Denmark is a pretty magical place: it’s not only known as the inspiration for the happiest place on Earth (Walt Disney can thank Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens for that), it actually is the happiest place on Earth. That’s no joke — the Scandinavian country ranked first in the world in the United Nations’ World Happiness Report in 2013, 2014, and 2016.

So it should come as no surprise that with such happy people (which we all know equals people who are highly satisfied with their beers and their bars, right?), Denmark’s capital city has an abundance of fantastic drinking options to try.

With Hamlet’s eternal question in mind, then – “To drink or not to drink,” of course — here are the best places to drink in Copenhagen right now.

Strøm

Strøm is what I’d call the poster child for an awesome cocktail experience in Copenhagen. It starts from the moment you walk in the door, with its cozy vibe (we started to get what hygge was all about when we visited in February) and relaxed ambiance. Can’t decide what you want to drink once you sit down? “The Navigator will show you the way,” their menu proclaims — and they’re right. Use their compass to figure out what cocktail suits your needs for the night, whether it’s something light and fresh or sweet and rich.

I’ll confess that the cheeky napkins here were a big draw for me — you’ve got to love a bar with a quirky sense of humor. Sadly, I didn’t wind up challenging anyone to a Twitter duel, but wouldn’t that have been something?

Strøm also has cocktails on tap — and, in fact, they were the first bar in Europe to introduce hand crafted cocktails on draft in 2012. The Dark & Stormy they have on tap is deliciously spicy. Really, though, we loved everything we tried — it’s hard to go wrong here!

What To Drink: Check out the Clipper cocktail, featuring Diplomático Rum (read my post on Diplomático Rum here), grapefruit cordial, Cocchi Americano, and aromatic bitters (120 kr / $18.75 USD).

Address: Niels Hemmingsens Gade 32, Copenhagen 1153, Denmark
Website: http://www.strombar.dk/

Ruby

Ruby is routinely included on “Best Bars in Copenhagen” lists, and with good reason. Open since June 2007, the craft cocktail bar is ranked among the top 60 bars in the world (according to World’s 50 Best Bars). In fact, it ranked above my favorite New York City cocktail bar, Death & Company, in 2017, which means that Ruby has to be really freakin’ good.

You can tell that the bartenders here are skilled in their craft, and the clientele definitely appreciated it. Dozens of exclamations of “This is so good!” occurred throughout the night, from the British couple next to us to the group of Danes seated in the corner.

Though the menu is as extensive as it is creative, don’t be afraid to chat with the passionate bartenders a little. They just might make you something extra special, like The 866: invented at Ruby, this cocktail is made with equal parts Campari, D Argentum aquavit, and grapefruit juice.

What To Drink: Tears for Pears (100 kr / $15.62 USD), featuring Tanqueray No. Ten gin, D Argentum Dill aquavit, homemade clove tincture, pear puree, and Fever-Tree tonic water.

Address: Nybrogade 10, Copenhagen, 1203 København K, Denmark
Website: https://rby.dk

The Jane

Plush armchairs? Check. Antique bookcases? Check. You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in an American speakeasy here, but you’re actually at The Jane, one of the best places to drink in Copenhagen. This craft cocktail bar, inspired by the American TV show Mad Men, turns into a full-blown nightclub when the clock strikes twelve. (We turned into pumpkins and missed the fun on our first night, but that’s what jet lag will do to ya!)

What To Drink: Try Rosemary’s Root (90 kr / $14.06 USD), a refreshing drink with vodka, carrot, lemon, honey, egg white, and rosemary. If you like bourbon, then you’ll be a fan of Black Rose (90 kr / $14.06 USD), which consists of bourbon, coffee, lemon, and a dash of smoky Scotch.

Address: Gråbrødretorv 8, Copenhagen, 1154 København K, Denmark
Website: http://www.thejane.dk/

Brønnum

We stumbled upon Brønnum purely by accident on the way home from Nyhavn, the famous waterfront area that’s synonymous with Copenhagen.

Located in a recently refurbished historical building, we were floored by the sheer size of this bar. Honestly, it was like we’d fallen into a veritable Cocktail Wonderland (there are SIX, count ’em, SIX rooms here!). Maybe I’m referencing the wrong fairy tale, though, since Hans Christian Andersen frequented the place in one of its previous incarnations.

Side note: this Copenhagen bar happens to be from the team at Ruby, so we weren’t surprised by the caliber of the cocktails here!

What To Drink: You can’t go wrong with their Glogg (Hennessy Cognac, Ruby Port Wine, Red Wine, Brønnum Winter Syrup; 130 kr / $20.29 USD). Fans of spirit-forward drinks will love The 3 Methusalem (Monkey Shoulder Whisky, 30-year-old Methusalem Sherry, Schumachers Walnut Brandy, Cane Sugar, Aztec Bitters; 130 kr / $20.29 USD). Note that these cocktails were on their winter menu; check their website for the most current available cocktails.

