Selma

Danish restaurant · Frederiksborggade

Selma

Danish restaurant · Frederiksborggade

4

Rømersgade 20, 1362 København, Denmark

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Highlights

Artistic smørrebrød with modern toppings & craft beers  

Featured on Michelin
Featured in Eater
Featured in Conde Nast Traveler

Rømersgade 20, 1362 København, Denmark Get directions

selmacopenhagen.dk
@selma_copenhagen

$$

Reserve

Information

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Rømersgade 20, 1362 København, Denmark Get directions

+45 40 27 72 03
selmacopenhagen.dk
@selma_copenhagen

$$

Reserve

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Last updated

Sep 22, 2025

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@michelinguide

"You’ll often find guests queuing out the door to bag a spot at this sweet, homely neighbourhood restaurant. At lunchtime, they’re here for the speciality smørrebrød with homemade rye and sourdough bases which, while still respecting tradition, adopt a modern edge. In the evening, it’s all about the multi-course tasting menu, with the likes of herb-cured salmon with yuzu kosho, grilled cauliflower and trout roe or glazed pork with XO, cockles and leek on offer. To drink, there's an excellent selection of craft beers, as well as snaps and aquavit that have been made in-house." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/capital-region/copenhagen/restaurant/selma
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@eater

The 38 Essential Copenhagen Restaurants

"It might actually be illegal to leave the Danish capital without having smørrebrød. Selma doesn’t prepare them according to traditional style; instead, chef-owner Magnus Pettersson treats his sandwiches like proper dishes worthy of modern expressions. The toppings are often seasonal and beautifully presented, like the dark red beetroot and horseradish herring smørrebrød adorned with tiny boat-shaped onion slivers, or another topped with a breathtaking tower of shrimp and flowers. Alongside, there’s a wide selection of craft beers and house-infused akvavit (“snaps” in Danish)." - Anna Norström, Gabe Ulla

https://www.eater.com/maps/best-copenhagen-restaurants-1
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@cntraveler

The Best Meals Our Editors Ate in 2022

"Selma is celebrated for its artistic smørrebrød, offering a variety of toppings that create a balance of textures and flavors. The restaurant provides a memorable dining experience with its unique etiquette and presentation."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-best-meals-our-editors-ate-in-2022
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@silverkris

15 dining destinations worth visiting in Copenhagen - SilverKris

"A stylish, centrally located spot where traditional Danish smørrebrød has been modernised and beautifully presented against mustard-coloured walls, hand-painted wallpaper and wooden furniture. The tasting-menu format lets diners sample multiple open‑faced rye sandwiches with inventive toppings—examples include beetroot and hibiscus herring with red pearl onion, smoked herring caviar with horseradish, and pumpkin with Brussels sprouts, hazelnut and vanilla—paired with craft beers, wines and small‑producer schnapps." - Christie Dietz

https://silverkris.singaporeair.com/inspiration/food-drink/restaurants/dining-destinations-worth-visiting-copenhagen/
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Salwa L

Google
Selma is a great place to get a taste of Nordic food. The flavors were good and it is definitely a nice spot to experience this style of cuisine. With the number of amazing restaurants in Copenhagen it is hard to be truly impressed, so while it was decent and not overwhelming. I would suggest adding The beverage pairing option

Melanie Freeland

Google
Exceedingly delicious! We opted for the smorgasbord instead of the fixed menu and it did not disappoint. Highlights were the salmon, herring with pickled rhubarb and veal tongue with peas. The restaurant is quite petite and oh so lovely inside. Not a bad seat in the house.

Catalina P

Google
Selma offers a creative and modern twist on the classic Danish smørrebrød. The dishes are beautifully prepared, full of flavor, and perfect for exploring traditional cuisine in a new way. They also have a great selection of local beers. The wine list is extensive, the service is top-notch, and the space is stylish and welcoming

Jesper Elmahdi

Google
Delicious and inspired takes on traditional open-faced sandwiches. Exceptional service and calm, low-key vibes. As a vegetarian I recommend their creative and tasty celeriac option. Also a great selection of friend and pickled herring.

Hannah Lee

Google
10/10 food and experience. We did the a la carte menu for lunch and loved it. We ordered five smørrebrød and were obsessed with the unique flavor combinations and the homemade rye. The staff is super friendly. They also have a great selection of drinks and local beers (and many Mikkeller beers on tap)! Lastly, we loved the intimate space with the floral wallpaper—very cozy. Recommend getting a reservation in advance.

