Celebrating My Birthday in the Copenhagen heatwave with my Bestie

Celebrating my birthday yet again (there’s a post coming soon with a full rundown of this year’s birthday fun) — this time with my bestie, Erika from America. Another scorchio day here in wonderful Copenhagen (27°C / 80°F), so we kept things very relaxed and very shady. I really don’t do well in this crazy heat, ha ha!

A woman with long hair holds a glass of sparkling wine while seated at a table in a sunlit courtyard, surrounded by greenery and charming historic buildings.

A woman seated at a table in a sunny courtyard, smiling and gesturing towards a bowl of ricotta-filled ravioli in a butter and sage sauce, with a glass of sparkling wine nearby.

We had lunch at La Vecchia Signora, which has a quirky hidden, quiet courtyard. The restaurant and buildings here are half-timbered and date back to 1753.

A hand holding a menu from La Vecchia Signora restaurant, featuring a variety of Italian dishes, set against a backdrop of half-timbered buildings in a sunny courtyard.

View of a quiet courtyard restaurant named La Vecchia Signora, featuring outdoor seating and partially visible historical timber buildings. A basket of bread is in the foreground.

La Vecchia Signora is right in the heart of the historic centre (the restaurant is on Grønnegade and shares the courtyard with Pistolstræde). Both of us went for the Ravioli di Magro al Burro e Salvia — ricotta-filled ravioli in a simple butter and sage sauce (160 DKK). Yum! It’s not the first time we’ve eaten this ravioli…last time we were here (a couple of winters ago) we had the exact same thing! Delicious! Ate every last piece.

A table set in a courtyard restaurant featuring two plates of ricotta-filled ravioli, a glass of sparkling spumante, and a Danish flag in a holder.

A plate of ricotta-filled ravioli in a butter and sage sauce, with a fork and knife beside it, set on a white tablecloth.

Oh, and because it was my birthday, naturally, a glass of sparkly spumante to celebrate! And plenty of cold water to keep us going in the heat… Skål!

A table setting featuring a glass of sparkling spumante, a water pitcher, and a greeting card with a bird illustration and a Danish flag, all in a sunny courtyard with half-timbered buildings.

Afterwards, we took a slow wander through the city — so many tourists around right now, enjoying everything Copenhagen has to offer.

A cozy alley in Copenhagen filled with parked bicycles, showcasing a mix of bike styles and a red building in the background. — Magpie fountain at Pistolstræde 8

A woman stands in a sunny courtyard surrounded by greenery and quaint buildings, looking at a decorative wooden sculpture, with a bicycle parked nearby. — Magpie fountain at Pistolstræde 8

Then we rounded off the afternoon with cream puff pastries and coffee on one of the rooftop terraces at Illum department store (there are several, all with great views of the city). Hot coffee for me, iced for Erika.