Juno, the beloved neighborhood bakery

Juno is a popular bakery in the Østerbro district, owned by former Noma pastry chef Emil Glaser and renowned for its cardamom buns.

The efficient and friendly service created a welcoming atmosphere even as the line quickly grew. I arrived around 8 a.m., just after a coffee at Prolog, and was lucky to beat the rush. Since I had already tasted Juno’s famous cardamom bun at Prolog, I decided to explore other offerings and picked up a milk bun and a custard bun for takeaway.

The custard bun was delightful, with a subtle hint of vanilla that complemented its sweet, soft, and chewy texture. On the other hand, the milk bun was a bit of a surprise. While I usually associate milk buns with a mildly sweet profile, Juno’s version had a salty aftertaste. It was dense yet soft and chewy, offering an unexpected twist.

While Juno is undeniably a quality bakery with a great reputation, my experience fell short of the hype. The pastries were good, but they didn’t leave me as impressed as I had hoped. It’s a nice spot, but for me, it’s not quite the standout that it’s made out to be.

sgade 48, 2100 København, Denmark

Barr: A Sister Restaurant of Noma

In an interview I watched, this restaurant came highly recommended by Kenneth Foong, the head chef at Noma. He specifically mentioned the schnitzel, and from the photos I saw, it looked absolutely delectable.

Barr is the third restaurant under the Noma umbrella. It occupies a historic 18th-century waterfront warehouse that was once home to the original Noma. The restaurant features rustic, cozy decor with an open kitchen and a spacious outdoor terrace overlooking the water, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

As I was dining alone, I was seated at a high table facing the open kitchen. Watching the chefs at work while waiting for my meal was both fascinating and enjoyable.

The restaurant offers a four-course menu or an à la carte option. I chose the à la carte.

For the starter, I was served a lemon pancake topped with brown crab and chives, accompanied by a langoustine sauce and pickled daikon. The pancake was soft with a subtle hint of lemon, the crab meat was fresh, and the pickled daikon added a refreshing tang that balanced the creaminess of the dish. Overall, it was a delicious and well-executed start to the meal.

For the main course, I had the schnitzel served with a side of fennel and dill salad, horseradish cream, and brown butter.

The head chef personally brought out the schnitzel and recommended generously drizzling it with the brown butter. The butter added a rich, nutty depth of flavor that complemented the tender pork perfectly, which was encased in a beautifully golden, crisp crust.

The horseradish cream was delightfully light and airy, melting effortlessly in the mouth.

Unfortunately, the fennel and dill salad was a bit too salty for my taste.

The meal concluded with a dessert of smoked hay vanilla ice cream, accompanied by Swedish blueberries soaked in birch, topped with birch oil, pine, and a sprinkle of salt.

The ice cream had a smooth and delicate texture, with a slight salty aftertaste that added an intriguing contrast. It was absolutely delicious.

Strandgade 93, 1401 København, Denmark

Prolog Coffee Bar

Opened in 2016 by Sebastian Quistorff and three-time Danish barista champion Jonas Gehl, Prolog has quickly become one of Denmark’s top coffee roasters. Highly recommended by renowned Copenhagen chefs like Rasmus Munk of Alchemist and Kenneth Foong of Noma, Prolog is celebrated for its exceptional coffee. Beyond coffee, the café also offers baked goods from Juno, a beloved bakery just a short walk away.

Prolog has two locations in Copenhagen: one in the vibrant Meatpacking District and another on Randersgade. I visited the Randersgade branch, which is smaller but equally charming compared to the larger Meatpacking location.

The café is bright and cozy, featuring a classic Scandinavian design. The baristas were friendly and welcoming. I ordered a flat white and a cardamom bun—the coffee was strong and robust with a higher acidity, while the bun was soft and flavorful.

