Hello Darkness My Old Friend …read more... * * * Cafe Gavlen is a lovely cafe/bar in Norrebro. It has standard bar offerings, standard coffee options and a handful of substantial snack boards such as cheese plates and charcuterie plates. I saw several of these snack boards. They looked excellent. Most of the bars in the neighborhood have excellent selections of both beer and spirits, and first rate coffee. Cafe Gavlen is no exception. I went with Arnbitter, a superior Danish bitters. Danish bitters are like an improved version of Pernod. Darker, suaver, and richer but keeping the challenging licorice flavor that makes a pastis an interesting beverage. Bad pastis tastes like cough syrup. A fine Danish bitters is a long complex dialogue between you and the glass. * * * Many bars in Norrebro are essentially similar. There are tables out on the sidewalk. There is a darker room inside. The inside room gives you a fine view of the passing street scene. In Copenhagen, this means watching nine hundred thousand young adults bicycle from here to there. * * * What sets bars apart are two things. First, Is there a stupid television on inside? At Cafe Gavlen, the answer is no. * * * Second, how is the ambiance of the room? Is the room suavely decorated to make it interesting? Is it a loser's bar that is black and depressing? Is it a party bar that is as cheap as the swill in the kegs? * * * The inside of Cafe Gavlen could be called "Study in Sepia". There is fine antique brown wallpaper with dark green and burgundy flowers. There are ancient photographs. There is a boar's head mounted on the wall. The boar looks stately and porcine. The color of the room matched the flavor in my glass. Rich, brown and deep. There was mellowness in the walls, in the furniture, in the decoration. The room was a warm, dream-filled sleep. * * * This is what bars are for. There are people who go to bars to be social. Plenty of Danes around me were doing just that. For me, bars are a way to change the operation of my mind. To let the alcohol do its work. To let the brain fuse with what is in the glass and what is in the room. The scrabble of the human horde falls away, The details of the room begin to talk to you. A really good room has a story to tell. * * * In a really good room. your musings distill like brandy in the vat. Your grape juice thinking turns into wine, Your wine thinking turns as clear and forceful as German Mark. This is how you tell the best bars. The best bars are more than just a way to obtain alcohol. They are places in their own right with their own deep spirit. At Cafe Gavlen, not all the spirit is found in the bottles on the shelves.

Order of operations (loosely): grab a menu, sit down, get back up and order at the bar, then pay…read more The draft beers are gorgeous. Ale No. 16 is my new fave. There's an IPA and wheat beer on tap (it's all a bit hazy now, so I can't recall their names!) worth their salt as well. The bottled beer selection is global. Brooklyn Brewery fans should not be disappointed. As for the food, well, we spied the tastiest-looking burger this side of the Mississippi on someone's table and had to order it. The hubs was more than impressed. The toppings consisted of bacon, cheese, thick slabs of red onion, a halved dill pickle slice, slices of juicy tomato, crispy lettuce and lots of mayo. (Ketchup and hot sauces available at the bar.) The fries were thick-cut and quite crispy on the outside. Apparently, this place does a brisk brunch trade. I'd imagine on Sunday when the brew pub down the street is closed that C.G. is bustling with biz. The few times we visited were during the week and once late on a Sunday. The joint was fairly full, but not overly crowded. -just how we like it.

Nice cafe at the center of Taastrup Hovedgade (Main Street).read more

Friendly staff and chill spot. I was only here for brunch but they were done making that so I got…read morethe breakfast which is traditionally Danish and it was just right. Nothing fancy but not too pricey so it is a good option for something casual in a nice chill atmosphere. Would be interested to check it out in the evenings since from the look of the empty beer bottles and cans, it must be hopping.

Lovely place great beers and great nachos plus super friendly staff!read more

Palæ Bar reminds me of visiting my best friend's grandparents: everything is interesting, probably…read morefrom way before your time and you are welcomed with open arms by the lovely lady behind the counter. They serve the most amazing beer, and I would recommend the darker sorts, e.g. Grimbergen Double with a homemade "smørbrød" (ie. sandwich). A beautiful rest from busy, touristy Copenhagen. Worthy of a visit!

Dive bar. Check. Smoking permitted. Check. Louis Armstrong playing in the background. Check. Free…read morewifi. Check. Came across this place while getting lost in Copenhagen. Definitely a good place to stop by for a beer or two while sightseeing.

