Stylish Mini-Break: Copenhagen
Paris might reign supreme as the city of love and romance but if you’re looking to book a Valentine’s getaway with a difference and lots of style, the capital of the happiest country on Earth, Copenhagen makes for a chic and colourful mini-break.
Grab a bag, a Copenhagen Card and get ready for a 48-hour hygge packed Danish escape.
DAY ONE
9am The Danes swear by a healthy breakfast. Start your day the wholesome way with Copenhagen’s most photographed avocado on toast at Café Atelier September, head to Apollo Café for its wow-factor interiors or make a beeline for Sonny, which serves some of the city’s best coffee.
10am Opt for a dose of culture at Denmark’s largest art museum, the Statens Museum for Kunst, or National Gallery of Denmark, for some awe-inspiring Danish and Nordic classics, as well as work by the European masters.
11.30am Take a moment to marvel at King Christian IV’s impressive renaissance Rosenborg Castle on route towards the 17th century observatory, Rundetaarn, or Round Tower. We’d highly recommend buying a ticket to ascend the sweeping spiral walkway to the top, where you can enjoy some spectacular vistas of old Copenhagen.
1pm If you’re visiting on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, enjoy a leisurely weekend-only lunch at seafood phenomenon Fiskebar in the heart of Vesterbro. Alternatively, why not savour the best street-food fare in Europe at the Torvehallerne food market.
3pm If you want to shop and sightsee simultaneously, Strøget has a wealth of shops, from high street to high fashion – in fact, there’s very little you won’t find here. For character though, we prefer to wander along Jægersborggade, home to some of Copenhagen’s best shops, trendy cafes, art galleries and restaurants. Found in Nørrebro – one of the city’s most exciting and colourful neighbourhoods – this super-happening street has cool written all over it. Pop into nearby Vanishing Point for special handcrafted gifts or, for fashion finds, hit Adélie or pick up past pieces at reduced prices at the Acne Archive boutique.
A hop skip and a jump over the Sortedams Sø you’ll find By Malene Birger, Henrik Vibskov Boutique and STINE GOYA, each home to some truly great Danish design. Bags and shoes? It’s a no brainer – YVONNE KONÉ. For edgy streetwear, Wood Wood is a favourite among the hipster crowd, you can pick up some seriously cool shades at Han Kjøbenhavn, or head to ARKK and NAKED for swish sneaks.
Being in the design capital of the world, it would be a shame to bypass Copenhagen’s many eclectic design and lifestyle stores. Interiors lovers, swing by Stilleben, DANSKmadeforrooms and Frama (a must-visit), for contemporary Danish designs. You’ll also find trendy ceramics at MK Studio, art at ultra-cool print store Kortkartellet and coffee table tomes at bookshop Cinnober.
5pm Amble along the glittering canals of Nyhavn, via Amalieborg Palace this picturesque old harbour fringed with colourful houses is the spot to lap up some much-needed hygge. For a savoury late afternoon treat, order a selection of the tasty Danish smørrebrød, or open-faced sandwiches, at Aamanns 1921 or Restaurant Kompasset. Toothsome afternoon delights can be found at Juno the Bakery – they do the best cinnamon buns in town. Head to Meyers Bageri on Jægersborggade for Blåbærsnurre – trust us – and the pretty Mirabelle for mind-blowing croissants baked by ex-Noma Chef Christian Puglisi. For gifts, Leckerbaer has the prettiest gourmet treats in the city – buy a box of småkager to impress loved ones back back home.
9pm For dinner, head to Relæ, a casual but gastronomically-thrilling gem set up by two former Noma acolytes on the outskirts of the Nørrebro. Or head to super-stylish Höst with its award-winning interiors and innovative Scandinavian dishes. And, of course, there’s chef-owner René Redzepi’s new Noma 2.0 – the world’s most talked about restaurant. Though you might need to wait until next Autumn to get a table...
Wee hours
Don’t want to call it a night quite yet? Stop by Lidkoeb or Ruby for guaranteed fun and some of the best cocktails in town. For a more relaxed vibe, wind down the evening at cosy wine bar Ancestrale or canal-side cool spot Nærvær.
DAY TWO
9am Pick up a vintage Achielle bike and a coffee from cool concept store WeCycle – come rain or shine, you can still explore this city on two wheels – then pedal over to Grød for a quick and delicious porridge or acai bowl.
