About the service thing. This builds on how we Danes are culturally. We don't stick our noses in other peoples business. Its also why small talk on public transport is nonexistent. In service this translates into most Danes actually finding it annoying and intrusive, if the service people try to help them, or talk to them. For example you'll typically walk into a store, and the seller will ask "Can I help you with anything?" and 99% of people will say "No I'm just looking", or if you are at a restaurant, the waiter will just deliver the food, without saying anything, again for the same reason. I know this is odd to some people, but I loath when a seller or waiter tries to be social. If I want help, I'll ask for it. (Hence why you shouldn't be afraid to ask for it)
+Kenn Micahel Larsen As a dane i always find waiters in other countries annoying. Always asking too many questions, we just wanna order and go back to our own conversation :)
The little mermaid is still waiting for her sailor .Go to carlsberg brewry for 20 minutes of beer and cheese . I was a busker and we hung out at a medieval bar named " lil Apetek . Hans christian anderson also drank there .way back when . Most honest people but never ate a good Danish meal that wasnt a sandwich .
I hate having to flag down a waiter so I’d much rather them come to me and give me refills instead of me having to wait until I see them and yell across the restaurant/store
The Bat Queen I think it might have to do with what you are used to. I don't eat out much, and have only been to the US for 5 weeks of work, but it seems that the "bad service" might just boil down to less staff per customer than in the US. Mainly because of the much higher wages here. This is an assumption of mine, and not anything I have any proof of. I rarely consider service bad around here either, but then I might be used to it ;)
Bah, I made a mistake in my comment. I meant to say I live here, not that I have lived here. I'm a native Dane :p But yes, maybe the service is different in the US. I've heard their wages are very low so they depend on getting good tips from the customers, so maybe they just make more of an effort. I still think it's incorrect to call the general service level in Denmark bad, though. They might have just been unfortunate.
Its more a staff issue due higer wages in Denmark I think. Also I find service in the US sometimes fake to the point of nuisiating (you feel like telling them look you get your 15-20 pct just leave me alone. However overall yeah you get better or at least faster service in the US but what bugs M almost every time is the passive aggressiveness in the sense that you barely finished your meal before they try ushering you out the door!
The Botanical Gardens was one of my favorite things in Copenhagen - and it's free! Overall though, it really is a nice, clean, safe, and easy to navigate city with a lot of history and culture. Definitely a place to check out!
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes” is the typical mind set of us Dane`s and why we enjoy all 4 seasons outdoor, we can't changes the weather, but we can changes our clothe and mind set "Some People Feel the Rain. Others Just Get Wet" -- Bob Marley
What you say about service, clearly you completely misunderstood that part of the Culture woltersworld. If Danish people go to the US we will consider the service to be horrible. We don't want them to constantly keep attention to us, we would find it incredible rude, and then having to pay tips for it as well??? "Why is this waiter constantly all over my ass, leave us the fuck alone" would probably be our reaction, for many at least. So it's culture, rather than anything.
Jesper Østergaard That's a good point. I agree, I find American service a bit too much because they constantly interrupt your meal. It's a cultural thing, not being rude per se. However, I will admit that service in Copenhagen is terrible. It's better in the rest of the country!
Jesper Østergaard I understand why they do it because they only make a living from tips and they think that by leaving you alone you won't tip them anything. It can be irritating though, I told a waitress once that she would get 20 percent if she only came to the table if we wanted anything and she was shocked...
Jesper Østergaard I agree with this. The states got the worst service. Everyone was trying so hard and it just felt so fake. It was almost embarrassing. Just leave me alone, if I want something i'm going to ask for it.
Jesper Østergaard lol exactly. and all this stuff this man said about danish people and the service (in his other video too) didn't sound like a "flaw" to me because i'm a finn and i also identified with the stuff he said about danes. for example i don't think it's rude at all to be direct and/or uncommunicative because that's the kind of stuff i'm used to as well!
I live in Sweden, and I don't think the scandinavian service is bad. You said on the Swedish video that our service is bad, but I think that you are just used to the American service so the waiter will get more tip, but here they get payed more so they don't have to lick your ass.
+Carlos Saraiva It's a cultural thing ... the service may seem to be quick and inattentive to an american, but this is because the waitress try to respect your privacy, which is how most Scandinavians want it ... not feeling "stalked".
Huge DIFFERENCE between Norway Sweden and Denmark when it comes to service Ofc the sweds is going to be '' nicer '' They've given their country away to a bunch of muslims :-P
Having been to the states, I can tell you exactly what's wrong with our service..... Nothing. But in the states tips are not included in the bill, like they are in north western Europe, so your waiter is going ask about your meal every two minutes, instead of once in Copenhagen. Now, to you this may seem like a caring and thoughtful waiter, because you've grown up with it, but to me it seems incredibly fake and it is also extremely irritating. Tell you what, don't think of the Danish waiters as not caring about you, think about them as caring so much that they leave you to finish your food in peace.
+Kristian Brandt As a Dane, i can totally relate to what woltersworld says about the Danish service level. The employees dont give a single shit about the customers - it's a shame, but it's the truth. It's like the waiters think their only job is to serve the food on a plate and the leave the table. Also, ask a waiter about the best wine, or which ingredients the kitchen uses they'll be looking at you like your crazy! "How am I suppose to know that??" I'd much rather have the waiters asking me about my meal every two minutes than not at all. I'm not saying the service sucks, but really - Denmark could do so much better tourism-wise by raising our service level.
+larrentilda731 why should they know what ingredients there are in the food anyway? the are waiters not cooks so their job is only to serve the customers and be nice about it and then just leave you in peace
+Magnus Juul If i asked a waiter which wine he would recommend or which kind of meat he would recommend, I'd be glad if he actually had the knowledge to be able to respond with a proper answer. I know this level of service might only exist in the expensive restaurants - but as i said, the general service level is not great compared to the rest of Europe - for example Germany, France or Austria. It's a fact, whether you like it or not. The Danish Ministry of Tourism are discussing this issue. I work at a tourist agency, so I know what I am talking about. Danes are just too proud of admitting the "not-so-good" things about our country.
A lot of Danes don't understand why all these tourists come all the way here just to see the Little Mermaid. I mean, it's just a shitty little bronze statue. Honestly, you'll see bigger and better statues in the small park&waterfront you'll be going through to get to the mermaid! I always feel sorry for the tourists who expect something extraordinary from the Little Mermaid. :/
Naima Ramiréz Its meant to be a representative of a very sad story. That is why she is so small and demure. I love that she is not some giant gold statue made to impress tourists who never read the tale and expected the mermaid from Disney.
Naima Ramiréz I agree. The Little Mermaid is boring. Nothing special. Denmark is primitive, minimalistic and the Danes always say "Less is more". I would not go to Denmark for holiday.
1000REMBOY I am assuming that you are going to Copenhagen, but anyway, here are tips tips :) Stay away from 7/11s and mainstream kiosks; they are ridiculously overpriced. The best and cheapest street food is found on Nørrebro. On Nørrebro you can find a lot of Arabic kiosk that sell excellent and cheap food. If you are looking for cozy café areas you should go to Vesterbro, and if you are looking for a fancy dinner go to the city center.
I just came back from Copenhagen. Not sure why he insinuated the people were weird? Honestly the nicest people! Everyone speaks english perfectly and will talk and joke with you. Didn't meet one unfriendly person!
The service is a lot better everywhere else but Copenhagen, it's because there is so many people, so it has become a habit there, to just go direct and do ur thing
As Mark also sais in the video (or was it the 10 shock video!). It's kind of natural that waiters/waitresses are more attentive in the states, because there YOU are their main source of income. Their salary is extremely dependent on your tips. If they are not attentive, they die! (or has to become a stripper) Hope you tipped the attentive waiter, or you would be considered a real duche Which is ALSO (Mark!) the reason food prices are "high" in Denmark. It has to cover the high salary of the unattentive waiter. (also note that more than half the people in the hospitality business, in Copenhagen at summer time, is not Danish at all)
My family and I found the Danish to be far friendlier than the Swedes and Norwegians. That was just our personal experience when we visited back in the late 80's. Loved seeing The Tollund Man!
The Verbally Abusive Clown As a Norwegian myself I'm not going to argue with you on that one. But I think Norwegians and Swedes are rather reserved, especially towards "strangers". While the Danes are known for being extrovert. Maybe it's because of their liberal alcohol regulations, hehe..
Rita Elin Fjeldbo I certainly didn't mean to imply that the Swedes and Norwegians were unfriendly because they weren't. Reserved may be an appropriate word like you mentioned, plus we weren't there very long so I'm not sure our experience was necessarily representative of either group. Love the culture and scenery of all 3 countries, especially the fjords of Norway.
You keep talking about how bad the service is, but i live here and i wouldn't say its bad at all! I work in a shop as well and all of my coworkers are super nice and helpful to the customers and to each other. I went to florida last year and i felt like i was being watched all the time bc the people working there were so clingy
I was in copenhagen last week loved it people are soo nice left my bag with all my travel money in it and passport outside a cafe and realised and hour later an danish woman stayed with my bag until i returned... defiantly a place i'd go back to just save up a little bit before going again found it quite expensive a lot of the museums are free now which was a bonus Copenhagen
@@owllymannstein7113 in Denmark too. but here their job is not more than asking what you want to eat bring your food. ask if you want dessert and give you your bill. that is it. if a waiter comes and ask what I think of the food or wanna make small talk. I be thinking go away
Copenhagen has some places where the service is really bad, mostly from untrained staff (teenagers mostly) who really don't want to be there. But generally, a nice place with professional staff will have good service. I think he was just unlucky.
