Copenhagen’s street food scene is genuinely excellent. From huge harbourfront complexes filled with every flavour imaginable, to covered food halls and old-school markets packed with Danish specialities — here are the six Copenhagen food markets you shouldn’t miss.
Copenhagen isn’t short on a street food hotspot or two, and hunting out the city’s best markets should be firmly on your list of must-do Copenhagen activities. The scene has evolved considerably over the past decade, born out of the post-Noma democratisation of Danish food culture — the idea that extraordinary ingredients and serious technique don’t have to mean a white tablecloth and a three-figure bill.
These are the places to know.
Street Food Markets in Copenhagen
Reffen
Reffen is the centrepiece of Copenhagen’s street food scene — the largest outdoor food market in the Nordic countries, built from shipping containers on the waterfront at Refshaleøen. Over 50 stalls, bars and boutique shops are spread across a 6,000 square metre site with views across the harbour towards the Opera House and the city skyline.
The stallholders are genuinely eclectic — Filipino spice, full racks of ribs, vegan burgers, Japanese ramen, wood-fired pizza, craft beer — united by a commitment to quality ingredients and sustainability. Reffen’s founders previously ran the now-legendary Paper Island market, and the same ethos carries through: creative, independent, constantly evolving. I’ve tried to pick a favourite vendor and simply can’t.
Seasonal note: Reffen is open April through October only. Go prepared for Copenhagen weather even in summer — there are braziers, but the site is largely open air.
Getting there: Harbour bus 991 or 992 to Refshaleøen (free with the Copenhagen Card, but infrequent — check timetables before you go), or bus 9A from the city centre every 5–10 minutes.
Torvehallerne
Torvehallerne is the covered food hall at the heart of the city, sitting steps from Nørreport station in twin glass-and-iron pavilions. It’s the easiest Copenhagen food market to slot into a day of sightseeing, and among the most rewarding.
Unlike Reffen, Torvehallerne is as much a working food market as it is a street food destination — locals buy their fish, fruit, cheese and charcuterie here alongside visitors grazing through the stalls. The emphasis on quality produce is consistent throughout, which shows in the street food offering too.
If you’re even remotely interested in Danish food, the smørrebrød at Hallernes Smørrebrød is essential — buttered rye bread piled with herring, smoked salmon, roast beef or whichever topping takes your fancy, done with the care it deserves. Hija de Sanchez does the best tacos in Copenhagen from a stall here, and Rørt is the place for classic smørrebrød done in a more contemporary style. Wash everything down with a Mikkeller beer or a glass from VinVento II.
Getting there: Less than a minute from Nørreport station. About as central as it gets.
Broens Gadekøkken
Credit: O.Kemppainen / Shutterstock.com
Broens Gadekøkken — Bridge Street Kitchen — is a compact harbourside market strung along the waterfront between Nyhavn and Christianshavn, right beside the Inderhavnsbroen footbridge. It’s the easiest market to reach on the sightseeing circuit, and the one with the best people-watching: benches face out over the canal, with boats and harbour ferries passing continuously in front of you.
The stall lineup is smaller and more curated than Reffen’s — around 15–20 vendors covering pulled pork, burgers, tacos, and a Hija de Sanchez outpost for those tacos. The standout dish is the Strangas Greek fries — a heap of crispy fries loaded with spicy sauce and feta that works like Greek-style poutine. A Gasoline Grill stall also operates here, serving the burgers that have earned a serious local following.
In winter, the outdoor seating area transforms into an ice rink — one of the more charming cold-weather options in the city.
Getting there: Walk five minutes across the Inderhavnsbroen bridge from Nyhavn, or take the Metro M1 to Kongens Nytorv or Christianshavn.
Tivoli Food Hall
Right beside the old Tivoli Gardens, the Tivoli Food Hall is worth knowing about as a reliable indoor option — and importantly, entrance is entirely separate from and free of the Tivoli Gardens admission, so you can walk straight in regardless of whether you’re visiting the amusement park.
If Reffen is the scrappy, creative side of Copenhagen’s street food scene, Tivoli is its more upmarket and more polished cousin. The mix skews towards international big names over truly independent stalls, but the quality is consistent and the central location makes it a genuinely practical option for a quick meal. Good for Danish classics — smørrebrød and frikadeller — if you want to tick those boxes efficiently.
Getting there: Right next to Copenhagen Central Station. As central as it gets.
Kajen at Fisketorvet
Copenhagen’s newest significant food destination opened in April 2024 at the Fisketorvet waterfront shopping centre in Vesterbro, and it’s well worth knowing about. Kajen spans 6,500 square metres across four floors, with over 30 food concepts running from street food stalls on the ground level to casual dining restaurants above, all with direct views of Copenhagen Harbour.
The rooftop terrace on the third floor is the real draw — one of the better harbour vantage points in the city, with the waterfront and skyline spread out in front of you. The food ranges from Asian street food and Mexican to Italian and Danish specialities. Being attached to a shopping centre gives it a somewhat different atmosphere to the independent outdoor markets, but the harbour setting and the variety make it worth adding to the list, particularly for year-round visits when Reffen is closed.
Getting there: Fisketorvet is at Havneholmen 5, Vesterbro. Dybbølsbro S-train station is immediately adjacent.
One for Summer: Kodbyens Weekend Food Market
A seasonal weekend market in Copenhagen’s Meatpacking District — Kødbyen — which already boasts some of the city’s best restaurants. The outdoor market sets up in the white-painted Meatpacking yards and draws a predominantly local crowd.
If you only have time for one sit-down meal in Copenhagen, Kodbyens Fiskebar — the neighbourhood’s celebrated fish restaurant — should be high on the list. The weekend market adds a more casual, outdoor dimension to the neighbourhood’s food credentials. Summer only; check current season dates before visiting.
Getting there: About a five-minute walk from Copenhagen Central Station. Plenty of buses stop nearby.
Copenhagen Street Food Map
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