as i mentioned in a , i was invited by to come see the city for myself and while it was my first time traveling to Copenhagen it quickly became one of my very favorite cities to visit, and i definitely will return. and perhaps not surprisingly because it’s been categorized as one of the to live, according to the compiled by the United Nations. it’s a wonderful blend of old and new, and we found the people to be really friendly, the city truly beautiful, very clean and really easy to navigate. it’s primarily flat so we mostly rode bikes or walked, rather than take taxis or public transit. i can’t explain it exactly except to say it just felt like a lovely, very easy going and safe place to be. we stayed at a fantastic hotel, in a really charming part of town where we could walk out our door for pastries and coffee, or after a long day of sightseeing pop into the cozy bar, next door for a warm bowl of beef bourguignon and a glass of wine. i highly recommend visiting Copenhagen and when you do, here are some of the places you just shouldn’t miss!
back to our hotel, (above) which was recommended by — my go-to travel site for amazing recommendations and guides. i honestly cannot say enough nice things about staying here. we had been booked at another hotel by the train station and it just wasn’t in a very desirable neighborhood, so we moved to which is located in Copenhagen’s and they welcomed us with open arms, calling us a taxi to fetch our bags, and offering us a glass of wine while we waited. immediately the staff made us feel like new found friends. our rooms were designed beautifully (note the killer headboard) with lovely duvets, windows with a view to the charming street, hot tea and a lovely bathroom. downstairs, there’s a full bar (with a happy hour each evening with a complimentary glass of wine and live music a few nights a week), and a delicious breakfast buffet included served in a lush plant-filled dining room. there’s also two really wonderful restaurants attached to the hotel — and which had delicious burgers. bikes with big baskets (for all your shopping!) are also available to rent at and we took full advantage of them, riding all over the city.
on to the Copenhagen city tour! first up, SHOPPING:
• : we hit just about every place on my must-see list — starting with which deserved its , and did not disappoint. just across the river and in Christianshavn it’s tricky to spot (because it essentially looks like an apartment building) so look for the yellow building with the green doors just along the canal (pic just below).
• : another favorite shopping destination was and with two floors of delicious design we went back twice just to get our fill. beautiful modern homewares, lighting, textiles and furniture are displayed in a gorgeous showroom with a lovely view of the square from its second and third-floor apartment (below).
• : another smashing interiors store is , a design company dedicated to celebrating the luxury of living life. their store is also two floors of inspiring home decor set up in lifestyle vignettes so you can get a taste of how might look in your own home. there was strong evidence displayed here that velvet is most definitely in vogue, as well as color palettes combining pale pink, mustard yellow and dark green. we spent a long while here, too, soaking it all in and not really wanting to leave.
• : or “beautiful market” (below), it is indeed very much like a French brocante, with many beautiful and delicious things to see and taste. run by two siblings who grew up in France, although they are Danish, it’s clear they have France in their hearts and this spot was right up my alley. Timeless industrial design, rare vintage objets d’art, and beautiful furniture fill every nook and cranny of this lovely shop. and In their backyard, they’ve opened a small wine café & wine shop, Beau Marché Café à Vins, where you can relax and enjoy life with a nice glass of wine and small bites.
• : we stumbled upon this chic women’s clothing shop (above) in the heart of Copenhagen, tucked away in a small street by the King’s Gardens. we found ourselves making fast friends with the owner, so much so that we went back for a second visit and when we arrived in a rainstorm she invited us to stay for a glass of wine. it’s tightly curated selection of beautiful wool sweaters, traditional work and outdoor pieces with an avant-garde look, Japanese specialty products, and technical outerwear.
• : another shop where we felt like we made a new friend. the shop girl was so charming we could have chatted about design all day. at LUBAROL (above) you will find handpicked designer wear, fragrances, and accessories. Everything is carefully curated with unique clothing and accessories you won’t find anywhere else. i scooped up some pastel bangles that will always remind me of this sweet spot.
