To accommodate design aficionados from near and far, here’s an update on where to dream design in Copenhagen:
- Starting out with the world’s first design hotel, The Radisson Collection Royal Hotel is a pioneer in so many ways. It is almost certainly the world's first design hotel and the only hotel by the renowned Danish designer and architect Arne Jacobsen, making it a true home of Danish modernism. Constructed in 1960, the hotel still dominates the city skyline, and its interior design impresses visitors to this day. For a full design treat, book a guided tour of the iconic ‘Room 606’. It still stands today as it did in the 60s with all the original interior designed by Arne Jacobsen himself.
Bonus info: The hotel is conveniently located across the street from top attraction Tivoli Gardens, and just a 2 min. walk from both the City Hall Square and the central station.
- At the nearby Hotel Alexandra, an authentic retro-style boutique hotel, world-famous Danish mid-century vintage furniture is the recurring theme. Combined with textiles, wallpapers, and other period gems, Alexandra is a real time-capsule of Danish Modern, showcasing some of the very best pieces of design-loving Danes from the 50s and 60s, some of which are very well-known, others not so much. Try booking, e.g., the enfant terrible of Danish design Verner Panton’s suite in psychedelic colours, shapes, and patterns – and you are guaranteed to get your senses stimulated, whilst perhaps reviewing your initial thoughts on what Danish design entails.
- Copenhagen’s The Darling Guest House is a rather new and utterly unique, single residence in the city’s historic centre, curated to feel as a sophisticated home with the best of Danish design and contemporary art. At The Darling, one can lounge in the Spanish Chair by Børge Mogensen, or in the iconic Egg by Arne Jacobsen. When eating you will be sitting at Poul Kjærholm’s circular PK54 table, by the light of the Septima pendant lamp by Poul Henningsen. In the study room, write a postcard to send home while sitting at the Nyhavn desk by Finn Juhl, or lounge in the double daybed by Børge Mogensen with a nice stack of design books. Go to bed whilst enjoying the bespoke wallpaper exclusively designed for the venue by Danish artist Helene Blanche and snuggle into the sustainable bedlinen from Aiayu. The kitchen by Københavns Møbelsnedkeri might tempt you to want to prepare an in-house dinner, but off it is into one of the world’s best gastro hotspots too!
Bonus info: The Darling Guest House was created by Darling Creative Studio, creators of the cutting-edge international fashion magazine ‘DANSK’ available in over 20 countries.
- Following a huge renovation in the 2010s, the grand old dame at the Copenhagen’s historic Kongens Nytorv Square, Hotel d’Angleterre, is a brilliant example of how to master a juxtaposition of stately and grandiose Victorian design and New Nordic Cool design trends. This 5-starred hotel simply oozes contemporary classic, with elegant materials in light and tones, exclusive surfaces, and subdued decorative effects, that beautifully accentuate the outstanding rooms within its walls. Balancing elegance with a feeling of being at home, the ‘white lady’s’ proud traditions are thus substantiated and carefully integrated with Danish and Nordic design.
Bonus info: The 5-starred property on Kongens Nytorv Square also boast the Michelin-starred restaurant Marchal, a champagne bar, and gorgeous new cake shop, La Maison.
