Argentina in Copenhagen

Today Copehagen’s Nyhavn (New Harbour) area is chic, charming and cosmopolitan – a far cry from the days when, as the city’s main port, it was a disreputable area frequented by drunken sailors and prostitutes.

The once-dilapidated taverns have been replaced with multicoloured, elegantly refurbished townhouses while the plethora of modern bars and restaurants that line the canal make it one of the city’s most vibrant and enticing districts. Even if the weather is chilly, you can expect to find packed outdoor tables and a welcoming atmosphere.

Tucked in an alley between the narrow streets that surround the Nyhavn canal, Tango Y Vinos is a piece of Argentina in the heart of Copenhagen. Say goodbye to the cold wintry nights, you’ve arrived in Buenos Aires! A sultry and seductive interior boasts velvet couches, wooden tables and deep red walls to accompany a tantalising selection of tapas and a wine list which pays adoring tribute to some of Argentina’s most delectable vintages.

And the restaurant’s admiration for established quality isn’t limited to just the food and wine on offer. Resolutely focused on providing an authentic, rather than stylised experience,this isn’t the place to go if you expect to try the latest trends in fancy cocktails or you need to show off your newest designer purchase: the key to the success of this place is in its wines, in its low-key attitude; and especially in the hyggelige (cosy) ambience.

At Tango Y Vinos you’ll find locals, regulars and the occasional tourist who come here for the exhibitions that complement the cuisine – smooth jazz or flamenco guitar concerts occasionally take place while, if you’re feeling the need for impromptu exercise after your meal, it’s sometimes possible to take part in a tango lesson. Which isn’t to say you can’t simply sit back and relax. The owners display a true passion for wine and relish explaining that each bottle tells you the love story of the territory it belongs to.

Toast the tango!

Should their detailed descriptions of your vintage leave you earning to learn more, Tango Y Vinos also offers wine-tasting events. Take a seat at the long bar and try one of the fine Argentinean wines on the menu, which is perfectly matched with regional gastronomic delights as well as some tapas from further afield – the selection includes some mouth-watering platters of French and Spanish cheeses too.

The bar has recently boosted its menu, so along with traditional, yet very tasty tapas (salami, spicy chorizo, manchego cheese, empanadas, focaccia bread with rosemary), you can now find more filling meals such as juicy steaks – Argentina is well known for its fantastic meat after all.

And if you already fancy yourself as something a savvy sommelier? Impress your hosts by ordering a bite of tangy manchego with a glass of Humberto Barberis Malbec 2004, a well-balanced, deep-violet red loaded with sweet tannins and fresh with fleeting scents of dark berries, pepper and chocolate and vanilla hints due to the ageing in oak barrels. You will realise that life has never been sweeter.

www.tangoyvinos.dk