Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Copenhagen
The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen is a must-visit destination in northern Europe. With everything from harbor tours to castles, palaces, and statues, your Copenhagen itinerary is bound to be full to the brim. But, what do you do for food if you're a vegetarian or vegan? The good news is that Copenhagen's restaurants are aware of the need for more plant-based cuisine and offer some excellent dining options scattered throughout the city.
Within the city limits, Copenhagen has plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and raw food restaurants, and that doesn't include the many places that offer vegan and vegetarian options among the meat choices. With a little planning, you can dine like royalty on various tasting menus, have a simple casual meal, or grab something on the go all while sticking to your usual vegetarian or vegan way of eating. And don't worry, you won't have to rely on just a salad bar or veggie burger.
Before you embark on a vegetarian culinary tour, store your luggage in Copenhagen with Bounce so that you can travel hands-free and save your back. Vegetarian restaurants in Copenhagen get quite busy so it's unlikely they'll welcome both you and your luggage.
Whether you're in the city for a vacation or just on a day trip, here are some of the tastiest vegetarian restaurants in Copenhagen. Enjoy!
Ark
What it's like:
Close to one of the major attractions in town, Rosenborg Castle, Ark starts our list of vegetarian restaurants even though it's actually vegan. The crown jewel of the Ark Collection of conscious eateries, this place serves amazing vegan food in comfortable surroundings. From wood floors and furniture to rustic plates and sparsely covered walls, this place exudes elegance without seeming too stuffy.
Ark specializes in inclusive cuisine, and instead of just focusing on being a vegan restaurant, they also offer gluten-free food and great healthy food options.
The posh service and surroundings don't necessarily come cheap here. The seasonal tasting menu will set you back over $100 per person, and that doesn't include the wine. They like to keep the tasting menu a secret, but you can check their website if you have to know what you're getting in advance. Ark is a treat and great for a special occasion, but it's unlikely you'll come here more than once on your trip due to the prices, even though the food is excellent.
Our recommendation:
If you can afford it, the seasonal tasting menu and wine pairing are decadent.
Location:
Nørre Farimagsgade 63, 1364 København, Denmark
Bistro Lupa
What it's like:
Also part of the Ark Collection of conscious dining, like the first vegan restaurant on our list, Bistro Lupa is big on environmental impact and the use of local produce. As much as possible, they make everything they serve from scratch including their bread and kombucha.
Portions here are small and you are encouraged to choose two menu items to make a very satisfying meal. This way, you can try more than one of the delicious menu items anyway. The prices are quite reasonable given the quality of food that you get and the overall dining experience. This is one of the entirely vegan restaurants in Copenhagen and should feature at least once on your itinerary.
A Copenhagen favorite, Plant Power Food, recently closed its doors for good, which was much to the disappointment of the locals. But, Bistro Lupa is a great alternative for those who want a vegan prix fixe menu.
Our recommendation:
Except for Fridays and Saturdays, Bistro Lupa is only open for dinner from 5 pm to 10 pm. Don't show up for lunch during the week or you will have to turn away in disappointment. As for the food, if you have the budget, the five-course tasting menu is a definite treat. It's even better if you pair it with wine!
Location:
Marstalsgade 8, 2100 København, Denmark
Gemyse Tivoli
What it's like:
As the name suggests, this vegetarian food hot spot is just a two-minute walk from Tivoli Gardens and close to the Copenhagen Central Station. Dine in what feels like a greenhouse with wood tables and a skylight-laden ceiling and you'll be surprised how fresh everything tastes. This restaurant offers an a la carte menu and a sensory eight-course tasting experience if you can spare the time. You can get various dinner packages that are led by chefs who are passionate about telling you about exactly what you're eating. Some of these packages also include admission to Tivoli Gardens.
Our recommendation:
Although you might already be sick of hearing us say this, get the tasting menu if you can handle all that food and the cost of almost $100 per person.
Location:
Bernstorffsgade 5, 1577 København, Denmark
VeVe
What it's like:
VeVe is a vegetarian restaurant in Copenhagen that serves some of the best vegetarian food around. Another establishment that is only open for dinner, VeVe offers the discerning diner vegetarian world cuisine. The beautiful old warehouse and bread factory in Østerbro features comfortable couches, linen napkins, and a gorgeous stone floor. They specialize in seasonal cuisine and you can even just hit the lounge for small plate appetizers and an aperitif.
This is another vegetarian place with a tasting menu that's quite pricey, but if you opt for the pre-theater menu you'll get four different courses for around $80. Additionally, they have vegan options, but you'll need to request them in advance.
Our recommendation:
Make a reservation if you can before heading to this lovely vegetarian restaurant. It gets busy.
