Bakken
Bakken sits at Flaesketorvet 19 in the Meatpacking District, occupying a street-level space with large windows facing the courtyard between the old slaughterhouse buildings. The venue functions as a bar from early evening through midnight, then transitions into a late-night dance space as DJs take over from the background playlist. Capacity is around 250, split between the indoor bar area and the outdoor courtyard seating that's essential during Copenhagen's short summer season. Bakken opened in 2013 and positioned itself as Kodbyen's most accessible venue: no strict door policy, no genre commitment, and a crowd that ranges from after-work drinks to 3 AM dancing. The interior mixes industrial elements, exposed brick, and warm lighting, creating a space that feels like a bar rather than a club even when the music is loud. The drink selection is stronger than at the neighborhood's dedicated clubs, with a decent cocktail menu alongside beer and spirits.
What to Expect
Early evening feels like a relaxed neighborhood bar with good music in the background. By midnight, the lights dim, the volume increases, and it becomes a proper dance venue. The transition happens gradually and naturally.
Warm, social, and energetic without being intense. Bakken is Kodbyen's meeting point before people scatter to more specialized venues.
House, disco, funk, and pop-leaning electronic. Lighter and more accessible than Culture Box or KB18.
Smart casual. The after-work crowd means collared shirts and dresses early. Late-night is more relaxed.
Groups wanting a flexible evening that can go from drinks to dancing without changing venues. Good date spot early, good party spot late.
Card and contactless throughout. This is a largely cashless venue.
Price Range
Beer DKK 55-70, cocktails DKK 100-130, no entry fee most nights
Beer ~$8-10/~7-9 EUR, cocktails ~$15-19/~13-17 EUR
Hours
Wed-Sat 5 PM to 3 AM. Extended to 5 AM on select Fridays and Saturdays.
Insider Tip
The outdoor courtyard is the best spot in Kodbyen on a summer evening. Arrive by 6-7 PM on warm Fridays to claim a table. Late at night, the venue gets crowded fast after midnight when the restaurant crowd transitions to drinking.
Full Review
Bakken does something that's harder than it looks: it functions as both a credible bar and a credible late-night venue without feeling like it's failing at either. The early evening crowd comes for drinks after work, takes advantage of the courtyard in summer, and enjoys the kind of background music that makes conversation easy. Then, around midnight, the same space transforms. The DJ moves from tasteful background sets to proper dance music, the lights dim, and the crowd shifts from conversational to kinetic.
The space itself helps this transition work. The industrial bones of the Meatpacking District building provide visual interest without the self-conscious design of a dedicated cocktail bar. Exposed brick, warm wood, and decent lighting at the bar area keep things inviting early. The absence of a cover charge on most nights means people drift in and out freely, which gives Bakken a fluid energy that the more locked-down clubs lack.
The drink selection is a step above what you find at Jolene or KB18. A proper cocktail menu with competently made drinks at DKK 100-130 serves the early crowd. Beer is standard Copenhagen pricing at DKK 55-70. Nothing to write home about, but consistently decent.
Bakken's weakness is that it can feel generic on off-nights. Without the focus of Culture Box's sound system or Jolene's eclectic programming, a quiet Wednesday at Bakken is just a bar in a nice building. But on a Friday or Saturday when the courtyard is full and the dance floor is building, it hits a sweet spot that makes it the easiest recommendation in Kodbyen.
The Neighborhood
Bakken is centrally located within Kodbyen, facing the main courtyard between the white-tiled meat buildings. Jolene is literally next door, Kodbyens Fiskebar is across the yard, and KB18 is a short walk deeper into the industrial zone. The concentration makes bar-hopping effortless.
Getting There
Walk from Central Station in about 12 minutes via Istedgade and Halmtorvet. Metro Enghave Plads (M3) is 10 minutes on foot. The Meatpacking District entrance from Halmtorvet is the most intuitive approach.
Address
Flæsketorvet 19
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Culture Box
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Jolene
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KB18
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