This place is an almost legendary hangout in Copenhagen. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and even though the majority of the guests are local it is also strangely international, probably due to the fact that many of the staff doesn’t necessarily speak Danish.

The interior is slightly curious. Lamp shades are doll heads and the place is full of stuffed animals that are not looking like you would expect them to. Actually most of them are dressed. And seem to have at bit of a rebel attitude. All the animal dolls are made ​​by the artist Philip V. Jensen

The art exhibited on the walls is for sale and is made by changing artists and replaced a few times a year.

Bankeråt has a wide selection of beer, but personally I can recommend their Irish coffee. My friends and I have carefully and several times sampled the beverage, and there can be no doubt that it is the best in town.

Bankeråt also boasts a varied menu with everything from brunch to sandwiches to lamb stew, and the kitchen is open till 21:30 every day of the week.

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Bankeråt | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks
Ahlefeldtsgade 27-29 | Inner City | +4533936988
Mon – Fri 09:30 – 00:00, Sat – Sun 10:30 – 00:00

When it comes to street parties, Copenhagen is definitely on the top of the list of European cities organizing them. Starting from the end of April the various festivals take over the city, whether it’s just a block or one street, or, like when it comes to Distortion -time, the whole city. The official motto of the event is “Celebrating Copenhagen Street life and Modern Party Culture”, and it truly describes the event as perfectly as its name.

Since 1998 has Distortion been making the city party like there’s no tomorrow. It all started with just a one day -event “celebrating all fun and new in Copenhagen night life” , and has ever since widened to cover the city for five days, one neighborhood at a time. The party starts on Wednesday the 30th of May 2012 and it all ends on Sunday the 3rd of June at Islands Brygge for a huge chill -out event.

In 2011 there were over 157 dance floors and approximately 130.000 people attending, with over 285.000 visits. This is THE party of the year you don’t want to miss out on! So what to expect? Loads of all sorts of music and DJ’s, crazy amounts of people, fantastic atmosphere and five days of partying. As the Distortion -people say: “Behind all the arts & culture & society crap: Distortion is just a party – we want you to forget who you are and where you are – and to feel touched by the magic finger of Freedom”.

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Distortion | Bars, Music, Festivals & events | Free
Studiestraede 13D | Inner City | +4530255010
May 30th – June 3rd 2012

I don’t think the glass front with the crack over the door has ever been cleaned. The glass is so dirty that you can only just make out the name written in large black wooden letters: Drone. Inside everything is black except for where the paint has been worn off, and the toilets in the basement are battered. At some point someone, if not yourself, will spill beer on your shoes and the floor will feel slightly sticky. Who cares?

I don’t come here because of the decor, but because the DJs play excellent music.

The downstairs bar is lit by candles and panels with colored lights in the walls, there’s a small dance floor, and smoking is allowed. Upstairs there are chairs and tables and no smoking.

Drone calls itself a rock bar, and they do play some rock but also a lot of indie and alternative music, and the crowd usually looks more indie than rock.  It’s a mix of DJs and bands, admission is free, and prices are acceptable : beer is about KR 25.00, cocktails KR 65.00 – KR 90.00.

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Drone Bar | Bars, Music | Cocktail from DKK 65
Nørrebrogade 184 | Nørrebro
Thu – Sat 22:00 – 05:00

One of Copenhagen’s best live venues, Loppen, is situated in Christiania. This is where I first saw Beck back in 1994.

And even though it a relatively small venue with a capacity of only 400, bands like Animal Collective, Smashing Pumpkins, The National and many others have played here, along with a long list of more or less unknown bands from all over Europe, UK and USA.

Loppen doesn’t have a narrow music profile, they throw concerts with everything:  surf, neo folk, death metal, punk, hip hop, dubstep, the list goes on. The atmosphere is intimate and relaxed, and you get really close to the music, very literally, because the stage is not much more than 25 centimetres above floor level.

