The 5 Best Places to Visit in Reffen (Refshaleoen), Copenhagen

Refshaleøen, often referred to as Reffen, is an artificial island in Copenhagen that was once the bustling site of Burmeister & Wain, one of Europe’s largest shipyards that employed 8,000 workers at its peak. After the shipyard closed in 1996, the area fell into neglect, attracting only a few enthusiasts drawn to its raw, industrial atmosphere. In recent years, however, improved access through ferry buses and a bicycle bridge, combined with the efforts of visionary entrepreneurs, has transformed Reffen into a thriving hub with around 200 businesses. Today, it offers a unique blend of attractions, from art centers and design studios to gourmet dining and music festivals, while retaining its industrial heritage. These are the 5 best places to visit in Reffen, a can’t-miss destination in Copenhagen most alive from March to September.

P.S. Here’s how to get to Reffen without a car!

Reffen is the largest street food market in Northern Europe. It’s designed to blend in with its maritime and industrial surroundings and has a strong focus on reuse. Permanent stalls are housed in repurposed shipping containers that now serve as kitchens, each reflecting the culture of the food being served. There are 35 food stalls serving street food from across the globe, alongside bars, creative workshops, and vintage clothing shops. Since it’s primarily an outdoor space, Reffen is usually open from March to September and hosts concerts, festivals, and events throughout the season. If you’re in Copenhagen when Reffen is open, don’t miss it. It’s one of the coolest and most unique places I’ve ever been to.

Alchemist is a two-Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant known for its highly experimental, immersive dining experience that aims to broaden our understanding of the concept of dining. It’s regarded as one of the best and most exclusive restaurants in the world. Led by chef Rasmus Munk, the restaurant offers a transcendent, multi-sensory, four to six-hour journey through a meal of up to 50 courses that combine art, science, and gastronomy. Most of the courses are edible, but some are purely experiential. Each is designed to challenge perceptions and often highlights social or environmental issues to create change.

Copenhagen Contemporary is the city’s top contemporary art gallery, showcasing installation art created by both established and emerging artists. Housed in a former welding facility, the spacious industrial setting allows for monumental artworks that often engage with light, sound, and space. Copenhagen Contemporary also hosts educational programs, artist talks, and creative workshops for children.

Lille Bakery is not only one of the best places to visit in Reffen, it’s one of the best bakeries in all of Copenhagen. The bakery is committed to quality ingredients and sustainability, and you can taste it. All products, including wheat, are sourced from local, small-scale farmers. It’s one of the only bakeries in the city (if not the only!) to sell rye bread – the foundation of Danish cuisine – that’s made with 100% Danish-grown ingredients. I highly recommend their mushroom and pine nut roll pastry (absolute perfection). People also love their Berliners, but try whatever they have when you visit – it will be great.

La Banchina is a laid-back restaurant, café, and natural wine bar on the waterfront. With its own dock and wood-fired sauna, it’s one of the best places in the city for sunbathing and swimming year-round. Everything LA Banchina serves is natural, organic, biodynamic, and locally sourced, so expect farm-to-table vegetarian and pescatarian dishes, coffee and baked goods, and low-intervention clean wines.