Eating out with kids in Copenhagen barely needs a strategy — this is a city that genuinely likes children. Nearly every casual spot has high chairs, most have a kids’ menu, and nobody blinks at a toddler having a moment. The family friendly restaurants Copenhagen shines with run from sourdough-pizza warehouses and outdoor street-food markets to canal-side Danish institutions and the ice cream stops in between. Here are the ones worth planning a meal around, plus honest picks by area, cuisine and budget.
The short version: casual is your friend, communal tables suit fidgety kids, and an early sitting keeps everything calm. For the wider trip, this pairs with our guide for families visiting Copenhagen and our full Copenhagen food guide.
Family Restaurants at a Glance
| Restaurant | Location | Best for | Kid meal price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother pizza | Kødbyen, Vesterbro | All ages, 3–99 | 75–110 DKK |
| Reffen street food | Refshaleøen | All ages, April–October | 50–100 DKK |
| Souls | Vesterbro | Brunch + vegan | 85–145 DKK |
| Halifax burgers | Multiple locations | Burger lovers | 75–95 DKK |
| Hallernes Smørrebrød | Torvehallerne | A gentle smørrebrød intro | 60–95 DKK |
| Café Wilder | Christianshavn | Classic Danish | 75–150 DKK |
| Hansens Is | Frederiksberg + city | Ice cream | 35–65 DKK |
| Tivoli food halls | Inside Tivoli | Variety / picky eaters | 75–145 DKK |
| Bevar’s | Nørrebro | Brunch + play area | 85–145 DKK |
| Pomodoro | Nørrebro | Family Italian | 65–125 DKK |
The Best Family Restaurants
1. Mother (Kødbyen, Vesterbro)
Our top pick, and a rite of passage for visiting families. Mother serves Naples-style sourdough pizza in a converted meatpacking warehouse, with communal tables and enough happy chaos that nobody notices a bit of extra noise. A pizza runs around 145 DKK and easily feeds two kids. Book ahead at weekends; weekday walk-ins are fine.
2. Reffen street food (Refshaleøen)
The ultimate solution to the “everyone wants something different” problem. Reffen, out on Refshaleøen, is 30-plus street-food stalls — Argentinian, Vietnamese, Mexican, Hawaiian, vegan, ice cream — with outdoor picnic tables where kids can roam between bites. Dishes run 50–150 DKK. Open April to October. Our street food guide has more.
3. Souls (Vesterbro)
The best family brunch in Copenhagen. Souls has a broad, veggie-leaning menu, a kids’ option, communal seating and a laid-back vibe. Weekend brunch is around 165 DKK, weekday lunch around 120 DKK, and there are high chairs and changing facilities. More brunch ideas in our best brunch guide.
4. Halifax burgers
The dependable fallback when you just need everyone fed and happy. Halifax is a Copenhagen burger institution with branches all over the city — casual, quick and with a proper kids’ burger. Mains run 95–145 DKK, the kids’ menu around 75 DKK, and you rarely need to book.
5. Hallernes Smørrebrød (Torvehallerne)
The gentle way to introduce kids to Danish smørrebrød. Hallernes, inside the Torvehallerne food market, does 15–20 varieties a day at 75–110 DKK each — so children can pick one or two rather than committing to a whole formal lunch. It’s walk-up casual with communal tables. Our smørrebrød guide explains the classics.
6. Café Wilder (Christianshavn)
A canal-side Christianshavn institution going since 1947, with a classic Danish menu, high chairs and changing facilities. Lunch runs 95–185 DKK and brunch 95–145 DKK. Book ahead if you want the canal-side tables — they’re worth it.
7. Hansens Is (ice cream)
The reward stop. Hansens Is is a Copenhagen ice cream institution with locations in Frederiksberg and the centre, daily-changing flavours and scoops at 35–65 DKK. Slot it in after lunch and before the next activity — it buys goodwill for a lot of walking.
8. Tivoli’s food halls
If you’re already inside Tivoli, the food halls are the picky-eater’s dream — 30-plus options spanning burgers, pizza, pasta, hot dogs and Asian, with casual seating, kids’ menus and high chairs. You do need park admission (around 145 DKK for adults). Our Tivoli with kids guide covers the park in full.
9. Bevar’s (Nørrebro)
One of the few Copenhagen restaurants with a dedicated kids’ play area — which, over a leisurely brunch, is worth its weight in gold. It’s a brunch-focused, veggie-friendly spot in Nørrebro, with meals around 85–185 DKK. Come for the food, stay because the kids are happily occupied.
10. Pomodoro (Nørrebro)
A family-run Nørrebro Italian, all pasta and pizza — which is to say, food nearly every child will eat. Warm atmosphere, high chairs, communal seating and mains at 65–165 DKK. Weekday walk-ins are usually fine.
