Borgen is back - where to stay, eat and drink Borgen style in Copenhagen

It all began 10 years ago when season 1 premiered on BBC Four on 7 January 2012. The Danish series quickly morphed into one of Scandinavia's biggest television exports, and now it returns with Sidse Babett Knudsen playing the role of Denmark’s Minister of Foreign Affairs working out of Copenhagen.

Discover the Danish capital through the lens of Birgitte Nyborg, and stay, eat, and drink Borgen style in Copenhagen. The Danish political drama premiered on Netflix to a global audience on 2 June 2022.

• Borgen is a Danish political drama television series created by Adam Price and co-writers Jeppe Gjervig Gram and Tobias Lindholm.
• The programme, tells how, against all the odds, Birgitte Nyborg Christensen (Sidse Babett Knudsen) - a minor centrist politician - becomes the first female prime minister of Denmark.
• Borgen first aired in 2010. Following its success two new seasons were quickly created, airing in 2011 and 2013.
• 10 years after its original release the fourth season of Borgen aired on Netflix on the 13 of February 2022.
• Four series, each comprising 8-10 episodes, have been made making the total amount of episodes 38.
• Its massive international success led to the series being sold to more than 190 countries worldwide.
• In Danish, Borgen is the informal name of Christiansborg Palace where all three branches of Danish government reside: the Parliament, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme Court, and is often used as a stand-in term for the Danish parliament.

The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is beautifully located next to old warehouses and right on the water. The next-door neighbour with an equally impressive location is the newly opened 5-star Hotel NH Collection Copenhagen. The hotel is located right in the centre of Denmark’s “power axis”: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the right, the Ministry of Tax to the left, Arne Jacobsen’s National Bank, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Trade and Food in the building just across the water - and behind these, visible from the waterfront rooms at NH Hotel, Christiansborg Palace (Borgen) reigns supreme - Website / Press photos.

In season 3, Birgitte Nyborg decides to create her own party, The New Democrats. She starts looking for office space, and a real estate agent takes her to a run-down factory – a former blacksmith workshop. Birgitte falls in love with this building full of grit, soul and history, and her new political adventure starts here. The inside of the building is a movie set, but when filmed on the outside, it’s Restaurant Il Buco. Back when Borgen’s 3rd season was shot, the people behind Il Buco had just started their new journey, like Birgitte, but today Il Buco is one of the hip restaurants in town, where innovative Italian food is served together with trendy natural wines and local organic produce - Website / Press photos. 

Adam Price is not only the talented screenplay and theatre writer behind Borgen. In Denmark, he is very well known for his food tv-show 'Spise med Price' (Dining with Price), and for his Danish restaurants, which he runs together with his brother James Price. 
 
Try Borgen’s screenplay writer’s cooking at Brøderne Price’s restaurant close to Rosenborg Castle named Brdr. Price Rosenborggade, or at Brdr. Price's restaurant in the Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. The two food-loving brothers serve classical Danish food with smørrebrød - open-faced sandwiches - for lunch, while the evening menu offers high-quality bistro dishes, whereas their Tivoli restaurant is all about burgers and comfort food in Tivoli’s vintage, beautiful surroundings.  
 
Fun fact: When Tivoli first opened back in the 1840s, the Price family worked there as artists at the Pantomime Theater, which today is the only one still active in the world. Now the family is back at Tivoli Gardens, but this time behind the kitchen counter - Website / Press Photos.

In Borgen’s new season, the first episode starts with a meeting between Denmark and China taking place with two very cute diplomatic guests: two pandas. At Bistro Panpan, you can eat right next to the giant panda Xing Er, and sometimes you might also meet his partner, Mao Sun, at the Panda House designed by the Danish world-famous architect Bjarke Ingels - Website / Press Photos.

In the 4th season, Birgitte Nyborg is close to losing her ministry and asks whether her team has prepared a farewell reception with strawberry cake - which politicians often get when they get fired - from Conditori La Glace. A classical favourite amongst locals, travellers, celebrities, and many politicians from the “real” Borgen, La Glace is the oldest and one of the best confectioneries in Copenhagen, with more than 150 years of experience and history. 
 
La Glace’s strawberry cake is served during the summertime, between mid-May and September, as La Glace only uses Danish strawberries when they are in season. The people behind La Glace recommend it together with their La Glace Teen, a black tea infused with rose petals, orange peel, vanilla and a slight hint of cinnamon - Website / Press photos.

In the 4th season, Birgitte lives alone and dedicates 100% of her time to her job. Close to a breakdown, she invites her constituted arctic ambassador out for wine and seafood at one of Copenhagen’s most popular hangouts by the water: Kayak Bar. Kayak Bar is located right in front of Birgitte Nyborg’s ministry, in front of Arne Jacobsen’s National Bank and below Knippelsbro bridge, which is often shown during Borgen’s 4th season. Kayak Bar offers seafood, drinks, live concerts, and a floating beach, as well as guided kayak tours around Copenhagen’s clean, picturesque harbour, with its narrow canals and coloured houses combined with cutting-edge Danish architecture. For travellers who would like to help keep the canals clean, Kayak Bar is one of the starting points for The Green Kayak, a free tandem kayak that can be lent for two hours with ocean clean-up gear onboard. Remember to book online well in advance, as it is an extremely popular experience - Website / Press photos.

