copenhagen: best pastries?

[rubadubgdub]

Which are the best bakeries/cafes in Copenhagen to enjoy delicious pastries? in the U.S., yeasted pastries eaten for breakfast are called danishes, so I'm curious whether there is any such thing in Denmark. When in Iceland, my favorite was a very long, wide pastry with a thin layer of almond paste and custard, chocolate icing, pastry like a napoleon?, so I'm hoping for something similar here. Specifically I'm in search of pastries rather than to desserts that one might have at a restaurant.

[Copenlove]

Although this might be a little late for the original poster, I would like to add a name to the bowl which I am surprised has not yet been uttered in this thread - Meyer's Bageri (Jægersborggade, Nørrebro, Copenhagen).

Claus Meyer is an institution in the Danish culinary scene and the small bakery he has in Jægersborggade is magnificent. I'm sure someone will hold other bakeries higher, but for me there is no other match in Copenhagen. The breads are wonderful and the pastries as well! 'Kanelsnurra', 'Brunsviger', 'Hindbærsnitte' - everything they do is made as it should and tastes so ever good!

And if you've ventured to that area, I suggest taking a cup of coffee at The Coffee Collective just across the street to accompany your bakery indulgences! A combo made in heaven!

[escargot3]

And The Coffee Collective also has the most delicious croissants...

[rubadubgdub]

I didn't get to try all of the bakeries as I had hoped due to holiday closures. My favorites on this visit were Cafe Rosa (I loved this little stand in Torvehallerne offering an exceptional princess pie; it reminded me of Japan with their obsession for cute + artisanal), Emmery's (a new favorite pastry is their tebirkes--perfect crunch of tiny poppyseeds, skim coat of marzipan, flaky croissant layers) and Laura's (best overskaren that I tried, very fresh custard, not too sweet). I also visited La Glace (pastries were very good, the cakes looked great but didn't always taste great), Bageri Skt. Petri and Sø Konditoriet. The bread throughout my visit was exceptional, soulful, easily better than most of than the artisanal bread in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I'm from.

[escargot3]

I begged the bread baker at Torvehallerne's Italian bread little stand to come to the Bay Area and set up a store. I promised he'd be an amazing success. Makes Acme Bread seem like kiddy stuff by comparison.

[currycue]

I quite enjoyed the pastries at Bageri Skt. Petri (Copenhagen's oldest). far superior to the ones at Lakageshuset.

[Nancy S.]

The best "danish", called vienna brod in Denmark, is baked at Lagkagehuset (Torvegade 45).

[Transplant_DK]

Not sure I'd go for Lagkagehuset anymore. They got busted for poor kitchen hygiene a few months ago.

You might try Det Rene Brød (the pure bread) or any of these:

Enghave Konditori - Enghave Plads 7 - in Vesterbrø
Johansen's Konditori - Amagerbrøgade 48- in Amager
La Glace - Skoubogade 3 - downtown, Denmarks oldest
Reinh. van Hauen - Gammel Kongevej 177 - in Frederiksberg
Sø Konditoriet - Nørrebrogade 12 - in Nørrebro

[Nancy S.]

How sad about Lagkagehuset -- I remember the "Danish" fondly. I didn't love La Glace's pastries, though.

[Transplant_DK]

You're not the first person who has been disappointed with La Glace's, Nancy. I usually recommend it because it's sort of an icon, but it's not my favorite either.

[rubadubgdub]

OK, I visited La Glace and got the vienna brod and another pastry with marzipan and icing. Very good. Perhaps not transcendent, but well made. I'm most excited to try a rhubarb white chocolate cake slice (det gyldne tarn) for dessert tonight. If this is considered disappointing, I look forward to the rest!

[rubadubgdub]

Many thanks for so many choices. I'm willing and able to try all. I did see my coveted pastry today @ Torvehallerne Lauras Bakery. They call it overskaren. It was late in the day so I didn't buy it but I will soon and report back. I must admit that looking at a few bakeries today (Emmerys, Cafe Rosa) gave me high hopes for deliciousness.

[Transplant_DK]

Emery's is quite good for breads--they have an incredible rugbrødsbolle (rye bread roll) that they use for sandwiches. The tuna sandwich on the dark roll is amazing.

Torvehallerne is pretty cool, and Lauras Bakery is getting some nice write ups. I haven't tried anything from there.

[Nancy S.]

I love Emery's bread as well. I had a dried beef and cheese sandwich,with butter, that was simply perfect.

[rubadubgdub]

I agree, the bread looked wonderfully complex. I bought a large bread stick/baguette with pumpkin seeds to start. I will look into the sandwiches since I'm traveling solo and unable to consume a whole loaf on my own.

[rubadubgdub]

Overskaren from Lauras was very good, especially the custard. This version had icing but no chocolate and less almond base than what I remembered from Iceland, so my hunt continues.