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Nightlife & Drinks

Best Cocktail Bars in Copenhagen: Top 10, Ranked

By Felipe, Copenhagen local guide Updated 15 min read

Copenhagen has quietly become one of Europe's most exciting cocktail destinations, from speakeasies behind unmarked doors to a bar that's cracked the World's 50 Best list. I'm Felipe, a Copenhagen local guide, and after countless nights working my way through this scene, here's my honest, ranked list of the best cocktail bar in the city for every kind of evening, with real prices and the mistakes tourists make.

Illustrated night skyline of Copenhagen's harbour with three cocktails in the foreground and glowing city lights behind
Copenhagen's cocktail scene at night, warm light, a skyline of church spires, and a drink in hand.

1. Copenhagen's cocktail scene, in short

I've spent years hopping between Copenhagen's cocktail bars, and what strikes me most is how unpretentious the whole scene stays despite the skill level. Bartenders here aren't just pouring spirits, they're crafting experiences, and you'll find everything from precision-shaken classic martinis to wild Nordic ingredients you didn't know existed, often at the same bar.

This guide ranks the 10 bars actually worth your night, the ones I go to myself, not just the ones that photograph well. For a more traditional, less cocktail-forward night out, see our guide to Copenhagen's traditional Danish pubs instead.

The Ranking

2. The 10 best cocktail bars in Copenhagen, ranked

Ranked on craft, atmosphere and how consistently good the drinks actually are. Tap a name to open it directly in Google Maps.

1

Ruby

Denmark's best-known cocktail bar, hidden behind an unmarked door since 2007

If you only visit one cocktail bar in Copenhagen, make it Ruby. It's ranked on the World's 50 Best Bars extended list in recent years (#87 in 2023), and finding it feels like discovering a secret, just a door next to the Georgian Embassy on Nybrogade, no sign. Inside this 1740 townhouse, the front room has a modern Scandinavian feel with natural light early in the evening, while the back turns cozy with leather booths and low lighting later on.

  • Address: Nybrogade 10, Indre By
  • Hours: Mon-Sat 16:00-02:00, Sun 19:00-02:00
  • Price: 100-130 DKK per cocktail
  • Open Ruby in Google Maps

Tip: Go early (16:00-18:00) for a seat at the bar and natural light. No dress code, and virgin drinks are available for around 60 DKK.

2

Lidkoeb

Ruby's sibling bar in a former 1886 pharmacy, three floors and a genuine whisky lounge

Opened in 2012 by Ruby's owners, Lidkoeb took over a former pharmacy and turned it into a three-floor cocktail spot with more edge than its sister bar. The ground floor has a long oak bar and fireplace, there's a heated courtyard with picnic tables outside, and upstairs is a whisky lounge with 200+ bottles, open Friday and Saturday from 20:00.

  • Address: Vesterbrogade 72B, Vesterbro
  • Hours: Mon-Sat 16:00-02:00, Sun 20:00-02:00
  • Price: 90-110 DKK per cocktail
  • Open Lidkoeb in Google Maps

Tip: The courtyard is the place to be in summer, but it's covered and heated year-round, so don't skip it in winter either.

3

TATA Cocktail Bar

Inside boutique Hotel Sanders, named after the Royal Danish Theatre's velvet curtain

TATA has a vintage European theatre feel, elegant without any of the "look at me" energy some cocktail bars carry, and the bartenders are some of the most skilled and genuinely entertaining in the city. It's an easy pre- or post-theatre stop given its location right by the Royal Danish Theatre.

Tip: Book ahead for weekend evenings, the hotel's own guests fill it up fast. Their non-alcoholic options are genuinely creative, not an afterthought.

4

Duck and Cover

An understated Vesterbro basement, moody lighting and precision cocktails

You could easily walk past Duck and Cover, the entrance is deliberately unremarkable. Descend the stairs and you'll find butter-soft leather furniture, moody lighting, and the kind of attention to detail, perfect ice, surgically cut garnishes, that makes a basement bar feel genuinely special rather than gimmicky.

