24-hour Guide to Copenhagen with Chef, Mati Pichci.
While in Copenhagen we met up with chef, music aficionado, and all around creative, Mati Pichci, who took us to his ‘go-to’ spots around the city. From swimming holes to wine bars, Mati gave us the local’s scoop on where to eat, drink, and relax in Copenhagen.
Our first stop was Mati’s restaurant and brainchild, Amator, in Copenhagen’s Østerbro neighborhood. Open only for breakfast and lunch, Amator is home to, what we felt, is Copenhagen’s best omelette. Beyond the food, Mati puts an emphasis on music and hospitality within the space - regularly hosting DJs and having all patrons share the same family-style table.
Then, as most Copenhagen-locals do, we jumped on bikes (Mati’s being a large yellow ‘freight’ bicycle) and headed to Sonny, Mati’s favorite local cafe for a coffee and traditional Danish meal: Smørrebrød. Essentially an open faced sandwich on rich rye-bread, Smørrebrød is about as Danish as it gets and can be topped with just about anything - although traditionally topped with pickles vegetables and cured fish.
After a morning bite at Sonny, we headed across town and over the harbor to the Refshaleøen neighborhood. Although it used to be an industrial island, it’s since been connected to the main city and transformed into an area of outdoor dining, parks, and swimming spots. Mati had his eye on jumping in the water at La Banchina, a restaurant and swimming dock on the harbor. Despite it being late August, the air was beginning to feel like fall and it made the plunge that much more daunting - but, the water was refreshing and made my appetite for lunch all the better. After a dip , some oysters, and some fried fish, I was convinced that this would not be my only trip to La Banchina that week! It was magic!
On our ride back towards the city center, we passed through fields and over canals in what felt like the countryside, yet it was only a 10 minute cycle from downtown. Around one bend was Mati’s first place of work in Copenhagen, the legendary restaurant, Noma. Nestled within a wildflower field, Noma was Mati’s first experience as a chef in Copenhagen, working as an intern years ago - an experience which helped form his perspective and enthusiasm towards the city’s food scene.
Our next destination with Mati came as a combo, a glass or two of wine at Ved Stranden and then a bit of clothing shopping at Mati’s go-to shop, Jan Machenhauer, around the corner. At our Sabah Houses I’ve always felt like wine and shopping go together quite nicely, so I felt right at home!
Our final stop of the day was dinner at one of the most iconic restaurants in Copenhagen, Kødbyens Fiskebar. Set in the city’s old meatpacking district, the facade of Fiskebar has the feel of a Berlin nightclub, but has some of the most thoughtful and elegant seafood I’ve had in years. Bright flavors, fresh local fish, and a fantastic wine pairing. Mati directed me through the menu with a seasoned hand and I left feeling like I’d sampled the best of Scandinavia’s seafood.
Mati was a thoughtful and charismatic guide all day and I left Copenhagen knowing I’d seen the city through the eyes of a local. If you’re ever in Copenhagen, I hope this can serve as a handy guide to what I learned to be an absolutely charming city!
