Balderdash

A historic townhouse hiding a modern cocktail lab

Set in a 1732 house on Valkendorfsgade, Balderdash uses its centuries-old shell as a cozy backdrop for some of Copenhagen’s most forward-thinking drinks. Push through the modest entrance and you step into a low-lit bar where exposed beams, worn wood and flickering candles create instant intimacy. The building’s age is part of the charm: narrow passages, slightly uneven floors and low ceilings all add to the feeling that you have slipped into a well-kept local secret rather than a glossy lounge. Balderdash stretches across several connected rooms, with the main bar on the ground floor and snug corners that feel almost like private parlors. A discreet door leads to a smaller assembly room that is sometimes used for tastings or special events, while upper floors host a working spirits lab and a flexible kitchen. The layout encourages wandering between spaces as the night unfolds, each room offering a slightly different mood while staying firmly rooted in the same historic shell.

Culinary cocktails and seasonal experiments

What sets Balderdash apart is its almost culinary approach to cocktails. Instead of relying on a fixed list of classics, the team builds menus around seasons and ideas, treating local produce as a starting point for experimentation. Summer might bring drinks built on Danish strawberries or fresh herbs, while colder months lean into forest notes, root vegetables and warming spices. Techniques such as vacuum distillation, fat-washing and careful barrel ageing are used not for show, but to coax out precise flavors. The results can be delightfully unconventional: martinis scented with cheese puffs, creamy Alexander-style drinks dusted with grated deer heart, or dessert-like creations that fold truffle-hazelnut ice cream, smoke and a hint of bacon salt into a single glass. For all the eccentricity, there is a strong backbone of balance; bartenders are quick to translate the wilder combinations into familiar taste profiles and will happily tweak a drink to match your comfort level, whether you want something bold and savory or light and citrusy.

A spirits lab above and a gallery beside

Balderdash is more than a late-night bar. During the day and early evening, parts of the building serve as a small gallery space, hosting rotating art or design projects that underline the creative spirit of the place. Just above the bar, the spirits lab functions as both a workshop and a playground. Here, base spirits are infused, distilled and blended, and new bitters, cordials or ice creams are tested before they ever reach the menu downstairs. Next to the lab sits a compact kitchen used for occasional pop-up restaurants and collaborative dinners. On those evenings, the line between bar and dining room blurs completely, with paired cocktails and small plates riffing off one another. You might find a drink built around the same ingredient as a dish from the pop-up chef, or a flight of mini cocktails designed to mirror a short tasting menu. Even on regular nights, the bar’s kitchen mindset shows in thoughtful garnishes, house-made snacks and the way staff speak about flavor and texture.

Atmosphere: hygge with a twist of theater

Despite the technical ambition behind the bar, the atmosphere remains relaxed and deeply social. Balderdash leans into the Danish idea of hygge: soft light, candles, close seating and an easy, conversational buzz. There is no stiff formality; bartenders chat freely, explain ingredients, and often remember guests’ preferences over the course of an evening. The soundtrack tends toward unobtrusive, letting the clink of glassware and low-level laughter fill the room. Occasionally, a bit of theatricality slips in: a cocktail might arrive under a wisp of smoke, or an unexpectedly vivid color might appear in your glass. These moments feel playful rather than flashy, serving as icebreakers that start conversations between neighboring tables. The overall tone is smart-casual—equally suited to a relaxed solo visit at the bar, a date night in a corner booth or a small group settling in for a long, exploratory tasting session.

Planning your evening at Balderdash

Balderdash opens in the late afternoon or early evening from Wednesday to Saturday, running into the early hours of the next morning, with Friday and Saturday generally the busiest nights. Prices sit in the moderate-to-premium range for Copenhagen cocktails, reflecting both the quality of base spirits and the labor that goes into house-made ingredients, yet the bar maintains a down-to-earth, neighborhood feel. It is a place where you can spend an hour on a quick pre-dinner round, or linger for several, working through different sections of the menu. Given the intimate size of the rooms and the central Indre By location, it is wise to plan for some flexibility on peak evenings. Smaller parties often find space more easily earlier in the night, when the pace is calm and bartenders have more time to talk through the menu in detail. Later on, the energy lifts and the environment becomes a livelier backdrop for conversations that stretch late into the night, the historic walls quietly holding all that contemporary creativity within them.