Denmark is one of the most exciting nations in Europe from a gastronomic point of view, and Copenhagen is at the head of it. In Denmark’s culinary landscape, Michelin-starred restaurants reign supreme (32 Michelin-starred restaurants across Denmark!), offering nothing short of extraordinary gastronomic experiences. The Danish culinary scene boasts a rich tapestry of flavors, creativity, and innovation, a place of experimentation and avant-garde; it is here that the most exciting forms of culinary art are born. From the innovative a|o|c to the eccentric and whimsical Alchemist, these venues redefine the boundaries of fine dining.
And if you stick with us until the end of this article, you can get some goodies about Copenhagen food and much more. Follow us at Bestriptips on a journey through Denmark to discover the 3 best Michelin restaurants.
a|o|c – 2 Michelin Stars
The first on our list is the restaurant a|o|c, perhaps not the most well-known restaurant on the streets of Copenhagen but certainly one of the most promising in the culinary scene. a|o|c is located in the vaulted cellars of the historic 17th century Moltkes Palæ building in the heart of Copenhagen (Dronningens Tværgade 2, Copenhagen, 1302 K, Denmark). The main dining room seats approximately 40 guests at round tables. It offers a private dining area, ideal for smaller groups of 10 to 14 people looking for an evening of fine dining in total privacy.
The Chef’s culinary Philosophy
At a|o|c, owners Christian Aarø and Søren Selin emphasize what is superb about local nature, and stimulate as many senses as possible, which are at the heart of the dining adventure. The set tasting menu uses exceptional ingredients in harmonious, confidently cooked dishes, highlighting finesse, depth, and sublime, clearly defined flavors. The wine list is also studied in detail; it is no coincidence that one of the restaurant’s two owners is a sommelier, Christian Aarø.
Their culinary philosophy is based on a modern style, focusing on the ultimate sensory encounter as the heart of their cuisine and on seasonality and local food. Executive Chef Søren Selin and his team of dedicated chefs work closely together, striving to achieve perfection in the ever-playful Nordic cuisine to which Sommelier Christian Aarø tastes and selects wines from regions of the old and new world so that food and wine accompany each other in perfect balance and harmony. This interaction between food and wine can be experienced through the multi-course tasting menu. Søren Selin has a historic culinary background at Le Relais Louis XIII (2 Michelin stars) and Jules Verne (1 Michelin star), based in Paris, and Alberto K in Copenhagen. His philosophy is always to remain simple; he doesn’t like mixes of complex flavors, so all the dishes at the a|o|t restaurant are decisive and bold while remaining simple.
“I want my dishes to be not only delicious but also visually beautiful and surprising. My passion has always been to cook at the highest levels, constantly developing my cuisine: a local cooking style rooted in Danish ingredients and seasons, a natural cuisine where raw materials are the protagonists” Søren Selin.
Alchemist – 2 Michelin Stars
Prepare to have your perceptions of dining shattered at Alchemist. Food, science, and art collide in this culinary wonderland in the most spectacular fashion. Helmed by the visionary chef Rasmus Munk, Alchemist is more than just a restaurant. This immersive sensory experience will leave you breathless. Alchemist restaurant in Copenhagen will make you dream, and let your sensations take over thanks to the immersive cuisine and the perfect choreographic experience. Please make yourself comfortable and prepare to live one of the most incredible experiences ever in a restaurant: we are at Alchemist, created by chef Rasmus Munk, 2 Michelin stars. A restaurant that has climbed the ranking of the 50 Best Restaurants in just two years, in 2022, the restaurant was in 18th place, while in 2023, it placed 5th.
The Impressive Experience
From the moment you step through the doors of Alchemist, you’re swept away on a journey of culinary discovery. The restaurant’s avant-garde decor and interactive installations create an atmosphere of whimsy and wonder, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining adventure. The dinner comprises 50 “impressions,” food, sensory, and visual experiences. Little by little, you are accompanied on this journey, crossing different environments and in an increasingly provocative gustatory and narrative crescendo, which does not leave you indifferent. The experience lasts 4-6 hours, and the only prerequisites are curiosity and presence of mind. You’ll love the chef’s genius and desire to convey current messages with provocative dishes in a continuous swing of flavors and emotions. Alchemist is not a restaurant in the strict sense; it is a theater with the use of a cellar and kitchen, a magical place; with each performance, dozens and dozens of suggestions, ideas, and messages are released, as well as, of course, food and wine, but in several different contexts between them.
A great example is the “Double Trouble” impression in which jellyfish are served, a cry of alarm towards the invasion of this alien species in the northern seas. Awareness of animal exploitation and what we are eating is brought to the table with “The pigeon,” a dead pigeon that accompanies the dish. There are many provocations in this place; you need to have a hard stomach for some courses, but one thing is sure: the experience is unforgettable, and the magical place will be able to give you a unique day full of amazement. What you experience at the Alchemist is nothing comparable to what you encounter in other restaurants worldwide. Surprising, unique, enveloping, stimulating, provocative, visionary. It is a journey through 50 impressions and experiences between edibles and visuals, created by a staff of around 200 people (including a group of creatives and visual managers). Research, ethics, and sustainability, pure creativity are its pillars. Under a large dome, you are surrounded by extraordinary and significant moving images and music in the dim light. All the senses are involved and stimulated. Entrances staggered from 5 pm to 7 pm. A maximum of 52 people is admitted, and costing €600. Reservations are opened every three months and sold out within a few minutes.
