Aarhus, Denmark, foodie guide: where to eat and drink
This year’s capital of culture, Denmark’s second city, is an ideal place to spend a winter weekend. Try the hot cinnamon rolls, cured salmon and cockle-warming beers
Looking for restaurants in Aarhus? Want to know where to eat in the Danish city? Local food writer Elly McCausland shares her insider tips for the best restaurants in Aarhus, along with where to find the best cinnamon buns, hip coffee shops and seafood bistros.
Gurdeep Loyal's best restaurants in Aarhus
Often overlooked for Copenhagen, Denmark’s second city is just as exciting from a culinary perspective, renowned for its eco-credentials and craft coffee. Langhoff & Juul is an organic restaurant rooted in sustainable principles with a menu that includes dishes like tartar of beef with pickled tomatoes, and calvados berries with chantilly cream and dark chocolate. The stylishly minimal Restaurant Hærværk has a daily seasonal menu connected to the land where its ingredients are grown – showcasing produce like mussels, celeriac and locally bred meat, hung behind glass doors for diners to see. And the hip Street Coffee Brammersgade is one of the best places for coffee: its dark-roasted espresso blend combines beans from Central America, East Africa and Indonesia, into a chocolaty floral coffee with notes of red fruits and cherries.
La Cabra – for coffee in Aarhus
At stylish café La Cabra, in the Latin Quarter, they roast their coffee in-house. Pair a cup with a freshly made cinnamon bun or some avocado toast. Or join one of the café’s home brewing classes.
Langenæs Bageriet – for Danish pastries in Aarhus
You can’t visit Denmark without indulging in a buttery baked good or two. Langenæs Bageriet is a great bakery and stocks everything from rye bread to cinnamon horns and chocolate Danish.
Globen Flakket – for brunch in Aarhus
Enjoy the cosseting Danish concept of hygge by piling your plate with waffles, granola, salads, fresh fruit, cakes, crusty bread and roast salmon at Globen Flakket, a cosy canal-side restaurant. The hot chocolate is good too.
Haute Friture – for Danish hotdogs in Aarhus
Haute Friture is a Latin Quarter institution, known for its gourmet hotdogs; the Hot Duck features duck confit in a spring roll with chilli, mushrooms and cranberries, topped with chilli and soya mayo and a wakame seaweed salad, all tucked in a bun.
Oli Nico – for seafood in Aarhus
An atmospheric cross between a British chippy and a French bistro, Oli Nico serves fabulously fresh fried fish (to take away or eat in) and great value three-course set dinners; think cured salmon, apple and fennel salad, beef bourguignon and blueberry and white chocolate cheesecake.
Nordisk Spisehus – for New Nordic cuisine in Aarhus
For exciting modern cooking with a delicate Scandinavian influence, book a table at Nordisk Spisehus. Every two months its set menus take on a new theme but typical dishes include ox with artichoke and sage or blackberries with marzipan and honey.
Spiselauget – for gastropub food in Aarhus
Set inside Godsbanen, a converted railway station that’s home to flea markets and pop-ups, Spiselauget is a relaxed, modern restaurant serving gastropub-inspired food: seasonal dinner options include trout with kohlrabi and smoked yogurt.
Aarhus Central Food Market – best food market in Aarhus
Near the station, Aarhus Central Food Market is the perfect lunch spot for indecisive foodies. Browse the stalls for classic smørrebrød (open sandwiches), organic juices, Asian street food and fresh seafood. Hip porridge stall Grød serves everything from chia seed porridge with peanut butter to dal and congee.
L'Estragon – for elegant dining in Aarhus
At organic restaurant L’Estragon expect artistic and seasonal plates, such as cod with pumpkin, fennel and blackberry or local mussels with potato, spinach and apple. Go the whole hog and order wine pairings to match your chosen menu.
Fairbar – for craft beers in Aarhus
A volunteer-run, non-profit café and bar that supports a range of charities Fairbar’s big attraction – aside from its regular live music nights – is its wide range of Danish and foreign craft beers. Look out for warming winter ales from local brewery Humleland.
WHERE TO STAY IN AARHUS, DENMARK
Double rooms at Hotel Oasia start at £107, b&b. For the best deals on rooms at Hotel Oasia, click here
HOW TO GET TO AARHUS, DENMARK
Return flights from Stansted to Aarhus start at £30 (ryanair.com).
More info: visitaarhus.co; danishfoodregion.eu
Written by Elly McCausland. Elly is a freelance food writer and cook who lives in Aarhus and has her own blog Nutmegs, seven.
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