From the Nyhavn canal to the districts of Norrebro and Vesterbro, the city is awash with the famous Hygge. This art of living has made the Danes the happiest people in the world, and the most eco-friendly too, with green spaces and eco-neighbourhoods.
Trendy Eatery
Esmée
Tucked away off Kongens Nytorv, the city’s largest square, this bustling brasserie could be mistaken for a modern orangery with its decor of marble walls and lush greenery. Chef Andreas Bagh adds a fresh Nordic touch to classic French cuisine. Try the grilled Danish turbot served with mussel sauce and seasonal greens. For dessert, the tarte aux pommes cocktail will satisfy your sweet tooth.
Kongens Nytorv 8, esmee.dk
Charming Hotel
Coco Hotel
From the Copenhagen Food Collective, this solar-powered boutique hotel is both design and sustainability-forward. Housed in a classic building, 89 light-filled rooms exude Nordic charm. True to its foodie roots, the all-day Coco Café and wine bar, complete with an internal courtyard, serves Scandinavian breakfasts, small plates, and evening drinks in a lively, bistro-like setting.
Vesterbrogade 41, coco-hotel.com
Buzzing Bar
TATA
Just like its namesake, the red velvet curtain at the Danish Royal Theatre, TATA is not short of decadent, vintage charm. Here, the bartenders are the ones putting on a show, serving classic and house cocktails named after operas (Beethoven’s Fidelio) and ballets (Swan Lake’s Odile). On Fridays and Saturdays, step onto the rooftop terrace clad in lush greenery and choose from a menu of aperitivos.
Tordenskjoldsgade 15, hotelsanders.com
Local Food Hotspot
Restaurant Møntergade
At the intersection of Gammel Mønt and Møntergade, where fine institutions have written gastronomic history for decades, this restaurant serves delightful Danish cuisine with a French touch. Fresh herring, marinated, spiced, or served with chutney and capers, dominates the lunch menu; for dinner, go for the braised pork cheek with fried foie gras. End the night at their bar Apéro just across the street in Christensen's legendary red house.
Møntergade 19, montergade.dk
It Fashion Designer
MKDT Studio
Established over a decade ago, impeccable tailoring, construction, and fine textiles are this luxury brand’s forte. Creative director Caroline Engelgaar is the mastermind behind expertly pleated maxi skirts and capes, supple silk and cashmere, sharp lines, curved edges, and ruffles. The art of sculpture in fashion form.
Store Strandstraede 9, mkdtstudio.com
Style Hub
Storm
One of the highest-profile concept stores in Scandinavia and Europe, Storm has been a trendsetter since 1994. Shop curated labels from Thom Browne to Céline, as well as collections made in collaboration with local, upcoming brands. Beyond fashion, dive into beauty products, music, magazines, books, and ever-changing exhibitions.
Store Regnegade 1, stormfashion.dk
Pamper Places
AIRE Ancient Baths Copenhagen
The former Carlsberg factory, dating back to 1881, is now a candle-lit temple of relaxation offering soul-enriching massages and thermal baths, inspired by ancient Roman, Greek, and Ottoman traditions.
Vej 101, beaire.com
Ara’Kai Beauty
Fashion expert Heydi Vásquez’s beauty sanctuary can be found in a pastel-green, 250-year-old townhouse with natural wood interiors. Go for a result-driven facial, and browse the best of clean, sustainable beauty from artisans worldwide. Above the boutique, the Ara’Kai universe continues with pilates, yoga, meditation, and even sound baths.
Ny Carlsberg Gammel Mønt 21, arakaibeauty.com
Beauty Avenue
This eco-friendly spa and brow bar specialises in all-natural facials, state-of-the-art treatments, luxury mani-pedis, and more. At its in-house apothecary lab on the second floor, herbalist and holistic beauty pioneer Stella Nisreen Kanaan concocts plant-based, herbal products from Beauty Avenue’s own organic beauty brand.
Allegade 24A, 1. sal, www.beautyavenue.dk
Hottest Night Out
Søpavillonen
Built in the 19th century for the Copenhagen Ice Skating Club, the historic pavilion at The Lakes is currently a cocktail bar and nightclub, shining bright on the waterfront. Drawing in the city’s fashion crowd with its central location and sleek interiors, it promises a night to remember, with an energetic mix of top 40s, house, hip hop, and electro.
Gyldenløvesgade 24, soepavillonen.dk
Secret Escape
Rudolph Tegner Museum
Designed by Danish sculptor Rudolph Tegner in the late 1930s to house his own original works, this museum is a concrete treasure trove of modernist art. The experience continues in the Statue Park, where a further 14 of his sculptures, including the 1916 bronze ‘King Oedipus and Antigone’, stand proud against a backdrop of heather and sea views.
Museumsvej 19, rudolphtegner.dk