Lakshmi Mukkawar

Google
We booked tasting menu with 8 courses span across 3 hrs. Food was absolutely delicious. So many flavours and different preparations. Highly recommend the place to try out their seasonal tasting menu. One of the best restaurants I visited in Copenhagen.

Borislava Borisova

Google
We tried all six herring smørrebrød options at Selma, and it was a truly memorable culinary experience. Each dish offered a unique blend of traditional Danish flavours with a fresh, modern twist. Among the selection, the Beetroot and hibiscus herring stood out for its fresh, floral notes. Equally impressive was the Fennel and black pepper herring, which was beautifully creamy and perfectly balanced with a touch of spice. While every variation was worth trying, these two are my favourite. The very kind staff walked us through each dish, explaining the ingredients, techniques, and inspirations behind bites. Their enthusiasm for the food truly enhanced our appreciation of the meal. To finish, we shared a small cheese platter, which featured two kinds of cheese and slices of bread—just enough to end on a rich, satisfying note without feeling too heavy. We're glad we didn't skip it! If you're curious about modern interpretations of this classic Danish food, Selma is absolutely worth a visit!

Maarten van der Jagt

Google
The service was warm and attentive, with a young team who genuinely tried to connect with diners, not just with me, but also with those seated nearby. Most of the clientele are tourists drawn in by the promise of a distinctly Danish food experience. On that front, it fell short. The ingredients themselves were of good quality, yet the cooking lacked imagination and did little to convey a real sense of Danish or broader Nordic cuisine. What arrived was essentially a succession of rye in various forms like bread, crisps, toast, occasionally topped or accompanied with rather uninspired garnishes and cooking techniques who can be expected on gastronomic level. The result was an unremarkable, tapas-style Danish dinner: pleasant enough, fairly priced, but ultimately forgettable. Should you decide to go, ask for a table at street level, where the atmosphere is lighter and more welcoming than in the basement, where we ended
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Sebastien L.

Yelp
Monday lunch @ 11:30 am - beetroot herring, metjes herring , prastost, pork Service: attentive Ambiance: cozzy Price: see pictures Food quality : excellent, fresh, high quality Highly recommend
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Ken S.

Yelp
KenScale: 8.0/10 Visit: February 2024 When you visit Copenhagen, it will be impossible to leave the city without trying some smørrebrød, an open-faced sandwich consisting of rye bread and a variety of ingredients on top. While Copenhagen has no shortage of popular spots specializing in this beloved dish, Selma stands out for its modern twist while remaining faithful to traditional Danish ingredients. On our second day in the city, my wife Jun and I stopped by the restaurant for a quick lunch, and found everything we had very delicious. If you feel stuck after looking at the menu from Selma, the safe bet is to try at least one or two dishes including cured fish. While Jun is generally not a fan of herring, she didn't mind taking a bite out of Selma's smørrebrød with geranium and white currant herring, accompanied by fennel, bleak roe and fig leaf. She is not particularly crazy about salmon, either, but really enjoyed what Selma put together with herb cured salmon from the Faroe Islands, along with grilled cauliflower and trout roe. I did enjoy both of the dishes, but the highlight of our lunch came in the third dish, with grilled and glazed pork that came with cockles and leek. It was a fabulous smørrebrød, with the pork's spot-on texture enhanced by the aromatic XO sauce. Don't skip the dessert options at Selma; we wanted to try something not in a smørrebrød format, and found a solid one consisting of mandarin and lemon, green tea and chamomile. You probably won't need to book in advance for a reservation and the turnover at the restaurant was fairly quick during our visit. If you feel adventurous, I recommend trying a glass of aquavit/snaps (Scandinavian spirit) along with a glass of draft beer sourced from different parts of Denmark and beyond; I felt quite content with alcoholic buzz as we headed to the main shopping street Strøget following lunch. We probably need to try a few more smørrebrød restaurants on our future visits to Copenhagen, but for now Selma is a good starting point that offers cozy and pleasant Danish lunch experience.
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Lydia Y.

