10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Aarhus

In the middle of the Jutland capital, you can find a gem of a tapas restaurant called CANblau. And, madre mía, you can get some delicious tapas courses here. Courses which not only taste divine, but also look amazing. All the dishes are inspired by Spanish cuisine, but they are served with an innovative twist, which characterises this Nordic eatery. You can be sure that only the best and freshest Spanish ingredients are used, which is apparent in the flavours and aromas.

The professional waiters are trained in selecting the most delicate Spanish wines, which perfectly match the small courses, so you can enjoy a complete Spanish experience. ¡Buen provecho!

Klassisk 65 is a French-inspired bistro and wine bar in the heart of the City of Smiles. The bistro is on the charming Jægergårdsgade, which is always full of warmth and a great atmosphere. And Klassisk 65 is a big contributor to this atmosphere! They proved this in 2015, when they surpassed all the large restaurants and took home the year’s “Feel Good” award.

Step inside the relaxing atmosphere, enjoy a few delicious French delicacies, which are also available in vegetarian versions, and sip some full-bodied French red wine without worrying about tomorrow’s headache.

Just two minutes from Aarhus Central Station (Aarhus Hovedbanegård), you can find Nordisk Spisehus. This modern restaurant – as the name implies – is very much inspired by Nordic cuisine, which is expressed in the wonderfully-prepared and aesthetically-presented Nordic ingredients.

Nordisk Spisehus won Tripadvisor’s “Travellers’ Choice” award in 2020 due to its excellent customer reviews. This should not come as a surprise if you consider that, over the years, Nordisk Spisehus has cooperated with some of the world’s most renowned Michelin chefs.

Located in the heart of Aarhus centre, you can find restaurant KöD. The name is derived from the Danish word for meat, and although the menu has no shortage of meat dishes, it is more than just big juicy steaks and red tartare. You can also find different fish courses, salads and vegetarian steaks on the menu, as well as appetising sides like mushrooms sautéed in butter and truffle chips.

But, if you love a good steak, you should definitely check out their wide selection and get a nice piece of meat. For example, you could order a ribeye from Uruguayan corn-fed cattle which has been matured for at least 35 days, or you could get a medium tenderloin from acorn-fed black Iberian pigs.

As soon as you set foot in Piccolina on Skolegyde right behind Aarhus Cathedral (Aarhus Domkirke), it is like stepping into an authentic Italian restaurant – in Italy! The authenticity of this Italian-owned restaurant should not be in question. Piccolina’s menu is brimming with authentic Italian courses made of quality ingredients imported from Italy. The pizza has received praise for its crisp crust and thin dough, while their focaccia has been praised through the roof by food critics.

You can also order Italian beer or – needless to say – Italian wine with your food.

Frederikshøj, with its well-deserved Michelin star and exemplary menu composition, is without question among the elite of Danish gastronomy. The gourmet restaurant’s chefs love to experiment and to find new and different ways to compose various flavour nuances. Meanwhile, the perfectly-handled but incredibly intense ingredients are perfectly balanced in each dish.

At Frederikshøj, you are thrown into an experience of luxury, from the moment you step through the door and are met by the professional staff in the reception area and until you are pampered with explosive flavours by the skilled chefs. If you want to expand your taste horizons you should select the wine menu, which is carefully matched to the flavours of the individual courses.

At Kvægtorvet in Sydhavn, at the end of Jægergårdsgade, you can find Kohalen in a listed building, which doesn’t look like much from the outside. However, on the inside, you can find a hidden historic restaurant, which has been serving traditional Danish food to the local population of Aarhus and curious tourists for over 100 years. Here, you can be served classic lunch courses, such as Danish open sandwiches, fried herring, fried beef tartare and stjerneskud (a special open sandwich with plaice).

In 2018, Kohalen won first place in the contest for Denmark’s best Danish beef sandwich (bøfsandwich), so if you love soft onions and gravy, this is a sure winner. Kohalen is only open for lunch, so it may be a good idea to book a table beforehand since the restaurant is quite popular.

Do you love juicy steaks and sumptuous drinks? You won’t find a better place for it than MASH. This stylish restaurant can be found on the bottom floor of the famous Ritz hotel chain, a stone’s throw from Aarhus Central Station (Aarhus Hovedbanegård). So, if you want to be tempted by the delicious drinks, you’ll have no problem finding your way there. MASH is mostly known for serving remarkably good steaks from the best cattle in the world.

The menu offers everything from meat heaven, for example corn-fed American young cattle, Uruguayan fillet or dry-aged ribeye. If you aren’t into meat, you can also find some vegetarian and fish courses on the menu.

Raadhuus Kaféen opened in 1924 on Sønder Allé in the centre of Aarhus and is thus one of the town’s oldest eateries. Here, you can find good, old-fashioned Danish food for lunch or dinner.

The lunch menu includes various herring, which is of course served with snaps, the classic wienerschnitzel with fried potatoes and 20 different generous open sandwiches. In the evening, guests can order authentic traditional courses, such as fried plaice fillet, stuffed patty shells, steak bearnaise and so much more. All this is served in an enchanting atmosphere.

At Memphis Roadhouse, you can get genuine American barbeque, like in the southern states. Here, copious amounts of meat are barbequed, fried and smoked, so you can sink your teeth into juicy spareribs, spicy hot wings or big, messy burgers. The owner of Memphis Roadhouse is from southern USA and takes great pride in balancing salt, spices and smoke to perfection. The ribs and barbeque sauce explode with flavour when they touch your lips.

All courses are prepared with love. This is particularly true for the pulled pork at Memphis Roadhouse, which is prepared in the oven for 13 hours before it is served.