Restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark
Classical French, serious wine, no Nordic hype.
One of Copenhagen's oldest French bistros, Bistro Boheme earns its place through Bocuse-trained cooking, a Star Wine List #1-ranked wine program (2024 and 2025), and a $$ price point that makes it a genuine option for a special occasion without the four-month waitlist. Book here when the format is a proper dinner rather than a tasting-menu event, and the wine list matters as much as the food.
If you are marking a birthday, a significant dinner with a client, or a proper date night and want a room with genuine culinary credentials without the lottery of a four-month waitlist, Bistro Boheme is worth serious consideration. This is one of Copenhagen's oldest traditional restaurants, anchored in classical French technique — chef and owner Per Thøstesen trained under Paul Bocuse, and that lineage still shapes how the kitchen operates. The result is a French bistro that feels out of step with Copenhagen's New Nordic moment in the leading possible way: serious cooking, a wine list that has earned the Star Wine List #1 ranking in both 2024 and 2025, and a price point ($$, roughly DKK 400–600 per person for two courses with wine) that won't require the kind of financial planning that [Geranium](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/geranium-copenhagen-restaurant) or [Alchemist](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/alchemist-copenhagen-restaurant) demand.
Bistro Boheme sits on Esplanaden, near the harbour, and runs lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday — closing Sundays. The kitchen deals in French and regional French cooking, which means classic preparation and technique rather than the kind of experimental tasting menus that dominate Copenhagen's upper tier. Opinionated About Dining, one of the more rigorous casual-dining ranking systems in Europe, placed Bistro Boheme at #139 in Europe for 2025 (up from #169 in 2024 and Highly Recommended in 2023) , a consistent upward trajectory that suggests the kitchen is not coasting on its history. Google reviewers back that up with a 4.5 rating across 787 reviews, which is a meaningful signal at that volume.
The wine program is the standout credential. Wine Director Luisa Lopez oversees a list of 150 selections with 400 bottles in inventory. The program's strengths are California and France, with pricing in the $$ tier , meaning there is range across price points rather than a list designed to extract maximum spend. For a milestone dinner where wine matters, this is a stronger pairing than most of what Copenhagen's French-leaning rooms offer at comparable prices.
Seat count is not confirmed in available data, but the restaurant's format as a traditional bistro , operating across a full lunch-to-midnight window six days a week , suggests it can handle small groups without the friction you'd encounter at a 12-seat counter. For groups of four to eight celebrating an anniversary or a professional milestone, this is a more practical booking than [Noma](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/noma-copenhagen-restaurant) or [Koan](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/koan-copenhagen-restaurant), both of which require significant advance planning and carry higher per-head costs. If your group is larger or requires a dedicated private space, contact the restaurant directly to confirm availability , General Manager Benjamin McCarney oversees operations and would be the right point of contact. Booking difficulty is rated easy, so the pressure of a last-minute decision here is lower than at Copenhagen's destination tasting-menu venues.
Bistro Boheme occupies a distinct position in Copenhagen's dining map. It is not competing with [Geranium](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/geranium-copenhagen-restaurant), [Alchemist](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/alchemist-copenhagen-restaurant), or [Koan](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/koan-copenhagen-restaurant) for the same booking. Those restaurants are multi-hour experiences with per-head costs well into the €€€€ tier. Bistro Boheme is for the diner who wants a genuinely good meal with a serious wine list, in a room with a clear culinary identity, and doesn't want to commit to an entire evening's agenda or a three-month waitlist. If you want French bistro cooking at a similar quality level in Paris, [Au Bascou](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/au-bascou-paris-restaurant) and [Chez Georges](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/chez-georges-paris-restaurant) are the useful reference points , Bistro Boheme competes in that tier.
For Copenhagen dining beyond the capital, [Jordnær in Gentofte](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/jordnr-gentofte-restaurant), [Frederikshøj in Aarhus](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/frederikshj-aarhus-restaurant), and [Henne Kirkeby Kro in Henne](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/henne-kirkeby-kro-henne-restaurant) represent the fine-dining tier outside the city. Within Copenhagen's broader eating scene, see our [full Copenhagen restaurants guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/copenhagen), [hotels guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/hotels/copenhagen), [bars guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/bars/copenhagen), [wineries guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/wineries/copenhagen), and [experiences guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/experiences/copenhagen).
| Detail | Bistro Boheme | Geranium | a|o|c |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisine | French Bistro | New Nordic, Creative | New Nordic, Mediterranean |
| Price tier | $$ (~DKK 400–600 for two courses) | €€€€ | €€€€ |
| Booking difficulty | Easy | Hard (months ahead) | Moderate |
| Hours | Mon–Sat 11:30am–12:30am | Varies | Varies |
| Wine credentials | Star Wine List #1 (2024 & 2025) | Strong | Strong |
| Group suitability | Good for small groups | Limited | Moderate |
Book Bistro Boheme if your occasion calls for classical French cooking with a serious wine list, a room with verifiable credentials, and a booking you can actually secure within a reasonable timeframe. It is the right call for an anniversary dinner, a client lunch, or any occasion where the quality of the meal matters but the format of a long tasting menu does not appeal. For the New Nordic tasting-menu experience, look at [Kadeau](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/kadeau-copenhagen-restaurant) or [Geranium](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/geranium-copenhagen-restaurant) instead. For regional Danish fine dining beyond Copenhagen, [Alimentum in Aalborg](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/alimentum-aalborg-restaurant), [ARO in Odense](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/aro-odense-restaurant), and [Domæne in Herning](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/domne-herning-restaurant) are worth knowing.
