Smørrebrød
The Danish layered open sandwich — the best place to try it at a fair price.
Knud Winckelmann — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sean Da Ros — CC0 · Sean Da Ros — CC0 · Sean Da Ros — CC0
Two glass and steel market halls in central Copenhagen, opened in 2011 on a square that had been an open-air market for over a century. The division is clear: one hall for raw produce — meat, fish, vegetables, cheese and bread — and one for prepared food and cafés, with open-air stalls between them. What separates it from the visitor food halls of other cities is that people in Copenhagen genuinely shop here, not only visitors. That keeps the standard high and prices reasonable by the city's measure. It is also the best place in Copenhagen to taste what Denmark is known for without paying restaurant prices: smørrebrød, the layered open sandwich, along with smoked fish, Danish bread and coffee, all in one place. You should know that Denmark is an expensive country generally, and these halls are not cheap in absolute terms, but they are plainly better value than a full-service restaurant. They are fully covered, which matters in Copenhagen's changeable climate.
The Danish layered open sandwich — the best place to try it at a fair price.
One for raw produce, one for prepared food, with stalls between.
The square was an open-air market before the halls opened in 2011.
Israels Plads, central Copenhagen
A slice of dark rye bread with layers on top: pickled herring, smoked salmon, meat or egg with sauces, vegetables and herbs. It is the traditional Danish lunch, eaten with knife and fork rather than by hand. There are many kinds; smoked salmon is the usual starting point.
The botanical garden and the King's Garden are close, and Nørrebro to the north is among Copenhagen's liveliest and least touristic districts. The halls are minutes from Nørreport station, so they make a good starting point for a day in the city.
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