Adam Raiffe
Google
Paludan Bog & Café is a little Copenhagen gem that effortlessly blends bookstore charm with café comfort—think worn wood, wall-to-wall shelves, the low hum of laptops, and the scent of coffee and paper in the air. Just steps off the pedestrian-only Strøget, it’s tucked into one of the city’s most walkable, lovable corners, and it’s the kind of place you wander into and wish you had back home.
Part library, part student haunt, part casual restaurant, the space buzzes with a kind of quiet creative energy. When we visited in the afternoon, nearly every table was taken by someone deep in a laptop or notebook—writers, students, solo travelers, all seemingly at home. It reminded me a bit of a Scandinavian take on SoHo: a little artsy, a little academic, and totally unpretentious.
And the food? Surprisingly great. This isn’t a try-hard café menu with Instagram bait—just honest, satisfying fare. I had a Carlsberg and a burger and honestly couldn’t have been happier. The menu leans simple and Scandinavian, with a mix of light plates and comfort food. Nothing fancy, just well done.
The staff is a curious mix—clearly trying for that brisk, no-nonsense New York energy, but missing the mark slightly. What comes off as confident and efficient in Manhattan reads here as vaguely disinterested. Still, it’s part of the charm, in its own way.
Whether you’re stopping in for a beer and a bite or looking to lose yourself in a book for an hour or two, Paludan nails it. Cozy, cool, and thoroughly Copenhagen.
