Travel tips: Nørrebro: Visit the world’s coolest neighborhood
This article was first published in Capital Travel.
COPENHAGEN: The colorful district is a glittering mix of historic landmarks, ultra-modern architecture and restaurants that make the gourmet city of Copenhagen proud, reports Time outin connection with the magazine’s selection of Nørrebro as the world’s coolest neighbourhood.
Through several tough years, new, unique concepts for food, drink and shopping have sprouted and grown here – most with a focus on sustainability and the environment.
The car-free Sunday is now also back, something that transforms Nørrebrogade into a lively folk festival with music and a flea market. There are not a few successful concepts that have started their journey in this young and creative district.
One of the new concepts is the pawnshop Hello Good Buy, where you can pawn the clothes against payment in cash, or get the store credit å handle for in the shop.
Entrepreneurship: Norwegian Sarah Elise Gjemdal (TV) has started the pawn shop Hello Good Buy in Copenhagen. Here together with store manager Silja Maja Arum, who is also Norwegian. Photo: Cassandra Wollum
– Nørrebro is a bustling district full of unique concepts and small, local gems, says Hello Good Buy founder, Norwegian Sarah Elise Gjemdal. – In this part of Copenhagen, quality is the focus, and a unique mix of shops, local coffee bars and thrift stores lie side by side with everything from Michelin-star restaurants to small “holes” in the wall, where you get one of the city’s best c .rispy fried chicken-burgers for a hundred.
Together with Norwegian Silja Maja Arum, Gjemdal runs the clothing store, which will be the first and only one of its kind in Scandinavia.
![Popular: Blågårdsgade is one of the nicest streets in Nørrebro. It stretches from Nørrebrogade to Blågårds Plads and is full of restaurants, cafes, wine bars and music venues. Photo: Martin Heiberg / Visit Copenhagen](https://imaginary.abcmedia.no/resize?force=false&width=980&height=551&interlace=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnyheter.drpublish.aptoma.no%2Fout%2Fimages%2Farticle%2F%2F2022%2F10%2F05%2F195875670%2F1%2Foriginal%2F71320565.jpg)
Popular: Blågårdsgade is one of the nicest streets in Nørrebro. It stretches from Nørrebrogade to Blågårds Plads and is full of restaurants, cafes, wine bars and music venues. Photo: Martin Heiberg / Visit Copenhagen
Trousers
The pawnshop is inspired by “Crossroads Trading” in the USA, a concept that buys clothes from the customer in exchange for cash or store credit.
– For me, it became a goal to be the first man out here on the continent. We were the first to offer this in the entire Nordic region, and as far as I know, also in Germany, says Gjemdal.
She believes the concept is a quick and simple alternative to selling her clothes online.
– You get rid of the hassle of taking pictures, making advertisements and making agreements with buyers who don’t show up. The store is a physical marketplace for buying and selling quality clothes. As a buyer, you also have the opportunity to see, touch, smell and try the garment before you buy it, in a proper fitting room and with employees who are happy to help you. By making recycling more accessible, I think more and more people will open their eyes to it.
![Hello: Norwegian Sarah Elise Gjemdal (TV) has started the pawn shop Hello Good Buy in Copenhagen. Here together with store manager Silja Maja Arum, who is also Norwegian. Photo: Cassandra Wollum](https://imaginary.abcmedia.no/resize?force=false&width=980&height=1306&interlace=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnyheter.drpublish.aptoma.no%2Fout%2Fimages%2Farticle%2F%2F2022%2F10%2F05%2F195875676%2F1%2Foriginal%2F71320824.jpg)
Hello: Norwegian Sarah Elise Gjemdal (TV) has started the pawn shop Hello Good Buy in Copenhagen. Here together with store manager Silja Maja Arum, who is also Norwegian. Photo: Cassandra Wollum
Won German competition
The response to the concept should be very good so far.
– We are often told that the shop looks like an ordinary clothes shop, and it is not uncommon for someone to spend several minutes in the shop before they realize that it is a second-hand shop. Then I think we have done something right.
Gjemdal wants Hello Good Buy to be a clothing store, and not a typical second-hand shop. Monday to Wednesday are pledge days when you can bring in clothes. Then the time is spent looking at, buying, pricing, steaming and hanging up new clothes.
– We spend the rest of the week selling out again. Most things go quickly. On Monday, the racks are ready for refilling again. And rolls it.
Gjemdal’s ambition is to expand with more franchise stores, primarily in Europe, and the vision is no less than to revolutionize the clothing industry by changing the way clothes are consumed.
