Copenhagen Mini-Guide
STAY
Old-School Luxury: Hotel d’Angleterre*
One of the world’s first luxury hotels, d’Angleterre has been running for more than 260 years, with passion for perfection that has lived on among the hotel’s staff. Housed in a neoclassical palace in the heart of Copenhagen, the hotel blends traditional elegance with contemporary touches in all 92 rooms and suites. Enjoy an exceptional dining experience at the Michelin-starred Marchal restaurant, or a glass of bubbly at Balthazar, the hotel’s renowned champagne bar.
Nordic Design: Nobis Hotel
Set inside the former Royal Danish Conservatory of Music, the Nobis Hotel fuses classical architecture with the best of Danish design—clean lines, simple accents, and lots of natural light. Expect high ceilings, oversized marble bathrooms with egg-shaped bathtubs, wooden parquet floors, and sleek furniture in each of the 77 rooms - just steps away from the Tivoli Gardens. Also worth noting - Restaurant Niels serves up inspired French and Nordic dishes, and the on-site spa is home to a sauna, hammam, and cooling pool.
Grand Dane: Hotel Nimb*
Facing the Tivoli Gardens in a Moorish-style palace, Hotel Nimb is home to 38 sophisticated rooms and suites. With a state of the art wellness centre, five diverse dining options including a classic French Brasserie, a rustic wine cellar, and a grand hotel bar, Nimb Hotel is an exciting place to stay in the heart of the city.
Modern Townhouse: Hotel Sanders*
Billed as Copenhagen's first luxury boutique hotel, Hotel Sanders of is all about the modern townhouse vibe, luxury without the fuss and a clever design narrative. At the hotel, you can expect handsome rooms & suites, bespoke furnishings, and commissioned artworks by the talented Lydia Cowpertwait. Eating at Sanders is an informal affair, with a crisp street-side eatery, a lounge bar, and a fabulous rooftop conservatory.
*Guests at Ahl Collective partner properties enjoy the following benefits:
Early check-in/late check-out (subject to availability)
Room upgrade at check-in (subject to availability)
Complimentary breakfast for 2
$100 credit on food & beverage or spa (depending on property)
Complimentary Wifi
SEE + DO
Design museum
A must-visit for design aficionados, the Design Museum showcases the central tenets of Danish design - formal simplicity and functionality - through the creations of Kaare Klint, Hans J. Wegner, Arne Jacobsen and Verner Panton. International influences from ancient Chinese ceramics to 19th-century European decorative arts are also on display. The museum is housed in a lovely Rococo building and can easily be toured in an hour.
Louisiana Museum of Art
If you're willing to make the 40 minute drive or train, the Louisiana Museum of Art is something you shouldn't miss. The museum’s permanent collection includes more than 3,000 works (all post-1945) and includes pieces—both indoors and in the outside sculpture park and gardens—by Picasso, Giacometti, Yves Klein, Rauschenberg, Henry Moore, Louise Bourgeois, Jorn, Baselitz, Sigmar Polke and Anselm Kiefer.
Tivoli
Opened in 1843, Tivoli is one of the oldest amusement parks out there, and the key inspiration behind Disney World. The park has beautiful gardens and a wonderful restaurant - if you're interested in visiting I highly recommend booking Gemyse (more info below) for lunch or dinner.
Ordrupgaard Museum
The Ordrupgaard Museum’s is home to an impressive collection of Golden Age Danish and French Impressionist art (including works by Renoir, Monet, and Manet). In 2005, an extension - designed by the late Zaha Hadid - was completed (pictured above). Hadid’s building is intended to be a continuation of the landscape with no real defined form - worth checking out if you have the time.
EAT + DRINK
Classic Scandinavian: Schonnemann
Schonnemann is the must-visit restaurant for a Scandinavian meal. Only open for lunch, it’s an ideal stop between shopping and sightseeing. Most lunches here start with Schnapps and are followed by a herring dish, meat dish and a beer, so splitting dishes is key and will also allow visitors to experience Copenhagen’s culinary variety.
John's Hot Dog Stand
The small stand is located just outside of the city’s main train station and is a great place to grab a snack. John’s actually makes their own ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard (and distributes to many of the city’s restaurants and fellow food stands). Those in the know will also grab a chocolate milk to go with their dog.
Drinks + Light Food: Nyhavn
Only a short walk from the best boutiques and restaurants in town, Nyhavn is the ideal place to relax after a day of browsing, especially in the summer heat. Grab a drink from a bar or restaurant for a spot of people watching, If you'd like to do a boat tour, you can buy tickets on the dock and take the 30 minute ride through the city's harbor.
Dinner: Kødbyens Fiskebar
This cool, understated restaurant offers some of the freshest seafood in town but without the Michelin-star pricing to go with it. The restaurant features an outdoor area complete with oil drum fires and St-Tropez-style beach chairs, and a young, buzzy crowd.
Dinner: Gemyse
Gemyse - one of the most beautiful restaurants in Copenhagen - is located within Tivoli. If you go, make sure you sit in greenhouse section of the restaurant, (there is a communal wooden table), with views across the lively Tivoli gardens, and surrounded by the restaurant's homegrown plants and herbs. Tip: go for a late dinner to catch the sunset from the greenhouse.
Dinner: 108
108 is the more casual sister restaurant to Noma - once ranked the best restaurant in the world. The menu features a selection of (relatively) simple small plates (raw Norwegian scallops, salt baked celeriac, cured squid with bacon broth) as well as some larger ones designed for family-style sharing.
SHOP
Local Design::
Designkollektivet
This chic collective showcases the beautiful, handmade works of eight local designers. At the boutique, Danish design enthusiasts can meet the artisans, request custom products and peruse the wares, which include ceramics, leather satchels, whimsical framed prints and delicate jewelry.
Fur: Birger Christensen
What began as a tiny fur shop in Copenhagen in 1869 has become a globally renowned brand. While the luxurious furs are the original draw, Birger Christensen also stocks fashions for men and women from other luxury labels.
Gallery + Goods: Atelier September
Antiques dealer and journalist Annette Trampedach opened this wonderfully eclectic gallery in 1992 to sell treasures that she discovers in her journeys. In the gallery/store, you'll see centuries-old Scandinavian pieces sitting alongside more modern furniture (think 1950s Italian). She also sells wine glasses, vintage posters and mirrors of all sizes. *Note: the cafe next door is known to serve a fantastic breakfast/lunch.
Ceramics: Tortus Studio
This incredible ceramic workshop, which is open only by appointment, is set inside a grand historic house. Beautiful stone bowls and vases in varying shapes and hues, including periwinkle, coral and onyx, are handcrafted in this light-filled studio.