Editor's Choice - Our recommendations for 2022

A few years ago, I lived in the neighbourhood of Østerbro and used to do morning swims almost every day during the summer at Svanemølle beach. There’s no better way to start the day than a fresh swim in the water. At Svanemøllen, there’s both a beach and a pier where you can jump straight in the water.

Copenhagen has definitely become a hotspot for craft beers and micro-breweries. One of those breweries is To Øl. They are hosting a Beer festival/street party on Nørrebro, together with the beer bar Brus. They have invited 30 different breweries all of whom will serve their beers. The festival runs from August the 5th-7th.

I actually prefer to go out for lunch, then go out during the evening when it’s often a bit more expensive. The food is the same quality, just a little cheaper. And here I would definitely recommend Omar in Nørrebro; they have a super delicious lunch menu with four courses for only 180 kr. You can also get draft beers for a cheap 40 kr.

There are many reasons to visit Glyptoteket, even on a warm and sunny summer day. Personally, I think the antique statues from Rome and Greece are fascinating, but Glyptoteket is in itself also really beautiful. Especially the winter garden, a kind of greenhouse with palm trees and other exotic plants, and the perfect place to relax.

 It’s no secret that Copenhagen is not the south of Italy. But with Corsa Pizza on a hot summer day, you can almost imagine sitting at the foot of Mount Etna and enjoying an authentic pizza. Because Corsa makes insanely delicious Neapolitan pizzas. My summer is not over until I’ve stopped by Corsa and satisfied my pizza craving. I think it will be one of those with a proper lump of Burrata on top, and then with an Italian beer on the side.

Okay, it's no secret that the Tour de France starts in Copenhagen this year, and it will definitely be with me as a spectator. For the last few weeks, I've been thinking about where on the route I should place myself and my cooler, glasses, and bottle of white Burgundy, while I send the riders off to a good start!
I haven't quite decided on a spot yet, but I will soon. Luckily, I have all my logistical information in place because I've checked VisitCopenhagen's Tour de France page.

The day after the world's best cyclists have ridden the individual time trial route around Copenhagen, it's us, the world's second-best riders who will have the pleasure. The Tour de CPH route will still be closed off for cars and from 9 am we will have most of the day to complete the 13.2 kilometers of the route.

I'm not the world's most dedicated gamer, but with a distant past in the Danish video game industry, my love for video games is still alive. From 25 June to 4 August, Øksnehallen in the Meatpacking District will host a major exhibition called New Worlds Emerge, where you can get up close and personal with all things game design and production.
The exhibition is about the creation and history of the most famous Danish computer games from sketch to screen, including HITMAN, Inside and Subway Surfers, Deep Rock Galactic, and others.

Growing up near Hornbæk beach and spending many summer days with your toes in the sand there as a kid, I have a special bond with Hornbæk beach. For me, Hornbæk beach consists of equal parts nostalgic summer vibes, popsicles from the kiosk, and memories of learning to swim underwater with my eyes open. But all nostalgia aside, it's definitely still a really good beach.

The last thing on my bucket list for July is a visit to Banegaarden, which is still a bit of a hidden gem between Vesterbro and Sydhavn. Banegaarden is a piece of land located on the DSB railway site. The buildings, 9 old wooden barns from the early 1900s, have been restored and now form the setting for a green and gastronomic gathering point. Personally, I'm interested in dropping by Perron and trying out their delicious-looking pizzas. Lade 609 is also worth a visit if you're looking for more of a knife and fork kind of dining experience

Summer is the perfect time to go kayaking around the canals of Copenhagen. Imagine an early Saturday morning, no wind, the sun is shining and the city is still asleep, while you smoothly glide through the canals enjoying the beauty of Copenhagen. I don't guarantee that it's necessarily going to be quite this idyllic, but it's possible, right?

Summer means lots of ice cream and Østerberg has been my go-to ice cream place in town for the past few years. Østerberg has two shops in the city, one on Værnedamsvej and one near Trianglen in Østerbro. There are typically 10-15 different flavors to choose from with new and exciting flavors on a weekly basis such as honey/saffron, olive oil, cashew, watermelon sorbet or avocado/lime sorbet. You can check out Østerberg's Instagram if you're interested in today's selection.

I've never been to Bakken, but that's going to change in June. Bakken has free admission so it makes sense to buy a tour pass (unlimited rides) and go all-in on the experience. I want to try every single ride and then drink a beer or two in the beautiful surroundings of Dyrehaven. If the weather is nice, you can also course stop by Bellevue Beach and take a refreshing dip on your way home. The beach is a short walk from Bakken and right next to Klampenborg Station.

Distortion is back! I've been looking forward to once again partying, dancing, drinking, and socializing at the best street party in town. It's with a few new changes this year, including the replacement of Nørrebro with Rådhuspladsen and Copenhagen Harbour. The festival takes place from 1-5 June, where you can experience Havnehygge, Distortion X, Distortion Club, Distortion Ø and Vesterbro Street Party. Find me on Refshaleøen, wearing sunglasses and shorts, sipping on a cold Club Maté with vodka, and dancing till the sun goes up.

A man needs to eat. So of course, last but not least we're headed to the newly opened Chinese restaurant, Lee's Kitchen for some delicious Chinese food. This is a place I've wanted to try for quite some time now. The menu is simple and consists of Chinese classics like mapo tofu, crispy fried wontons, char siu, and spicy beef noodle soup. If the name and bare thought of these dishes don't make your mouth water, it's probably because you haven't tried them before and then you really have something to look forward to!