Address: August Bournonvilles Passage 1, 1055 København, Denmark
Website: https://bronnumcph.dk/

Godt Øl

Godt Øl was our first stop on our Copenhagen beer journey, and we loved how cozy and inviting it was. (Denmark, I’m sensing a theme here!) “Godt Øl” literally translates to “good beer” in English, and on this front, the bar delivers. There was a rotating list of 12 beers on tap when we went; we grabbed a pint of Zig Zag (an IPA), pulled up a stool, and settled in to discuss our favorite European beers.

What To Drink: Any of the craft beers on tap!

Address: Knabrostræde 25, kld., 1210 København K, Denmark
Website: https://godtøl.dk

Visit Carlsberg

I seek out the best ex-beer-iences I can whenever I travel (see: Heineken Experience and Guinness Storehouse posts), so it should come as no surprise that we spent some substantial time at Visit Carlsberg in Copenhagen. We’ll write a full-blown post about our time there soon, but suffice it to say that the place has the largest collection of unopened beer bottles in the world — reason enough to make the pilgrimage to Copenhagen.

What To Drink: For all of the indecisive beer drinkers out there, we suggest getting a flight where you can sample four beers. We liked the 1883, an amber beer with 4.6% ABV, and the Grimbergen Blanche, a fruity wheat beer clocking in at 6% ABV.

Address: Gamle Carlsberg Vej 11, 1799 Copenhagen V
Website: http://www.visitcarlsberg.com/

Voraz

Though Voraz happened to be close to our hostel, the proximity factor wasn’t the only reason we returned here more than once. Voraz has a huge section of gin and tonics to choose from on their extensive cocktail list, and their chevre chaud — or goat cheese on bread with a salad containing walnuts, apples, pickled red onions and balsamic vinegar — really hit the spot on a cold winter night. Staff were ready to help us nail down the perfect drink order.

What To Drink: The Cucumber Twist (95 kr / $14.85 USD) — featuring Hendrick’s Gin, Fever-Tree Indian tonic, cucumber, and black pepper — was especially popular. We were drawn to The Vacation Feeling (105 kr / $16.41 USD), with its Fever-Three Mediterranean tonic, Four Pillars Rare Dry gin, orange slices, and rosemary.

Address: Kompagnistræde 16, 1208 København, Denmark
Website: http://voraz.dk/en/

Mikkeller Bar

Though we didn’t have time to stop by here (I know, I know, for shame!), we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the granddaddy of all beer bars in Copenhagen.

If Breaking Bad’s Walter White had experimented with hops and malt instead of the blue stuff, he could have become Mikkel Borg Bjergsø. The real-life math and physics teacher was also a home brewer back in 2006; today, Bjergsø and his microbrews hold international acclaim. (Note: Though he co-founded Mikkeller microbrewery with journalist Kristian Klarup Keller, Bjergsø has overseen Mikkeller since 2007.)  Mikkeller doesn’t operate an official brewery; rather, craft beer aficionados can visit Mikkeller Bar in the trendy district of Vesterbro to get a splash of their beer.

What To Drink: Check out the Mikkeller Vesterbro Wit or the Mikkeller Vesterbro IPA, both currently being served on tap.

Address: Victoriagade 8, Copenhagen, 1655 København V, Denmark
Website: http://mikkeller.dk

Where To Drink in Copenhagen: Bonus Edition

Since we couldn’t drink at all of the bars in Copenhagen (I mean, we did have to check out castles and Viking museums at some point), we consulted bartenders we met during our trip, as well as the wonderful staff at Visit Copenhagen, for even more amazing Copenhagen bars to see. Here’s a compilation of their suggestions:

• For cocktails: TRIO Restaurant & Bar, high up on the top floors of the Axel Towers; Lidkoeb, with over 200 types of whisky; and Curfew, spearheaded by one of Denmark’s top bartenders, Humberto Marques.
• For wine: Mother Wine, an Italian concept wine bar with antipasti servings; Vinhanen, which keeps costs down for customers without sacrificing quality by offering wine on tap from large steel tanks; and Falernum, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and tapas.
• For beer: Mikkeller and Friends, a second Mikkeller location that’s three times as big as the original; BRUS, a hotspot in Nørrebro; and Nørrebro Bryghus, a microbrewery serving beer with a Nordic twist.

Pro tip ⇒ If you’re visiting Copenhagen, don’t forget to pick up a Copenhagen Card. It’s an affordable way to visit all of those Copenhagen attractions you’ve been dreaming about!

Essential Info:
Where should you stay in Copenhagen? Check out options here.
Want a guidebook for Copenhagen? I use Rick Steves and Lonely Planet.
What other bars have I visited lately? Check out these bars in Tokyo and Washington, D.C.!
Have questions for me? Hit me up on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest!

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Did we miss any of your favorite spots to drink in Copenhagen? Tell us in the comments below!