  • Address: Dannebrogsgade 6, Vesterbro
  • Hours: Mon 18:00-24:00, Tue-Thu 16:00-01:00, Fri-Sat 16:00-02:00, Sun 18:00-24:00
  • Price: Around 115 DKK per cocktail
  • Open Duck and Cover in Google Maps

Tip: Visit on a quieter weeknight for a near-private masterclass from the bartender, then combine it with nearby Lidkoeb for a Vesterbro double-header.

5

Curfew

A speakeasy on Vesterbrogade with serious attitude and one of the latest last calls in the city

Curfew mixes old-fashioned bartending technique with an ultra-modern menu, opened by Portuguese bartender Humberto Marques and voted Copenhagen's best cocktail bar in 2017. Its Eucalyptus Martini is the calling card, unexpected on paper, delicious in the glass. Look for an unmarked entrance with a hidden doorbell.

  • Location: Vesterbrogade, central Vesterbro (speakeasy, unmarked)
  • Hours: Tue-Thu 18:00-02:00, Fri 16:00-04:00, Sat 18:00-04:00, closed Sun-Mon
  • Price: From around 110 DKK per cocktail
  • Open Curfew in Google Maps

Tip: Friday and Saturday hours run until 04:00, the latest closing time on this whole list if you're after a proper late night.

6

Strøm Bar

Run by Swedish brothers with a London bartending pedigree, a Copenhagen institution

Strøm fuses cocktail-bar sophistication with easygoing pub warmth, run by Mikael and Andreas Nilsson, who cut their teeth at London's best bars before bringing that craft to Copenhagen. The atmosphere here genuinely makes you want to settle in for hours rather than one quick drink.

  • Address: Niels Hemmingsens Gade 32, Indre By
  • Hours: Mon-Thu 16:00-24:00, Fri-Sat 16:00-01:30
  • Price: 105-150 DKK per cocktail
  • Open Strøm Bar in Google Maps

Tip: Midweek visits give you the best shot at chatting with the owners themselves, and it's a natural stop for a canal-side evening walk given its central location.

7

1656 Cocktail Bar

A graffiti-covered exterior hiding a genuine speakeasy near the Meatpacking District

You could walk right past 1656 without noticing it, the exterior looks abandoned rather than like one of Copenhagen's best cocktail bars, which is exactly the point. Inside, a seasonal menu leans into Nordic twists on classics, the Nordic Daiquiri with rhubarb and licorice syrup is a genuine showcase of the style.

Tip: It's a five-minute walk from Duck and Cover, an easy add-on for a Vesterbro bar crawl.

8

Library Bar

A wood-panelled hotel bar that delivers exactly what the name promises

Inside the Copenhagen Plaza hotel, Library Bar has wood panels, shelves full of books and that distinctive library smell, a genuinely mellow spot for good conversation over better drinks. It occasionally hosts live music, worth checking their schedule before you go.

  • Address: Copenhagen Plaza, Bernstorffsgade 4, City Centre
  • Hours: Mon-Thu 16:00-24:00, Fri-Sat 16:00-01:30, closed Sunday
  • Price: From around 85 DKK per cocktail
  • Open Library Bar in Google Maps

Tip: This has the lowest starting prices on this whole list without sacrificing quality, a good pick if you want the experience on a tighter budget.

9

VELOUR Cocktailbar

Everything made from scratch, with a genuine focus on sustainable, high-quality ingredients

VELOUR isn't a sustainability gimmick, the drinks genuinely taste better for the care that goes into sourcing and preparing every ingredient in-house. It's a solid pick if you care about where what's in your glass actually comes from.

Tip: Central enough to combine easily with a walk through Indre By beforehand.

