Copenhagen’s cobbled streets boast a string of clandestine cocktail bars, where Scandi-minimalism meets mixology maximalism. The best bars in Copenhagen continue to evolve, and new-kid-on-the-block speakeasies are buzzing with locals and tourists alike. We dive in to sip, sample, and suggest.
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How we choose the best bars in Copenhagen
Every bar on this list has been selected independently by Condé Nast Traveler editors and reviewed by a local contributor who has visited that bar. Our editors consider both high-end and affordable bars, and weigh stand-out drinks, location, and service—as well as inclusivity and sustainability credentials. We update this list as new restaurants open and existing ones evolve.
The Copenhagen Plaza hotel’s Library Bar is all gold-framed oil paintings, wood paneled walls, and easy jazz listening.
The Library Bar
The Library Bar inside the Copenhagen Plaza hotel, situated next to the Central Station, is more about history, jazz, and wood paneled walls than traditional CPH “cool.” Think Chesterfield armchairs, gold-framed oil paintings of nobility, vaulted high ceilings, and you’re there—it’s more old-fashioned gentlemen’s club than funky. Champagne, cognac, whiskey, and cigars are the name of the game, here, although to smoke these days you’ll have to brave the weather. Exquisite service and cocktails made by refined mixologists in perfectly ironed shirts is on the menu, as are cocktails with names like “Tuxedo” and “Midnight Ranger.” There’s an in-house jazz band, and the well-known Danish musician Thomas Blachman and his orchestra Ginman/Blachman/Dahl recorded their album At the Plaza – The Library Bar Concerts in the room.
Ruby
Ruby is an institution in Copenhagen and has earned its reputation. Located opposite the city’s parliament buildings and Thorvaldsens museum (dedicated to the art of Danish and Icelandic Neoclassical sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen) and just off the historic Gammel Strand (old shoreline), Ruby’s townhouse setting creaks with bygone eras. Stories have been told, and drinks have been enjoyed—in fact Danish Spirit Producers (Det Danske Spiritus Kompagni) was founded in the bar area way back in 1882. The current decor is basic and cozy, with a stripped back front bar area showcasing a few Danish art pieces and neutral colors, with the focus on the leather apron-clad bar tenders and the array of spirits on offer. The “Butt Naked Old Fashioned” is a favorite, topped with cacao butter, and the mixologists add specialities to reflect the seasons. A sense of Copenhagen history is palpable.
Café Intime
Café Intime oozes old-world jazz glamour and intrigue. It celebrated 100 years in 2022, and its walls hold a century of live music, gossip, and revelry. In the decades after it opened the venue offered private, locked-off booths tended by one discrete server, establishing a place where the bohemian and alternative could meet without judgement. The stained-glass windows let in beautiful light from the Frederiksberg streets and a glossy grand piano greets you at the door. It’s been known to launch stage careers, and the stories regulars share are mind-blowing glimpses into a bygone era. It’s an institution, much loved by the locals, and a rock of the city’s LGBTQ+ community. A good selection of European draft beers is available, but it’s the classic cocktails that shine, including not-for-the-faint-hearted Manhattans, Long Island Iced Tea, and the Pick Me Up.