I visited Copenhagen around American Thanksgiving in 2000. I would add a few things to your list... hates in November... 1. Lack of light in winter. It was 10 am before it was light out and then it was dark again by 4 pm. 2. The museums are on their winter hours which makes it difficult to use Copenhagen as a launching spot for visits to other towns. Also, the same reason as in #1, it would be dark so quickly, getting out to see the sights was a challenge. loves... 1. Louisiana Museum, in Humlebæk, is a 40 minute train ride from Copenhagen. Completely worth it for the amazing art, the natural beauty of the location of the museum overlooking the Oresund and Sweden on the other shore! 2. Helsingør, Denmark is twenty minutes further north of Humlebæk. It is fun for people interested in Hamlet. 3. Kronborg Castle, time your trip right so it is open when you visit Helsingør. 3. National Gallery of Denmark is a top notch museum that is well worth the visit. 4. Carlsburg Brewery for obvious reasons. 5, Shopping... Scandinavians are renown for their sense of design. There are tons of shops and ateliers to enjoy. Happy Travels!
I come from denmark and I agree with everything thats said in this video.. Danish ppl are antisocial on the streets but at home we go crazy with each other. No eye contact on the street and so on, BUT, if you go to a person and ask for directions or ask for something else, we are actually very open and polite.
I think you misunderstood the fact we don't provide good service in restaurants, shops etc. You mentioned yourself that we don't talk much and like to be alone. that is true and that also counts when we go shopping. we HATE when a shop employee is attacking us when we come through that door. In Denmark we like it to be like that we will tell the waiter or the shop assistant when we need his or her help but untill then they should just act like they aren't there. the thing is what most foreigners call service we danes think of as a salesman's crooked ways to make us buy something we don't need. I can't count how many shops i have left abroad due to the fact the employee was constantly walking in my heels. which i find extremely anoying.
As a dane and native copenhagener, i can only agree that some bars and restaurants especially in the area around Nyhavn are crazy expensive. However i would recomend tourists traveling to copenhagen to try bars and restaurants that might not be directly in the center of the city, perhaps take a stroll through Vesterbro or Nørrebro and see a more diverse and colorfull side of copenhagen and all the different cultures that melt together here. We also have many small cozy parks scattered arpunf D yown, were you can relax with a beer and enjoy the good weather( in the summer) ... other than that i can only encurrage that even though we seme like realy private people and that we dont like to talk to strangers, if you get us a beer well be more than happy to talk and talk alot :D ... then you could ask for advise on where to eat or go to a cheap bar cuz us copenhageners shure dont go to Nyhavn on a regular basis.
girafmad also one other thing, be prepared for how small this country is. from the southern border(Kruså) to the northern tip (Skagen) all the way to the capital in the east (København) and then all the way down on the southern islands again (Nakskov) is less then 1000km.
girafmad meh? True , but seriously, what tourist in what country actually uses more space on a holiday than whats available in denmark? I dont get your point. Why would you waste your holiday with traveling miles and miles in each direction...??? Yes it is small relative to USA, but unless you plan to stay for 6 months there will be plenty, absolutely plenty of things to do and see
Quick tip! Go to cafe's if you want cheap food (still tastes delicious). Don't buy alcohol from 7/11 if you can find a supermarket, as supermarkets sell bear and other alcoholic drinks around 20-25% cheaper
I love a beer but not the Danish bar prices!. So when I visited Copenhagen I went to the first kiosk and bought a large bottle of cold Carlsberg.I took a stroll around town then took my empty bottle to the next kiosk whereby I buy my next bottle cheaper because I get a refund for my first bottle and so on returning my empties at every kiosk there after(all kiosks will give you a return for your empty bottle) when you have drank your last bottle you can take it back to any kiosk for a small returns refund or give it to some person that can save the bottles and get a skin full for themselves in the same manner skål mange tak min venner ;)
There are no hates about Copenhagen and Denmark. Otherwise I wouldn´t have had spend my holidays for the third time there this summer.It has been as lovely as always. My favourite country ! ( and I have seen a lot).
I'm gonna be honest here, the average Dane doesnt buy beers at 7/11 unless its damn late in the night and there is no Kiosk (the cheaper version of 7/11) nearby. 7/11 is expensive compared to a normal grocery store like Netto, Fakta and all the others. And Nyhavn as an example, is one of those more expensive and "popular" places. If you find a nice and cool pub that isnt overhyped like those in Nyhavn you can easily find cheaper and decent beers for 2euros and less. I'm a Dane living in Copenhagen, I know! :)
Many places we're not allowed accepting tips - and if we are, it's not going down our own pockets, so our salary don't depend on that at all. Also - no refills here ;D
If you want to visit Denmark and have somewhat of a wild time, go there on the first weekend of November or more specifically the first friday of November. Danes have what they call J-day which is the day when the christmas beer is released (Julebryg), so many people are out partying and celebrating with cheap (but very sweet) beer.
Don't buy beer and drinks (or anything for that matter) in 7eleven, it's seven times more expensive than other places. Go to local shops refered to as "kiosks" - you can get beer for as low as 5-8kr which is about as cheap as beer gets in Denmark. Also, yeah, danish cuisines as smørrebrød is defiently not for everyone (i for one have always hated it) but we do have some really good national dishes that I think particularly americans would enjoy .. The problem is just, we are particular fond of our restaurants having international dishes and overall we like to eat different when we're out, and save the national and traditional danish food for the home-cooking. That means there aren't a lot of restaurants that actually make traditional danish food (and the ones that does aren't necesseraly that good) - but there are some, you just gotta know we're too look. If you do want to try real good danish food if you find yourself in Copenhagen, look up a restaurant called "Klubben" which is placed not far from a square called "Tove Ditlevsens plads" - you can take the bus 3A almost to the door - but anyway they make great danish food! Otherwise befriend some danes, or if you are staying with danes ask for traditional food, because almost every single dane have some sort of family recipe version of several tradtional courses.
+Kasandra Howaniak Definately agree = stay clear of the "turist trap" 7eleven if you want to save money. Not that there is something wrong with 7eleven but when they swooped in a decade ago they pretty much bought out all the overpriced truck stop - little shops & kept their prices silly high. Instead buy your stuff stuff at a budget supermarked like any other sane danish person .. aka like Netto, Aldi, Lidl, etc. & you can get beer at like half a dollar & great foods. 7elleven is really only if you forgot something importent or is so rich that you dont mind spending 7 bucks on a cup of coffee. Oh, and everyone knows we have danish pastries .. but make sure to check the giant selection of candy. Not just bonbons & chocolate but we some of the biggest candy manufacturers here. Just spricey potatochips .. they come up with a new spice every few months.
Oh man! I'm from the Faroe Islands and live in Denmark now... I was overwhelmed by the Danish service when I got here. It was too pushy for me... I guess we are really reserved and private where I'm from. :P It's not because we are unfriendly, it's just that we don't meddle in other people's business, and don't want other people to meddle in our business. On the Faroe Islands, you can ask someone for directions and you shouldn't be surprised if they offer you a ride in stead, or home with them to have dinner or whatever. But if you don't ask then you will be left alone almost everywhere you are. I've literally walked out of stores in Denmark when people haven't respected the answer I gave to them on the "can I help you with something?" and I've said "no thanks, I'm just looking" and they keep "stalking" me to offer input and support...
for anyone interested here is a recipe for Remoulade. note dont taste like a store-bought buy the most plane mayo you can get your hands on 3 tablespoons of good mayo or home-stir 1 tablespoon cremefraiche. 1 tablespoon finely chopped capers 1 tablespoon finely chopped carrots 1 tablespoon finely chopped red cabbage 1 tablespoon finely chopped cornichoner 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives 1 tablespoon finely chopped tarragon or chervil can be omitted 1 teaspoon finely chopped onion 1 tablespoon lemon 1 teaspoon coarse mustard Salt / pepper / sugar Turmeric to adjust the colour with mix it all. put it in refrigerator. can be used to all kind of sausage. and french fries.
I'm so excited! I am going this weekend. I was all over Europe for the first time this summer. MARK!!!! You are the best. I know this trip will be the best because of your family and you.