Location:
Dampfærgevej 7, 2100 København, Denmark
Morgenstedet
What it's like:
Found in the Christiana neighborhood, Morgenstedet is another one of the great vegetarian places in Copenhagen. The delicious food can be eaten outside on one of their rustic picnic tables or inside in their small and charming eclectic dining room. They focus on organic ingredients and are open for both lunch and dinner, which is somewhat rare in Copenhagen. The eatery is open non-stop from noon to 9 pm.
Another unique feature of Morgenstedet is that it's actually an organic food co-op run almost primarily by young people. The menu changes often, but in general, you'll get a selection of about five different salads, two hot meal options, and a homemade soup of the day.
Our recommendation:
Head here when you're a little pressed for time. This is vegetarian fast food at its best, and the service is quick to get you back out sightseeing once your belly is full.
Location:
Fabriksområdet 134, 1440 København, Denmark
Urten
What it's like:
Urten is a homey and comfortable place that's one of the best vegan restaurants in the capital. It's conveniently located about five minutes on foot from Copenhagen Central Station and is fully vegan with a nice vibe. Picture a stainless steel bar, vintage art, and muted red walls and you'll start to get an idea of what it's like here. This is also one of the few veggie places that offer outdoor seating on the sidewalk so that you can people watch as you wait for your vegan food.
Our recommendation:
Again, it has to be the tasting menu because that's all they have, but this one is more affordable than most. For around $40, you can select a starter and a main course. For a few Danish kroner more you can also add dessert. The menu changes monthly in accordance with the best available organic produce and fresh food that the chefs find inspiring.
Location:
Larsbjørnsstræde 18, 1454 København, Denmark
Souls Street Food
What it's like:
Souls is another member of the Ark Collection of restaurants and is open every day of the week for lunch starting at noon and closes after dinner at either 7 or 8 pm. Their new location in Carlsberg Byen is set to open in the summer of 2022.
The restaurant is 100% plant-based and offers a street food vibe. The location is colorful and full of character to draw in as many people as possible.
Our recommendation:
Any of their veggie burgers. Grab it to go and head to nearby Søndermarken Park and enjoy your vegan food on the picturesque green lawns.
Location:
Købkes Plads 34. 1760 København Carlsberg Byen
42Raw
What it's like:
The menu at 42Raw is full of vegetarian and vegan food with some fish and chicken thrown in for good measure. With high ceilings and an industrial and modern vibe, this mostly vegan restaurant is great for breakfast in addition to lunch and dinner because it's open every day from 8 am to 8 pm. Just be warned that not everything here is vegetarian, so check the menu closely before you place your order.
Our recommendation:
The green poke bowl is full of excellent flavors from the edamame, avocado, goma, seaweed salad, broccoli, and brown rice. The mango dressing also adds a unique sweet and fresh taste.
Location:
Pilestræde 32, 1112 København, Denmark
Falafel Factory
What it's like:
As you might expect, Falafel Factory in Copenhagen specializes in falafel sandwiches, platters, and pitas with various spreads. They serve great food and are open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. This is more of a counter-service eatery where you are probably going to stand to eat your vegetarian food at their wood counter if you want to dine in. The interior is clean and white with a glass case showcasing all the toppings you can imagine. It's a tempting fast food option for Middle Eastern cuisine.
Our recommendation:
If you're hungry after all the traveling and sightseeing, consider the large plate platter. It features a ton of falafel, three salads, two zatar slices, and your choice of four different dips and spreads. In fact, this is likely enough food for two people.
Location:
Nørrebrogade 63, 2200 København, Denmark
Café Kaf
What it's like:
For even more vegan food in Copenhagen, check out the little gem that is Café Kaf. They have limited outdoor seating, but it is available on their covered patio. They are open for breakfast and lunch and the focus at Kaf is on vegan pastries and baked goods. It's a great place to pop in for a quick and convenient breakfast. They have tasty coffee and tea to wash down the croissants, cakes, and fresh-baked sourdough bread. In fact, regardless of when you stop in, chances are something tasty will just be coming out of the oven. The bakery bakes pastries throughout the day to ensure the ultimate freshness.
Our recommendation:
This place is known around town for one thing specifically - vegan croissants. They come either filled or unfilled, it's your choice.
Location:
Birkegade 21, 2200 København, Denmark
Conclusion
As a heads up, many of the restaurants in Copenhagen close completely on Monday, so it won't be as easy to find a suitable meal if you're in town at the start of the week. But, other than this slight limitation, visiting Copenhagen doesn't mean you have to change your diet. In addition to the great vegetarian dining locations mentioned above, Copenhagen has amazing vegetarian and vegan street food like that from Grød and California Kitchen.
The vegetarian food focus in Copenhagen is mainly on multiple course tasting menus, but luckily there are ones that can fit into most budgets. You can get burgers, pizza, falafel, and many other options as fast food or take your time over a casual meal. Vegetarians who travel to Copenhagen can rest assured that you won't have to visit the nearest grocery store to cobble together a vegetarian-friendly meal. Instead, the restaurants of Copenhagen have you covered.