Family Restaurants by Neighbourhood
Wherever you’re staying, there’s something easy nearby:
- Indre By — Hallernes Smørrebrød (Torvehallerne), Royal Smushi Café, casual spots around Nyhavn
- Vesterbro — Mother, Souls, Halifax, Plantbox
- Nørrebro — Hart Bageri, Bevar’s, Pomodoro, Halifax
- Christianshavn — Café Wilder canal-side, Bastard Café (board games)
- Frederiksberg — Hart Bageri, Hansens Is, Atelier September
- Refshaleøen — Reffen street food (April–October)
- Østerbro — Café Bopa, Sticks’n’Sushi
- Sydhavn / Islands Brygge — Halvandet harbour terrace in summer
The Best by Cuisine
| Cuisine | Best pick | Why it works with kids |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza | Mother (Kødbyen) | Shareable; buzzy warehouse setting |
| Burgers | Halifax (multiple) | Kids’ burgers; casual; everywhere |
| Brunch | Souls (Vesterbro) | Broad menu; vegan options; communal |
| Street food | Reffen (Refshaleøen) | 30+ stalls; pick your own; outdoor |
| Smørrebrød | Hallernes (Torvehallerne) | Sample a piece at a time |
| Italian | Pomodoro (Nørrebro) | Pasta and pizza; family-run |
| Danish classic | Café Wilder (Christianshavn) | Canal-side, since 1947 |
| Ice cream | Hansens Is (multiple) | Daily flavours; a Copenhagen ritual |
| Asian | Sticks’n’Sushi | Kids love sushi; multiple branches |
| Mexican | Hija de Sanchez | Tacos; Vesterbro and Refshaleøen |
Quick and Cheap When Everyone’s Starving
Copenhagen is pricey, so it helps to know the budget saviours:
- Danish hot dogs — a street classic at 30–50 DKK
- Salam falafel (Nørrebro) — the city’s best, around 75 DKK
- Lagkagehuset — the Danish bakery chain, 35–95 DKK
- A Netto picnic — a full supermarket spread for a park lunch, 80–150 DKK
Our cheap eats in Copenhagen guide has plenty more.
How to Make It Easy
- High chairs are near-universal — you rarely need to ask twice.
- Changing facilities are standard at cafés, restaurants and attractions.
- Book weekend brunch — the popular spots fill fast.
- Lean into communal seating — Reffen, Mother and Bastard all suit restless kids.
- Eat outdoors April–October — kids can move, and everyone’s more relaxed.
- Ask for smaller portions — most places happily oblige.
- Tivoli’s halls save picky-eater days — there’s always something.
- Book an early sitting — 17:30 is calm before the evening rush.
- Tipping isn’t expected — service is included.
- Build in an ice cream — a small bribe goes a long way.
What to Expect Dining Out in Copenhagen
A few things are worth knowing before you sit down. Danish restaurants run on a later schedule than you might be used to – lunch peaks around noon to one, and dinner service doesn’t really get going until 19:30. That’s actually good news with kids: book a 17:30 or 18:00 table and you’ll have a calm, quiet room and unhurried staff, rather than fighting for attention at the peak-time crush.
Portions tend to be generous and prices are high across the board, so sharing is both accepted and sensible – a single pizza or a couple of smorrebrod pieces will often do two small children. Tap water is excellent and free everywhere, so there’s no need to buy bottled, and asking for a jug for the table is completely normal. Allergies and dietary needs are handled matter-of-factly; Danish kitchens are used to accommodating them, and vegetarian and vegan options are widespread rather than an afterthought.
One more small thing that makes life easier: Copenhagen’s famous bakery culture means there’s a Lagkagehuset or a neighbourhood bakery on almost every corner, open from early morning. When a child hits the wall between meals – which, inevitably, they will – a cardamom bun and a bench in a park solves most crises far faster than hunting for a full sit-down meal.
Where to Leave the Kids at Home
Some of Copenhagen’s best restaurants simply aren’t built for children, and there’s no shame in saving them for a date night:
- Noma — a four-hour tasting menu; not a kids’ outing
- Alchemist and Geranium — long, formal, adults-only in spirit
- Manfreds and the natural-wine bars — grown-up in atmosphere
- Cocktail bars like Lidkoeb — adults only
- Schønnemann — a slow, traditional smørrebrød lunch; fine for older, patient kids
Family Restaurants in Copenhagen: FAQs
Are Copenhagen restaurants kid-friendly?
Overwhelmingly, yes. Casual restaurants welcome children as a matter of course — high chairs everywhere, kids’ menus common, changing facilities standard and nobody fazed by a bit of noise.
What’s the single best family restaurant?
Mother pizza for the atmosphere and sharing, Reffen for variety and outdoor space (April–October), Souls for brunch, Halifax for a reliable casual meal, and Hallernes for a gentle Danish smørrebrød introduction.
Do restaurants have kids’ menus?
Most casual ones do — burger joints, pizzerias and brunch spots especially. Higher-end fine dining generally doesn’t, since kids are rarer there. Tivoli’s food halls have the widest kid-friendly spread.
Best brunch with kids?
Souls in Vesterbro (broad, veggie-friendly), Bevar’s in Nørrebro (with a play area), Café Wilder in Christianshavn (classic Danish) and Hart Bageri for a bakery-café. See our best brunch guide.
Where to eat near Tivoli with kids?
Tivoli’s own food halls (park admission needed), or just outside: Hallernes at Torvehallerne (a 5-minute walk), Mother in Vesterbro (about 10 minutes) and the central Halifax branches.
Are they stroller-friendly?
Universally. High chairs, space for prams and changing facilities are all standard. Our full stroller guide covers eating out with a pram in detail.
Can we bring a baby?
Absolutely — babies are welcomed everywhere casual. Staff will warm a bottle without being asked, and changing facilities are the norm. Our full toddler guide has more on dining with the youngest.
What are the cheapest family meals?
Danish hot dogs (30–50 DKK), Salam falafel (around 75 DKK), Hallernes smørrebrød (60–110 DKK) and shared Mother pizza. A Netto supermarket picnic in a park is cheapest of all. Our cheap eats guide has more.
Related reading
Final Thoughts
Eating out is one of the least stressful parts of a family trip to Copenhagen. The city treats children as welcome guests rather than a problem to manage — high chairs, kids’ menus and changing tables come as standard, and the casual food scene is genuinely good. Book an early sitting, favour communal tables, keep an ice cream in reserve, and save Noma for a night off. Plan the rest of the trip with our Copenhagen with kids guide and the full complete guide to the city’s food scene.
Last updated: July 2026. Photo credits: Copenhagen Tourism image library.