I'm a middle-aged Dane who has lived for 10 years in Copenhagen. As a local I have to *agree* on your 5 negative points. I've written my recommendation in parentheses for people who want to visit: 1) Yes, it is expensive here to both drink and dine (If it's summer time and you just want a few brews, I recommend what's said in the video, buy some good beers in a *kiosk* , not a 7 11, and find a green spot. The reason I say _avoid_ 7 11 is their high prices, and their downright lousy selection of luxury beers. They also don't pay taxes here because of their U.S. origin.) 2) No, service is not great (we are working on that, but as a serviceperson myself, I really try my best. Just leaving this comment should prove that ;-) 3) Yes, visiting in winter is like a dungeon (come in summer time, is all I have to say about that.) 4) Yes, bikes are everywhere (I'm used to it as a biker myself, but tourists are not. So watch out before you cross the bike lanes.) 5) Yes, the Little Mermaid is a disappointment (absolutely true, and not worth the trip to see her, as she is placed a bit out of city centre in a harsh harbor environment. Visit _Christiania_ instead ! Always worth the trip, and walking distance from inner city.) If you have the time, try to avoid Inner city (that's where all the other tourists go), and visit Christiania, Nørrebro or Vesterbro. And of course, we are proud of the hot dogs (glad you like 'em Wolter), and our 'open sandwiches' (smørrebrød). On the beer front, try to steer clear of Tuborg and Carlsberg, that's _not_ the best we have to offer, just the ones we export the most). :-) Just ask around, and you shall find.
drumstick74 thank you so much for more insider insights. I can only catch on to so much on my stays and I do appreciate when locals add to the videos. Tak!
drumstick74 Great and fairly cheap beers include: Thy Pilsner, Ale no. 16, and if you have to drink big-brand, drink ONLY Tuborg Classic (and only in bars). Apart from that, there are insanely many delicious luxury beers under $6 bucks at the supermarket, and often even as low as the price of a regular Tuborg. Of course, no 7/11, as they only sell about 5 different types, at ridiculous prices, but discount supermarkets like Netto often have great beers, and are usually open until around 10-11 in the evening. You also absolutely HAVE to try Kebab in Copenhagen. I've been told it's the northern European kebab capital, and it's available on every street, at any time of day. Bets kebab is found in Nørrebro, with Vesterbro coming in second, but you can usually find delicious Turkish food all over the city.
drumstick74 Alle tre fantastiske øl :) De to største øl-nørder jeg kender, en belgier der jævnligt får tilsendt fantastiske belgiske øl og en bartender der startede sin karriere på en restaurant med et øl sortiment på flere hundrede forskellige slags ville også give dig helt ret i - i hvert fald - Ale no. 16 og Thy Øko.
getting a bit annoyed about service being labelled as ''bad'' because it doesn't meet American expectations. It seems Americans want everyone to wait on them with chocolate box smiles and anticipate their every whim and solicit requests (yes I know, they treat their own compatriots back home in the ''service industry'' the same way, and that's how they're trained to behave so they think that's the way it's supposed to be.) In Europe we treat people like grown-ups , not like children. We expect people to open their mouths and simply ask what they want.. that's how it works. Then you get what you want, professionally and up to good standards, and with a smile esp if the customer is smiling graciously too.. that's called ''good service'' . Some seem to equate 'service' with 'servitude'. Best forget that.
Mark, when I heard your voice I immediately felt joy. It's because you have so much joy and energy about the places you visit. Thanks for these videos. I can't wait to visit Europe later this year.
I wouldn't say that the service is bad here, we just mind our own business.. When the waiter has taken the order we generally just expect them to leave us alone.
+Bill The Bull Gates en sharwama I Danmark er meget anderledes end i Mellemøsten her bruger man dressing,kød og salat. Jeg er selv derfra så jeg ved det. I Mellemøsten laver man en sharwama med typisk lam, en form for yoghurt og til sidst en kål salat. Så en sharwama i Danmark er blevet meget ændret og hver anden person spiser en sharwama hver anden dag så det er blivet en stor del af den købehavnske kultur.
Hi Woltersworld guy! (I call you that affectionately :-) ) Love your video!, but would like to elaborate on a few things. You have some difficulty describing remoulade, so here goes: It is simply mayonaise mixed with pickles (minced onions, carrots, cucumbers) and the yellow colour comes from turmeric (which is flavourless). So if people like mayo and pickles, they are likely to appreciate remoulade. (It's fantastic with fried chicken or fish!!) It is true, that a beer is expensive, but please take note, that it is nothing compared to the other Nordic countries. In Norway, you are likely to pay at least twice as much. Also, Denmark is the only Nordic country, where you can buy beer and booze off the shelve in convenience stores (where it is quite reasonable compared to bars). In Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland you have to go a specialized highly controlled liqeurstore called "systembolaget" (roughly translated "controlled institution"), where beer and wine costs as much as in Danish bars, and open hours are from about ten am. to four pm. Food is cheaper in Sweden, but if you like a beer to go with it, choose Denmark... Which brings me to: We are not only the happiest people in the World, we are also the most "beerhappy" (and by happy I mean enthusiastic). Nowhere in Europe(!) will you find a bigger selection of high quality beer both domestic and imported both in bars and stores. Domestic beer is of extremely high quality and variety and the selection of imported beer is unparallelled. In Copenhagen there are a crapload of microbreweries, with tastings that are a beerconnaisseurs wet dream, AND a crapload of bars, that specialize in HUGE selections of imported beers. In comparison: In Berlin, I went to a bar called "House of a thousand beers", and I was shocked to find, that it was NOT to be taken litterally. They had only 100 different beers, but these were all domestic, and only different variations of typical german beertypes (weisse's and trappiste's), there were no stouts, there were no pale ales, there were no brown ales, there were no lagers! My campus bar(!) have about 300 different beers, and ALL beer types are represented. So, beer enthusiasts, look no further! Denmark is the unofficial beercapital of the world...
i am half danish, and been to denmark many times, many places in denmark too, and copenhagen was probably the most average place their, much better to go to a small town or village, quiet and picturesque
About the service - try to go outside Copenhagen - If you go to the cities in Jutland ( Jylland ) then you will experience service on a way higher level than in Copenhagen ;-)
Exactly, the different weather just makes it that much more interesting to take your walk. Also it should always be hotter inside than outside, to me the most annoying part about summer is the evening heat that makes it impossible to sleep even when almost naked, aka 20ºC and more.
it is called the LITTLE mermaid ;) btw im from the part of denmark connected to Germany ''Jylland'' and i've always been told that if i go to the Copenhagen i should be very carefull about my stuff and make sure people dont walk into me because if they do they might steal someting. Now om not saying everyone is stealing in Copenhagen and i've only been there once. you should check out ''Jylland'' if you havent been there since the people are different there from the people in Copenhagen.
You don't have to worry about people stealing, I have lived in Copenhagen for a few years, and I have never experienced anything like that. But it's true that people in Copenhagen are a lot different from the rest of Denmark
There is not a lot of stealing in Copenhagen, there is just a denser crowd that makes it easy to steal. Of course Copenhagen has its fair share of thieves, but in comparison to other cities like Barcelona, Paris and London, there is not that many. BTW jeg er også dansker :)
Thanks for another great video Mark I love your energy man :-) and although I havent been there 'yet' but as a Vegan I had to just google search if there was any eateries I could go to eat and there is at least 12 Vegetarian.Vegan restaurants which is fantastic as here in Waterford City Ireland there is 0 and I have to travel 100miles to Dublin to get one might be as quick to hop on a plane to Copenhagen :-) Sending Love from Ireland to you and your family ♥
Next time you're in Copenhagen, take a visit to Greasy Spoon (resturant) in Studiestræde. It's a diner-style resturant, and their Rib Eye and Burgers are superb!
I've been living in Denmark for almost 4 years now and seeing this video brings back the way I felt in the beginning of my stay. Haha. I'm an expat from Romania - we're what the Mexicans are for the racists in America here, but despite that Denmark has been extremely welcoming to me and I have had a lot of opportunities that I would have never had in my home country. People are a lot more for themselves here, but they are caring and nice, they help you and support you if you ask. All you have to do is show you want and can and are willing to work twice as hard for it. For that I would like to thank Danes and Denmark. I feel like I integrated into their society (except for the language - never had the time for it) and took a lot of their way of living and being, so every time I go home, where the culture is similar to the Italian one, I feel left out and baffled. :)) Now I can tell you - the service here is great. I hate being bothered by a waitress or a shop representative. If I need anything, I'll ask and that's all. The service here is just great - they've always gotten my order just right and have been attentive if I asked for something, but thanks God they are not in my face, like they do back home, asking me if I need anything when I can clearly tell them myself without the reminder if I do. It's a cultural thing. I've recently had a friend visiting for a summer school from Chicago and she pointed out most of what you did in this video. I get it :D There is one thing we can totally agree on and I think every Dane can as well - the weather between September and March is just downright depressing. Anyway, have a nice time here, if you're still around, otherwise, nice video :D
+Palle Nielsen thank you Palle. I agree with your comment 100%. I have made great Danish friends that were eager to find out about me after starting a conversation and showed great kindness.
Copenhagen's weather is not cold in the same way London in winter is cold. It's a different kind of cold. When the weather shows its 4 degrees celsius, it feels like -4 degrees celsius. It also gets rather windy and unless you grew up there, its hard to get used to bicycling in that cold weather.
Its expensive there because (The Personal Income Tax Rate in Denmark stands at 55.80 percent)2015-2016 They pay it and are mostly happy Because they love the way the other parts of the country is run
I have been going to Copenhagen nearly every year since 2010. I thought the service was fine and polite. 7-11 is one of the most expensive places you can possibly shop. If you want to buy some relatively cheap alcohol then shop in Aldi or Lidl. Yes you have to be careful when crossing the road. The weather pretty much anywhere north of the Alps is a matter of pot luck. I have experienced some glorious weather in Denmark. I have walked through Nyhaven about three times ever, only because it was on the way to somewhere and once saw a sign advetising a pint of Carlsberg for 79 Kroner in 2018 which was ten Pounds sterling. If you like home cooked food at a reasonable price then eat at Chicky Grill Halmtorvet 21, which is very close to the central station. Denmark is significantly more expensive post-pandemic, not just merely pricey. Even when this video was made it would have been possible to do some research online for inexpensive places to eat and drink. You can buy a coffee in Christiania for just 10 Kroner.
Death by Bike. lmfao I literally cracked up laughing out loud when I saw this video. An American-expat, I've lived in CPH for almost two years, and your comments are so hilariously honest! I call her the "Tiny Tiny Mermaid" for a reason! I actually really love living here, and I so appreciate the lifestyle and the people here, now that I've been here a while. But it does take some time to warm, literally, to the Danes and their beautiful city! Incidentally, Nyhavn is pronounced "New-hOW-n". :) Thanks for the great videos!
