Balderdash

Tucked into a historic building from 1732 on Valkendorfsgade, Balderdash is anything but ordinary. Behind its unassuming façade lies a bar that's part gallery, part cocktail lab, and all personality. The brainchild of American expat Geoffrey Canilao, this ever‑evolving venue defies categorization—and that’s the point. As Visit Copenhagen puts it, “it is difficult to define the concept of Balderdash. Geoffrey wants that you as a guest define the concept that suits your visit at the bar”. Whether you're sitting in the cozy lounge or peeking into the spirits lab upstairs, you're part of a sensory experiment. Cocktails embrace both culinary creativity and Danish hygge ethos—think seasonal concoctions like the ‘Strawberry‑Foie Gras Old Fashioned’ or playfully audacious drinks like the “Let’s Get Weird Martini” (cheese‑puff distillate), “Mushroom Alexander” with grated deer heart, or ice‑cream floats topped with truffle‑hazelnut and bacon salt. The menu is ever-changing and fearless: horseradish‑perfumed martinis, bone‑marrow Old Fashioneds, savory milkshakes with wax moth larvae, charred tomato‑strawberry gazpacho tonics—the concoctions read like a mad scientist’s journal blending flavor, art, and a dash of audacity. Beyond cocktails, the experience includes pop‑up restaurants, gallery exhibitions, and a laboratory for experimenting with fermentation and local ingredients—which may be why reviewers call it "undoubtedly the best bar we've visited in the world," praising its ambience, staff, and unmatched creative cocktails. In short, Balderdash is more than a bar—it’s an evolving cultural experiment that delights the curious, rewards those open to the unexpected, and exudes that uniquely Scandinavian cozy‑meets‑avant‑garde charm.