Yelp
Lots of smørbrød in cph. Selma does a modern interpretation of them so feels more approachable The dining crowd was a nice mix of American & European tourists so not sure what the locals think, but def a popular spot for the foreign palette. Reserve in advance! Compared to the traditional ones, we liked these better. Their rye bread is softer (still firm but maybe it's toasted?) and served warm. Plus there was more going on with the toppings and sauces were well made. Esp the grilled cabbage served with turbot cream, I would eat that again ‍ But relative to all other types of food, i wouldn't go out of my way to get smørbrød. grilled pointy cabbage 185DKK* rosehip herring 130DKK grilled and glazed tongue 190DKK 덴마크로 여행가면 한번은 먹어봐야하는 스뫼레브뢰드! 가능하면 클래식한것도 먹어보고 모던한것도 먹어보는걸 추천. 개인적으로 Selma에서 먹은게 좀더 입맛에 맞는듯. 여긴 빵이 부드럽고 (상대적인거지 여기도 단단함) 토핑들이 따듯하게 나온다 물론 헤링은 차갑지만.... 보기보다 묵직하니까 인당 두개먹기 약간 벅참.
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Julian D.

Yelp
We went to @selma_rest for dinner; and we tried the famous #smørrebrød - the traditional Danish open-faced sandwich served over Rye bread with a modern twist and creative toppings. Here we have Spiced herring, Brown butter, horseradish and chives. (amazing flavor - great punch - huge umami - one of those you want to eat slowly) Second round was even better! a braised and layered beef tonge that the chef sliced thin as a paper marinated over 24 hours and then built it up as a card deck of flavour packing beautiful flavours that danced along with chanterelle mushrooms and vanilla foam. Next a beautiful garden made of Herb cured salmon from the Faroe islands, Yuzu Kosho, grilled cauliflower and delicate trout roe. Elegant and subtle flavors super well balanced. We finished the savory course with a vegetarian option of marinated squash, fromage blanc, heavy grilled sprouts. There's always room for desert! This is grilled fig with sourdough gelato some cream and croutons. Obviously a play on the smoørrebrod but it was The low of the evening. I always hope for a meal like this to finish with a great desert. For the las taste to be as mesmerizing as the first, so the experience rounds up well. This one.. Meh! @selma_copenhagen Selma made culinary history when the Michelin Guide made it the first smørrebrød place to ever earn the Big Gourmand distinction.
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Andrew K.

Yelp
Ultimately, we relied on Selma to provide us with a smørbrød experience. It was a great choice. The restaurant is rather small and we had a reservation, so were offered outside seating or in the basement. Neither are better than the main restaurant seating options, so this was a bit of a bummer. Plus, the basement view is essentially people's legs/shoes without them knowing, which was a bit uncomfy. Drink wise, they have a surprisingly good beer selection. They don't offer tap water, don't totally understand that. And it's 35 kroner each person. The smørbrød options are vast. We were told to order 2-3 (not sure if this was per person or per table?) and went with 3: the chicken confit, the salmon, and the smoked herring (this we left up to the recommendation of the waitress). The salmon smørbrød was one of the top dishes of my time in Copenhagen, this is a must. The other two were good, worth trying but probably wouldn't go back for. The ambience is interesting. The bathroom decor is super random: one bathroom is quite large and the other is quite small, unclear why. There isn't wifi, which could be an improvement. The location of the restaurant is super easy to get to. I asked about the origin of the name and it apparently hails from a Swedish owner's daughter's name, which was an interesting plot twist for a restaurant serving traditional Danish food.
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Conor S.

Yelp
What beautiful introduction to me on my first night in Copenhagen. The staff was friendly and careful with their recommendations. We were walked through the extensive wine selection to find the perfect wine to match our preferences and the meal. The food was delightful and surprising. Many dishes that felt oddly familiar but fresh and new at the same time. We kept saying "wow" to each other during our dining experience.
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Midori G.

Yelp
I read many articles saying Selma has the best smørrebørd and although I am not an expert, I would say they are right. Smørrebørd is kind of all they have here and that is quite alright in my book. We ordered 6 of them a la carte. My favorite were the herring ones and the pumpkin although all were amazing. We also had beer and the brown butter snaps. Both were good but not great in my book. The restaurant is rather small so make sure you have a reservation! We needed one for a Monday lunchtime slot.
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Rob J.