My #1 tip to Copenhagen. GET OUTSIDE THE RAMPARTS! Inner city copenhagen is for nostalgic sightseeing, and there is a lot of great beautiful places to see. But for everything else get out of inner city. It might seem like boring residential areas at fist glance, but there's a lot of small artisan shops, designers and galleries to see. GO GET LOST!! (literally) :) Also the bars/pubs/clubs are usually better and not as expensive, there is a lot of nice places to go out in inner city, but you need to know them in advance, ask the locals... My personal favourite is Nørrebro. if it's sunny pack a lunch and some cold beers and go to Assistens Cemetery and enjoy the tranquility (might sound sinister, but you won't be the only one there for sure :)), Vesterbro also has a lot to offer, and even Østerbro, although the boring one of the three... And as stated, get reservations for dinner, it's impossible to do a walk-in at a nice place friday/saturday, and your left with shitty expensive food. And for the love of god, don't get the red hotdog ask for a 'ristet med det hele'
The reason service is "bad" in Copenhagen is that we do not believe in the neoliberal american way. I'm a bartender myself, and I'm always polite, but I refuse to act as a slave simply because I'm being paid to sell stuff to people, and I will never pretend to "love" people that I don't even like. This is what equality is all about. You'll get your drink, or your hotdog, but we're not selling ourselves, we're selling the drink or the hotdog. Get over it. Sellling drinks or hotdogs to costumors is not being a slave, it's selling fucking drinks and fucking hotdogs to costumors. Much love from Copenhagen :)
If you are interested in vikings you should visit Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark. It's a beautiful, historical and vibrant city with many interesting museums including the new Moesgaard Museum, which has a great collection of viking stuff. It is absolutlely one of the best museums i have seen. Read more at: www.moesgaardmuseum.dk/english
Some of the things I love about Danes and Denmark and reasons I would like to live there: #1 I would like to live in a country Whose government I could be proud of; Denmark is annually at or near the top of the Transparency International list of good government. #2 The high level of education and equality among the citizens. #3 The multi-lingual skills of almost everyone! #4 The sense of fairness and honesty among its citizens. If it weren't for the cold and the air pollution, we would expatriate to Denmark. Well, and I would hope that over time I would find Danish as pleasant a language as Swedish!
my daughter left her gloves in the main train station bathroom, I tried to console her assuming they were gone. 3 days later we checked the lost and found office and they were there, amazing.
Hello guys im from Copenhagen and nyhavn is extremly pricy and seveneleven too. You should walk out of the center of the city you can get very inexpensive go to a local kiosk very cheap
About prices: Walk 3 or 4 blocks from a tourist places and find a typical Danish pub, you pay about $ 3,5- 4 for a beer. About food prices, use example TheFork online, here you typically get a 30-50% discount on your food bill, the only thing you need to do is book a table through the website and you can do it 2 minutes before entering the restaurant or go to Groupon and you get pretty much the same discount. Don't be afraid to ask any Dane where they eat cheap themselves, we are actually incredibly friendly and helpful :-)
There are racist ppl in Denmark, yes. And some of those have another color of skin and very disappointed that they them selves are not "allowed" to be racist... Danes in general, treat people for who they are inclusive of racists, hence the troll and the remarks thereof. The fact that you are different rarely gives cause for any concern, time and place matters though. If you think we are "rude" for not talking, we are probably giving you your space. This can be seen as a quality by some. Our Queen (or our celebrities) can walk the streets of Copenhagen and not be pestered (much) as we value the space of individuals.
***** if pointing out that someone behaves badly is the same as being a racist... Then sign me on... However if racist is the dislike of ppl solely on there pigmentation and looks, I do not qualify to the membership.
I was in Copenhagen for three weeks and had no issues with service. I traveled alone and mostly cooked my own meals. I liked that after dinner, I could walk to a restaurant called Apropos on Halmtorvet, where I would order a glass of wine or a hot chocolate and sit with my book and my drink and feel perfectly welcome, without waiters dropping off a check to coax me along. I chatted with the staff a little and they were always friendly. On the first night, the waitress told me a tip was unnecessary for a cup of hot chocolate. I appreciated that, but I still tipped. At home in the U.S., I feel uncomfortable going to a restaurant alone, partly because I feel rushed to eat and be gone so the table can open up for a couple that will generate a bigger tip.
![Cody Johnson - I'm Gonna Love You (with Carrie Underwood) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yy9PuYMU29g/mqdefault.jpg)
About the service thing. This builds on how we Danes are culturally. We don't stick our noses in other peoples business. Its also why small talk on public transport is nonexistent. In service this translates into most Danes actually finding it annoying and intrusive, if the service people try to help them, or talk to them. For example you'll typically walk into a store, and the seller will ask "Can I help you with anything?" and 99% of people will say "No I'm just looking", or if you are at a restaurant, the waiter will just deliver the food, without saying anything, again for the same reason.
I know this is odd to some people, but I loath when a seller or waiter tries to be social. If I want help, I'll ask for it. (Hence why you shouldn't be afraid to ask for it)
+Sokar True :-)
+Kenn Micahel Larsen As a dane i always find waiters in other countries annoying. Always asking too many questions, we just wanna order and go back to our own conversation :)
::-) Yes
***** Yea because a bit of culture awareness is completely irrelevant when you travel.
True :)
Private space and very little small talk? Not being bothered every 5/10 minutes while at a shop or at a restaurant? Sounds very good to me! :)
hell yeah
The little mermaid is still waiting for her sailor .Go to carlsberg brewry for 20 minutes of beer and cheese . I was a busker and we hung out at a medieval bar named " lil Apetek . Hans christian anderson also drank there .way back when . Most honest people but never ate a good Danish meal that wasnt a sandwich .
I hate having to flag down a waiter so I’d much rather them come to me and give me refills instead of me having to wait until I see them and yell across the restaurant/store
I've lived in Denmark and I've never considered the service bad. I find most waiters and store employees to be very nice.
The Bat Queen I live in Denmark and confirm this. The service isn't bad.
The Bat Queen I think it might have to do with what you are used to.
I don't eat out much, and have only been to the US for 5 weeks of work, but it seems that the "bad service" might just boil down to less staff per customer than in the US. Mainly because of the much higher wages here.
This is an assumption of mine, and not anything I have any proof of.
I rarely consider service bad around here either, but then I might be used to it ;)
The Bat Queen
I agree. I'm danish and i eat out several times each week and they are always polite :)
Bah, I made a mistake in my comment. I meant to say I live here, not that I have lived here. I'm a native Dane :p
But yes, maybe the service is different in the US. I've heard their wages are very low so they depend on getting good tips from the customers, so maybe they just make more of an effort. I still think it's incorrect to call the general service level in Denmark bad, though. They might have just been unfortunate.
Its more a staff issue due higer wages in Denmark I think. Also I find service in the US sometimes fake to the point of nuisiating (you feel like telling them look you get your 15-20 pct just leave me alone. However overall yeah you get better or at least faster service in the US but what bugs M almost every time is the passive aggressiveness in the sense that you barely finished your meal before they try ushering you out the door!
The Danish summer? Yeah, it's a nice weekend.
Favorite day of the year.
Lmao
It's still enough time for the average dane to get a nice tan
Moon Moon yeah if you like the colour red
People were on the Bellevue beach sun tanning in September of 2022. Global warming perhaps 😊
The Botanical Gardens was one of my favorite things in Copenhagen - and it's free! Overall though, it really is a nice, clean, safe, and easy to navigate city with a lot of history and culture. Definitely a place to check out!
Miss Mari I agree
No longer free, at least not if you want to go inside the greenhouse. It is cheap though.
@@kristianbrandt3012 I am planning a trip to copenhagen soon and sadly to find out the botanical garden is not free anymore.
This guys gives a realistic view on every destination. I like that.
+Earth+ thanks Earth. i appreciate the kind words.
+woltersworld and here i am a dane that cant navigate his own capital
+Team Blue Fire Phoenix yup mit problem er at jeg kommer fra bornholm.
This is why I watch him. I need practical, realistic reviews on travel destinations.
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes” is the typical mind set of us Dane`s and why we enjoy all 4 seasons outdoor, we can't changes the weather, but we can changes our clothe and mind set
"Some People Feel the Rain. Others Just Get Wet"
-- Bob Marley
What you say about service, clearly you completely misunderstood that part of the Culture woltersworld. If Danish people go to the US we will consider the service to be horrible. We don't want them to constantly keep attention to us, we would find it incredible rude, and then having to pay tips for it as well??? "Why is this waiter constantly all over my ass, leave us the fuck alone" would probably be our reaction, for many at least. So it's culture, rather than anything.
Jesper Østergaard That's a good point. I agree, I find American service a bit too much because they constantly interrupt your meal. It's a cultural thing, not being rude per se. However, I will admit that service in Copenhagen is terrible. It's better in the rest of the country!
Jesper Østergaard I understand why they do it because they only make a living from tips and they think that by leaving you alone you won't tip them anything. It can be irritating though, I told a waitress once that she would get 20 percent if she only came to the table if we wanted anything and she was shocked...
Jesper Østergaard I agree with this. The states got the worst service. Everyone was trying so hard and it just felt so fake. It was almost embarrassing. Just leave me alone, if I want something i'm going to ask for it.
Jesper Østergaard lol exactly. and all this stuff this man said about danish people and the service (in his other video too) didn't sound like a "flaw" to me because i'm a finn and i also identified with the stuff he said about danes. for example i don't think it's rude at all to be direct and/or uncommunicative because that's the kind of stuff i'm used to as well!