Randersgade 45, 2100 København, Denmark

Hart bakery

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hart Bageri is a popular bakery in Copenhagen founded by Richard Hart, a former baker at Noma. In addition to its famous sourdough bread, Hart offers a variety of delicious pastries, including cardamom rolls, tarts, and cheesecakes.

The bakery has now expanded to 10 locations across Copenhagen. I visited the branch in Holmen, which is nestled in a charming wooden building overlooking the water. The café has a few tables indoors but many more outside, both at the front and back, providing a scenic spot to enjoy your treats.

I chose one of Hart’s specialties—the cardamom croissant, a favorite among chefs. It was absolutely divine! It was flaky, buttery, chewy, sweet, and sticky, with a texture denser than a typical croissant but still soft. All the goodness was packed into one pastry, and it paired perfectly with my flat white.

It’s easy to see why this bakery is so popular.

Galionsvej 41, 1437 København, Denmark

Popl Burger

Noma, one of the world’s top restaurants, began offering takeout burgers during the pandemic closure. As the burgers gained popularity, the Noma chefs decided to open a permanent burger shop, and thus, Popl was born.

Popl is situated in the trendy Christianshavn neighborhood, with a dedicated takeout spot right next to the restaurant.

During my visit, I discovered from a waiter that some side dishes served at Popl mirror those at Noma, with the same dedication to quality. However, the service left much to be desired, as I had to track down a waiter to place my order and request the bill. Despite the delays, when I did manage to speak to my waiter, he was friendly, eloquent, and patient, making the experience more pleasant.

I ordered the Danish tomatoes as a side dish, fries with a side of black truffle mayo, and a regular cheeseburger for my meal. The Danish tomatoes were served with dashi reduction, berries, pumpkin bushi, and seasonal herbs. While the dish was refreshing, it leaned a bit too salty for my taste. Coated with Popl’s signature spice mix, the fries were a highlight. Even without the black truffle mayo, they were flavorful and satisfying, thanks to the spice blend that enhanced their taste.

I originally wanted to try the dry-aged burger, but since it couldn’t be cooked well done, I opted for the regular cheeseburger instead. The bun was incredibly soft, the ingredients were high-quality, and the patty was cooked perfectly—well done and still juicy. Unfortunately, the patty was overly salty, which was disappointing.

At 150 Danish kroner (about 22 USD) for just the burger, it was the most expensive one I’ve ever had. The regular cheeseburger was quite simple, consisting of just beef, red onions, and cheddar. I would have expected more ingredients or at least a few sides for the price to make it feel more worthwhile.

Popl Burger

Strandgade 108, 1401 København, Denmark

Authentic Cantonese food in the heart of Copenhagen

Hidden Dim Sum is a family-owned Cantonese restaurant run by two siblings. It’s situated in the heart of Copenhagen, right next to the courthouse.

Lunch is served in the dining bar beneath the main restaurant on weekdays, which opens after 5 p.m. The dining bar exudes a distinct Hong Kong ambiance, complete with red lighting, neon signs, and wooden furniture that create an authentic feel.

The simple menu features signature Cantonese classics such as BBQ pork buns, wonton noodle soup, and Cantonese egg tarts.

I opted for the cucumber salad and the sweet and sour pork (Gu Lo Yok).

While refreshing, the cucumber salad could have used a bit more depth in flavor—I mostly tasted soy sauce.

Sweet and sour pork has always been one of my favorite Cantonese dishes from childhood, and I consider myself somewhat of a purist when it comes to its flavor. It had been years since I’d experienced that nostalgic taste, but those memories came flooding back with my first bite. The dish was served with a side of perfectly cooked long-grain rice.

Overall, I was very satisfied with my meal and would definitely recommend it.

Hidden Dim Sum (Main restaurant)

Website: https://www.dimsum.dk/
Telephone: +45 33128828
Opening hours:

Monday – Friday
17:00 p.m. – 22:00 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday

12:00 p.m. – 22:00 p.m.

Address: Nytorv 19, 1450 København, Denmark