If the story of Sarma Melngailis from Netflix's Bad Vegan has you Googling plant-based restaurants near you - you're in luck. From beetroot with stracciatella to celeriac tagliatelle, these restaurants prove that vegetables are far more than a tasty garnish
While Copenhagen has become one of the most renowned culinary destinations in the world, finding a menu that puts vegetables as a headliner can be somewhat challenging. The city is thankfully bursting with an ever-growing number of fresh concepts that explore a new take on vegetarian and vegan cuisine. This is how to navigate Copenhagen one plant-based eating out highlight at a time...
Baka d’Busk
Photo: Baka d’Busk
Located in Rantzausgade just between Nørrebro and Frederiksberg, Baka d‘Busk is surely one of a kind. Entering the plant-based neighbourhood bistro means entering a distinct universe – with Mediterranean vintage interior, big colourful glass mosaics, art works from contemporary Danish artists as well as vintage plates and cutlery on white table cloth.
All dishes on the menu are vegetarian and a lot of them are vegan, lactose- and gluten-free, too. Leftovers from the week are served on Sunday to avoid food waste. After sharing one of their Tomatoes a la Greco and a natural wine with your friends, you will definitely come back for some more full-flavoured bites.
Baka d’busk, Rantzausgade 44, 2200 København
Ark
The restaurant’s signature ingredient, the lion’s mane mushroom. Photo: Restaurant Ark.
Many restaurants in the city play in their own league and last year Ark was awarded with the Michelin Green Star for notable sustainable practices. The restaurant brings the “gourmet” to the “vegan” and offers a fine-dining experience based on seasonal and local ingredients.
Right next to Torvehallerne, Ark serves small dishes of heaven that are imbued with a full volume of taste – and understatement. Make sure to taste the restaurant’s signature ingredient, the lion’s mane mushroom, that is sustainably grown in Copenhagen’s Nordvest district, massaged with herbs and oiled up just like meat. Have a drink from the Nordic-inspired cocktail bar, a glass of wine or a beer, and get ready for a completely different realm of the city’s fine-dining universe.
Ark, Nørre Farimagsgade 63, 1364 København
Bistro Lupa
Photo: Bistro Lupa
Located on Melchior’s Plads in Østerbro, Bistro Lupa is the most recent addition to the Ark family. As such, it serves entirely vegan bits and bobs à la bistro-style and operates just as sustainably as its bigger sister. From the milk bread sandwich, celeriac tagliatelle and sweet potato tart to the coconut mascarpone and iced coffee, Bistro Lupa is a definite go-to for any of your cravings, showcasing seasonal and local ingredients in creative and easy-going dishes.
Marstalsgade 8, 2100 København
Lille Bakery
Photo: Lille Bakery
This marvellous bakery, Lille Bakery, on the city‘s favourite get-away peninsula Refshaleøen is an island of its own. On an average morning in the weekend, it will be bustling with people trying to get their hands on one of the fluffy sourdough breads or poppy seed buns. What a lot of baked goods connoisseurs don‘t know: every Friday and Saturday evening between 6 and 11 pm, the space turns into an exquisite eatery.
Entitled Lille Bar, the team serves alternating tasteful dishes, evolving around seasonal organic ingredients sourced from local growers and farmers. While the menu isn’t strictly vegetarian, friends of all things plant-based won’t go home hungry. Heaven mightn't be a place on earth but with the cozy candle light atmosphere, an evening at Lille Bar could be close.
Lille Bakery / Lille Bar, Refshalevej 213A, 1432 København
Gemyse
Photo: Gemyse
Technically speaking, you haven’t really been to Copenhagen without visiting the Tivoli gardens. And guess what, it is not only worthwhile for a fun ride on the Ballon Swing – it is also home to Gemyse, a first-class restaurant experience that puts green and organic ingredients first.
Whether you swing by at lunch time for salt-baked celery with truffle, or in the evening for their eight-course menu, all ingredients are seasonal and organically sourced from the Aarstiderne tasting field in Jutland. Gemyse will take you on a vegetable-driven joy ride with plenty of flavour in a beautiful plant-filled (and very Instagrammable) summer house surrounding.
Gemyse, Vesterbrogade 3, 1620 København
The Caribbean Housewife
Photo: Mathias Milton
Last but truly not least, this small gem will make your heart melt away with sunny spirits. Run by Dutch-Curaçaoan Jamain Brigitha, The Caribbean Housewife pairs natural wines with modern Caribbean and Latin American cuisine. The entirely female production is run out of a new restaurant space located in the heart of the city’s former meatpacking district in Vesterbro.
Inspired by traditional recipes from tropical places in the West Indies and Latin American region, nearly everything on the menu is vegan and gluten-free. The first big feast after the winter break and in the new location, the Housewife Roast, will be a four-course dinner menu taking place on February 23. Reservations open on February 1, so make sure to book your table in advance. In case you are not quick enough, the Housewife Roast will take place on a monthly basis and you can also get your take-away from Wednesdays to Sundays between 4 and 9 pm.
The Caribbean Housewife, Slagtehusgade 11A, 1715 København