Jesper Østergaard TRUTH BE TOLD :D
We like our privacy, and do not go to a restaurant to chat with the waiter :D
I live in Sweden, and I don't think the scandinavian service is bad. You said on the Swedish video that our service is bad, but I think that you are just used to the American service so the waiter will get more tip, but here they get payed more so they don't have to lick your ass.
+Honken Holmqvist Agreed. I never tip the waiters either, why should I?
+Carlos Saraiva
It's a cultural thing ... the service may seem to be quick and inattentive to an american, but this is because the waitress try to respect your privacy, which is how most Scandinavians want it ... not feeling "stalked".
Carlos Saraiva
They will be able to read if you seem interested in a bit of smalltalk, but they are not going to seem over attentive.
+skitenpowsidan
I guess we only tip when we get good service, and thats it....
Huge DIFFERENCE between Norway Sweden and Denmark when it comes to service
Ofc the sweds is going to be '' nicer ''
They've given their country away to a bunch of muslims :-P
Having been to the states, I can tell you exactly what's wrong with our service..... Nothing. But in the states tips are not included in the bill, like they are in north western Europe, so your waiter is going ask about your meal every two minutes, instead of once in Copenhagen. Now, to you this may seem like a caring and thoughtful waiter, because you've grown up with it, but to me it seems incredibly fake and it is also extremely irritating. Tell you what, don't think of the Danish waiters as not caring about you, think about them as caring so much that they leave you to finish your food in peace.
You're unlucky. The waiters check about every 30 minutes.
+Kristian Brandt Exactly!
+Kristian Brandt As a Dane, i can totally relate to what woltersworld says about the Danish service level. The employees dont give a single shit about the customers - it's a shame, but it's the truth. It's like the waiters think their only job is to serve the food on a plate and the leave the table. Also, ask a waiter about the best wine, or which ingredients the kitchen uses they'll be looking at you like your crazy! "How am I suppose to know that??"
I'd much rather have the waiters asking me about my meal every two minutes than not at all.
I'm not saying the service sucks, but really - Denmark could do so much better tourism-wise by raising our service level.
+larrentilda731 why should they know what ingredients there are in the food anyway? the are waiters not cooks so their job is only to serve the customers and be nice about it and then just leave you in peace
+Magnus Juul If i asked a waiter which wine he would recommend or which kind of meat he would recommend, I'd be glad if he actually had the knowledge to be able to respond with a proper answer.
I know this level of service might only exist in the expensive restaurants - but as i said, the general service level is not great compared to the rest of Europe - for example Germany, France or Austria.
It's a fact, whether you like it or not. The Danish Ministry of Tourism are discussing this issue. I work at a tourist agency, so I know what I am talking about.
Danes are just too proud of admitting the "not-so-good" things about our country.
A lot of Danes don't understand why all these tourists come all the way here just to see the Little Mermaid.
I mean, it's just a shitty little bronze statue. Honestly, you'll see bigger and better statues in the small park&waterfront you'll be going through to get to the mermaid!
I always feel sorry for the tourists who expect something extraordinary from the Little Mermaid. :/
Naima Ramiréz I kinda blame them... they want to se it yeah but if they know about it they should know what to expect...
Im from Denmark... I agree... xD
Naima Ramiréz Its meant to be a representative of a very sad story. That is why she is so small and demure.
I love that she is not some giant gold statue made to impress tourists who never read the tale and expected the mermaid from Disney.
Naima Ramiréz I agree. The Little Mermaid is boring. Nothing special. Denmark is primitive, minimalistic and the Danes always say "Less is more".
I would not go to Denmark for holiday.
Pippie5555
That's cool. We'll just keep our remoulade for ourselves then. :D
You can buy a bottle of beer for 3 DDK, which is less then half a dollar - it's about shopping the right places ;)
Dara Hjorth ... and how bad of a beer you want!! Du skal sgu da ikke byde turister på lunken DP'er ;)
Dara Hjorth Altså nu er vi jo nogen der styrer udenom Harboe.
Dara Hjorth krudtugler er ikke det værd
Give me more advice, Dara! This is much needed as this will be a long-term trip
1000REMBOY
I am assuming that you are going to Copenhagen, but anyway, here are tips tips :)
Stay away from 7/11s and mainstream kiosks; they are ridiculously overpriced. The best and cheapest street food is found on Nørrebro. On Nørrebro you can find a lot of Arabic kiosk that sell excellent and cheap food. If you are looking for cozy café areas you should go to Vesterbro, and if you are looking for a fancy dinner go to the city center.
I just came back from Copenhagen. Not sure why he insinuated the people were weird? Honestly the nicest people! Everyone speaks english perfectly and will talk and joke with you. Didn't meet one unfriendly person!
When I visited the states I got a bit overwhelmed by the attentive waiters/waitresses. I guess a lot of this comes down to what you're used to.
+thebirdisblue Yep. Well said. Great travels to you!
The service is a lot better everywhere else but Copenhagen, it's because there is so many people, so it has become a habit there, to just go direct and do ur thing
Copenhagen is better than usa, america is third world, i know because i been both, and i am from london
As Mark also sais in the video (or was it the 10 shock video!). It's kind of natural that waiters/waitresses are more attentive in the states, because there YOU are their main source of income. Their salary is extremely dependent on your tips. If they are not attentive, they die! (or has to become a stripper)
Hope you tipped the attentive waiter, or you would be considered a real duche
Which is ALSO (Mark!) the reason food prices are "high" in Denmark. It has to cover the high salary of the unattentive waiter. (also note that more than half the people in the hospitality business, in Copenhagen at summer time, is not Danish at all)
@@c3realK1ll4h you've apparently never been to an actual third world country.
I been to Copenhagen and I fell in love with the city, so I’m going to move there next year for college
Did you love it
My family and I found the Danish to be far friendlier than the Swedes and Norwegians. That was just our personal experience when we visited back in the late 80's. Loved seeing The Tollund Man!
The Verbally Abusive Clown As a Norwegian myself I'm not going to argue with you on that one. But I think Norwegians and Swedes are rather reserved, especially towards "strangers". While the Danes are known for being extrovert. Maybe it's because of their liberal alcohol regulations, hehe..
Rita Elin Fjeldbo
I certainly didn't mean to imply that the Swedes and Norwegians were unfriendly because they weren't. Reserved may be an appropriate word like you mentioned, plus we weren't there very long so I'm not sure our experience was necessarily representative of either group. Love the culture and scenery of all 3 countries, especially the fjords of Norway.
+Rita Elin Fjeldbo All scandinavians are normally reserved. Then they get drunk and all their inhibitions disappear. Its a very strange culture.
You keep talking about how bad the service is, but i live here and i wouldn't say its bad at all! I work in a shop as well and all of my coworkers are super nice and helpful to the customers and to each other.
I went to florida last year and i felt like i was being watched all the time bc the people working there were so clingy
Then your co-workers aren't like others' co-workers
I was in copenhagen last week loved it people are soo nice left my bag with all my travel money in it and passport outside a cafe and realised and hour later an danish woman stayed with my bag until i returned... defiantly a place i'd go back to just save up a little bit before going again found it quite expensive a lot of the museums are free now which was a bonus Copenhagen
+Ian Giles I loved the safety and the free museums too
Wolters World which ones ?
Customers are not kings and waiters are not servants.
Waiters are literally servants, it is their job to serve you.
In many places they're literally called servers. lol
He means it that they are not under the customer like it's some hierarchy
@@owllymannstein7113 in Denmark too. but here their job is not more than asking what you want to eat bring your food. ask if you want dessert and give you your bill. that is it. if a waiter comes and ask what I think of the food or wanna make small talk. I be thinking go away
In the USA, waiters are salespeople.
Just back from Copenhagen - loved it. Service was wonderful. Perhaps it was the accent that put them off! Is cycling a negative??? Wow!
Copenhagen has some places where the service is really bad, mostly from untrained staff (teenagers mostly) who really don't want to be there. But generally, a nice place with professional staff will have good service. I think he was just unlucky.
I visited Copenhagen around American Thanksgiving in 2000. I would add a few things to your list...
hates in November...
1. Lack of light in winter. It was 10 am before it was light out and then it was dark again by 4 pm.
2. The museums are on their winter hours which makes it difficult to use Copenhagen as a launching spot for visits to other towns. Also, the same reason as in #1, it would be dark so quickly, getting out to see the sights was a challenge.
loves...
1. Louisiana Museum, in Humlebæk, is a 40 minute train ride from Copenhagen. Completely worth it for the amazing art, the natural beauty of the location of the museum overlooking the Oresund and Sweden on the other shore!
2. Helsingør, Denmark is twenty minutes further north of Humlebæk. It is fun for people interested in Hamlet.
3. Kronborg Castle, time your trip right so it is open when you visit Helsingør.
3. National Gallery of Denmark is a top notch museum that is well worth the visit.
4. Carlsburg Brewery for obvious reasons.
5, Shopping... Scandinavians are renown for their sense of design. There are tons of shops and ateliers to enjoy.
Happy Travels!
I come from denmark and I agree with everything thats said in this video.. Danish ppl are antisocial on the streets but at home we go crazy with each other. No eye contact on the street and so on, BUT, if you go to a person and ask for directions or ask for something else, we are actually very open and polite.
