Cafeography
Copenhagen · Nyhavn & Frederiksstaden

Cafés in Nyhavn & Frederiksstaden

Nyhavn's canal, the rococo streets around Amalienborg and the edge of the King's Garden.

Photo: Duc Tinh Ngo, Pexels License

Nyhavn is a canal about 450 m long, dug by Danish soldiers and Swedish prisoners of war for Christian V from 1670 to bring ships up to Kongens Nytorv; its oldest house, No. 9, dates from 1681.1 It became a heritage harbor for old ships in 1977, and the quay was closed to cars in 1980.1

Hans Christian Andersen lived at No. 67 from 1845 to 1864 and at No. 18 from 1871 to 1875.1 VisitCopenhagen adds No. 20 as a third address, and says he wrote The Tinderbox and The Princess and the Pea on the canal.2 In summer the quay fills with pavement cafés, often with live jazz.2

North of the canal lies Frederiksstaden, built under Frederik V to mark 300 years of the House of Oldenburg on the Danish throne, with Nicolai Eigtved as its main architect; it counts among the most important rococo ensembles in Europe.3 Most cafés here sit on its side streets, Store Kongensgade, Bredgade and Esplanaden, rather than on the canal.

Local tip: For a quieter coffee than on the Nyhavn quay, head inland to Store Kongensgade, where Cafe Blå Time serves daily from 08:00 to 23:00.

At a glance

46Cafés listed
22With opening hours
07:00Earliest opening
00:00Latest closing
  • Opens earliest: Den Lille Cafe, from 07:00 (Mon–Fri 07:00–17:00 · Sat–Sun 10:00–16:00).
  • Closes latest: Mo'Joe, until 00:00 (Mon–Thu 07:30–23:00 · Fri 07:30–00:00 · Sat 09:00–00:00 · Sun 09:00–23:00).
  • Most common features: outdoor seating (30%), indoor seating (17%), card payment (17%).

Nothing matches those filters here. See all cafés in Copenhagen.

Coffee chains in Nyhavn & Frederiksstaden

Getting to Nyhavn and Frederiksstaden

Kongens Nytorv and Marmorkirken are stops on the M3 City Circle Line, and Østerport is the stop after Marmorkirken.4 Harbour buses 991 and 992 stop at Nyhavn, a few stops from the Opera House and Refshaleøen.5

The Inderhavnsbroen, a 180 m bridge for walkers and cyclists, has crossed from Nyhavn to Christianshavn since 2016.1

Amalienborg, the Marble Church and Store Kongensgade

Frederik's Church, known as the Marble Church, stands due west of Amalienborg. Frederik V laid its foundation stone on 31 October 1749; work stopped in 1770, and it stood unfinished for nearly 150 years before opening on 19 August 1894 under a 31 m dome.6

Store Kongensgade has the most cafés in the district: Cabin at No. 32 opens at 07:30 Monday to Saturday, Cafe Blå Time at No. 36 serves daily until 23:00, and Chillz Ice & Coffee at No. 89 until 21:00. Atelier September, at Kronprinsessegade 62, opens at 07:30 on weekdays.

Bredgade and Esplanaden

Designmuseum Danmark occupies the former Frederiks Hospital at Bredgade 68, built 1752–57 and converted for the museum in 1926.7 Format, at Bredgade 68B, opens Thursday to Sunday 10:00–16:00. Mormors is at No. 45B, and Café Oscar, at No. 58, serves daily until 23:00.

At the north end, Esplanaden has BUKA's bakery at No. 14, open daily from 07:00, and Cafe Frihedsmuseet, at the Museum of Danish Resistance at No. 13, open daily 10:00–17:00. Kafferiet Esplanaden opens at 07:30 on weekdays, and Den Lille Cafe, on Kastelsvej, at 07:00. Holberg No 19, on Holbergsgade, serves until 22:00 on weekdays.

Along the King's Garden

Part of the area borders Kongens Have, the King's Garden: the oldest and most visited park in central Copenhagen, on land Christian IV bought in 1606 for a pleasure garden, and 12 hectares in size.8 Sølvgade and Kronprinsessegade form part of its boundary.8

Herkules Pavillonen, at Georg Brandes Plads 3, opens daily from 09:00. On Sølvgade, Blue Bike Café is at No. 36 and Café Leo, at No. 2, serves until 22:00; Den Frie Café Pegasus, at Øster Voldgade 31, stays open until 21:00 on Thursdays.

Sources

  1. Nyhavn, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  2. Nyhavn, VisitCopenhagen, accessed October 2026
  3. Frederiksstaden, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  4. City Circle Line, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  5. Copenhagen Harbour Buses, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  6. Frederik's Church, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  7. Designmuseum Danmark, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  8. Rosenborg Castle Gardens, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
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In Nyhavn & Frederiksstaden, also browse: Bakery cafés Outdoor seating Open late Wi-Fi

FAQ

Nyhavn & Frederiksstaden cafés: questions

Where did Hans Christian Andersen live on Nyhavn in Copenhagen?

Hans Christian Andersen lived at Nyhavn 67 from 1845 to 1864 and at Nyhavn 18 from 1871 to 1875, and VisitCopenhagen also links him to No. 20. The canal, about 450 m long, was dug from 1670, and its oldest house, No. 9, dates from 1681. In summer the quay fills with pavement cafés, often with live jazz.

Where are the cafés in Copenhagen's Frederiksstaden, near Amalienborg?

Most Frederiksstaden cafés are on its side streets. Store Kongensgade has Cabin, open from 07:30 Monday to Saturday, and Cafe Blå Time, open daily until 23:00. Bredgade has Mormors and Café Oscar, and Esplanaden has BUKA's bakery, open from 07:00, and the café at the Museum of Danish Resistance.

How do you get to Nyhavn in Copenhagen by metro or harbour bus?

Kongens Nytorv, at the inland end of Nyhavn, is a stop on the M3 City Circle Line, and Marmorkirken is the next stop. Harbour buses 991 and 992 stop at Nyhavn on their way to the Opera House and Refshaleøen, and the Inderhavnsbroen footbridge crosses to Christianshavn.

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