Tagged as a sustainably minded fashion capital, Copenhagen is the epitome of nouveau chic. The city’s effortless, Scandi-cool aesthetic is a year-round fixture (though things rev up a gear or two when Fashion Week rolls around in August and again in late January).
Street style abounds here, amped up with cool-girl labels – Ganni, Cecilie Bahnsen, Stine Goya, and co – sported on long-limbed specimens as they cycle across the city (an act which manages to come off as elegant rather than exerting) to the latest ‘it’ spot.
Browse new restaurant openings, off-kilter florists, wowing galleries, and more in our rolodex of Copenhagen’s most fashionable hangouts and design-minded spaces.
LOUISIANA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
Head out of town, taking the 35-minute train to Humlebæk, the coastal home of Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Lapping the shore of the Sound, the Jørgen Bo and Wilhelm Wohlert-designed museum opened its doors in 1958. Inside, discover works by Alberto Giacometti, Yayoi Kusama, Roy Lichtenstein, and more.
Head outdoors to the sculpture park to ogle 60-plus sculptures by the likes of Richard Serra, Alexander Calder, and Henry Moore. Galleries are open until 10pm from Tuesday to Friday, so a post-dinner pilgrimage is more than possible.
ESMEÉ
Melding a classic brasserie feel (interiors are in neutral tones of putty, pistachio, and oat courtesy of Space Copenhagen) with a garden’s worth of greenery, this low-key romantic newcomer is a marvellous addition to King’s Square. À la mode menu items include ‘chips and dip’ washed down with a Caviar Martini at the outdoor courtyard – the perfect pitstop for those in a hurry, although you could easily spend all weekend here.
Diners with time for a drawn-out meal can tuck into family style sharing plates in the mirror-panelled dining room – the signature ‘rotisserie’ whole sole served with mussel sauce and new Danish leeks is *chef’s kiss*. The sweet finish: their soft serve, of course.
TABLEAU
Cooler-than-cool flower and design studio Tableau first bloomed in 2018. Founded by Julius Iversen – whose father worked in the industry – it’s a concept store eager to rearrange people’s expectations of floristry.
The multidisciplinary design studio and gallery is plotted on well-heeled Store Kongensgade and housed within a 19th-century building designed by Copenhagen-based architect David Thulstrup. Best known for its floral installations, which are often presented against industrial concrete and steel, the studio’s gypsophila clouds are amongst their most feted creations and are nothing short of majestic.
REFSHALEØEN
The artificial island of Refshaleøen is home to some of the city’s best restaurants – Noma, and Rasmus Munk’s Alchemist are here. There are also a number of more low-key eateries, including Lille Bakery and 16-seater La Banchina, to rave about in the area. The latter is a modest, blue-hued waterside spot, where diners can enjoy a dip, some sunbathing, or a sauna session (depending on the season) before tucking into a vegetable-led menu that is simple but satisfying.
In the winter months, the kitchen takes things up a notch, offering a 12-course tasting menu complemented by a selection of natural, clean, and low-intervention wines (most of which are Italian). Factor in some postprandial time at nearby Copenhagen Contemporary: formerly a welding hall, now the place to eye up experimental installations from Carsten Höller, Doug Aitken, David Shrigley, and more.
VIVANT
Vivant is a walk-ins-only natural wine bar and bottle shop in buzzy Nørrebro. Follow the neon-green window-front signage to your destination, and try to nab a cosy corner table on arrival.
Run by two Norwegians, Andreas Christiansen and Mads Larvåg Mørch, the space is low-key and lovely; the rustic, distressed walls add great charm and character. Order some small bites (a can of sardines, some sourdough, and a side of olives should do the trick) and a couple of glasses of the good stuff for your table.
GALLERI NICOLAI WALLNER
A key player in the Danish art scene, this contemporary art gallery showcases innovative international art. Opened in 1993 in the Carlsberg brewery, the gallery has always championed the cutting edge. It’s since moved to a new building in the Nordvest area and houses an amalgam of media produced by both Scandinavian and international artists dotted across multiple rooms.
Danish fashion designer Cecilie Bahnsen is an admirer of the gallery space – so much so that she showed both her spring/summer and autumn/winter collections here in 2018.
NOBIS HOTEL COPENHAGEN
Snuggle up at the sleek, 75-room Nobis Hotel Copenhagen, a hotel that blends contemporary Danish design and timeless touches to great effect. Its prime location, next to Tivoli Gardens and Copenhagen Central Station, means many of the city’s hotspots are accessible on foot (or via complimentary red hotel bicycle if you feel so inclined).
Call time on exploring and return to the hotel’s Marble Bar or on-site Niels restaurant, which focuses on modern Scandinavian cuisine, for a more-than satisfying sit down.
THE APARTMENT
Founded by Tina Seidenfaden Busck in 2011, this colourful 18th-century apartment is a technicolour design dream. With the feel of a private residence, the Apartment, in the Christianshavn district, is a thoughtfully curated gallery open by appointment only.
Playful and vibrant pieces fill the exhibition space, and you can peruse exquisite vintage and contemporary furniture (and other tempting objets) as you move through the more homely part. And if you are feeling particularly at home, why not extend your time here with an overnight stay at the two-bedroom space upstairs?
ATELIER SEPTEMBER
A style-set favourite since its opening in 2013, this petite café, located in certified-cool Gothersgade, is the ideal neighbourhood pitstop to recaffeinate and snack on moreish bites – avocado on rye bread, hearty bowls of granola and the like.
Frederik Bille Brahe helms the café in the front, while at the rear of the property you’ll find a boutique stocked with modernist furniture, playful ceramics and more, and a creative studio.
AIRE ANCIENT BATHS
Bathe and then be pleasantly pummelled at Aire Ancient Baths, an unassuming oasis in the Carlsberg Byen district. The former (yes) Carlsberg factory has been given a new lease of life with the arrival of Aire bathhouse, which is fitted with a series of candle-lit thermal baths, each boasting individual qualities and temperatures. Spa time peaks with the beer bath experience, which requires advanced booking (and a penchant for the hoppy stuff).
ORDRUPGAARD
Ordrupgaard art museum, plotted close to Dyrehaven and Jægersborg just outside the city, is a trove of French and Danish artworks from the 19th and 20th centuries. Furthermore, the museum boasts a modern wing by Zaha Hadid and Snøhetta, as well as a sculpture park.
Another draw to the area: Finn Juhl’s house, located in the museum’s parkland. Here, you can gain insight into the Danish furniture architect’s work and life, pondering over some of his best-known creations, including the Chieftain chair and Poet sofa. Feeling peckish? Head to the museum’s tea house, Ordrupgaard Café by Chaya, for a cup of tea and a wedge of something spongy.
Need a place to rest after your adventures? Explore all our Copenhagen hotels
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art image: art by Alex Da Corte, photo by Malle Madsen