Norrlyst

Norrlyst is truly a golden gem in the heart of Copenhagen. From the moment I walked in, the service was warm, attentive, and genuinely outstanding. Every course, from the starters to the main dish, felt like a taste of heaven - beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The dessert was an unexpected and delightful surprise that perfectly completed the experience. If you’re looking for exceptional food, impeccable service, and an unforgettable atmosphere, I highly recommend exploring this beautiful place.

A Culinary Gem in the Heart of Copenhagen. If you find yourself wandering the charming streets of inner Copenhagen, Norrlyst at Kompagnistræde 8 is a destination that should be high on your list. We recently tried their Norrlyst Evening Menu, and it was a masterclass in Nordic flavors and high-quality ingredients. The Menu Highlights Beef Tartare: We kicked things off with what I can honestly say is one of the best tartares I’ve ever had. Served with brisling cream, malt crisp, and pickled pearl onions, the balance of textures and acidity was spot on. The Bread: Accompanying the tartare was fresh sourdough bread from the renowned Cadence Bakery, served with fermented butter. It was a solid, tasty start to the meal. Scallops: The second course featured scallops with Danish seaweed, chicken consommé, trout roe, and white currants. While the flavors were good and the ingredients fresh, it was the least memorable dish of the evening compared to the highs of the other courses. Fried Cod (The Standout): The main course was a revelation. Fried cod served with cabbage from Kiselgården, celery purée, and a rich beurre blanc. This was easily one of the best dishes I’ve had in a long time—everything worked in perfect harmony. Dessert: We finished with a unique and "fun" experience: Danish Ingrid Marie apples with almond cream and hay-infused ice cream. It was a creative and refreshing way to end the night. To drink, we tried one of their fresh juices with grapefruit, which paired beautifully with the appetizers. Atmosphere & Service The service at Norrlyst is exactly what you want: polite, professional, and welcoming. However, it is worth noting the physical space. The restaurant is very small with low ceilings, which can make the atmosphere feel a bit cramped. You sit quite close to other diners, and at times, the intimacy of the room can feel a little overwhelming. The Verdict Despite the tight quarters, the food at Norrlyst is undeniably worth the visit. The kitchen’s ability to elevate seasonal Danish ingredients into world-class dishes is impressive. Total Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) Amazing food and service, just be prepared for a very "cozy" (compact) seating arrangement!

#toast 548 — made a trip to Michelin bib gourmand smørrebrød @norrlyst while I was in Copenhagen and had a lovely window seat. been preferring sparkling water during my time there and let me just say their sparkling water was indeed very bubbly and crispy… amazing… one of the best sparkling waters I’ve had. i think when it comes to herring, I hear that people feel like it would taste “fishy” but i think because smorrebrod is served cold, the fishiness usually goes away + especially with the complementary yuzu flavor, that slight acid acts as a sort of sweetener and neutralizes the overall balance in my opinion. personally i find microgreens quite “annoying” to structure into a bite, but it is good presentation wise. follow @nomkakaii on instagram for toast travels!

Buzzy basement restaurant. We went for dinner and had the three course menu. The beef tartare starter and red deer main were superb as was the sea buckthorn parfait dessert. There were a couple of minor missteps with the service but our waitress was so friendly we forgave her. There was a good mix of locals & tourists.

I had dinner at Norrlyst with my colleagues, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. We started by going up the tower, which is included when you book a table. The view over Copenhagen was stunning and a great way to begin the evening. The restaurant itself is beautiful – high ceilings, marble statues, big windows, and grand staircases. It has a classic, elegant atmosphere. We had the full evening menu, and I chose the beef for the main course. It was perfectly cooked, very flavourful, and served with a generous amount of sauce in a small pot on the side, which I really appreciated. The potatoes that came with it were also excellent. Overall, it was a lovely dining experience, made even better by the impressive surroundings.

I had the good fortune to dine at Gemini and Norrlyst two days apart. The meals were refined, the food well cooked, the flavours delicate, and the service attentive without being intrusive. Everything would have been perfect... if I hadn't been surprised to discover that the two menus offered almost identical dishes, slightly reworked to avoid being carbon copies. The starter was tartare. The main course was cod served with a sauce in a copper sauce boat. To finish, there was a sorbet with dessert. Even the presentation was identical. Despite the undeniable quality of the dishes, what a disappointment to find the same plate two nights in a row! Where was the creativity, the chef's personal touch, the originality that makes a restaurant magical? With standardisation, even when it's excellent, you end up eating in a chain — a high-quality chain, certainly, but a chain nonetheless. And all the pleasure of culinary discovery disappears.

(Very) Small restaurant in the old town, feels a bit old, the food is very good but service was meh.

Highly recommend Norrlyst if you are visiting Copenhagen! Every dish I tried had a nice balance and flavor. The acidity in the dishes was perfectly executed, adding brightness without overpowering. The fish and scallop were cooked to perfection. The seasoning throughout the meal was spot on as well Beyond the food, the atmosphere was cozy and inviting, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a thoughtfully prepared meal. The attention to detail in the dishes impressive.

