Fylkir of Copenhagen

Scandinavian café specialising in open sandwiches, brunches and a warm Danish welcome.

The 2019/20 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

On the surface Fylkir could be one of a number of new, chic new Southside cafés and deli with its tick-box list of essentials – minimalist Scandi-style, check; well-chosen upcycled furniture and artworks, check; high shelf displaying indie roaster coffee supplies, check; and so on. But hang on, owner Caroline Carlsen is actually Danish, this isn’t some cynical ersatz interpretation – it’s the real deal. The main attraction on the menu is the selection of smorrebrod, open toasts that are a staple of Copenhagen café culture. The simple concept, in Carlsen’s hands, turns a snack into a small work of art – and each costs less than £3. The toasts – bread from Renfrew’s Baikhous – are given picturesque toppings made up of things such as smoked salmon and lemon cream, avo and blue cheese, or chicken salad and bacon. Also on offer are comforting breakfasts, cakes, great mugfuls of hot chocolate and herbal teas, and a book about Hygge. A real joy.