Loppen’s motto is “Going out of business since 1973″, and interior-wise I don’t think much has changed since. Except for lights on stage and in the bar, the rest of the venue is lit by candles in empty vodka and beer bottles on little round wooden tables.

The name, Loppen, actually means flea. I don’t know why it’s called that.

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Loppen | Bars, Music | Admission fee from DKK 50
Sydområdet 4B, 1st floor | Christianshavn | +4532578422
21:00 – 02:00 daily

I know I write a lot about food, but simply can’t help myself but write about another great place for breakfast. Every place serving brunch in this city always offers pancakes -seriously, I haven’t yet found a single brunch without them -but when it comes to choosing the absolutely best pancakes in the city, café Kalaset is the true winner.

How they manage to make the pancakes high but not too fluffy, filling but still saving some space for a slice or two of their homemade bread amazes me. My favorite is the ones with thick chocolate sauce and banana slices on top, though the Blueberry -ones with maple syrup are a tough competitor. To accompany this food from heaven I like to order “Oslo mad” – a plate with white and rye bread with butter and cheese plus a cup of their good coffee. They also offer bigger meals, for example I’ve heard their burger rocks.

Kalaset is situated in the very middle of the city; around 5min walk from Nørreport -station. Though situated in a basement (as huge part of the Copenhagen -restaurants), they have a very cozy atmosphere: retro tables and chairs, beautiful old radios on the wall and a wooden bar desk in the middle of the place.

But if you want to eat here (especially on a weekends) and arrive after 11:00 you’re already late! The place is extremely popular amongst the locals of the area, and the sporty Copenhageners don’t seem to sleep in on weekends…

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Kalaset | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants | Pancakes DKK 54
Vendersgade 16 | Inner City | +4533330035
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 00:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 02:00, Sun 10:00 – 23:00

This place’s name says it all – it serves as a place to exhibit new contemporary art and houses a nice restaurant and probably some of the city’s best weekend parties.  So said, they seem to offer it all to the hip and urban Copenhageners.

Karriere is situated in the up-and-coming area of Kødbyen in Vesterbro, just a few minutes’ walk from the main railway station. The art is included to the décor -for example, the latest, different kind of lights created by six different artists are in use to create this funky atmosphere. Even the bar is a work of art, with all the mirrors and lights, and they promise that the mirrors in the bathrooms show more than just the viewer.

As a bar and a restaurant they, as many other Copenhagen’s restaurants, try to have their ingredients as ecological as possible. They also make a big part of their juices, marmalades and such themselves. And as a place to party: always a great idea! On Fridays and Saturdays they have a live DJ playing and the atmosphere is guaranteed to be up in the roof. Even though it seems to be a trend to go out in this city after 23:00 or even later, it’s a good idea to be here in time to secure minimum time standing in the line to get in.

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Karriere | Art & culture, Bars, Restaurants (European) | Cocktail DKK 95
flæsketorvet 57-67 | Vesterbro | +4533215509
Thu – Sat 18:00 – 22:00 | Bar Fri – Sat until 04:00

This is it , you have found it – one of the cool, urban and little underground-ish clubs to visit. First mission is to actually find the place from the furthermost corner of the Kødbyen -area. The entrance is in an inside yard, hardly noticeable from the street. The club itself is situated in a low-roofed large room with black walls and a rather rough look with just pillars cutting the view.

But the looks aren’t the moneymaker here, definitely no. The thing people come here for is the awesome music and superb artists. During its existence in Kødbyen, the KB18 has hosted numerous of amazing concerts and clubs. My favorite so far has absolutely been the Swedish hip hop-star Adam Tensta. It was as if this dark, large, deserted space had suddenly had a soul inserted in it and it transformed to be a box filled with heart -bouncing, dancing urges-liberating, soul -warming, amazing music. This is IT, the way a music club should be and feel!

