Press information
May 2008

Hot Spot: Nørrebro

These days, if a group of 20-30 somethings is planning a night out, their destination is more likely to be the hip, stylish cafés, clubs, restaurants and bars in Nørrebro, than the centre of town. And if they fancy a spot of shopping - for clothes, exotic food, bric-a-brac or antiques - Nørrebro has that too.

Over the last couple of years, Nørrebro has evolved into the city's hottest quarter. With an interesting ethnic mix and an influx of young, hip inhabitants (lured by cheaper apartments), as well as the added attractions of the nearby man-made lakes that circle the north of the city centre, and Assistens Kirkegård (an historic cemetery, and resting place of the fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen and the philosopher Søren Kirkegaard, among other famous Danes), Nørrebro is really blossoming.

Nørrebro's renaissance began in the area around Sankt Hans Torv. The square's star players are two cafés: Pussy Galore's Flying Circus and Sebastopol. Each spring, these two popular Copenhagen cafés move their tables and chairs (and parasol heaters) out onto the square to create a lively atmosphere. Pussy Galore's is the archetypal modern Copenhagen café. With its Arne Jacobsen chairs, minimalist decor and inventive, fusion-crazy menu, it is a honey pot for young Copenhageners.

Just around the corner from Sankt Hans Torv is Empire Cinema, with four screens showing major international releases, just above the cinema is Café Enter that serves Japanese Hookaido soup. Also nearby is one of Copenhagen's leading nightclubs, Rust. Formerly a political café and rock club, these days Rust features both live music and club nights. It can usually be relied upon to be at the forefront of musical trends, and was one of the first clubs to bring electronic dance music to the city. It is divided into three areas: a laid-back cocktail bar, a main bar (also a concert venue) and the main dance floor. More intimate than its larger rivals, Rust is popular with students and super-cool locals alike.

Also close to Sankt Hans Torv, in Guldbergsgade, and opening September 2006 is the gourmet restaurant Kiin Kiin (in Thailand this means 'eat eat' or 'come-and-eat' and is heard all over at mealtime). From the restaurant there is a beautiful view over the Jewish Cemetery and the interior has been put in the hands of the group Panta from Bangkok, especially known for their organically formed furniture of bamboo and water hyacinth.  There is a lounge on the ground floor where drinks are served and a street kitchen, like the ones you see in Bangkok,  and the satay skewers are stuck into a paving stone in remembrance of the nearby demonstrations in 1993 following the European Common Market referendum.

A short walk along Nørrebrogade takes you to Elmegade, which has several hip clothes shops, cafés, bars and take-aways. Men's and women's fashion outlet Juice was one of the first of the new wave of fashionable retailers to set up in the quarter. At number 15 is Café The Laundromat. Here you can enjoy a beer or a cappuccino or you can browse through approx 4000 second-hand books in the café library while waiting for your clothes going through the washing process. If you fall for one of the lamps, you can purchase Brian Kirk's lamps on Fælledvej: LLLP.dk & Kirk Design.

For those who appreciate quality beer, Nørrebro has also seen the launch of the micro-brewery Nørrebro Bryghus. The brewery is housed in a former metal factory on Ryesgade, and contains a two-storey restaurant accommodating 160 seated guests for lunch or dinner, a bar and a courtyard beer garden with outdoor waitress-service during the summer months.

Nørrebro boasts two other streets with independent specialist retailers: Blågårdsgade and Ravnsborggade. The latter is lined with antique and second hand furniture shops, which are a Mecca for serious collectors and bargain hunters. Here you'll find classic Danish furniture, porcelain, glassware, art works, lamps, clothing, and ceramics, and just about everything else one might wish to collect.

Pedestrianised Blågårdsgade, meanwhile, has several stores and eateries that are popular with younger Copenhageners. In Props Coffee Shop, everything is for sale, so that customers can not only unwind with a cappuccino and cake, but, if they fancy it, walk out with the chair they were sitting on too. Blågårdsgade is a former worker’s area, today like a small, multi-ethnical village in the middle of the city with ‘everything’ in mini scale.

If you head towards the lakes bordering the north of the city centre, you'll find a choice of two waterside cafés. Front Page offers sandwiches and tapas while Kaffesalonen serves an internationally inspired menu. Both have tables outside during the spring and summer, a great place to finish a trip to Copenhagen's coolest neighbourhood.

For further information contact the press department - see contact details in the menu.