Snacks

Very close to the busiest streets of Copenhagen, though still hidden on a small side street, a lucky traveller might notice this little piece of Spain -El Tapeo.

I have to say I absolutely adore this Spanish dreamland, everything about it! The “experience” starts already outside the building -the restaurant is located in a skinny, white, very Spanish -looking house squeezed between others.  The decorative shutters give already away a piece of the magic inside.

The restaurant is basically in two floors, and for bigger parties there are also two more floors to be booked. The feeling in this place is amazing-its like taking a quick holiday in Spain: rustic wooden benches and tables, candle light, authentic pictures, old advertisements and newspaper on the walls, and the look is completed with -yes-plates filled with gorgeous tapas.

With a very versatile menu, I feel a bit lame to talk only of their tapas,but it simply is so fantastic so why not. I think the beauty of tapas hides in the concept that even though you still have to choose on what to eat, you are able to choose more than one dish to enjoy- and the more people,the more dishes My favorite would most likely be the Dates wrapped in ham and roasted in oven- an absolute delicacy! And to make this dining really feel like a trip to south, I suggest you order some of their excellent Sangria.

I have come to notice that with a little effort it is possible to travel around the world just staying in Copenhagen- food wise that is. LêLê nhàhàng -or just LêLê among me and my friends -is a great addition to the large choice of restaurants offering food from foreign cultures.

During the years in Copenhagen LêLê has grown to be the biggest -and the most popular – Vietnamese kitchen. They started with just one “streetkitchen” offering take-out -food, and today they have a restaurant and a takeaway on Vesterbrogade, street kitchen on H.C. Andersens Boulevard next to the famous Rådhuspladsen and another takeaway on Østerbrogade.

Why do I like LêLê? Simple answer: Vietnamese Spring rolls. Especially the dish from takeaway where the rolls are served with rice noodles, vegetables and fish sauce -simple, tasty and healthy! Also the brunch where you have 5choices gets points from me – as one of the choices includes only sweet treats. Having a serious bacon-eggs -brunch loving friend with you? No problem, LêLê offers something for them too.

This is especially for you who has never tasted Vietnamese food- go taste and fall in love!

One cold autumn- evening I was heading out in Nørrebro with two friends of mine, craving a proper, tasty dinner. As we walked to the restaurant choice of the night, we saw that the place was completely packed. Hungry and cold, we took a side street and wound up in front of a tiny basement-restaurant. The sign said Vespro -Italian wine bar and cafe. Like fireflies to light, the colors showing from the windows lured us in.

If I was first sad for having to go find a new restaurant for the evening, all that was forgotten when we stepped in Vespro. Vespro is a little Tuscan wine bar/restaurant by Nørrebroparken, serving Italian cooking and wines. And not just any wines: the family running the place, the Burattelli’s, choose all the wines on their lists very carefully, bringing the tastiest and most characteristic Italian treats to Copenhageners’ reach. They appreciate wines produced ecologically and bio-dynamically by small producers, who make their products to be as traditional and authentic.

The delicious food is simple Italian tastes, cheese, sausages, bruschettas and the meals are often “todays dish” -offers. For dessert I suggest you taste the perfect way to end dinner: Affogato al caffé -vanilla ice cream floating in espresso. All of this, served in warm colors of Tuscany -who could resist!

Nowadays there usually is a chain-coffee shop in every possible corner of Copenhagen. They make ok coffee, and there’s basically nothing wrong with them, but I just tend to think they lack purpose. Café Retro is the exact opposite to those, and there’s the charm to it.

Café Retro (in Knabrostræde in Inner city and Jægersborggade, Nørrebro) is two non-profit cafe’s serving great coffee, beer and beverages, and they even have something little to eat. All the profit goes to India and Africa, where Retro has specific targets they are supporting (read more on their webpage).

The atmosphere in both of the cafes is really relaxed; lean chairs, hammock chairs, old-style wooden furniture and cushions (you get a feeling of a hippie-grandma’s living room), in Nørrebro part of the walls are covered with old Donald Duck-comics and one has a photo exhibition on it.

The city-Retro also has live music Fri – Sun at 21.00. One more great thing about Retro: the prices. Not even the backpacking students can say its too expensive! Seriously the best Chai Latte in the city, and for 30kr!

In spite of the rather wild interior (which puts itself somewhere between beautiful, cozy and über kitsch), this cafe is easily overlooked. I only came across it by chance, because I can’t resist open gates to backyards – I have to peek – and in this case I’m overly happy I did, because in this particular courtyard, in the rear building, lies Øko Café 32.

This isn’t an ordinary restaurant. The Café is connected to The Organic Production School and is run on a daily basis by students from the school, aged between 16 and 24, who want to learn more about operating, servicing and cooking based on an organic perspective (Øko = organic).

The menu is small and changes every day: dish of the day and soup of the day, and the dish of the day always comes in a vegetarian version too. In addition to this you can buy breakfast, sandwiches, cake, coffee, tea and non-alcoholic beverages.

The food isn’t fancy, but it tastes really good, it’s healthy, organic and cheap.

The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and it feels a little like eating at home, except that you don’t have to cook or do the dishes. Every Thursday Øko Café 32 and Copenhagen Food Community arranges soup kitchen from 17:30 – 19:00 and everybody is welcome.

Opening times vary, so it is recommended to check their website.