On the nights there’s no live music, the club transforms to be an Electro Club with varying themes. In addition to the superb music they offer a small bar with the basic Danish bar -drinks; beer, shots, some drinks and cider.

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KB18 | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music | Beer DKK 40
Kødboderne 18 | Vesterbro | +4533313933
Thu – Sat 21:00 – 05:00

Why Francis? First of all – extremely good cocktails. The bartenders really know what they are doing. They also have a double-up on the cocktails, Wednesdays as long as they’re open and on weekends until 00.00. Try my favorite, the Raspberry mumble, including homemade Raspberry puree and a base of spirits. One of the best drinks I’ve ever had.

Second -the atmosphere. I always talk about the atmosphere but at least for me, it is a great factor when choosing a place to go. This is a place with usually a lot of people in their twenties, and as I like to call them, “the Copenhagen hipsters”. Anyhow, the people there are a lot of fun, music is a good mix of everything and there are nice places to sit down and enjoy your cocktail.

Third- Location, location, location. Only about seven minute walk from Nørreport station and being in the very center of the city, Francis is easy to reach and has a lot happening around it. In a short walking distance you can find plenty of other bars and restaurants so the place is one of the busiest in the weekend. Endless opportunities to continue the evening f.ex. in Cosy bar (check the article) nearby. Go have a look at this Saturday -night regular of mine.

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Francis Pony | Bars | Cocktail DKK 80.00
Klosterstræde 23 | Inner City | +4569696000
Wed – Thu 20:00 – open end, Fri 16:00 – open end, Sat 18:00 – open end

A true city classic – a guaranteed party until the morning! Cosy used to be a full-blooded gay bar, the most famous one in the city. It still is, but over the years the place has got also its heterosexual fans. I love the place since it always has a welcoming atmosphere and you’ll always feel included to the party. No prejudice, no 16-year-olds or super high tech interior. Cosy is as cozy as a bar can be.

Though the place is not very big, it manages to have plenty of places to sit down in the dimly lit corners and by the long bar. Cosy is always crowded in the weekends, especially after 01.00 when the party starts to be at its best. In other bars I’m not much of a dancer, but on Cosy’s tiny dance floor you just can’t help but to let the diva inside you to get loose. The dance floor is always totally too full, but the more the merrier!

Songs vary from today’s best hits to Eurovision song contest’s greatest oldies from back in the day of Abba. So put on your dancing shoes and head to Cosy -and party till the morning!

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Cosy bar | Bars | Beer DKK 50
Studiestræde 24 | Inner City | +4533127427
Sun – Thu 22:00 – 06:00, Fri – Sat 22:00 – 08:00

Let’s say you are in the center of the city and maybe don’t know what to do? A good choice is walking towards the back of the main train station and find kødbyen (meat town). There you have various options for food and fun. But one of the coolest places, that gathers both good food an atmosphere, is PatéPaté.

This place is cozy, elegant, with very helpful and nice staff, amazing wine, cava and beer menu (I tried a Californian beer that was just amazing). They have lots of tables but when I went it was pretty full, so make a reservation if you want to eat. You can also go just for drinks, but if they don’t have tables available or it’s dinner time, you might have to wait for a little while. But don’t worry, the serving bar is pretty big, so you can sit down and enjoy a glass of wine while you wait.

I didn’t try the food, I have to admit it, but I did look around and all seemed absolutely delicious, so did the options in their menu. It’s inspired by Spanish, French and Moroccan food, great combination of flavors! I love restaurants with open kitchens, and this one has a big one, so go and have a peak into the kitchen action!

Remember to ask for some advice on the wine, if you are unsure. They know all about it and all their tips were spot on!

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PatéPaté | Bars, Restaurants (Mediterranean) | Glass of cava DKK 50.00
Slagterboderne 1 | Vesterbro | +4539695557
Mon – Wed 08:00 – 00:00, Thu 08:00 – 01:00, Fri 08:00 – 03:00, Sat 10:00 – 03:00, Sun 10:00 – 00:00