Johan Bülow Petersen Btw. In summertime we get more social outdoors. We love to talk to tourists. Specially if a tiny bit of beer is involved ;D
I disagree!!! I went to Copenhagen and the people are the nicest 😍 for real
I think you misunderstood the fact we don't provide good service in restaurants, shops etc. You mentioned yourself that we don't talk much and like to be alone. that is true and that also counts when we go shopping. we HATE when a shop employee is attacking us when we come through that door. In Denmark we like it to be like that we will tell the waiter or the shop assistant when we need his or her help but untill then they should just act like they aren't there.
the thing is what most foreigners call service we danes think of as a salesman's crooked ways to make us buy something we don't need. I can't count how many shops i have left abroad due to the fact the employee was constantly walking in my heels. which i find extremely anoying.
As a dane and native copenhagener, i can only agree that some bars and restaurants especially in the area around Nyhavn are crazy expensive. However i would recomend tourists traveling to copenhagen to try bars and restaurants that might not be directly in the center of the city, perhaps take a stroll through Vesterbro or Nørrebro and see a more diverse and colorfull side of copenhagen and all the different cultures that melt together here. We also have many small cozy parks scattered arpunf
D yown, were you can relax with a beer and enjoy the good weather( in the summer) ... other than that i can only encurrage that even though we seme like realy private people and that we dont like to talk to strangers, if you get us a beer well be more than happy to talk and talk alot :D ... then you could ask for advise on where to eat or go to a cheap bar cuz us copenhageners shure dont go to Nyhavn on a regular basis.
Sorry for typing errors ;)
Patrick Rasmussen no problbems. I appreciate you sharing some insider tips. it means a lot to get locals perspectives.
The magic beer 🍻🍺😂🤣
Is it just me that loves cold weather ❄ ?
Well, we are used to the cold'ish climate, so my best tip is to bring clothes that are appropriate for the season, and you will be fine.
girafmad also one other thing, be prepared for how small this country is. from the southern border(Kruså) to the northern tip (Skagen) all the way to the capital in the east (København) and then all the way down on the southern islands again (Nakskov) is less then 1000km.
girafmad meh? True , but seriously, what tourist in what country actually uses more space on a holiday than whats available in denmark? I dont get your point. Why would you waste your holiday with traveling miles and miles in each direction...??? Yes it is small relative to USA, but unless you plan to stay for 6 months there will be plenty, absolutely plenty of things to do and see
Quick tip!
Go to cafe's if you want cheap food (still tastes delicious).
Don't buy alcohol from 7/11 if you can find a supermarket, as supermarkets sell bear and other alcoholic drinks around 20-25% cheaper
wow they sell bears in the supermarket? wow
Yup, Denmark is a craaaazy country! :-D (Supermarkets sells bears....good one!!!) LMAO!!!!
ja i haribo poser
Jesper Hald ups hahaha xDD
In general just don't ho to 7/11, every other shop is way cheaper.
I love a beer but not the Danish bar prices!. So when I visited Copenhagen I went to the first kiosk and bought a large bottle of cold Carlsberg.I took a stroll around town then took my empty bottle to the next kiosk whereby I buy my next bottle cheaper because I get a refund for my first bottle and so on returning my empties at every kiosk there after(all kiosks will give you a return for your empty bottle) when you have drank your last bottle you can take it back to any kiosk for a small returns refund or give it to some person that can save the bottles and get a skin full for themselves in the same manner skål mange tak min venner ;)
I personally live in the states but all my family lives there and I just came back from visiting. Really great county honestly.
There are no hates about Copenhagen and Denmark. Otherwise I wouldn´t have had spend my holidays for the third time there this summer.It has been as lovely as always. My favourite country ! ( and I have seen a lot).
I'm gonna be honest here, the average Dane doesnt buy beers at 7/11 unless its damn late in the night and there is no Kiosk (the cheaper version of 7/11) nearby. 7/11 is expensive compared to a normal grocery store like Netto, Fakta and all the others. And Nyhavn as an example, is one of those more expensive and "popular" places. If you find a nice and cool pub that isnt overhyped like those in Nyhavn you can easily find cheaper and decent beers for 2euros and less. I'm a Dane living in Copenhagen, I know! :)
Many places we're not allowed accepting tips - and if we are, it's not going down our own pockets, so our salary don't depend on that at all. Also - no refills here ;D
Kelly Louise Killjoy I usually get refills.
+Dereck Fauchdonshitschon me too
Hi Kelly Louise Killjoy are you from Copenhagen
If you want to visit Denmark and have somewhat of a wild time, go there on the first weekend of November or more specifically the first friday of November. Danes have what they call J-day which is the day when the christmas beer is released (Julebryg), so many people are out partying and celebrating with cheap (but very sweet) beer.
I'm going to the Copenhagen Business School for 6 weeks over summer, cannot wait even more now!!!
Don't buy beer and drinks (or anything for that matter) in 7eleven, it's seven times more expensive than other places. Go to local shops refered to as "kiosks" - you can get beer for as low as 5-8kr which is about as cheap as beer gets in Denmark. Also, yeah, danish cuisines as smørrebrød is defiently not for everyone (i for one have always hated it) but we do have some really good national dishes that I think particularly americans would enjoy .. The problem is just, we are particular fond of our restaurants having international dishes and overall we like to eat different when we're out, and save the national and traditional danish food for the home-cooking. That means there aren't a lot of restaurants that actually make traditional danish food (and the ones that does aren't necesseraly that good) - but there are some, you just gotta know we're too look. If you do want to try real good danish food if you find yourself in Copenhagen, look up a restaurant called "Klubben" which is placed not far from a square called "Tove Ditlevsens plads" - you can take the bus 3A almost to the door - but anyway they make great danish food! Otherwise befriend some danes, or if you are staying with danes ask for traditional food, because almost every single dane have some sort of family recipe version of several tradtional courses.
I spent some time at Strickers in Stroget. And Beer were like 5 dólars each
+Benjamin Nikontovic God damn dude. Was that really necessary?
+Benjamin Nikontovic dafuq?
+Kasandra Howaniak Definately agree = stay clear of the "turist trap" 7eleven if you want to save money. Not that there is something wrong with 7eleven but when they swooped in a decade ago they pretty much bought out all the overpriced truck stop - little shops & kept their prices silly high.
Instead buy your stuff stuff at a budget supermarked like any other sane danish person .. aka like Netto, Aldi, Lidl, etc. & you can get beer at like half a dollar & great foods. 7elleven is really only if you forgot something importent or is so rich that you dont mind spending 7 bucks on a cup of coffee.
Oh, and everyone knows we have danish pastries .. but make sure to check the giant selection of candy. Not just bonbons & chocolate but we some of the biggest candy manufacturers here. Just spricey potatochips .. they come up with a new spice every few months.
0:46
i don't recommend you to buy alcohol from 7-eleven. its very expensive. its way cheaper in super markets
Oh man! I'm from the Faroe Islands and live in Denmark now... I was overwhelmed by the Danish service when I got here. It was too pushy for me... I guess we are really reserved and private where I'm from. :P
It's not because we are unfriendly, it's just that we don't meddle in other people's business, and don't want other people to meddle in our business. On the Faroe Islands, you can ask someone for directions and you shouldn't be surprised if they offer you a ride in stead, or home with them to have dinner or whatever. But if you don't ask then you will be left alone almost everywhere you are.
I've literally walked out of stores in Denmark when people haven't respected the answer I gave to them on the "can I help you with something?" and I've said "no thanks, I'm just looking" and they keep "stalking" me to offer input and support...
for anyone interested here is a recipe for Remoulade. note dont taste like a store-bought
buy the most plane mayo you can get your hands on
3 tablespoons of good mayo or home-stir
1 tablespoon cremefraiche.
1 tablespoon finely chopped capers
1 tablespoon finely chopped carrots
1 tablespoon finely chopped red cabbage
1 tablespoon finely chopped cornichoner
1 tablespoon finely chopped chives
1 tablespoon finely chopped tarragon or chervil can be omitted
1 teaspoon finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon lemon
1 teaspoon coarse mustard
Salt / pepper / sugar
Turmeric to adjust the colour with
mix it all. put it in refrigerator. can be used to all kind of sausage. and french fries.
I'm so excited! I am going this weekend. I was all over Europe for the first time this summer. MARK!!!! You are the best. I know this trip will be the best because of your family and you.
Would the little mermaid be more interesting if it was bigger?.... That is such an American point of view. Lol
Yeah it actually is xD what is it about americans always wanting to be big and have big stuff.. and well.. big people
+Oliver Holmbo I'm not sure what it is, but art is art no matter the size.
+Hextechy yeah there is a reason it's called the little mermaid
You're so right hahah
Americans like everything big.
Such american logic haha
if Americans love big, the go to "Limfjords camping". they have big burger's with french fries
The prices definitely surprised me.. The people are unique. The town is amazing and the food is great.
I'm a middle-aged Dane who has lived for 10 years in Copenhagen.
As a local I have to *agree* on your 5 negative points. I've written my recommendation in parentheses for people who want to visit:
1) Yes, it is expensive here to both drink and dine (If it's summer time and you just want a few brews, I recommend what's said in the video, buy some good beers in a *kiosk* , not a 7 11, and find a green spot. The reason I say _avoid_ 7 11 is their high prices, and their downright lousy selection of luxury beers. They also don't pay taxes here because of their U.S. origin.)
2) No, service is not great (we are working on that, but as a serviceperson myself, I really try my best. Just leaving this comment should prove that ;-)
3) Yes, visiting in winter is like a dungeon (come in summer time, is all I have to say about that.)
4) Yes, bikes are everywhere (I'm used to it as a biker myself, but tourists are not. So watch out before you cross the bike lanes.)
