Smørrebrød lunch restaurant in Indre By, Copenhagen

Restaurant Kronborg

Herring of the Year on Brolæggerstræde

3.5 of 5

Restaurant Kronborg rarely answers the phone between 11:30 and three. It says so on its own website, and the reason given is that everyone is busy serving lunch. That is the whole philosophy in one sentence. This is a classic Danish lunch room on Brolæggerstræde in the old centre, run by Jonas Dich, with homemade food in cosy, old-fashioned rooms and a menu that wants you full rather than impressed.

In 2026 the herring won something. At the Hirtshals fish festival Kronborg took the title Årets Sild, herring of the year, with a dish built on tart apple compote, horseradish and a crisp rye crumble. The regular board is a proper herring bar: old-fashioned matured herring with onion and capers, curry herring with a smiling egg, warm fried herring laid in brine, and a snapsemad of potatoes, herring, mayonnaise and herbs. Past the fish come Skagen toast, smoked eel with warm scrambled egg, frikadeller with red cabbage, and dyrlægens natmad, the vet's midnight snack of liver pâté, salt beef and aspic.

There are vegan pieces too, broccoli frikadeller among them, which is more than some of the neighbours bother with. Book online, or call outside the lunch rush like a civilised person. Start with the herring of the moment, follow with plaice and hand-peeled shrimp, and let the afternoon go. From Thursday to Saturday the doors stay open until ten, so a late lunch can drift into dinner and nobody will mind.

Order this

The tavlesild, whatever herring is on the board, Kronborg's snapsemad, Pan-fried plaice with hand-peeled shrimp, Smoked eel with warm scrambled egg

The damage

$$

Go

A late lunch, Thursday to Saturday, when the kitchen stays open into the evening

Find it

Brolæggerstræde 12, 1211 København K

Website

restaurantkronborg.dk