10

The Barking Dog

London pub vibes tucked into Nørrebro, with cocktails better than most actual London pubs

Tucked into a narrow street between Sankt Hans Torv and the Lakes, The Barking Dog feels like a cozy British pub transported to Nørrebro, except the cocktails are consistently better. More casual than the downtown bars on this list, and no pressure to dress up.

Tip: Pair it with a walk around the Lakes before or after, it's a two-minute stroll from the water.

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3. Quick tips for Copenhagen's cocktail scene

Budget planning

Expect 85-165 DKK per cocktail, roughly $12-24. Yes, it's expensive, but portion sizes are generous and quality is consistently high. Budget 300-500 DKK per person for an evening out.

Best times to visit

Early evening (16:00-18:00) is best for seats at the bar, natural light and time to actually chat with bartenders. Weeknights (Tue-Thu) are less crowded with more personal attention. Weekends get busier but the energy is better, and some bars stay open until 02:00-04:00.

Reservation tips

Book ahead for Ruby and TATA on weekends. Most others, Lidkoeb, Duck and Cover, The Barking Dog, are fine as walk-ins, especially on weeknights. Speakeasies like Curfew and 1656 are better to just show up at.

Dress code and payment

Copenhagen is refreshingly casual, smart casual works everywhere, and no one will judge jeans and a nice top. Denmark is almost entirely cashless, all bars accept cards, and cash is rarely necessary.

Getting around

Most of these bars sit within walking distance of each other or a short metro ride apart. A natural route: start at Ruby, walk to Strøm Bar, then metro or bike to Vesterbro for Lidkoeb, finishing at Duck and Cover. See our public transport guide for tickets and night hours.

FAQ

4. Copenhagen cocktail bars: frequently asked questions

The questions I get asked most often about the scene.

Ruby on Nybrogade is widely considered Denmark's best cocktail bar, a regular presence on the World's 50 Best Bars extended list, specialising in classic and inventive serves behind an unmarked door. Lidkoeb (its sister bar in Vesterbro) and TATA Cocktail Bar at Hotel Sanders are the next best starting points.

Cocktails typically cost 90-165 DKK (roughly 12-22 EUR) at quality bars. Ruby and TATA sit at the premium end, Library Bar and neighbourhood spots like The Barking Dog charge closer to 85-125 DKK. By Scandinavian standards these are reasonable, Oslo and Stockholm often charge 20-30% more.

Denmark's national spirit is aquavit (snaps), a caraway-flavoured spirit traditionally drunk neat with food. Many Copenhagen cocktail bars build aquavit-based drinks as a signature Danish twist, 1656's Nordic Daiquiri and Ruby's seasonal aquavit serves are good examples to try.

Nyhavn itself is mostly canal-side restaurants rather than dedicated cocktail bars. Ruby, Strøm Bar and TATA Cocktail Bar are all a 10-15 minute walk from Nyhavn in Indre By, and are a far better bet for a proper cocktail than anything directly on the canal.

No. Copenhagen's dress code is smart casual almost everywhere on this list, jeans and a nice top are entirely fine, even at Ruby or TATA. None of these bars enforce a formal dress code.

My Local Take

5. Final thoughts: which bar should you choose

If you only remember one thing from this guide, make it this.

First-timers: start with Ruby, it's the most iconic for good reason. Whisky lovers: Lidkoeb's upstairs bar on a Friday or Saturday night is non-negotiable. A romantic date: TATA or Library Bar offer the most intimate atmospheres. Bar hopping: hit the Vesterbro trio, Lidkoeb, Duck and Cover and 1656, all within walking distance. Late night: Curfew stays open until 04:00 on weekends. Best value: Library Bar has the lowest starting prices without compromising quality.

If I had to pick just three, it'd be Ruby for the legend status, Lidkoeb for the complete experience, and TATA for the atmosphere and skill. But honestly, there's no wrong choice here. Pick one, grab a seat at the bar, talk to the bartender, and let the evening run long. Skål.

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