I love visiting Copenhagen in any season and have to share with you one of my all-time favourite places to eat, which is called Europa 1989. Perfectly located at Amagertorv 1, 1160 København K, Denmark, it’s the type of establishment that you go to for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner and best of all, if you’re able to get a seat you are not rushed out after you’ve finished your meal. As is popular in European fashion, you can sit back, relax and read the newspaper or watch the world go by (whatever your preference) for a few hours at a time. I can say this confidently as I have embraced Copenhagen on many occasions and been so exhausted that all I want to do is sit somewhere for awhile and reenergise; Europa 1989 has always been open and welcoming.
The best address in the city that provides history and culture
With an impressive location, Europa is usually on the top of the list for tourists and locals alike. This is because it is on the Amagertorv (Amager Square) and is part of the Strøget pedestrian-only area. For the tourist this is a wonderful spot because the Amagertorv Square has a beautiful fixture with its Stork Fountain.
The Stork Fountain was designed and created as a result of a competition in 1888 held by the Society for the Beautification of Copenhagen. The competition was to design a fountain to celebrate the upcoming wedding anniversary of Danish royalty in 1894. It was won by Edvard Petersen and Vilhelm Bissen and their design was created and inaugurated on Amagertorv Square in 1894.
Also within the vicinity is the Church of the Holy Ghost, Nikolaj Church, Christiansborg Palace and the Old Stock Exchange. All of which the active and enthusiastic tourist would be advised to learn about and see. Although if sightseeing and learning about history does not appeal to you and you’re a shopaholic at heart, then I have some very good news for you.
This is because Strøget is a 1.1.km (0.68 mi) long shopping street and is full of high street and brand names, so whatever your budget, you will be able to find something there. You may also be interested to know that Strøget is the world’s first ever shopping street and traffic has been excluded from it since 1967. With so much culture at its fingertips, Europa 1989 is a sophisticated yet casual eatery that is ready to cater to your needs and ensure that you have a memorable time in Copenhagen.
Its exterior and interior is styled according to a Parisian café with a Viennese feel to it. Offering Italian coffee and serving European food in a tapas form, it can certainly cater to the global traveller. It advocates the usage of organic and biodynamic ingredients in its dishes and once you start tasting them, you will certainly be able to tell that this is true.
Seating choices and happy service with a smile
Europa 1989 opens at 7.45 am from Monday to Saturday and opens at 9.30 am on Sunday. Its closing time varies per day in the week in which you visit and is between 10 pm – 12 pm. I would advise you to check out its website if you intend on visiting for dinner. Whilst it is not necessary to make a reservation to visit this café, it is possible to do so via its website. However, as it is more of an informal eatery, locals and tourists tend to simply drop in and try to find a table. As it is one of the most popular cafés (and not just becomes of its grand address), you may have to be quick on your feet to obtain a table.
Europa 1989 has indoor and outdoor seating and from my experience, it is equally enjoyable to sit in either areas. If you sit outside, you will have the opportunity to bathe under the Danish sunshine whilst watching busker’s entertain the public and shoppers joyfully passing by. If you are visiting in a cooler season, the outdoor heaters will be on full blast and you will receive a blanket to cover you from the breeze.
If you’re unable to find seating outside or would prefer to be indoors, Europa 1989 has comfortable indoor seating, with the best places being next to the windows. This is because of the views and the smart velvet seating that is secured to the windows from the inside. There is a real light, bright and airy feel to this place due to the grand chandeliers, whitewashed walls, small quaint tables and wooden chairs packed around. Wherever you sit inside, you will be able to see the “Europa 1989 Wall”, which includes pictures of key European personalities from the 20th century.
Once you have had some time to peruse through the menu, a waiter/waitress will visit your table and process your order via an iPhone, which is modern and convenient and importantly, meaning the chef will receive your order faster than feet can move to him. You will find that the service at Europa 1989 is definitely with a smile and the buzz of chatter surrounding you at this little Danish heaven will transport you to a very happy place.
Try breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner
Having visited Copenhagen 3 times in the last 12 months and on each occasion had at least one meal at Europa 1989, you won’t be surprised to hear that it caters very well for vegetarians. There are multiple menus for the different meals that one can have in a day, showing that this café is dedicated to providing you with the right fuel food at the right time.
From the breakfast menu, I would recommend that you try the rye bread, butter, cheese, jam and fruit for 49 DKK (7 USD), the muesli yoghurt with blueberries and almond for 49 DKK (7 USD) or the porridge with apple compote and syrup for 49 DKK (7 USD).
Also known as Rugbrød, the rye bread is a Danish delicacy and is packed with different seeds and grains, so if you want a healthy start to your morning, you must give it a go. The cheese that you will receive will either be Danbo or Havarti, both are semi-soft cow’s milk cheeses. Havarti is one of the most popular Danish cheeses and is similar in scent and taste to some Swiss cheeses. The muesli and porridge is thick and filling and not as sweet as one would expect, so perfect for a first dish in the morning.
If you’re feeling a bit more peckish and missed breakfast in the morning, then brunch at Europa 1989 is guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds within seconds. The menu offers different types of brunches and unsurprisingly, I would recommend that you try the vegetarian brunch for 149 DKK (21 USD). This brunch consists of skyr (Danish yoghurt) with fresh berries and maple syrup, porridge with apple compote and almonds, avocado with salsa romesco, a mini omelette with tomato, cucumber and chives, various cheeses and also some homemade jam and fresh fruit.
Lunch and/or dinner at this café are also a must as the menu is full of wonderful choices that must be experienced. I would urge that you especially try the baked goat’s cheese salad which consists of spinach, tomato, avocado, green beans, croutons, vinaigrette, pickled pears, hazelnuts and of course, baked goat’s cheese. The salad is modern, refreshing and bursting with flavours. The portion size is generous and you will certainly feel full, if you’re able to complete it. The cost of the salad is 189 DKK (27 USD).
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No time for photos when dishes are that good
Without any hesitation, I would recommend Europa 1989 for any meal in the day and would advise you, that if you go more than once, you also take the opportunity to enjoy sitting inside and outside too. Every single dish that I have tried in this café is fresh, delicious and an utter joy to eat. In fact, it was such a joy that I failed to take many photographs. However, if I were you, I would take that as a good sign as it shows that when a dish arrives to your table in Europa 1989, it will be easy to devour within moments.
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