5) Yes, the Little Mermaid is a disappointment (absolutely true, and not worth the trip to see her, as she is placed a bit out of city centre in a harsh harbor environment. Visit _Christiania_ instead ! Always worth the trip, and walking distance from inner city.)
If you have the time, try to avoid Inner city (that's where all the other tourists go), and visit Christiania, Nørrebro or Vesterbro.
And of course, we are proud of the hot dogs (glad you like 'em Wolter), and our 'open sandwiches' (smørrebrød). On the beer front, try to steer clear of Tuborg and Carlsberg, that's _not_ the best we have to offer, just the ones we export the most). :-) Just ask around, and you shall find.
drumstick74 thank you so much for more insider insights. I can only catch on to so much on my stays and I do appreciate when locals add to the videos. Tak!
woltersworld You're welcome, Wolter! Hope to see you back here.
drumstick74 Great and fairly cheap beers include: Thy Pilsner, Ale no. 16, and if you have to drink big-brand, drink ONLY Tuborg Classic (and only in bars). Apart from that, there are insanely many delicious luxury beers under $6 bucks at the supermarket, and often even as low as the price of a regular Tuborg. Of course, no 7/11, as they only sell about 5 different types, at ridiculous prices, but discount supermarkets like Netto often have great beers, and are usually open until around 10-11 in the evening.
You also absolutely HAVE to try Kebab in Copenhagen. I've been told it's the northern European kebab capital, and it's available on every street, at any time of day. Bets kebab is found in Nørrebro, with Vesterbro coming in second, but you can usually find delicious Turkish food all over the city.
*****
Enig, Ale no16 er faktisk min favorit, derefter følger Blå Thor og Thy Økologisk :)
drumstick74 Alle tre fantastiske øl :) De to største øl-nørder jeg kender, en belgier der jævnligt får tilsendt fantastiske belgiske øl og en bartender der startede sin karriere på en restaurant med et øl sortiment på flere hundrede forskellige slags ville også give dig helt ret i - i hvert fald - Ale no. 16 og Thy Øko.
I'm a dane - and its so fun to watch videos like this! Good job! :)
getting a bit annoyed about service being labelled as ''bad'' because it doesn't meet American expectations. It seems Americans want everyone to wait on them with chocolate box smiles and anticipate their every whim and solicit requests (yes I know, they treat their own compatriots back home in the ''service industry'' the same way, and that's how they're trained to behave so they think that's the way it's supposed to be.) In Europe we treat people like grown-ups , not like children. We expect people to open their mouths and simply ask what they want.. that's how it works. Then you get what you want, professionally and up to good standards, and with a smile esp if the customer is smiling graciously too.. that's called ''good service'' . Some seem to equate 'service' with 'servitude'. Best forget that.
Gila Atwood did he say it was bad? No, pay attention crackhead.
Chill out bro, damn lol
Great video! Just booked my first weekend trip to Copenhagen! Excited :D
As we danes love to say;There is no such thing as bad weather, just poor clothing ;)
Mark, when I heard your voice I immediately felt joy. It's because you have so much joy and energy about the places you visit.
Thanks for these videos. I can't wait to visit Europe later this year.
Bill Green you will love it Bill. Have a great trip! Thanks!
I wouldn't say that the service is bad here, we just mind our own business.. When the waiter has taken the order we generally just expect them to leave us alone.
Copenhagen looks so beautiful!
Hvorfor fuck køber han ikke bare en sharwarma til en 20'er
+Bill The Bull Gates en sharwama I Danmark er meget anderledes end i Mellemøsten her bruger man dressing,kød og salat. Jeg er selv derfra så jeg ved det. I Mellemøsten laver man en sharwama med typisk lam, en form for yoghurt og til sidst en kål salat. Så en sharwama i Danmark er blevet meget ændret og hver anden person spiser en sharwama hver anden dag så det er blivet en stor del af den købehavnske kultur.
+Sgopal20Donut jeg går ik'. overhovedet
+Magnus Juul hvad snakker du om
+Magnus Juul siger drengen der ikke kan stave til "Gør"
Bill The Bull Gates det var fandme et dårligt comeback. det har jo intet med det her at gøre
Thank you for your video we learn a lot from you ,we have plane to visit Denmark this summer.
Hi Woltersworld guy! (I call you that affectionately :-) )
Love your video!, but would like to elaborate on a few things.
You have some difficulty describing remoulade, so here goes: It is simply mayonaise mixed with pickles (minced onions, carrots, cucumbers) and the yellow colour comes from turmeric (which is flavourless). So if people like mayo and pickles, they are likely to appreciate remoulade. (It's fantastic with fried chicken or fish!!)
It is true, that a beer is expensive, but please take note, that it is nothing compared to the other Nordic countries. In Norway, you are likely to pay at least twice as much. Also, Denmark is the only Nordic country, where you can buy beer and booze off the shelve in convenience stores (where it is quite reasonable compared to bars). In Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland you have to go a specialized highly controlled liqeurstore called "systembolaget" (roughly translated "controlled institution"), where beer and wine costs as much as in Danish bars, and open hours are from about ten am. to four pm.
Food is cheaper in Sweden, but if you like a beer to go with it, choose Denmark...
Which brings me to:
We are not only the happiest people in the World, we are also the most "beerhappy" (and by happy I mean enthusiastic). Nowhere in Europe(!) will you find a bigger selection of high quality beer both domestic and imported both in bars and stores. Domestic beer is of extremely high quality and variety and the selection of imported beer is unparallelled. In Copenhagen there are a crapload of microbreweries, with tastings that are a beerconnaisseurs wet dream, AND a crapload of bars, that specialize in HUGE selections of imported beers.
In comparison: In Berlin, I went to a bar called "House of a thousand beers", and I was shocked to find, that it was NOT to be taken litterally. They had only 100 different beers, but these were all domestic, and only different variations of typical german beertypes (weisse's and trappiste's), there were no stouts, there were no pale ales, there were no brown ales, there were no lagers! My campus bar(!) have about 300 different beers, and ALL beer types are represented.
So, beer enthusiasts, look no further! Denmark is the unofficial beercapital of the world...
Emil Fogh Nielsen thanks Emil. I never knew exactly what was inside remoulade... I just knew I loved it :)
I think Denmark have some of the cheapest beer in the world
+U.C. BEATS Not even close:D
Poseidon Republic Go buy beer at a supermarket. You won't find it cheaper anywhere else but Thailand or something
i am half danish, and been to denmark many times, many places in denmark too, and copenhagen was probably the most average place their, much better to go to a small town or village, quiet and picturesque
About the service - try to go outside Copenhagen - If you go to the cities in Jutland ( Jylland ) then you will experience service on a way higher level than in Copenhagen ;-)
From a Danish guy, there is no bad weather. Only bad clothing decisions.
Exactly, the different weather just makes it that much more interesting to take your walk. Also it should always be hotter inside than outside, to me the most annoying part about summer is the evening heat that makes it impossible to sleep even when almost naked, aka 20ºC and more.
I'm going in February. I learned so much thanks
it is called the LITTLE mermaid ;)
btw im from the part of denmark connected to Germany ''Jylland'' and i've always been told that if i go to the Copenhagen i should be very carefull about my stuff and make sure people dont walk into me because if they do they might steal someting. Now om not saying everyone is stealing in Copenhagen and i've only been there once. you should check out ''Jylland'' if you havent been there since the people are different there from the people in Copenhagen.
yep i agree
yep always be sure you dont loss somthing
You don't have to worry about people stealing, I have lived in Copenhagen for a few years, and I have never experienced anything like that. But it's true that people in Copenhagen are a lot different from the rest of Denmark
There is not a lot of stealing in Copenhagen, there is just a denser crowd that makes it easy to steal. Of course Copenhagen has its fair share of thieves, but in comparison to other cities like Barcelona, Paris and London, there is not that many. BTW jeg er også dansker :)
All I can say regarding Scandinavian service, is that it was wonderful not only in Copenhaguen but also in Stockholm and Reykiavik.
Thanks for another great video Mark I love your energy man :-) and although I havent been there 'yet' but as a Vegan I had to just google search if there was any eateries I could go to eat and there is at least 12 Vegetarian.Vegan restaurants which is fantastic as here in Waterford City Ireland there is 0 and I have to travel 100miles to Dublin to get one might be as quick to hop on a plane to Copenhagen :-) Sending Love from Ireland to you and your family ♥
Rambles with my camera you will be able to eat great as a vegan too. have a great trip!
Rambles with my camera Yeah, come visit anytime...I visited Ireland in 2006, so now it's your turn ;-)
will do :-) drumstick74
you should just stop being vegan. Much easier for ya :)
Next time you're in Copenhagen, take a visit to Greasy Spoon (resturant) in Studiestræde. It's a diner-style resturant, and their Rib Eye and Burgers are superb!
I can't believe you didn't talk about Rugbrød, Rugbrød is the main lunch here. But you can't get Rugbrød in the restaurants.
He did... He calls it "Open Faced Sandwich" = Smørrebrød
and yes you can get that in restaurants.
Sometimes in Spring the weather is quite nice too
This is very weird to see as a dane... Not from Copenhagen, though.
