1. Le Petit Rouge – Downtown
Le Petit Rouge brings the Parisian bouillon tradition to a compact spot just off Strøget. Around the small café tables, daily specials such as rotisserie chicken, onion soup, and hand-cut steak tartare are served, accompanied by homemade bread and unfiltered draft beer. The atmosphere is lively from lunch through late evening, and the kitchen offers a simple menu that makes the check easy to understand. When you need a quick break from shopping, the Gammel Strand and Kongens Nytorv metro stations are just a five-minute walk away.
Address: Kristen Bernikows Gade 9, 1112 Copenhagen K
Hours: Daily 12-24
2. Le Grand Rouge – Christianshavn
In a renovated warehouse overlooking the canal, you’ll find Le Grand Rouge, the big brother to Petit. Here, the ceilings are high, the floors are made of rough-hewn planks, and the menu is concise: steak frites, mussels, lemon mousse, and a few daily specials featuring seasonal vegetables. A well-curated by-the-glass wine list focuses on classic French varietals, while the bar menu offers aperitifs such as pastis and kir. It’s a two-minute walk from the Christianshavn Metro station, and after dinner, you can continue your stroll along the moat or cross the Inderhavnsbroen bridge toward Nyhavn.
Address: Strandgade 85A, 1401 Copenhagen K
3. Café Dyrehaven – Vesterbro
Café Dyrehaven is a true Vesterbro classic and a favorite hangout among locals. The old bodega has been transformed into a charming and unpretentious café offering all-day brunch, hearty burgers, and a daily special at prices most people can afford.
The atmosphere is relaxed with plenty of retro charm—think mahogany paneling, vintage posters, and carefully curated music. Perfect for both a quick bite and a longer evening with friends. When the weather permits, the outdoor seating on Sønder Boulevard is ideal for people-watching and soaking up the sun. A great option before or after a visit to Folkehuset Absalon right across the street—which, by the way, is also on this list!
Address: Sønder Boulevard 72, 1720 Vesterbro
4. Ma Cuisine – Nørrebro
Behind the windows of the former antique shop, Ma Cuisine offers a casual bistro atmosphere with a black chalkboard, polished marble tables, and an open kitchen. The menu changes with the seasons: during the winter months, you’ll find boeuf bourguignon and onion tart, while summer might feature ratatouille, pea vichyssoise, and strawberry tart. The wine list is short but curated from small French producers, and the chef is happy to offer tastings throughout the meal. For those looking for an affordable restaurant without compromising on quality, Ma Cuisine is a solid choice—and its location in the heart of charming Ravnsborggade makes it easy to continue the evening at the area’s bars or along the nearby lake promenades. Ma Cuisine | Ma Cuisine
Address: Ravnsborggade 19, 2200 Copenhagen N
5. Absalon Community Center – Vesterbro
Absalon is a converted church that has served as the neighborhood’s living room since 2015. From morning until late evening, the space hosts a variety of activities, including yoga, bingo, flea markets, and board games, but at 6 p.m., everyone gathers for a communal meal at long tables.
Staff and guests help each other pass around dishes, clear the tables, and say “Enjoy your meal”—a simple way to meet both locals and fellow travelers. The menu consists of a main course with sides and vegetables, often inspired by cuisines from around the world, at a price that’s affordable for everyone. After dinner, you can enjoy coffee or a beer at the bar while the kids continue playing in the area adjacent to the dining room.
Address: Sønder Boulevard 73, 1720 Copenhagen V
6. Pho Hanoi – Vesterbro
Pho Hanoi is centrally located near Vesterport, where they serve delicious and affordable Vietnamese food to trendy Copenhageners in Vesterbro. It’s usually busy because most main courses cost less than 150 kr—and they taste great.
The kitchen simmers its clear beef broth for twelve hours and serves it with steaming rice noodles, fresh basil, and crisp bean sprouts. You’ll also find banh mi, bun cha, and Vietnamese iced coffee—all prepared without any fuss, but with a focus on pure flavors. The dining room is simple, with rice-paper lamps, and the clientele consists of both commuters and concertgoers from nearby Vega, looking for a quick, flavorful meal before showtime. phohanoi
Address: Vester Farimagsgade 2, 1606 Copenhagen V
7. Restaurant Bouillon – Frederiksberg
Restaurant Bouillon is located diagonally across from Frederiksberg Centret and brings the bouillon tradition to a wider audience with several hundred seats and high ceilings. The interior combines checkered tiles, wicker chairs, and long mirrors, while the kitchen operates nonstop from lunch through late evening, serving dishes such as confit de canard, grilled squid, and crème brûlée. Here, you can satisfy a quick lunch craving or settle in for an evening with friends, and many guests choose the restaurant as a warm-up before shows at the nearby Aveny-T or a trip to the movies in the Falkoner building. With a large dining room, no reservation requirement, and a wine list ranging from the house carafe to small-batch natural wines, it’s a practical way to wrap up the list—and yet another proof that an affordable restaurant can indeed deliver French comfort without a high price tag.
Address: Solbjergvej 3, 2000 Frederiksberg
8. Fabro – Downtown
Fabro is the city’s casual pasta bar: four or five fresh pasta dishes, a couple of antipasti, and one dessert—all made in the open kitchen and served on colorful, handmade plates. There are no table reservations, so you sign up for the waitlist and enjoy a glass of natural wine while you wait. Handmade carbonara, pomodoro, or vodka sauce are reminiscent of Roman trattorias, but the prices stay at the lower end of the city’s scale. An obvious new stop on the hunt for an affordable restaurant with Italian charm.
NOTE: No table reservations—walk-ins only
Address: Borgergade 134, 1300 Copenhagen K
Hours:
Tuesday–Thursday: 3:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.
Friday–Saturday 12:00–23:00 (kitchen closes at 21)
Sunday–Monday: Closed
9. Pincho Nation
Pincho Nation calls itself the world’s first app-controlled dining spot: you book, order, and pay from your phone, pick up colorful tapas-style dishes at the kitchen counter, and settle back into movie theater seats salvaged from Swedish flea markets. The menu ranges from mini burgers and chicken skewers to chocolate fondant and sugar-free mocktails—all designed to be freely combined so that the group can share everything on the table. As an affordable restaurant, the place appeals especially to groups who want to sample a wide variety of dishes without losing track of their budget, and the late opening hours make it a natural choice before or after a trip to the Grand Biografen on nearby Mikkel Bryggers Gade.
Address: Fiolstræde 44 / Rosengården 18, 1171 Copenhagen K
Plan a budget-friendly weekend in Copenhagen, with a convenient base in the city
Copenhagen is full of great places where you can eat really well without spending too much. Plan a little culinary tour over a couple of days, and mix it up with everything from bistro classics to street food and local favorites. Go Hotels makes it easy to find affordable and convenient accommodations in Copenhagen, so you can visit more of these places and still have money left over for dessert.