DIS Blog

Best bites: A gluten- and dairy-free guide to Copenhagen

A piece of (gluten-free) cake!

Before coming abroad, I thought I was going to struggle to find gluten and dairy-free food. Back home, I knew of all the places in town that were safe for me to eat at and where the gluten-free section was located in every local grocery store. That said, I was definitely hesitant to come abroad because I just wasn’t sure if there were going to be any feasible diet options for me. As someone with celiac disease, it is way more complicated to find a restaurant I can trust due to the issue of cross-contamination. Luckily, Copenhagen is a dietetic person’s heaven, so finding places to eat at was a piece of (gluten-free) cake.

Now that I’ve been in Copenhagen for over two months, I’ve finally found my favorite gluten and dairy-free spots. Not only are these some of my favorites, they are also reasonably priced which is great for a college student with limited funds. Whether you want a quick bite to eat or a delicious Danish pastry, these are some of the city’s best allergy-friendly eateries!

For a snack in between classes

7-11

This might come as a surprise to some, but 7-11 has become my go-to place for when I’m hungry in between classes. Back home, 7-11 is notoriously known for being a one-stop-shop for junk food. But in Copenhagen, the dietary options are endless. Some of the gluten and dairy free options include: instant oatmeal from Grød, kanelsnegl (cinnamon buns), granola bars, pre-made salads, fruit and much more.

Price of food: 25 DKK for instant oatmeal, 19 DKK for kanelsnegl
Price range: $
Dietary options: gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian

For your pastry fix

Landbageriet

Located a short five-minute walk from Nørreport Station (and a 10-minute walk from Vestergade), Landbageriet offers some of the city’s best vegan and gluten-free pastries. The top two shelves of the bakery are strictly gluten-free and vegan, while the bottom two are only vegan. It is likely that cross-contamination could happen since the vegan pastries are not gluten-free, so just be aware of that in case you decide to stop by. In addition to pastries, Landbageriet sells freshly baked loaves of gluten-free bread and miscellaneous gluten-free items such as pasta, soy sauce and knækbrød.

Price of food: 25 DKK for an almond cookie
Price range: $$
Dietary options: gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian

When you want some comfort food

Blue Taco

The first stop on the comfort food train is Blue Taco, an authentic Mexican street food restaurant in Nørrebro. This is the perfect place to go when you’re craving Mexican cuisine. Most of their menu is gluten-free, including the quesadillas, nachos, burrito bowls and (drum roll please) churros! The menu also includes tacos of course which are gluten-free (some are also dairy-free).

Price of food: 4 tacos for 100 DKK (“Taco Tuesday” special, otherwise 3 for 100 DKK)
Price range: $$
Dietary options: gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian

Grød

Moving on to my personal favorite comfort food – oatmeal! There’s nothing better than a hearty bowl of oatmeal, or porridge if you’re from Europe, on a gloomy Copenhagen day and that’s why I treat myself to Grød at least once a week. Grød offers both gluten and dairy-free porridge (made with almond milk). My order usually consists of porridge with some peanut butter and chocolate chips, but you can also get savory porridge or gluten-free risotto if you prefer. You also have the option of choosing a small/large – I usually get the large since it is only a 10 DKK difference AND you’ll have leftovers if you don’t finish it all!

Price of food: 50/60 DKK for a small/large bowl
Price range: $
Dietary options: gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan

When you want to treat yourself

Social

Just across the bridge into Nørrebro is Social, a very hygge café that has a few gluten and dairy-free options. If you ever want a break from the local coffee shops, Social is the best place to go if you need to study while also getting a tasty meal in. When you first look at their menu, you’ll see that there aren’t many dedicated gluten-free options, but don’t be afraid to ask the staff for gluten-free substitutes.

Price of food: 89 DKK for (very) large bowl of glass noodles
Price range: $$
Dietary options: gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian

42RAW

This place is for those that aren’t able to indulge in traditional Danish smørrebrød due to dietary restrictions, but still want a little taste of the Danish cuisine. I don’t know about anyone else with a gluten allergy, but I constantly crave sandwiches. At 42RAW they offer amazing open-faced sandwiches and are super careful about cross contamination. They make sure to toast the gluten-free bread in a separate oven and change their gloves when making it. Also listed on their menu are acai bowls, vegan burgers, quinoa bowls and “milkshakes!”

Price of food: 89 DKK for an avocado sandwich
Price range: $$
Dietary options: gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian

When you want to go back to basics

Føtex

For basic cooking essentials, Føtex is the best grocery store for those with dietary restrictions – might I add that you can also use your DIS food stipend here! At Føtex, you’ll find a wide variety of gluten and dairy-free products including plant-based milk, gluten-free bread, rice cakes, granola, knækbrød, etc.

Price of food: 24 DKK for gluten-free knækbrød
Price range: $
Dietary options: gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian

Until it’s time for me to pack my bags and leave this amazing city full of delicious bites, the quest for gluten and dairy-free eateries in Copenhagen continues. Happy eating!