Schønnemann

Why it is renowned

VisitCopenhagen names Schønnemann among the places to eat smørrebrød in the city and counts it among Copenhagen's oldest eateries, known for herring and chilled snaps since 1877.¹ Lonely Planet has named a lunch there the sixth-best dining experience in the world.²

The story

Herring, beer and brændevin have been served in the cellar on Hauser Plads since 1877, four steps down from the street.³ It began when Marie Henriksen sold packed lunches to the farmers who came in to sell their goods on Kultorvet; the cellar was later fitted with long tables and benches.³ In 1921 the owner, Erna, married the cook Petrus Schönnemann, and the place changed its name from Cafe Hauser Plads to Schönnemann.³ The family sold it in 1966 after 89 years, and the refit of that time still marks the rooms.³ Søren and John Puggaard took over in 2007; Juliette and Thomas Gaarn Rasmussen run it today.³

The menu is classic smørrebrød, warm dishes and specials, always made to order, with herring, plaice, smoked fish, tartlets and tartare among its sections.⁴ The bar pours 24 beers and more than 140 kinds of snaps.²

What to know it by

• Sild⁴Herring, the first section of the menu
• Tarteletter⁴Tartlets, a section of the menu of their own
• Snaps²More than 140 kinds behind the bar