What Is Reffen Copenhagen Street Food?

Reffen sits on Refshaleøen, a former industrial shipyard across the harbor from central Copenhagen. Upcycled shipping containers house more than 40 food stalls representing global cuisines. The site also includes a skate park, a brewery, and vintage and secondhand shops. These extras make it one of the city's more 10 Unique Things to Do in Copenhagen (2026).

Mains typically start around 70 DKK, keeping the market accessible for casual lunches or dinners. Cuisines span Danish, Mexican, Nepalese, Italian, and more, so indecisive eaters can sample several stalls. By evening, the mood shifts toward a livelier scene with music and ambient lighting. That range in price and atmosphere is why many travelers list Reffen among Copenhagen's must-try food stops.

Reffen suits travelers who enjoy an outdoor, informal setting over a polished indoor food hall. Expect long waits at popular stalls during peak summer weekends and holiday periods. Groups craving variety in one sitting benefit most, since stalls sit close together around shared seating. Solo travelers on a tight schedule might prefer a smaller, centrally located market instead.

Best Stalls to Try at Reffen

Reffen packs more than 40 stalls into one harborfront lot, which can overwhelm first-time visitors. Following the queues of locals often leads to the strongest options on any given day. The picks below reflect stalls that show up again and again in visitor recommendations.

Prices stay similar across most stalls, generally ranging from budget-friendly snacks to full plates. Mains commonly start near 70 DKK, based on typical menu pricing at the market. Portion sizes tend to run generous, which helps offset the cost for hungry travelers.

Each stall keeps its own hours and seasonal menu, so availability can shift between visits. Arriving before 6 PM on weekends usually means shorter lines at the most popular counters. Vegetarian and vegan options exist across multiple stalls, though menus rotate throughout the year.

• Grillfisken serves grilled mackerel only
  • Dish: grilled mackerel single item
  • Style: one-item specialty stall
  • Price: mains from 70 DKK
• Everest serves Nepalese momos and dahl
  • Dish: Nepalese momos
  • Also try: hearty dahl
  • Vibe: casual quick bites
• Reykjavik Skyrcake serves Icelandic skyr desserts
  • Dish: skyr cheesecake
  • Also try: skyr tiramisu
  • Best for: dessert lovers
• Bad Habits offers creative gelato flavors
  • Dish: gelato
  • Signature flavor: woodruff herb blend
  • Best for: adventurous palates

How to Get to Reffen: Ferry, Bike, or Walk

The Copenhagen Harbor Bus ferry offers the fastest way to reach Reffen from the city center. Board route 992 at Nordre Toldbod, near the Little Mermaid statue, for a short harbor crossing. The crossing to Refshaleøen takes about five minutes on these yellow electric ferries. Each ferry carries a maximum of 80 passengers, so summer crowds may mean a short wait.

Buy DOT transit tickets through the official app before boarding, since not all stops sell paper tickets. Travelers holding a Copenhagen Card can ride the harbor bus at no extra cost. That pass also covers city buses, trains, and the metro across the greater Copenhagen area.

Walking or cycling suits travelers who want to see more of the harbor along the way. Bike-share apps such as Donkey let riders grab a bike from nearby streets. The ride from central Copenhagen to Refshaleøen takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes at a relaxed pace.

Google Maps lays out a clear walking and cycling route from Nyhavn to Reffen. Following the harbor edge keeps the walk flat and scenic the whole way. Comfortable shoes help, since cobblestones appear along parts of the older harbor streets.

Reffen Opening Hours and Best Time to Visit

Reffen closes for winter, typically from January through March, based on seasonal scheduling patterns. The market reopens each spring once outdoor seating and stalls can operate comfortably again. Check the official Reffen page before your trip, since exact reopening dates can shift year to year.

During peak summer months, food stalls generally run from 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM daily. Bar hours extend a bit later, often from 11 AM to 10 PM Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday nights typically push bar service later, closer to 1 AM.

Weekday lunches draw noticeably smaller crowds than weekend evenings during the busy summer season. Early arrival before 6 PM helps travelers avoid the dinner rush at popular stalls. For a fuller seasonal strategy, see this guide to the Best Time to Visit Copenhagen Without Crowds Guide.

Travelers visiting between January and March should plan on indoor food halls instead of Reffen. Tivoli Food Hall and similar indoor markets stay open through the colder months. Checking hours before a special trip out to Refshaleøen saves a wasted commute in the off-season.

Other Copenhagen Street Food Markets to Try

Broens Street Food sits streetside near the harbor bridges, closer to the city center than Reffen. Its central location suits travelers short on time who still want a street food experience. Expect a smaller stall count than Reffen, with a tighter, more walkable layout. The market sits within easy reach of the Christianshavn neighborhood, making it easy to combine with sightseeing.

Tivoli Food Hall sits directly beside Copenhagen's Central Station, with no theme park ticket required to enter. The hall mixes artisanal pizza, gourmet burgers, and Asian dishes under one indoor roof. Indoor seating makes it a reliable backup when Copenhagen's weather turns cold or rainy.

Choose Reffen for an outdoor, harborfront atmosphere with the widest variety of global stalls. Choose Broens Street Food when time is short and a central location matters most. Choose Tivoli Food Hall on a rainy day or when traveling with young children.

For a broader look at where locals actually eat, browse this Copenhagen Local Food Guide: Where Locals Eat. It pairs well with a street food crawl across more than one neighborhood market. Combining two or three markets in one trip gives a fuller sense of the city's food scene.

Torvehallerne: Another Indoor Alternative

Torvehallerne sits at Israels Plads, a short walk from Nørreport Station, making it easy to combine with a day of sightseeing in central Copenhagen. Two glass-and-steel market halls house roughly 60 stalls, split between fresh-produce vendors — cheese, fish, spices, baked goods — and ready-to-eat counters serving smørrebrød, coffee, wine, and quick lunches. Unlike Reffen's shipping-container stalls and harborfront setting, Torvehallerne operates as a year-round indoor market with no seasonal closure, so it works well as a cold-weather or rainy-day alternative alongside Tivoli Food Hall.

The atmosphere leans toward a Copenhagen grocery market rather than a street food crawl, with communal tables scattered between the two halls. Travelers who want to buy ingredients for a picnic, grab a quick coffee, or sample Danish specialties in a compact, walkable setting often prefer Torvehallerne over trekking out to Refshaleøen. Combine a stop here with Nørreport's surrounding shops and cafes for a half-day itinerary that doesn't require the ferry or bike ride Reffen demands.