The coloured houses and idyllic canals make Christianshavn unique and one of Copenhagen’s most picturesque districts. This is where TV1’s journalist Katrine Fønsmark lives in the series Borgen. You will find Katrine’s door, where Kasper usually waits for her, at the address Overgaden Oven Vandet 48. Nearby, at Café Wilder, is where she stumbles upon Kasper and his new girlfriend, Lotte. You can stop here for coffee or for a glass of wine and enjoy some seafood in Copenhagen’s most maritime district - Website / Press photos.

Christiansborg, the former Royal Palace, is now home to the Danish Parliament where Borgen takes place and can be explored by travellers in many ways -
Website / Press photos: 

• Guided tours of the Danish Parliament – It’s free of charge and has a duration of 45 minutes.  
• Attend a Danish parliament session among all the Danish politicians. Make sure to book a session in advance. 
• Dine on top of Christiansborg’s Tower (Press photos) with stunning views over the city centre while enjoying a lovely meal of Danish classics at Meyer’s restaurant.  
• Enjoy the city from the highest spot in Copenhagen. With its 106 meters, The Tower of the Danish Parliament offers spectacular views overlooking different streets, historic buildings and features across the city and its many interesting neighbourhoods. 
• The Royal Representation Rooms (Press photos) at Christiansborg Palace are used by the Queen for official occasions. They are richly adorned with furniture and works of art by some of the best Danish artists, such as Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard, Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, and contemporary artist Bjørn Nørgaard. 
• The Ruins and The Old Kitchens (Press photos) at Christiansborg Palace constitute the remnants of an older castle in which political prisoners and other criminals were held captive many years ago. 
• The Royal Stables (Press photos) was inaugurated in 1740 and are used by the Queen during larger parties at Christiansborg Palace. In the Royal Stables’ Harness Museum, stands also the former King's and Queen's carriages. 
• The Christiansborg Palace Chapel (Press photos) dates back to the time of the original Christiansborg Palace and has provided the setting for Danish Royal weddings and other ceremonial events.

Put on some comfortable shoes, rent a bike or even a boat and let your trip of the day be the Harbour Circle. The route snakes its way through the neighbourhoods Islands Brygge, Amager, Sydhavnen, Vesterbro, the Inner City, Holmen, and Christianshavn, and you will stumble upon some of the most beautiful Borgen locations: 

• TV1’s headquarter, where Katrine Fønsmark and her colleagues break news about Borgen’s politics, is located in the maritime neighbourhood of Christianshavn at Nicolai Eigtveds Gade 28. 
   
• Havneholmen is a great example of Danish architecture by Lene Tranberg, and you will recognise that this is the residential complex where Kasper Juul’s former girlfriend lives. Havneholmen is known for its full-white look and its peculiar shape, featuring huge windows popping out of the facade, mooring spots inside the building’s tiny canals, and balconies facing Copenhagen’s clean harbour, where locals can be spotted going for a dip all year round - Press photos.
   
• Islands Brygge: Katrine’s favourite running spot. This former industrial area has changed a lot during the past decade, becoming not only Katrine Fønsmark’s, but also many locals’ favourite spot for outdoor activities or just to hang out in Copenhagen. A former mooring spot for ships from Iceland, Islands Brygge features quite a few examples of modern Danish architecture designed for life. Walk or take your bike on Bryggebroen - one of the most iconic car-free bicycle bridges in Copenhagen – and look up to admire Gemini Residence: two former industrial silos turned into modern apartments overlooking the sea. Take a jog along the harbour like Katrine always does and end your workout by jumping into the clean water of Copenhagen’s Canals at Bjarke Ingels’ iconic harbour bath - Press photos.

If you are a fan of Birgitte Nyborg you don’t want to miss Nordic Noir Tours’ Borgen tour. Here, you will explore the Danish Parliament, Christiansborg, and its beautiful surroundings, which were used in the series. Walk underneath the arches where the politicians can be seen plotting and hear how the show both inspired and got inspired by Danish business and politics. At the main entrance, you can spot the place where Birgitte Nyborg parks her bike. On the other side of the water, behind the Black Diamond, you might also recognise the glass building where the TV1 editorial team works from. The tour will finish in the canals district Christianshavn, where Kasper Juul, Birgitte’s spin doctor in past seasons once more attempted to conquer the heart of the beautiful journalist Katrine Fønsmark - Website.

If you are looking for a classic, Danish smørrebrød with herring, snaps, egg, and shrimps, Slotskælderen is the place to go. Slotskælderen is a popular place to eat lunch. Here they serve cold as well as hot dishes - and of course, snaps en masse. The restaurant is originally from 1910 and still has an authentic atmosphere. Slotskælderen is only a stone's throw away from Christiansborg and is often frequented by Danish politicians - Website / Press photos.

Rumour has it that Brønnum’s cocktail bar is a favourite after-work meeting spot for politicians from Christiansborg. Brønnum's old rooms have been used as a café, bar, and restaurant for more than 125 years. People from all social classes have frequented the bar, including many famous Danish musicians, artists, and writers such as H. C. Andersen. The speakeasy-style cocktail bar consists of six rooms, and the entrance and main bar are set with brighter lights and upbeat music. As you move through the rooms, they become darker and more intimate. If you're looking for a more private space to host your secret lodge meeting, Brønnum's private dining room will do the trick. You can top it off with one of their Cuban cigars, now you're at it - Website.

A bar where Danish politicians notoriously hang out and sometimes are guest bartenders. Their unofficial motto is “What is said at Toga, stays at Toga” - Website.