Geranium – 3 Michelin Stars
Let me introduce you to one of the most renowned restaurants in the world. It won’t need much introduction as it already introduces itself. Geranium has three Michelin stars and appeared on the list of the 50 Best Restaurants in 2021 in second position only after Noma and first position in 2022. Chef Rasmus Kofoed is the only one in the world to have won bronze, silver, and gold at the Bocuse d’Or in three consecutive editions. The restaurant is on the eighth floor in the Fælledparken (Common Gardens) in central Copenhagen (Per Henrik Lings Allé, Parken National Stadium, Copenhagen, 2100 Ø, Denmark). Thanks to the room’s window, the internal spaces merge with the external ones, continuing the journey of the seasons through the foliage of the trees, catching a glimpse of the green copper roofs of the city, and seeing the windmills of Oeresund. You can also attend a match as the restaurant is inside the stadium.
A Symphony of Flavor and Elegance
Led by the esteemed chef Rasmus Kofoed, Geranium is renowned for its refined Nordic cuisine, impeccable service, and awe-inspiring views of Copenhagen’s skyline. The location emphasizes Geranium’s vision of gastronomic clarity and diversity through which the area of tension between the urban and the natural can be explored. The chef reinterprets Nordic cuisine and traditions, highlighting local and vegetal ingredients in a menu of great rigor and gustatory and visual poetry: it is impossible not to admire the dishes that arrive at the table.
Dishes that recall paintings by Botticelli or the Pre-Raphaelites are unparalleled beauty enchanting any diner. The atmosphere at Geranium is one of understated elegance and timeless beauty. Whether you’re enjoying a leisurely lunch or a romantic dinner for two, every moment at Geranium is imbued with a sense of grace and sophistication that is simply unparalleled. At Geranium, prepare to be dazzled by a symphony of flavors and textures that celebrate the best Danish gastronomy. From the delicate “Celeriac and Truffle” to the sublime “Langoustine and Pine,” every dish is a masterpiece of culinary artistry that will leave you craving more.
Hurry to the Noma Restaurant – 3 Michelin Stars
And if some of you, who are more knowledgeable on the subject, think that still need to present the most awarded restaurant in the world and the most famous in Denmark, this is not the case. We are talking about Noma Restaurant. Unfortunately, it is moving towards closure, and this will be the last year in which it will be possible to go and taste delicacies. From 2025, the multi-starred restaurant will be transformed into an experimental kitchen, a laboratory dedicated to food innovation. Noma opened twenty years ago now, and to continue its path toward refinement, it must abandon the incessant rhythms that are no longer sustainable. Redzepi, who is Noma’s chef and co-owner, had understood that with almost one hundred employees and around twelve hours of work a day, it was no longer sustainable to maintain standards not only from an economic point of view but not even from a psychological point of view, adding to this the effort of always having to be creative. René Redzepi said he will travel to “look for new ways to share our work” and added that there may be “a Noma pop-up,” but he didn’t say where.
Noma had already undergone a previous transformation in 2015 when the restaurant announced it would close at the end of 2016 and reopened near its waterfront location with its own vegetable farm. Noma was born from the contraction of the Danish words Nordisk and Mad, which mean “Nordic” and “food.” The restaurant was voted number one restaurant in the world three times by the British magazine Restaurant Magazine: in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Over the last 15 years, the restaurant has attracted enthusiasts from all over the world to try its seasonal menus, which showcase 100% Scandinavian products, from reindeer meat to lichens, from black North Sea shrimp to berries.
Culinary Journey from Michelin Stars to Local Delights
As our Bestriptips journey through the culinary wonders of Denmark ends, we’ve explored the extraordinary realms of Michelin-starred dining, from the avant-garde Alchemist to the sophisticated Geranium and our exciting newcomer, a|o|t. A journey that will allow you to use all your senses, discovering new barriers and culinary horizons. However, this guide will not leave you empty-handed. If your trip to Copenhagen lasts a few days, we want to leave you a list of places to taste local food and street food restaurants.
- Andersen & Maillard Nørrebro: Address: Nørrebrogade 62, København 2200 Denmark
- Reffen Copenhagen Street Food: Address: Refshalevej 167, 1432, København, Denmark
- POLP Burger: Address: Strandgade 108, 1401 København, Denmark
- Aamanns Deli & Takeaway: Address: Øster Farimagsgade 10, 2100 København Ø, Denmark
- Slurp Ramen Joint: Address: Nansensgade 90, 1366 København, Denmark
- SURT: Address: Bag Elefanterne 2, 1799 København, Denmark
Each of these culinary destinations offers a unique taste of local flavors. Copenhagen is not just a city; it’s a culinary tapestry waiting to be explored. So, whether you’re sipping coffee at Andersen & Maillard Nørrebro or savoring street food at Reffen, let the flavors of Copenhagen linger on your palate as you conclude your gastronomic adventure in this culinary haven. Bon appétit!