• galleri 14: i don’t believe this charming shop has a website, but this quaint shop (above) is a must hunt down! filled with all kinds of vintage goodness — amazing lighting fixtures, one of a kind art prints framed in the most spectacular thin silver frames and all kinds of bric-a-brac i wanted to haul home. if only i had a larger suitcase. look for the little gray shop (with no sign, just a pretty window display) located at Larsbjørnsstræde 14 1454 København.
• : Project 4 (above) is a women’s boutique with a focus on carefully selected handpicked designs from both Danish and international fashion brands, many of them are only sold a few places in the country. Discover two floors of unique accessories like wooden sunglasses, classic bags, leather sneakers, jewelry, art books and more. check out their for a taste of their latest collections.
: we serendipitously stumbled upon this sweet little pop-up shop (above) while aimlessly wandering around. there, we met the most charming folks who run this creative space in the heart of Copenhagen with handmade local goods and some fun vintage repurposed goods (i found a killer made by berlin artist ), artwork and ceramics (i grabbed some lovely cups from artist ). do pop in and say hi and tell them we say hello!
if there’s one place i had to say was my favorite, it would be copenhagen’s (below). from our hotel we took a beautiful bike ride across the bridge and through the . this park-like cemetery where Hans Christian Andersen was laid to rest is now one of the Nørrebro area’s most interesting and lush green oases, where both locals and visitors go for a stroll. the area of and specifically is filled with independent designer and artisan shops, quaint cafes and bars.
• : this small but adorable (think ) clothing boutique (below) is filled with indie designer wares from both japan and denmark, based on the refined detail of the Japanese street style, fineness and lean-time-mover trends. it looks like their website is still under construction, but follow their for updates.
: this is such a gorgeous little shop specializing in handmade bespoke interior homewares like boucherouite rugs, poufs, handcrafted pillows, and art, supporting local artisans and the empowerment of women. we found the most stunning here, and i stuffed a pillow and some ceramics i just couldn’t leave without into my carry on (below).
• : pretty self-explanatory — this adorable shop is Denmark’s first concept store for cactus and succulents. they’ve taken exotic and sculptural plants and adapted them to a Nordic minimalist style and in addition, they carry lovely handmade ceramics, cactus art, hammocks and a selection of pots.
okay, let’s eat, shall we? to be honest, we didn’t hit as many spots as we would have liked — one, because i had a dreadful cold while we were here, and two because at the end of the day, running and riding bikes around the city, we were a tad worn out and stayed close to home in the aforementioned cafes. we also hit twice because it was just that good. we just loved the ambiance, the friendly and fun staff and the fresh ingredients! try their delicious (and huge!) steak for two (or at least three).
• : this pretty spot (above) made for one really lovely lunch, but go here for dinner, too! again such fresh tasting food. i had a whole fish and steamed vegetables that tasted like heaven. and the decor is sublime. pretty terrazzo floors and a mismatched collection of the most incredible danish modern dining chairs and tables. just a must-not-miss!
• : okay, to be honest we didn’t eat at this charming eatery (above), but we popped in to have a look and it would definitely appear that all the hoopla about their avocado toast was true, because it seemed like everyone was eating it and it looked divine. a super cute spot, in a great neighborhood, too.
• : this was a super cute little outdoor cafe and a perfect spot to grab a quick and delicious open-faced sandwich. i had the salmon and it was oh-so-good! right in the middle of a large square near the stork fountain, so perfect for people watching, too.
• : another really sweet spot (above) — we stopped into this cafe because the fireplace lured us in on a chilly day, and it couldn’t have been cozier. just a local neighborhood spot, but with delicious homemade soups and breads. it couldn’t have been more perfect for a bit of lunch and a break from shopping and biking.
and last but not least for the best view of the city, you simply must visit . theRundetaarn is a beautiful 17th-century tower and observatory and is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. round and round you go to the observation deck up top for spectacular views of beautiful copenhagen. enjoy!
• photography by victoria smith for sfgirlbybay.
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