10am Take some Instagram-worthy snaps in the sparkling interiors of Christiansborg Slot before heading to the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. A visit to Tivoli Gardens is a must, as is a shot on the world’s oldest rollercoaster. Bones suitably shaken it’s time for lunch.
1pm It’s only open for lunch Friday to Sunday, but Barr is well worth a visit if you’re on a weekend break. Otherwise, head to the popular harbour front food market Reffen for its endless choice of groundbreaking-but-tasty street food fare.
3pm Explore the colourful Freetown Christiania, followed by a visit to the top of Church of our Saviour, where the cityscape views are out of this world. While you’re in the area dip, into chic concept store The Apartment.
5.30pm Grab a quick pick-me-up at The Corner at 108 – a cute walk-in café tucked into the corner of the mother restaurant or at Coffee Collective, where the Godthåbsvej and Jægersborggade cafés are our favourites.
9pm Insanely good pizza is what Bæst does best, while Michelin-starred Kiin Kiin’s hot little sister in snazzy Vesterbro, Kiin Kiin Bao Bao, won’t disappoint with its tasty modern Asian tapas.
Wee hours
Make your way to wine bar Manfreds, popular hostelry The Bird, or lively craft gin and beer house The Churchkey. Up for a big one? Cocktail bar Duck and Cover will continue the merriment.
Looking to linger longer?
If you’ve 72 hours or longer to spend, add on visits to The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Designmuseum Danmark, The Botanical Garden, Grundtvig’s Church (this is definitely one for the design nerds out there), the artsy Superkilen urban park, The Little Mermaid statue, Ordrupgaard, Frederiksborg Castle and Kronborg Castle.
WHERE TO STAY
$$ Nobis Hotel Copenhagen
Design fiends will love this cutting-edge contemporary spot, a fusion of Danish classism and Swedish sophistication situated right at the heart of the city centre. With floor-to-ceiling Byredo- stocked marble bathrooms and a first-class restaurant and bar, Niels, it’s little wonder the hotel is the hip new locus of the city’s creative downtown scene.
nobishotel.dk
Manon les Suites
Made for wanderlusters, while the outside of this former factory is nothing to rave about, its dramatic interiors don’t disappoint. Built to a quirky riad-style design, the funky spacious rooms are set around a leafy and super-grammable central pool area, while the hip roof terrace boasts city lake views. A character-packed, trendy hideaway.
guldsmedenhotels.com
Axel Guldsmeden
A haven of calm on the edge of Copenhagen’s trendiest district, Vesterbro, this candle-lit and cushion-strewn hotel has everything you could want and more, with its mix of Balinese, Persian and Mexican vibes and a touch of Scandi-chic. Try the organic spa products, made every morning in the kitchen.
guldsmedenhotels.com
Radisson Collection Royal Hotel
The world’s first design hotel and the only hotel by renowned designer and architect, Arne Jacobsen, this is the true home of Danish Modernism. Recently renovated, it pays tribute to Jacobsen’s legacy with original Swan, Egg and Pot chairs situated throughout the building. Ask for a tour of Room 606, the only space that has been preserved as it was, a real treat for design lovers.
Radissonhotels.com
$$$ Sanders
Just 650 feet from Nyhavn is this graceful boutique hotel, created by one of Denmark’s most iconic ballet dancers, Alexander Kølpin, behind the Royal Danish Theatre. Marvellously family friendly and a design haven to boot, this is a gorgeous base from which to discover the city by bike, before cosying up by your very own crackling fire. hotelsanders.com
Nimb
History buffs need look no further than the fairytale façade of this boutique hotel, housed in a 19th century Moorish-inspired palace overlooking Tivoli gardens. Rooms here come with access to a swish rooftop pool, the pastry wonderland Cakenhagen, and an organic veggie restaurant, Gemyse, set within a cute greenhouse.
nimb.dk
The Krane
Elevating suite dreams to a whole new level, Klaus Kastbjerg and Arcagency have transformed an old crane in the Northern Harbour into a private retreat for two. No, really. Set over four storeys and boasting coal-dark interiors, floor to ceiling glass windows and a pretty sensational spa, this not-the-norm slice of heaven comes at a price.
thekrane.dk
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