Kanal-Caféen København

What a fabulous place. Old interior, small table and old chairs but it all builds to a great atmosphere. The food was great, I had three different types of Smørrebrød and each was really good. We were early on a Saturday and that was good because the place got full fast but the phase was good and people were coming and going. Highly recommend. Just note that there is a time limit on the table if you don't book before.

Cozy historic place, the food was pretty good. We sat in a cozy room, but it was super cold, which made it less cozy.

I have to be honest. I think the rating given to the food is not due to the quality of the food, which I can't judge, but to our taste buds, which don't particularly appreciate Danish cuisine for its flavors and types of dishes. As for the staff, they were excellent and deserve top marks.

Nice location and good service. The place is known for its open sandwiches and cold dishes. Ordered a piece with plaice and one with marinated herring. The plaice itself including remoulade was ok and tasty. The herring, on the other hand, was a disappointment. I guess it came straight from a glass at the cheap end of the scale. For both open sandwiches, we were served a boring rye bread, which you can get in a bag at the local supermarket. Despite the fact that the food may not have quite lived up to expectations, we still had a really nice afternoon.

Lunch at Kanal Caféen in Copenhagen - a truly Danish experience. We had the smørrebrød platter with herring, salmon, and shrimp, all very fresh and beautifully presented. It was truly delicious, one of the most authentic places we've tried. A little pricey, but this is Copenhagen, and quality comes at a price. The location is beautiful on the canal, well worth it. Must try!

Excellent place to try Danish food. Few tourists and good value for money. The meal on the canal barge was great; it was sunny.

Hands down the best service we experienced in Copenhagen! A massive thank you to Bhupendra (Morten), who made our dining experience truly unforgettable. He was extraordinarily attentive, warm, and genuinely service-centric from the moment we walked in. Beyond the world-class hospitality, the food was incredible—generous portion sizes, amazingly fresh, and packed with flavor. You can tell they care deeply about quality and customer care. Highly recommend, and we will definitely be back!

Yummy, fish fillet with shrimp, expensive but good, good homemade chicken salad.

Kanal Cafeen – from 4 to 5 stars, but now drop the half cucumber We first reviewed Kanal Cafeen back in 2016. Back then we ended up with 4 stars. Since then we have been back several times, and now I actually think it is time to upgrade to 5. Atmosphere & surroundings Kanal Cafeen is one of the classic Copenhagen basement pubs, where you walk down the stairs and directly into Danish lunchtime coziness. Small rooms, close between the tables and lots of history and atmosphere. It is not the place if you want an intimate conversation that the next table should not hear. On the other hand, you may have made new friends before lunch is over. But in the summer, Kanal Cafeen has an extra ace up its sleeve: the barge outside. Sitting there by the canal with classic Danish smørrebrød and something cold in a glass is simply one of the coziest things. The food – and the portions! The portions at Kanal Cafeen are gigantic. They were on our first visit, and they still are. Here you don't go home looking for a hotdog on the way. On our last visit, we had smoked eel, potato salad and rib roast. The smoked eel was really good, and the potato salad was delicious. The rib roast was exactly as it should be: juicy, tender and with lots of crispy skin. A little pork heaven. And over the years we have been around several other dishes. The overall picture is the same: Kanal Cafeen can make a good, classic Danish lunch. But then there's the garnish... Already in my review from 2016, I complained about the excessive garnish on the food. At that time, I asked, among other things, who eats tomatoes and orange slices with rib roast. Ten years later, I can say: The battle is not yet won. Who eats half a cucumber cut into large slices with potato soup and smoked eel? And why do you still need orange slices with the rib roast? It's left on the plate and sent straight back to the kitchen. It's not decoration. It's food waste. In fact, it's almost enough to make me want to take back the fifth star. Almost. The service Because something positive has happened here too. The service is fun, service-minded and fits the place perfectly. A comment or a little humor is welcome along with the food. It's part of the experience at a classic Copenhagen lunch restaurant. Overall experience After several visits, I no longer think the 4 stars from 2016 are adequate. The food is consistently good, the portions are enormous, the atmosphere is fantastic, and on a nice day the barge outside is hard to beat. That's why we're upgrading. Conclusion Kanal Cafeen has become one of the places we like to return to when we want a classic Danish lunch. Good food, gigantic portions, lots of Copenhagen coziness and service with humor. 👉 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from us this time. But dear Kanal Cafeen... Drop the half cucumber and the orange slices now, so I don't have to come back in ten years and complain again. 😄

Yes, again, a great experience, delicious sandwiches/platter where nothing is spared.