Nightlife in Copenhagen
changes fast and starts late, things rarely get going on Friday
and Saturday night until after midnight. The city has an ever-changing
range of clubs, bars and restaurants catering to all tastes –
from pop to cutting-edge dance music or world-class jazz or pop.
Copenhagen also has a surprise up its sleeve in the form of several
popular DJ/bar/restaurant ‘hybrids’ that change mood
and function over the course of an evening. There is no one defined
nightlife area, although both Nyhavn and Boltens
Gaard are popular.
There are late licensing hours in Copenhagen with cafés typically
open until 0100 or 0200 hrs, bars close between 0200 and 0500 hrs
and clubs close around 0500 hrs. The minimum age for drinking is
18 years. A beer costs from Dkk25-50, while a gin and tonic averages
around Dkk50. In general, the dress code for most places is not
strict and quite casual.
Copenhagen
This Week and the
Wonderful Copenhagen tourist information website both provide
further nightlife information.
Bars
A wide range of nightlife venues defy conventional categorisation,
such as the pioneering modern Scandinavian restaurant Konrad,
Pilestraede 12-14, or Ultimo, Hovedvagtsgade 8,
Ketchup, Pilestræde 19, BarStarten,
Kapelvej 1, and the trendy Zoo Bar, Kronprinsensgade
7. In the daytime, they may function as cafés or restaurants
but, in the evening, they become restaurants and/or bars, DJs will
appear and suddenly everybody will be dancing.
Stereo
Bar, Linnésgade 16a, Israels Plads, is a much-loved
pre-club joint, with funky 70s decor and an eclectic music policy
from easy listening to drum’n’bass. Rather more underground
is Stengade 30, Stengade 18, in Nørrebro,
which blends the best of Danish and overseas rock and dance acts.
The Dubliner, Amagertorv 5, Strøget, is
a genuine Irish restaurant and music pub with nightly live Irish
folk/rock music, Irish barmen and a very friendly atmosphere. Café
Victor also has a friendly bar area, which is popular with
visiting celebrities.
Casinos
Casino
Copenhagen, Amager Boulevard 70, is open daily 1400-0400 hrs
for American and French roulette, blackjack and stud poker. A dress
code applies and photo ID is required for entrance and entrance
is only for those 18 years and older.
Clubs
The top clubs in the Copenhagen are Rust, Guldbergsgade
8, and Vega, Enghavevej 40, which are both extremely
popular and draw top international DJs and live acts. The Vega
complex is housed in a magnificent 1950s trade union building, while
Rust is spread over 3 floors with a cocktail bar,
main bar and large dancefloor.
Park Diskotek,
Østerbrogade 79, close to Parken, the national sports stadium,
runs a disco ballroom with DJ music in an authentic 1970s atmosphere.
The city’s thriving gay scene focuses on Pan Disco,
Knabrostræde 3, with 3 floors of lively music, as well as
Sebastian, Hyskenstræde 10, and Heaven,
Kompagnistræde 18.
For pure dance clubs, head for Boltens Gaard and
the Zero Nightclub and Lounge, Gothersgade 10B,
and Blue Buddha, Gothersgade 8F, which was started
as a reaction against the high bar prices in the clubs, offering
cheap cocktails and beers. If you’re still going when the
sun is up, head to Club Blue Note,
Studiestræde 31, which opens at 0500 hrs and serves up techno
and house until breakfast.
Live
music
Copenhagen is one of the major European jazz centres with excellent
clubs throughout the city and a festival in July. The Copenhagen
Jazz House, Niels Hemmingsensgade 10 (telephone number: 3315
2600), is the jazz venue, offering top-quality live music followed
by a relaxed funk and soul disco.
Vega, Enghavevej 40, is an established and prestigious
cultural institution and Denmark’s largest regional venue,
annually featuring around 250 concerts. The music profile is rock,
modern electric, R’n’B, hip hop, metal and pop.
Open-air rock and pop concerts are held at the Pavillonen,
in Fælledparken, during the summer. The main live music venue
in Christiania is Loppen, Bådmandsstræde
43, which has regular rock, jazz and other performances. Seedy but
hugely atmospheric is La Fontaine, Kompagnistræde
11, which is open 2000-0600 hrs. |
