Danish Delight: Exploring Copenhagen

Where to stay

NOBIS HOTEL COPENHAGEN

The newly-opened outpost of the Nobis Hotel in Copenhagen, housed in the former Royal Danish Academy of Music, is a luxury retreat where classical architectural details meet modern Nordic design. Located in the heart of the city, adjacent to the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek Museum and just a short walk to Tivoli Gardens, the hotel is ideally situated for easy exploration of the city on foot or by bike. The stunning lobby features an original marble staircase with cast-iron railings, and a number of intimate common areas boast chic peach leather seating. The comfortable rooms and suites are painted in serene shades of navy and grey, with striking Carl Hansen & Søn furnishings and stocked with luxe amenities from Byredo. Niels Brocks Gade 1 | nobishotel.dk

Grab a bite at...

RESTAURANT NIELS AT THE NOBIS HOTEL Under the helm of Chef Jeppe Foldage, Niels fuses Nordic and French cuisine in its inventive menu, served in a light-filled space with apricot leather seating and blonde wood tables. For a memorable dining experience, book the tasting menu and choose between four, six or eight courses. Niels Brocks Gade 1 | nobishotel.dk/restaurant-niels

Where to shop

CERAMICS

Copenhagen is a mecca for design enthusiasts, especially when it comes to ceramics. It's no exaggeration to say that you'll want to take home every plate you dine on, but chances are they were commissioned exclusively for a particular restaurant. In addition to classic brands like Royal Copenhagen, where you can stock up on delicate porcelain, there are many boutiques scattered across the city brimming with one-of-a-kind finds, including Stilleben, Yonobi Keramik, Ditte Fischer Copenhagen, Tortus and Keramiker Inge Vincents.

FASHION

BEAU MARCHÉ An eclectic boutique that curates old and new finds, like blankets made with Norwegian wool, vintage hatboxes and modern pastel lamps with clean lines. They also have an inviting café that serves breakfast and lunch, along with a selection of wines. Ny Østergade 32 | beaumarche.dk

ARKET This new retail endeavor from the H&M Group merges lifestyle with fashion. Arket offers an edited selection of essentials for men, women, children and the home—all chosen with sustainability in mind. The shop also features a cozy café that serves coffee in addition to light bites prepared in accordance with the New Nordic Food Manifesto, which is based on principles of purity, seasonality and animal welfare. Købmagergade 33 | arket.com

WON HUNDRED For those style mavens out there who are drawn to denim and leather jackets, a stop at Won Hundred’s flagship store is definitely in order. The brand, known for its rock-n-roll aesthetic, stocks everything from standout leather boots to Scandinavian staples like oversized knitwear. Their in-house café serves strong coffee drinks in a sleek minimalist environment. Ny Østergade 25 | wonhundred.com

Where to eat and drink

APOLLO BAR & KANTINE

Inside the courtyard of the Kunsthal Charlottenborg Museum is the ultra-cool Apollo Bar & Kantine, where they know how to create a dish that is not only delicious but beautiful, too. Case in point: their Blueberry Ricotta Toast (a menu item that has garnered some well-deserved Instagram fame), made with their own house sourdough—considered some of the best in Copenhagen— slathered with creamy ricotta and topped with sweet blueberries. Weather permitting, grab a seat on the patio and drink in the magnificent surroundings. Nyhavn 2 | apollobar.dk

BRUS

Housed in a former locomotive factory, this hybrid restaurant, brewery and shop serves imaginative fare in the kind of open, airy space that will make you want to hang out there all day. Inspired by some of the brewery's beverage offerings, many of the items on the menu have a fermented character, like their totally addictive house-cut Fermented Potato Fries, served with mushroom mayonnaise. Another favorite is the Broccolino dish, which elevates everyday broccoli to a whole new level with sesame and crunchy quinoa. Guldbergsgade 29F | tapperietbrus.dk

VEVE

VeVe is a place where dining truly becomes an experience, courtesy of its brilliant Michelin-starred chef and owner, Henrik Yde. Maybe it's something to do with the whole approach to dining in a fast-paced city like New York, but never before have I been so slowly and thoroughly immersed in the ambience of a restaurant as I was at VeVe. Upon arriving, guests are led into the inviting lounge area, just off the dining room, where candles glimmer among soft grey-upholstered furnishings and low wooden tables. Chef Yde personally greets each party as they wait and offers a pre-dinner snack from his rolling cart, a tantalizing preview of his menu. Vegetables are the star at this vegetarian restaurant, but the way Chef Yde transforms them, he can convert even the most die-hard meat lover. On this particular night, he served up a show-stopping appetizer of roasted celery root scooped into bitesized balls, sprinkled with aged cheddar and a drizzle of truffle oil and then crisped to perfection with the aid of a blow torch, among other inventive offerings. The multi-course menu, which changes with the season, is served with either a wine or juice pairing designed to complement each dish. Dampfærgevej 7 | veve.dk

BARR

Exposed wooden beams, fawn-colored seating, chocolate brown tableware and beer taps with leather pulls are just a few of the design elements that will draw you in at Barr, but it's the menu that will have you hooked. Beginning with the sourdough bread, served warm with the most delectable whipped butter, the menu offers something for every taste, but we recommend the roast chicken with a tart rhubarb glaze and the warm potatoes showered in chives. Strandgade 93 | restaurantbarr.com

KØDBYENS FISKEBAR

Located in the popular Meatpacking District, Fiskebar serves tasty seafood dishes in a space featuring comfortable leather banquettes and salvaged wood accents. Start your meal with the sourdough loaf smeared with savory seaweed butter; for an appetizer, try the lobster salad, which comes tucked inside a sweet meringue; and for the main course, order the mouth-watering smoked cod fish with chips, a house favorite. Flæsketorvet 100 | fiskebaren.dk