Torvehallerne

Copenhagen's food-lovers' market

Torvehallerne are two light-filled glass market halls on Israels Plads, right next to Nørreport station. Opened in September 2011, they have become a meeting point for anyone who loves good food – locals on their way to work as much as visitors. The location could hardly be more central: Nørreport, a hub for the metro, S-train and regional trains, is just a few minutes' walk away, and the shopping street Strøget or the Round Tower are both within easy reach.

History: from Grønttorvet to glass halls

Israels Plads has a long market tradition. Until 1958 it was home to the city's fruit and vegetable market, Grønttorvet, before that moved to Valby. The idea of building covered market halls here again goes back to architect Hans Peter Hagens (Arkitekturværkstedet), who first proposed it in 1997. After delays and an insolvency linked to the financial crisis, property company Jeudan took over the project and saw it through to its 2011 opening. The result is two parallel glass-and-steel halls, each around 50 metres long and just over 24 metres wide, with an open-air fruit, vegetable and flower market in between.

More than 60 stalls

The two halls and the square between them hold, by official count, more than 60 stalls – everything from fresh fish, cheese, fruit and flowers to countless places to grab a bite. A small selection that captures the character of the place:

• The Coffee Collective – one of the city's best-known specialty coffee roasters.
• Hallernes Smørrebrød – classic Danish open sandwiches, a must for first-timers.
• GRØD – porridge in many varieties, popular for breakfast and lunch.
• Ma Poule – French, famous for its confit-de-canard sandwich.
• Hija de Sanchez – Mexican tacos from a former Noma chef.
• Summerbird – Danish chocolate and pralines for afterwards.

It's an easy way to work through Danish cuisine and international street food side by side.

Visiting: the practicalities

Visiting is straightforward: entry is free – just walk in and have a look around. You only pay at the individual stalls, and prices are given in Danish kroner (DKK); card payment and MobilePay are widely accepted across Denmark. Allow 45 to 90 minutes for an unhurried wander with a snack along the way.

• Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10:00–19:00, Sat & Sun 10:00–18:00; coffee and the bakery open from 07:00.
• Best time: mornings are quieter; it gets busiest around midday, roughly 12:00–14:00, as half of Copenhagen stops by for lunch.
• Getting there: Nørreport station (metro M1/M2, S-train, regional trains) is right next door.
• Special hours: public holidays are usually 10:00–18:00, with some stalls varying – check torvehallernekbh.dk in advance if in doubt.

Good to combine with

Torvehallerne isn't really a must-see for architecture or history – it's simply the best spot in the city for a high-quality, no-fuss lunch break between two sights. It sits in Indre By (the city centre) and pairs well with the nearby Round Tower or a stroll along Strøget. For more on Copenhagen's food scene, see the guides to street food and food and drink.