DarkMagic..."cheap" and Copenhagen simply do not fit. However, having tried smorrebrod in a few places, we ended up at what many consider the best in town...Ida Davidsen's...ain't cheap..but a worthwhile experience while in Copenhagen.

It's on an upscale street (Bredgade, if I recall)and easy to find. If Ida is standing around in her toque, she will personally recommend the smorrebrod of the day. In our case she fawned over her latest lobster creation among three or four other favorites.. .each delicious, indeed, expensive, yes. All in all, we were able to walk out after a most satisfying and varied selection of "open faces" without totally crippling the grandchildren's inheritance.
Stu

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/u81oJdMBvAjSJO0gTA04UE-FEn7ft7KkveRBUkVBwZo?feat=directlinkhttps://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/u81oJdMBvAjSJO0gTA04UE-FEn7ft7KkveRBUkVBwZo?feat=directlink

We had a great lunch of open-faced sandwiches at Kanal Cafeen in central Copenhagen. I'm not sure if they are open in the evening. I believe that their sandwiches are less expensive than Ida's. The above link is a picture of the sandwiches we ordered (4 sandwiches for the two of us).

Agree that Ida's is great. I had one with the tiniest bay shrimp on dark bread with a homemade mayo (sot of) that was to die for. Then a roast beef with horseradish (again sort of).

At a certain point you have to decide when to stretch the budget.

At a certain point you have to decide when to stretch the budget.

So well said, nyt. As I always comment, when you're spending more than you wish to for an ocasional meal, six weeks later "it just don't make no difference"...

Copenhagen and Ida's...

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/Denmark#

There is nothing "cheap" in Copenhagen. If you're looking for cheap you are visiting the wrong city.

www.kanalcafeen.dk, www.tivolihallen.dk, www.cafesorgenfri.dk. All 3 of them old traditionel cafées with open sandwiches.

Well it looks like the sandwiches (small, open sandwiches - one is NOT a meal) start at about $10 each and a water or soft drink starts at about $5. So this is about $25-$30 for a light lunch.

If this seems like too much - agree that you probably shouldn't be visiting Scandinavia.

Ida's was on the top of my list. Then i read that it is not open on Saturday and of course wouldn’t you know it that is the day that i will be there. I thought that it was really odd was a deli type place, that is supposedly so popular would be closed on Saturday.

Not even sure why i used the word "cheap" in my description. Authentic is the route i meant to go with this. I am not worried with breaking the bank with one day! I have been to Iceland so i assume the other countries are going to be much of the same high price wise.

We had wonderful smorrebrod at in Nyhaven,off the harbor area,at Told og Snaps. The locals dining there were very helpful suggesting which sandwiches we should order.We loved every one of them.
If you want to feel like Copenhagen is reasonably priced, visit Norway first. All of the Scandinavian countries are very expensive.

You may find this article helpful:


http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/eating-frugally-in-copenhagen/

Authentic places are Cafe Songenfri as already suggested:-
http://www.cafesorgenfri.dk/

In the Tivoli Gardens there is Restaurant Groften which is a very traditional old Danish restaurant.

http://www.groeften.dk/

Yeah, Ida is a treat. I lived in Copenhagen for many summers and used to just go to the department store's cafeteria to get them. I used to eat at Magasin department store a lot.

There was/is a place across from the main train station. It might not be there anymore as I really didn't look when I was last there in 2009.

Happy Travels!

Top floor at Magasin still serve open faced sandwiches plus a variety of traditional Danish dishes eg roast pork with red cabbage. You also get a view of the Danish Theatre, we have lunch there when in Copenhagen and looking for a less expensive meal.

Another place we often eat open faced sandwiches or have the herring buffet is at Bof & Ost, in a lovely old square.

http://www.boef-ost.dk/english/lunch/