Yelp
OMG just eat here. Four of us, eight smorsbord All cut four ways. The worst one was excellent. I'm usually suspect of place you have to eat at. This was one coming in. Not one going out. Concentrate on the herring. Three of the eight were herring. Stay with the fish. The meat ones are great. But not as good as the fish. The cheese is also awesome.
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Alex H.

Yelp
Selma is a restaurant serving danish smørrebrød in a cozy, elegantly relaxed setting. We ordered a variety of the delicious open-faced sandwiches. We had the three kinds of herring (elderflower, spiced, and beetroot), cured salmon, Jerusalem artichoke, smoked mackerel, and matjes herring. Selma has us convinced that yes, we should be eating toast for dinner but no, it will not come out nearly as good as at Selma
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Rachel C.

Yelp
Great smørrebrød-I loved the herring with beet and the celtuce I tried a rhubarb dessert with fennel and white chocolate. Next time I'll skip dessert and try a third smørrebrød.
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Michael U.

Yelp
A Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee, the first to achieve such recognition for Smørrebrød, Selma is the product of a collaboration between local brewery Mikkeller and Swedish Chef Magnus Peterson. Open for lunch daily except for Tuesday, a short staircase dividing guests from homey confines named after Peterson's daughter, diners are invited to order a la carte or to participate in a two-hour tasting, the former proving necessary on a crowded trip but sufficient to show why Selma has often been declared the "best lunch in town." Embracing modernity with reverence for tradition, Rye made on-site the canvas for creative Open-Faced Sandwiches, meals smartly start with a choice of Herring from which one cured in Black Currants takes on pink highlights to match pickled Onions and dehydrated Beetroot. Prone to daily change based on Ingredients, though a few classics are indispensable, Selma's Fried Plaice does away with Breading in favor of loosely-applied Rye Crumbs beneath delicate Sauce and plump Shrimp while a Dessert of Rosemary Ice Cream, Brown Butter Ganache and local Berries delivers a "choose-your-own adventure" of tastes, temperatures and textures.
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Cherry Y.

Yelp
After contacting the establishment to inquire about vegan accommodations, I made a reservation to dine for lunch. Upon arrival, I was seated immediately and received tremendous amount of help from the servers. As not many options from the menu was able to be modified vegan, I had the chef personally create the menu and explain each dish to me. I ordered three dishes, two of which were the quintessential smørrebrød, or open sandwiches, of Denmark. They were beautifully constructed and flavorful. The lingonberries and potatoes were perfectly pickled, and every ingredient tasted super fresh. After the chef double checked with me on my preference on asparagus, he grilled me some white asparagus for my last dish. Despite specializing in herrings/non-vegan smørrebrød, Selma made the best vegan smørrebrød I could ask!
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Maria Simone S.

Yelp
OMG, I've only had the first of two course. The 'stenbiderrogn' open-faced sandwich and I cannot wait for the next time I'll be back. The proportions of each ingredients are so well balanced I was almost sadden to finish the first part. This place make some of the best Danish open-faced sandwiches. Yummy!
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Dominique N.

Yelp
Selma has opened a year and a half ago, project of young guys passionate by the concept of SmorreBrod, litterally " buttered bread ", the Scandinavian equivalent to tapas. The menu gives you the choice of ordering à la carte among about 25 dishes all around 100DKR (13€) or two menus of 5 or 7 dishes at the chef's choice. Everything was very fresh, pure and excellent. Card of many natural beers, ciders and wines. The sommelier Christophe is French and the chairs are solid and confortable. A lovely place really worth a visit.
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Ann P.

Yelp
Top dinner in Copenhagen. Small plates, delicious flavours and artful plating. Our server was informative yet chill. We loved it very much. The setting is super comfy. The neighborhood is also lovely.
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Monster B.

Yelp
Great open face Danish sandwiches; had Aquavit w Herring amazing! And they played ALL BEATLES music - worth it for that alone. Very friendly and informative service.

D C.

Yelp
Went there for a late dinner; the rush had died down and they let me get five small smorrebrod instead of 3 regular size, for the same prix fixe price (would not expect such kindness during a dinner rush). Plus I then added a sixth. Two herring, one salmon, pork cheek, pork loin, and duck confit. All were fantastic, truly delightful flavors. Could not really pick a favorite, although the pork cheek was a little bland compared with the rest (but of excellent quality). Beautiful presentation as well. Would highly recommend to anyone.