Yes, with the right expectations. It is a strong choice for a birthday, anniversary, or client dinner if you want classical French cooking and a well-curated wine list rather than a multi-hour tasting menu. The $$ price tier (roughly DKK 400–600 per person for two courses) keeps it accessible compared to Copenhagen's €€€€ tasting-menu venues. The Star Wine List #1 ranking for 2025 and a top-200 Opinionated About Dining Casual Europe placement give it the credentials to hold up on a meaningful occasion.
Booking difficulty is rated easy, which means you do not need months of lead time the way you do at [Geranium](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/geranium-copenhagen-restaurant) or [Alchemist](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/alchemist-copenhagen-restaurant). For a weekend dinner, booking a week or two ahead is a reasonable approach. For a specific date tied to a milestone, book as soon as your plans are confirmed , the restaurant is open until 12:30am six nights a week, giving more timing flexibility than most destination restaurants in Copenhagen.
This is classical French bistro cooking in a city better known for New Nordic tasting menus. Chef Per Thøstesen trained under Paul Bocuse, so the kitchen's frame of reference is French technique, not Scandinavian minimalism. The wine list is a genuine strength , 150 selections, 400 bottles in inventory, with a focus on France and California at a $$ price tier. The restaurant is on Esplanaden near the harbour, open for both lunch and dinner. It is one of Copenhagen's older traditional restaurants, which means it has a track record rather than being a recent opening riding a trend.
Based on the bistro format and extended hours (11:30am–12:30am, Monday through Saturday), it is better placed for groups than a tight counter-format restaurant. For small groups of four to eight, this should be workable with a standard reservation. For larger parties or dedicated private dining, contact the restaurant directly , General Manager Benjamin McCarney oversees operations. There is no confirmed private dining room in available data, so verify before building an event around it.
It depends on what you want from the alternative. For New Nordic tasting menus at the leading end, [Geranium](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/geranium-copenhagen-restaurant), [Koan](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/koan-copenhagen-restaurant), and [Kadeau](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/kadeau-copenhagen-restaurant) are the names to know , all €€€€ and with harder booking windows. For a creative, experiential dinner, [Alchemist](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/alchemist-copenhagen-restaurant) and [Noma](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/noma-copenhagen-restaurant) are in a different category of both price and format. If you want something closer to Bistro Boheme's French bistro register but in Paris instead, [Au Bascou](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/au-bascou-paris-restaurant) and [Chez Georges](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/chez-georges-paris-restaurant) are useful comparisons. See our [full Copenhagen restaurants guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/copenhagen) for a broader view of the city's options.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bistro Boheme | Bistro | The restaurant Bistro Boheme is one of the old traditional restaurants of Copenhagen. Owner and head chef Per Thøstesen has worked under Paul Bocuse and you will find the techniques and ideas of Bocus...; Star Wine List #1 (2025); Opinionated About Dining Casual in Europe Ranked #139 (2025); WINE: Wine Strengths: California, France Pricing: $$ i Wine pricing: Based on the list\'s general markup and high and low price points:$ has many bottles < $50;$$ has a range of pricing;$$$ has many $100+ bottles Selections: 150 Inventory: 400 CUISINE: Cuisine Types: French, Regional Pricing: $$ i Cuisine pricing: The cost of a typical two-course meal, not including tip or beverages.$ is < $40;$$ is $40–$65;$$$ is $66+. Meals: Lunch and Dinner STAFF: People Wine Director: Luisa Lopez General Manager: Benjamin McCarney; Star Wine List #2 (2024); Star Wine List #1 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Casual in Europe Ranked #169 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Casual in Europe Highly Recommended (2023) | Easy | — |
| Geranium | New Nordic, Creative | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Noma | Creative | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Alchemist | Progressive, Creative | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Koan | New Nordic, Kaiseki, Creative | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| a|o|c | New Nordic, Mediterranean Small Plates, Creative | Michelin 2 Star | Unknown | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Yes, and it's one of the more defensible choices in Copenhagen for a dinner that needs to land. Chef Per Thøstesen trained under Paul Bocuse, the kitchen runs classical French technique, and the wine list — 400 bottles, ranked #1 by Star Wine List in both 2024 and 2025 — gives the occasion genuine substance. It won't deliver Nordic-tasting-menu spectacle, but if the goal is a serious meal in a room with credentials, it earns its place.
Book at least one to two weeks out for dinner, especially Thursday through Saturday. The restaurant operates Monday to Saturday, 11:30am to 12:30am, so lunch midweek is your best shot at shorter notice. Sundays are closed entirely, so don't plan around them.
Expect a traditional French bistro format, not a tasting-menu progression. The kitchen serves both lunch and dinner, prices sit in the $40–$65 range for a two-course meal, and the wine list skews French and Californian with a broad spread of price points. Opinionated About Dining ranked it #139 among casual European restaurants in 2025, which signals consistent execution rather than a destination-dining gamble.
Seat count isn't confirmed in available data, but as a traditional bistro running a full lunch-to-midnight service, it is better suited to tables of two to four than large private parties. If you're planning a group of six or more, check the venue's official channels at Esplanaden 8 to confirm capacity and any private dining options before committing.
Bistro Boheme occupies a specific gap: classical French, mid-price, wine-forward. If you want Nordic fine dining with global recognition, Geranium and Alchemist are the ceiling options, though they require far more advance booking and significantly higher spend. For something closer in format and price, a|o|c offers natural-wine-focused cooking with a similarly relaxed register. Koan and Noma operate at a different price tier and commitment level entirely.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
