dance floor, sit back at Bakken’s long-wooden tables and enjoy one of its renowned juicy burgers that are served until 10 pm. Usually, DJs step into the place from 11 pm and spin their records until late at night.

KB18

KB18
KB18

Nestled in one of the Meatpacking District’s narrow alleys, KB18 welcomes hundreds of music lovers every weekend. The underground club hosts both live concerts and DJ sets from famous and up-and-coming artists from Denmark and other countries around the world. It is famous for its electronic parties, but that does not mean club-goers won’t find a rock or jazz concert taking place any time of the year. Open until the wee hours, it is the favorite spot for the city’s night owls’ last drink.

Zoo Bar

Zoo Bar
Zoo Bar

Ice-chilled cocktails, the best DJs in town, and Copenhagen’s cool crowd are the ingredients that make Zoo Bar one of the best clubs in the city. Located in the city center, the vivid club is the perfect stop for those who want to finish their night sweating on the dance floor. With experienced DJs spinning every weekend and playing everything from R&B to house and funk, most don’t leave the place before 5 am.

Nord Natklub

Nord Natklub
Nord Natklub

If you are tired of clubs filled with rowdy youngsters knocking back the drinks? Nord is a club for the over 30s crowd and has been popular with older nightlife lovers looking to cut loose with their own age group since it opened in 2008. Located in the multicolored building next to Vesterport Station and the Palads movie theater, the club is stylishly designed as both lounge and dance club, with seating for 200 guests both cafe tables and in comfortable booths, while some of Copenhagen’s top local DJs are regulars at the club.

Conclusion

Let us conclude the topic, here in this article we had a brief introduction of Copenhagen along with highlighting some of its prominent norms, culture, and nightlife attractions. We also went through different activities and places to enjoy the nightlife of the region, Musical venues, Bars, Restaurants and Nightclubs as well. Such activities provide a great source of entertainment for tourists and locals as well.

As already elaborated, the nightlife attraction of Copenhagen is scattered throughout the city. There are several streets / bustling areas of the city where cafes, concert and dance venues, galleries and restaurants offer something special to everyone who loves the culture, shopping and nightlife attraction. There are plenty of pubs & bars throughout the City areas and they are truly satisfying the desire of thirsty visitors where you can enjoy your cocktails with the mesmerizing architectural beauty of the hand-crafted beers and their decors.

You don’t feel any hunger during your trip that is why we also suggested some of the finest restaurants in the city that offer exotic and delicious food along with your favorite drinks. You can really enjoy the taste of good food along with some great booze.

And lastly, we went through comprehensive options of nightclubs of the city that offers great music and fun with some delightfully exotic choices of drinks and cocktail that will delight your overall experience of charming nightlife during your stay at Copenhagen.

All of the experiences as mentioned above will work together to make your journey to Copenhagen a memorable one. A perfect and balanced blend of the above-identified activities can actually boost your experience and make your trip extremely unforgettable for you.

Video To Watch To Discover

Is Copenhagen good for nightlife?

Copenhagen’s city centre offers something for everyone. End your day in Copenhagen enjoying the wild nightlife, the great cocktails or pub-crawl through the city’s wine bars, clubs and bodegas.

What time do people go clubbing in Copenhagen?

Many Copenhagen bars and clubs become crowded around midnight. They normally stay open until around 5 or 6 AM. This gives you the opportunity to make the most of your night out. Copenhagen clubs typically play a variety of mainstream pop, techno, and electronic music.

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