Beach bars come and go every season in Copenhagen, but of all of them, Halvandet on Refshalevej has continued to return year after year.
Summers may have been mixed since Halvandet first opened more than a decade ago on the newly developed Holmen area of Copenhagen, but even if the sun only shines for a mere few days, beach-loving Copenhageners have enjoyed the chance to grab a deckchair, sip at a cool drink and soak up the beach party atmosphere.
Located right on the waterfront, Halvandet has the ultimate beach party atmosphere — Photo courtesy of Halvandet
With a splendid view of Copenhagen's harbor, including the Little Mermaid statue and the cruise terminals, Halvandet sits on a stretch of land on Holmen, a short walk north of the freetown of Christiania and the landmark Copenhagen Opera House. You can even take the hop on, hop off canal bus direct to the bar from Nyhavn.
Described as an oasis on the beach, Halvandet is more than just a bar. Here, you can listen to music and enjoy draft beer as well as long drinks, or have a go at sports such as petanque, volleyball and mini-golf.
In May 2013, Halvandet was the venue for some of the biggest gatherings during the Distortion Festival of street parties that descends on Copenhagen each spring. With Distortion having grown spectacularly from its small, underground beginnings, Halvandet's vast halls, old vacated factories adjacent to the beach bar, have the ability to house thousands of guests without permit problems.