Came here with our son who had a wonderful experience a couple of years ago. Place is a cozy spot tucked under. They serve a 4 course menu. Dessert can be added and I highly recommend! They have a vegetarian option called the Green Menu. We had the non-vegetarian menu but did add the cauliflower option from the green menu as an extra. It was very good. We ordered the fried hake over the quail egg. To start we ordered the Crustade with seared scallop, cucumber, kefir cream and trout roe. Very, very good! All were very good dishes. We especially enjoyed the beef tartare. The bread and whipped butter are very good! Presentation was excellent. We ordered 2 desserts. The garden ice cream and sorbet. Both absolutely wonderful! It is a tight space so you are close to other guests. Service very good though it did take a long time for the check and it was a very hot evening so sitting down in the restaurant with no breeze made it uncomfortable. I understand a quick check is not normal but this was unusual and it was hot. All in all this is a cozy, very good meal and I do recommend.

Came by for lunch the other day and it was a mediocre experience. Norrlyst is featured in the Michelin guide and is located below the street level with windows facing the street. Dining is available outdoors, on high tables facing the entrance, or inside the dining room. Interestingly, the waiter suggested ordering 2 sandwiches for lunch which I thought was special. Started off with the seared scallop snack that the waiter suggested and the presentation was fantastic although it was incredibly salty... Moved on to the sardines and it was presented well. I didn't quite understand eating sardines from a can though.. I also wasn't a fan of the rye bread. The sardines open-faced sandwich was also presented well. I didn't quite understand the mix of flavors and found it quite acidic. 309 kr. for lunch including a 3.1% international credit card surcharge.

Definitely on the pricier side, but a great place for upscale Danish food in the heart of Copenhagen. The service was excellent, and the presentation of all the food was top notch. I went for lunch and got the potato smorrebrod and it was excellent!

Sunday dinner at 7 pm - 4 courses dinner with wine pairing Service: attentive Ambiance: casual, the restaurant is located at the basement level, with no air-con, no fan, buds with flies around Pri e: it's ok Food quality: above my expectations, like the fish dish very much, great selection for the wine pairing Remarks: they charged water for 25 Kronos per person !!!

Copenhagen has so many delicious restaurants and this is among our favorites. It is in a beautiful location and has a cool charming basement vibe with bottles of aquavit marinating with different seasonal blends scattered all over the restaurant. We tried the special 3 course meal, which included picking two smorrebrod (open-faced sandwiches), which are paired with their home-brewed aquavit and dessert. I tried the spiced herring which had the best blend of flavors and a small amount of miso, which gave it the umami (essence of deliciousness) flavor. Now I am not a big fan of herring, but was pleasantly surprised. The entire meal was 10/10. The only reason why it isn't a full five stars is that we waited for a long time and they forgot the dessert. After we said something, we didn't have enough time to stick around and wait for them to make it. Pro-tip: In Denmark, you need to make reservations for the majority of restaurants for lunches and dinners. So book at least the day in advance to get seated here.

We opted out for four courses food experience with juice pairing - and weren't disappointed! The restaurant offered traditional Danish dishes with a twist. What a twist! Have never thought that potato salad can be so exciting! Each dish boasted complex combination of flavours, with ingredients complementing each other and making the food sensations more intense. The waiter describes each dish when it's being served, and also pours the sauce. The place itself is intimate and cosy, and make sure you book in advance on Friday/Saturday evenings as it's very popular!

Amazing 4 course meal. Loved that our server shared details of each course when they served it. Very cute and cozy downstairs room. Courses- Beef tartare- highlight!! Fried scallop with peas and andouille sausage Baked cod with asparagus and truffle sauce Sorbe

Fresh, inventive, seasonal, beautiful presentation of 4 courses. Lovely wait staff. Charming, rustic basement. Only thing I didn't care for was the "salad greens" in the rhubarb sorbet--that was trying a bit too hard.

Artisinal smørrebrød and homemade aquavit with great people watching. Small menu but the open faced sandwiches we tried were exceptional and innovative. Will definitely come back!

Amazing food and atmosphere! This little cozy gem in the center of Copenhagen is something all tourist should visit! Great traditional danish food and really good prices and with super friendly service!!

or 900 kr we each had a "main course" the size of my pinky finger, a glass of warm wine and a half scoop of ice cream. thats it! i was shocked. you will need to directly go to another place for sustenance. i had to ask for bread to even begin to have something in my stomach. the location only has tourist appeal as well in its proximity in the center. this place seems to want to profit heavily from the copenhagen food scene with tourists. as a local, i have eaten at many fine new nordic restaurants in the 12 years I've lived here, that can be expensive but at least give you some value for money. this place is absolutely and unequivocally the worst. their offering is quite simply insulting.