Vækst

Greenhouse dining in Copenhagen’s Latin Quarter

Vækst sits on Sankt Peders Stræde in the historic Latin Quarter, a narrow street known for its cafés, independent shops and small restaurants. Behind a fairly discreet facade you step into a bright, plant-filled space that immediately feels like a pocket of garden tucked into the city. The restaurant is part of the Cofoco group, which is known in Copenhagen for approachable, design-led spots with a clear culinary concept. The name means “growth” in Danish, and the restaurant takes it seriously. A glasshouse structure rises through both floors of the dining room, with trailing greenery softening the lines of wood, metal and glass. Soft bulbs strung above the tables echo the feeling of a long northern summer evening, even on dark winter days, and help create the impression that you are eating in a modern urban orangery rather than in a traditional dining room.

Nordic vegetables at the heart of the menu

In the kitchen, the focus is firmly on Nordic ingredients, especially seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs. The menus are built around tasting formats that show off local produce in several small, precise courses, often with an option leaning fully vegetarian and another including fish or meat. The idea is not to exclude animal proteins but to give the limelight to greens, using meat, seafood or dairy in supporting roles. Plates tend to be cleanly composed rather than fussy, with contrasts coming from texture and acidity rather than heavy sauces. You might encounter lightly cured fish balanced by crisp root vegetables, or slow-cooked cabbage treated with the same care usually reserved for prime cuts. Desserts usually continue the theme, working with berries, apples or herbs rather than very rich chocolate-heavy endings, keeping the overall experience bright and fresh.

Design wrapped around a central glasshouse

The architecture and interior have been planned around the central greenhouse, which forms the visual anchor of the restaurant. On the ground floor, tables cluster alongside tall windows to the street, while the upper level has views over both the glasshouse and the city outside. Everywhere you look, plants soften the geometry and bring color into what is otherwise a palette of pale wood, muted textiles and simple Scandinavian lines. Lighting plays an important role in shaping the mood. As evening settles, the glow from the greenhouse mixes with discreet table lamps to create a warm, intimate atmosphere. Despite being part of a larger hospitality group and sharing a building with a boutique hotel and other venues, Vækst feels self-contained, more like a hidden garden room than a hotel restaurant.

The rhythm of a meal at Vækst

A typical visit follows the structure of a curated set menu, sometimes with small surprises between the listed courses. Many diners start with an aperitif or a glass of sparkling wine before moving into a sequence that might run from a light, raw or pickled starter through a more substantial warm dish and a dessert. There is usually a considered wine pairing available, highlighting European bottles that complement the green-driven cooking, alongside non-alcoholic pairings for those who prefer not to drink wine. The experience is designed to last a couple of unrushed hours, with courses spaced to allow conversation and time to enjoy the room. Thanks to its Latin Quarter location, the restaurant often has a pleasant background hum of activity, particularly in the evenings, while lunch can feel slightly more relaxed and daytime-bright.

Occasions, celebrations and sustainability

Vækst works both as a place for a special night out and as a stylish but not overly formal setting for lunch or early dinner. The two-level layout and the greenhouse centerpiece create pockets of semi-private space suitable for celebrations, and there is a dedicated room upstairs for slightly larger gatherings. The overall tone is polished yet accessible rather than stiff, making it as suitable for a date as for a small group meal. As part of the Cofoco group, the restaurant also sits within a broader sustainability effort that includes investment in solar energy to offset the group’s electricity use. While that aspect lives mostly behind the scenes, it matches the visible emphasis on plants and produce on the plate. Combined with its central location in walkable, bike-friendly streets, Vækst fits naturally into a more environmentally conscious way of eating and exploring Copenhagen.