Restaurant Lola

A yellow house above the ramparts

Restaurant Lola occupies a sunny 17th‑century building perched on the old earthworks of Christianshavn, just where the city slips into green ramparts and water. Climb the outside staircase and you step into a bright, lived‑in space with wooden floors, mismatched details and big windows that look out over lawns, trees and the city beyond. In fine weather, the scene spills outside to a garden with petanque courts, strings of lights and long tables, blurring the edges between restaurant, park and neighborhood living room. This setting gives Lola a distinct sense of escape despite its central address. You are close to canals and alternative Christiania, yet lifted just high enough to feel tucked away. The building’s age is felt more in its quirky angles and thick walls than in formality; the overall mood is casual and easygoing rather than grand.

A global pantry rooted in Denmark

In the kitchen, seasonal Danish ingredients meet flavors gathered from far beyond Copenhagen. Chef‑owner Kamilla Seidler brought back techniques and ideas from years spent cooking in Bolivia and across Latin America, and she works with a team whose backgrounds stretch from South America to India and Southeast Asia. The result is a cuisine where Nordic herbs, root vegetables and local fish collide with lime, chilies, fermented pastes and aromatic spice mixes. Menus change frequently, but the logic remains consistent: familiar formats, unexpected compositions. Classic smørrebrød might arrive topped with vadouvan‑spiced herring, Peruvian‑inspired ceviche might sit next to Thai‑style salads, and a simple chicken salad can be transformed with garam masala, cashew and roasted tomato. Organic produce and responsible sourcing are central, so dishes feel bright and contemporary rather than heavy.

Smørrebrød with a twist at lunch

Midday is when Lola’s playful take on Danish open sandwiches really shines. Instead of a single plate, lunch often unfolds as a tasting of several smaller smørrebrød, each built on sturdy rye or crisp bread and finished with colorful garnishes. You might encounter new potatoes with smoked cheese and crunchy vegetables, fish cakes browned in butter with pickles and herbs, or beetroot tartare layered with creamy, zesty sauces and seeds for texture. The approach invites lingering: a couple of smaller pieces to begin, then a more substantial serving that feels almost like a main course in sandwich form. The format makes it easy to explore different flavor combinations, and the kitchen can usually adapt to vegetarian or pescatarian preferences with prior notice.

Evening tasting menus in the garden glow

Come evening, Lola shifts into a more immersive dining experience built around a fixed sequence of courses. A typical night might move from a bright, fiery green papaya salad to delicate fish with citrus and chile, then on to warm, spice‑laden dishes inspired by Indian curries or Latin American street food. Textures tend to be carefully layered: crunchy toppings over silky sauces, raw and cooked elements mixed on the same plate. If the weather cooperates, the terrace becomes an extension of the dining room, with views of the ramparts and the soft hum of the city in the background. Inside, candles and low lighting add intimacy without tipping into formality. Multi‑course menus can often be tailored around vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian frameworks when arranged in advance, which makes Lola a flexible choice for mixed‑diet groups.

A restaurant with a social conscience

Beyond the plates, Lola is shaped by an interest in how a restaurant can function as a thoughtful workplace and community space. The team emphasizes collaboration across cultures and backgrounds, and there is a clear focus on organic produce and working with smaller independent suppliers where possible. This ethos filters into the atmosphere: service tends to feel informal and personal, more like being welcomed into a busy home kitchen than ushered through a traditional fine‑dining ritual. For visitors to Copenhagen, a meal here offers not only inventive cooking but also a snapshot of the city’s current food culture—creative, globally minded, yet anchored in local landscapes and ingredients. Whether you come for an unhurried lunch overlooking the lawns or a long evening of shared plates under the string lights, Lola wraps its progressive ideas in an environment that feels warm, relaxed and distinctly Christianshavn.