Sydhavnstippen may be the closest thing you come to untamed nature in Copenhagen. A kind of green oasis, with no landscaped trails besides the ones people make themselves. The tress and the grass a taken care of by the sheep and lamas that roam the area. The Park is also surrounded by fun and quirky garden communities, with houses like the ones you see in Christiania.

Café Slusen is a café that lies on the old harbour lock in the south harbour. It’s a super cosy café that radiates south harbour charm. I have never been to Café Slusen before, even though I’m a local sydhavner (south harbour resident). But I think I’m gonna change that this month. It doesn’t get more authentic than the area around the harbour lock, with houseboats and people fishing from the little walkway across the water.

If you like me, have difficulties picking which cake to eat, when you’re at the bakery then I have the solution for you. Mille’s Minis in The South harbour makes mini versions of normal cakes. Like a mini-Othello cake or a mini strawberry pie. The patisserie works with the motto, why settle for one cake when you can have several?

Now we’re heading to the northern part of the Copenhagen harbour. Here you’ll find Copenhagen Contemporary. I have just been here, but I can feel that it’s not gonna be long before I come back. Right now, they have an exhibition called Light and Space. Here you’ll experience a world of light and colour with all kinds of fantastic installations. The high point for me was a completely blacked out room, where you couldn’t see a thing. I can promise your senses will come to work overtime.

The last recommendation is one of my favourite museums in Copenhagen. It lies on the outskirts of the city because it’s an outdoor museum. It’s called Frilandsmuseet, and it’s a collection of old Danish houses and farms. See it has a trip back in time to see how the Danish farmers used to live.

After a few years of metro construction, Enghave Plads has really found itself again. The square is anew a Vesterbro favourite when it comes to outdoor hang-outs. I'm in love with Enghave Plads 9 which is now both a conventional bar, but also they are also serving wine to go. The recipe is simple, order a glass of cold white wine, find a place to sit in the sun and enjoy life.

I'm not a winter swimmer, but I can manage swimming in the spring. April is the month for the first dip, and Kalvebod Brygge is where I will kick off the swimming season. I will bring along coffee on the thermos and I will go on one of the nicer days when the sun is out. If Kalvebod Brygge isn't really on your way, there are plenty of other places along the harbour where you can jump in. Here's a guide to some of the good swimming spots in Copenhagen and the surrounding areas.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one that at times craves a really good burger, and I know just where to go for the next one; Tommi's burger joint. They serve seriously good burgers, with all the classic condiments. I imagine myself walking around the meatpacking district, absorbing the atmosphere. Get a little aperitif someplace and then go for a big juicy burger in the sun. But the city is full of good burgers, so if you're looking for alternatives, check out our guide to the best burgers in the city.

Recently a new exhibition by the Japanese artish Chiharu Shioto opened in Cisternerne in Søndermarken in Frederiksberg. The former underground water reservoir has been transformed into a dream-like parallel world, which I need to experience. The exhibition is called Multiple Realities and is described as both magical and disturbing. For me, it will be April's first dose of art. I will probably combine it with a stroll around a blooming Søndermarken.

The last recommendation involves knives and forks. Yes, now we're going for top-shelf fresh fish, shellfish and natural wines. Silberbauers Bistro opened last spring and quickly became a go-to place for perfectly cooked fish, reasonable prices and authentic good vibes. The place is located at the still hip Jægersborggade at Nørrebro. They do welcome walk-ins but make reservations just to make sure to get a table. It's a popular place.

Darcy's Kaffe is located on Ranzausgade in Nørrebro and has been around for a couple of years. If you (like myself) are a self-proclaimed coffee snob and haven't paid this coffee shop a visit yet, then now is the time. The coffee at Darcy's is brewed on beans from Coffee Collective, April, and La Cabra, and has been chosen as one of the best coffee shops in the city several times. Apart from great coffee, they also serve small dishes and a variety of delicious pastries.

The weather in March is often both cold and wet, and only a few activities are more appropriate in such weather than a visit to an art museum. Ordrupgaard Museum in the north of Copenhagen currently has a special exhibition of the works of expressionist painter, Paul Gaugin. Many of the works have never been shown in Denmark before, so this spring is a great time to pay Ordrupgaard a visit. In addition to the Gaugin exhibition, the museum also offers impressive architecture, contemporary art, and Danish design.

A must-do on my bucket list for this month is to go to one of the morning shows at the Grand Theatre cinema. Every morning there are morning shows in the historic and cozy cinema in the city center. You can usually choose between 2-3 different movies and the ticket costs only 70 kroner and includes a hot cup of coffee or tea. If you start your day off by going to the movies, while sipping on hot coffee, it will certainly turn out to be a good day.

There's nothing like stepping into one of the city's cozy bars after a long day and having a well-deserved cold beer. And why just sit around when there are actually several bars in the city that regularly host fun quiz nights you can join? One of these places is Søhesten, which organizes a pub quiz every Tuesday. If you fancy a pub quiz on any other day of the week, you can also regularly find pub quizzes at fx Absalon or Studenterhuset.

It only takes one visit to Poulette to get you hooked on the ultra-crispy, spicy, and juicy fried chicken sandwiches. After a visit to the cozy little joint in January, their sandwiches have been stuck in my head and I've been unable to stop thinking about them. Therefore, the last thing on my bucket list for March must be to, once again, eat one of the amazing sandwiches. In addition to fried chicken, Poulette also offers fried Mapo Tofu as a vegetarian alternative and crispy spicy fries with mapo mayo on the side.