I've been living in Denmark for almost 4 years now and seeing this video brings back the way I felt in the beginning of my stay. Haha. I'm an expat from Romania - we're what the Mexicans are for the racists in America here, but despite that Denmark has been extremely welcoming to me and I have had a lot of opportunities that I would have never had in my home country. People are a lot more for themselves here, but they are caring and nice, they help you and support you if you ask. All you have to do is show you want and can and are willing to work twice as hard for it. For that I would like to thank Danes and Denmark. I feel like I integrated into their society (except for the language - never had the time for it) and took a lot of their way of living and being, so every time I go home, where the culture is similar to the Italian one, I feel left out and baffled. :)) Now I can tell you - the service here is great. I hate being bothered by a waitress or a shop representative. If I need anything, I'll ask and that's all. The service here is just great - they've always gotten my order just right and have been attentive if I asked for something, but thanks God they are not in my face, like they do back home, asking me if I need anything when I can clearly tell them myself without the reminder if I do. It's a cultural thing. I've recently had a friend visiting for a summer school from Chicago and she pointed out most of what you did in this video. I get it :D There is one thing we can totally agree on and I think every Dane can as well - the weather between September and March is just downright depressing. Anyway, have a nice time here, if you're still around, otherwise, nice video :D
+Palle Nielsen thank you Palle. I agree with your comment 100%. I have made great Danish friends that were eager to find out about me after starting a conversation and showed great kindness.
How can 7-elevens be a problem, and Nyhavn is not New haven but New Harbor. Come on man.....
Even tho its cold and stuff in Denmark people seem much more happy in the winter and during christmas ;D
Copenhagen's weather is not cold in the same way London in winter is cold. It's a different kind of cold. When the weather shows its 4 degrees celsius, it feels like -4 degrees celsius. It also gets rather windy and unless you grew up there, its hard to get used to bicycling in that cold weather.
things are expensive because Danes earn more
too damn expensive, the danes can't even afford a crapp car.
+Mr. Blitzer oh I mean a crappy car
+ericktwelve11 a tesla cost 120000$ so yeah. In america you could get a fukin lambo for that
Its expensive there because (The Personal Income Tax Rate in Denmark stands at 55.80 percent)2015-2016
They pay it and are mostly happy Because they love the way the other parts of the country is run
chopperharly How much cost a house in denmark especially outside of copenhagen?
I have been going to Copenhagen nearly every year since 2010. I thought the service was fine and polite. 7-11 is one of the most expensive places you can possibly shop. If you want to buy some relatively cheap alcohol then shop in Aldi or Lidl. Yes you have to be careful when crossing the road. The weather pretty much anywhere north of the Alps is a matter of pot luck. I have experienced some glorious weather in Denmark. I have walked through Nyhaven about three times ever, only because it was on the way to somewhere and once saw a sign advetising a pint of Carlsberg for 79 Kroner in 2018 which was ten Pounds sterling. If you like home cooked food at a reasonable price then eat at Chicky Grill Halmtorvet 21, which is very close to the central station. Denmark is significantly more expensive post-pandemic, not just merely pricey. Even when this video was made it would have been possible to do some research online for inexpensive places to eat and drink. You can buy a coffee in Christiania for just 10 Kroner.
I love old local bars and different kinds beer in the city.. and love the rain weather.. hmm girls too
I loved Copenhagen and I'm moving there soon
She's called "the LITTLE mermaid", what the fuck do you expect? xD
I was debating whether or not to visit Copenhagen. Glad I saw this video. Thank you for posting.
10:34 I don't advise doing that, I've already had two babies stolen and it's a pain in the butt to recover them. Cheers :)
My brain runs at 60Gigawat?
Ha ha, yeah!
I Think a homeless guy stole me when i was little... Denmark is lovely tho
Death by Bike. lmfao I literally cracked up laughing out loud when I saw this video. An American-expat, I've lived in CPH for almost two years, and your comments are so hilariously honest! I call her the "Tiny Tiny Mermaid" for a reason! I actually really love living here, and I so appreciate the lifestyle and the people here, now that I've been here a while. But it does take some time to warm, literally, to the Danes and their beautiful city! Incidentally, Nyhavn is pronounced "New-hOW-n". :) Thanks for the great videos!
The danish summer is the best day of the year !
My #1 tip to Copenhagen. GET OUTSIDE THE RAMPARTS! Inner city copenhagen is for nostalgic sightseeing, and there is a lot of great beautiful places to see. But for everything else get out of inner city. It might seem like boring residential areas at fist glance, but there's a lot of small artisan shops, designers and galleries to see. GO GET LOST!! (literally) :) Also the bars/pubs/clubs are usually better and not as expensive, there is a lot of nice places to go out in inner city, but you need to know them in advance, ask the locals... My personal favourite is Nørrebro. if it's sunny pack a lunch and some cold beers and go to Assistens Cemetery and enjoy the tranquility (might sound sinister, but you won't be the only one there for sure :)), Vesterbro also has a lot to offer, and even Østerbro, although the boring one of the three... And as stated, get reservations for dinner, it's impossible to do a walk-in at a nice place friday/saturday, and your left with shitty expensive food. And for the love of god, don't get the red hotdog ask for a 'ristet med det hele'
I love this. I'm going for a weekend this month and this was quick and basically broke down everything I needed to know. Thanks!
The reason service is "bad" in Copenhagen is that we do not believe in the neoliberal american way. I'm a bartender myself, and I'm always polite, but I refuse to act as a slave simply because I'm being paid to sell stuff to people, and I will never pretend to "love" people that I don't even like. This is what equality is all about. You'll get your drink, or your hotdog, but we're not selling ourselves, we're selling the drink or the hotdog. Get over it. Sellling drinks or hotdogs to costumors is not being a slave, it's selling fucking drinks and fucking hotdogs to costumors. Much love from Copenhagen :)
Went here in 2018 was real fun.
I'm heading to Copenhagen for university and these videos have been very helpful
Bonus hotdog eating footage.
thisisjosh hours of it ;)
If you are planning to go to denmark plz dont only concider Copenhagen. There are also other towns like Aarhus that are very beautiful!
If you ever comes back, i would love to meet you. Have seen so many of your videos 😊 Sofia
Sunsets are mostly around 22h , so you can really do a lot of during the day :)
Perfect for guys like me who like morning sleeping
Dude. You forgot about the taxis. They are more expensive than EA. It’s absolutely insane.
If you are interested in vikings you should visit Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark. It's a beautiful, historical and vibrant city with many interesting museums including the new Moesgaard Museum, which has a great collection of viking stuff. It is absolutlely one of the best museums i have seen. Read more at: www.moesgaardmuseum.dk/english
If i did know that you have been visit Denmark, I have offer you a beer :) Love your videos
I concur about the weather - it sucks - and the hotdogs - they're great! Great city. Loved it.
pippetdog Amen :)
Been to Copenhagen last year highly recommended to anyone especially Escobar got drunk in there many times
i literately only trust your travel videos😭❤️
Thank you
Some of the things I love about Danes and Denmark and reasons I would like to live there: #1 I would like to live in a country Whose government I could be proud of; Denmark is annually at or near the top of the Transparency International list of good government. #2 The high level of education and equality among the citizens. #3 The multi-lingual skills of almost everyone! #4 The sense of fairness and honesty among its citizens. If it weren't for the cold and the air pollution, we would expatriate to Denmark. Well, and I would hope that over time I would find Danish as pleasant a language as Swedish!
my daughter left her gloves in the main train station bathroom, I tried to console her assuming they were gone. 3 days later we checked the lost and found office and they were there, amazing.
Hello guys im from Copenhagen and nyhavn is extremly pricy and seveneleven too. You should walk out of the center of the city you can get very inexpensive go to a local kiosk very cheap
Take outside of Copenhagen and everything is a lot better -.-
No, it's about where you are in Copenhagen, just not the really overcrowded ones
You have to visit the north of Denmark, more specifically North Jutland, the prices are lower, the people nicer and more "talky".
About prices: Walk 3 or 4 blocks from a tourist places and find a typical Danish pub, you pay about $ 3,5- 4 for a beer. About food prices, use example TheFork online, here you typically get a 30-50% discount on your food bill, the only thing you need to do is book a table through the website and you can do it 2 minutes before entering the restaurant or go to Groupon and you get pretty much the same discount. Don't be afraid to ask any Dane where they eat cheap themselves, we are actually incredibly friendly and helpful :-)
This was GREAT and a good basis for our upcoming trip. Thank you for making this!
There are racist ppl in Denmark, yes. And some of those have another color of skin and very disappointed that they them selves are not "allowed" to be racist... Danes in general, treat people for who they are inclusive of racists, hence the troll and the remarks thereof. The fact that you are different rarely gives cause for any concern, time and place matters though.
If you think we are "rude" for not talking, we are probably giving you your space. This can be seen as a quality by some. Our Queen (or our celebrities) can walk the streets of Copenhagen and not be pestered (much) as we value the space of individuals.
we are racist because when people come here they are all about trouble. that's rude. if you want to be in denmark then behave.
***** if pointing out that someone behaves badly is the same as being a racist... Then sign me on... However if racist is the dislike of ppl solely on there pigmentation and looks, I do not qualify to the membership.
I was in Copenhagen for three weeks and had no issues with service. I traveled alone and mostly cooked my own meals. I liked that after dinner, I could walk to a restaurant called Apropos on Halmtorvet, where I would order a glass of wine or a hot chocolate and sit with my book and my drink and feel perfectly welcome, without waiters dropping off a check to coax me along. I chatted with the staff a little and they were always friendly. On the first night, the waitress told me a tip was unnecessary for a cup of hot chocolate. I appreciated that, but I still tipped. At home in the U.S., I feel uncomfortable going to a restaurant alone, partly because I feel rushed to eat and be gone so the table can open up for a couple that will generate a bigger tip.