So so so excited about the newest winebar/boutique to land in Copenhagen!…read more Vinhanen has a fantastic concept: wine by the people, for the people. Fair prices, quality wine - it all seems so simple, and yet this scene is rare in overpriced, sometimes overcomplicated, Copenhagen. Bring your own empty bottles, bring a bucket, bring your camel backpack, bring whatever you want to fill up with wine, or take one of theirs with an awesome logo designed by Fos - everything is pay by weight (by the liter). Wine can be consumed in the shop (many tables available, so spread out), or take some to go (don't forget the cheese and charcuterie) for a picnic on Dronning Louises Bro. Attended a soft opening tonight, but the real thing starts Friday, April 5th. You guys don't want to miss out on this fun.

I attended a pre-opening wine tasting at Vinhanen just a few days before their opening and…read morethoroughly enjoyed the experience. They were still making finishing touches on the space, however the overall design of the space complimented their "wine for the people concept." The space is open and well-lit offering a variety custom-designed furniture and fixtures pieces where you can congregate with friends over your favorite wine. The bottom line: They offer a variety of 5 specially selected (direct from the grower/source) wines in tanks (read: on tap), which you can purchase by the glass, bottle, or even your own growler (if you have one laying around). The staff is more than happy to help you select the perfect wine for your dinner and/or your palate. They also offer some light cheese and cured meat snacks to snag along with your wine. Can't wait to check this place out again soon.

You can't miss their Taco Tuesdays - it's nowhere Mexican, but I am obsessed with it! We go over…read moreand over and over again, and we'll keep going back. Indulge on the appetizers as well - sinfully good. Specially the arancini, which I BEG, PLEASE bring it back if you haven't already!

I never been here for the nightlife yet. We had just arrived…read moreafter the kitchen was finished serving lunch so it was a pity about that. The dining area is pretty cool. Look at the ceiling. We ended up just getting some coffee to sit and read a bit. The oat flat whites are not good. When we arrived we had just missed the lunch rush so a lot of the tables were still messy. Seems to be a cool place for some coworking but not to enjoy a quiet conversation with someone.

A divey bar in the middle of Copenhagen, which seems kind of forgotten from time with it's jukebox…read moreand the old style wooden bar. It's funny how a bar that is so divey can be so fun. Being a student in a technical university makes you meet with all sorts of people who like all sorts of places. The moose is a favorite for DTU people. So I have been several times drinking beers there and I have had a lot of fun in this little bar. You always meet new people here, everyone always seems happy, friendly and talkative in here. But if you are a cocktail kind of person just don't go there. It's a pure experience to visit the moose. I think it's the only bar in cph I know that never closes. Or was it that it closes for one hour to clean somewhere in the morning. Apart from that you can count on moose for a beer. Always. The beer is cheap (25dkk if I remember right). The only negative thing for me (positive for others) is that it is a smokey bar. So you can smoke as much as you want inside, which is a bit annoying for me as a non smoker.

What a place! Been several times and always had good time. Rock music on the jukebox, cheap drinks…read moreand you're allowed yo smoke! One of the few places you can talk to random people. Two not so great things: the back room has low ceiling and smoke get unpleasant sometimes and the toilets are not the best fot girls (although I've heard no complains).

Hip-hop and rap lovers would rate this bar higher for sure. I'm fine with it too, but there are…read moreother things that bothered me. The place is actually a low-ceiling, long-narrow corridor with lack of some light. I couldn't really see if there was a décor! The bar was not very busy, but it would take forever to get something because everyone asks for cocktails. Fair thing if you conceder the price of them (75 kr.). Last drawback was the loudness of music. It was still in a talkative level, but you need to give a good effort in order to hear a second sentence! Or maybe I'm now getting too old? Anyway, I cannot really say it is a bad place, but there are for sure other better options. Everyone else seemed to have a great time in there, so I'd probably have to give it another chance some night!

My friends and I love this place! As Americans, this is a fun bar because it is filled with mostly…read moreDanes unlike the all-American bars. When you walk in there is a full bar that has amazing strawberry daquiris. A little further in is a small dance floor. They play a good mix of American and Danish music. Beyond the dance floor is another small bar and some seating. This is a great place to chill with friends if you're in the mood for dancing!