The idea has been well received, and in the start-up phase she was granted incubator space at NTNU Accel in Trondheim, as well as DKK 50,000 in support from the environmental organization Climate-KIC to drive the concept further.
Last year, the Norwegian girls opened their second store, this time in Bremen, Germany, where they won a local competition, where the prize was a year’s free rent in the middle of the pedestrian street in Bremen, as well as 60,000 euros to cover salaries and other expenses.
– The fact that Hello Good Buy was one of three winners is very impressive, and has given us a flying start on the German market.
![The favorite porridge: Try the Norwegian founder's favorite porridge with apples and almonds from the restaurant Grød in Copenhagen. Photo: Grød Copenhagen](https://imaginary.abcmedia.no/resize?force=false&width=980&height=435&interlace=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnyheter.drpublish.aptoma.no%2Fout%2Fimages%2Farticle%2F%2F2022%2F10%2F05%2F195875671%2F1%2Foriginal%2F71320640.jpg)
The favorite porridge: Try the Norwegian founder’s favorite porridge with apples and almonds from the restaurant Grød in Copenhagen. Photo: Grød Copenhagen
Vegan ice cream and gourmet porridge
But it is in the hip neighborhood of Nørrebro in many Norwegians’ favorite city that the first pawn shop is holding up. And Hello Good Buy is not the only cool concept that has started its journey here and is worth a visit during the city break.
– One of our regular places for job meetings or a filling lunch is the porridge bar Grød. In the same way that Hello Good Buy needs a facelift, Grød’s vision is to redefine porridge. Here you get all kinds of porridge varieties with delicious toppings, including both risottos, chia puddings and other seasonal porridge dishes. Their oatmeal with homemade caramel sauce, almonds and fresh apples is an eternal classic, and for good reason, advises Gjemdal.
They like to buy coffee at Elmegade Fem or Café Kaf, so that local coffee shops must focus on quality.
– If we want to treat ourselves to something sweet with our coffee, Nicecream’s vegan version made with coconut milk is our go-to. We have already tasted our way through the entire menu, and can highly recommend the flavors “Bounty Hunter” or “Creamy Coffee”.
![Green oasis: Assistens Kirkegård is a burial place, but also a green oasis and cultural heritage in Nørrebro. Famous names such as author Hans Christian Andersen and philosopher Søren Kierkegaard rest here. Photo: Sebastian Himmelstrup / Visit Copenhagen](https://imaginary.abcmedia.no/resize?force=false&width=980&height=551&interlace=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnyheter.drpublish.aptoma.no%2Fout%2Fimages%2Farticle%2F%2F2022%2F10%2F05%2F195875673%2F1%2Foriginal%2F71320709.jpg)
Green oasis: Assistens Kirkegård is a burial place, but also a green oasis and cultural heritage in Nørrebro. Famous names such as author Hans Christian Andersen and philosopher Søren Kierkegaard rest here. Photo: Sebastian Himmelstrup / Visit Copenhagen
Friday bar and party
Gjemdal also recommends visitors to take a walk in Assistens Kirkegård, where among others HC Andersen and Søren Kierkegaard are buried.
– There is an infinite amount to explore here, says Gjemdal, who is clearly enthusiastic about his district. – Among other things, this is where you will find the largest collection of second-hand shops in Copenhagen, with both the Red Cross, pure vintage shops, slightly more expensive brand shops, as well as second-hand shops in the middle tier, such as Hello Good Buy.
Every Friday, the store also arranges a Friday bar, the Danish version of Friday games, where they offer a beer or drink to its customers and friends, as well as music and a good atmosphere.
![Food sharing: Social eating concepts and food sharing, where you share many different dishes, have popped up in Copenhagen in recent years, and are particularly popular in Nørrebro. Photo: Mellanie Gandø / Visit Copenhagen](https://imaginary.abcmedia.no/resize?force=false&width=980&height=1224&interlace=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnyheter.drpublish.aptoma.no%2Fout%2Fimages%2Farticle%2F%2F2022%2F10%2F05%2F195875674%2F1%2Foriginal%2F71320749.jpg)
Food sharing: Social eating concepts and food sharing, where you share many different dishes, have popped up in Copenhagen in recent years, and are particularly popular in Nørrebro. Photo: Mellanie Gandø / Visit Copenhagen
– The party continues on Blågårdsgade, a street with many different concepts for share food (food distribution, journ. note), ethnic eateries and bars.
Gjemdal says that 20 years ago, Blågårdsgade was a street you wanted to stay away from in the evenings, but recently it has flourished with gastronomic concepts here.
– Our favorites are the two African restaurants Sasaa and Zula, both of which offer exciting flavors at affordable prices, says Gjemdal.