How To Do The Danish Metropolis In three Days

Copenhagen’s having a second. Over the previous few years, Denmark’s capital has gone from understated European metropolis to must-visit journey vacation spot carefully on par with its London and Paris neighbors. And it’s not onerous to see why. Identified for its impeccable design sense, vibrant meals scene (thanks largely to Noma), enviable avenue fashion, and hygge (which, in the event you don’t know, is a uniquely Danish idea that greatest interprets to coziness), Copenhagen has quite a bit to be desired. To not point out it’s usually touted because the happiest metropolis on this planet. Suffice to say, I’d been itching to go. So, when I discovered myself attending a late August wedding ceremony in France, I instantly booked a three-night keep in Copenhagen to spherical out the top of my journey.

Ruby Redstone, a trend historian who not too long ago attended Copenhagen Trend Week in August 2022 sums it up greatest: “I really like Copenhagen as a result of it’s such a straightforward place to be impressed. The road fashion is unparalleled, the meals is great, and also you’d be hard-pressed to not love the interiors.” Whereas I used to be initially frightened that three days wouldn’t give me sufficient time to discover all that the town has to supply, I discovered it was really an ideal introduction (though, belief me, you’ll need to prolong when you have the prospect). After all, to be able to maximize my 72 hours there, I made positive to get suggestions on what to see and the place to buy and eat from these within the know beforehand.

Heads-up: When you can completely see the town at a leisurely tempo, I are inclined to pack quite a bit in after I journey, and this journey was no totally different. Earlier than I dive proper in, there are some things it is best to think about previous to reserving your ticket. Firstly, it’s largely widespread information, however the popular mode of transportation in Copenhagen is biking. Actually, everybody was on a motorbike. I might suggest both renting bikes or being ready to stroll nearly in every single place (which is what we did and it was doable, however let me inform you, these step counts have been excessive). The prepare can also be an important choice as Uber isn’t in Copenhagen and taxis are costly.

That being stated, it’s necessary to make it possible for wherever you’re staying is near the middle of city, the place many of the greatest buying and eating is (Copenhagen isn’t an enormous metropolis, however it’s not small, both). We stayed on the extremely stylish Resort Sanders in Gammelholm, which was really useful by everybody I spoke to the mere second I discussed I used to be going. It’s each a stone’s throw away from Nyhavn, the candy-colored 17th-century port that populates most Google and Pinterest searches of the town, and was in shut strolling proximity to nearly the whole lot I wished to do (Enjoyable perk: The loos have heated flooring). Nonetheless, Airbnb boasts a bevy of beautiful choices as nicely.

Purchasing

Our first full day in Copenhagen was devoted totally to buying, though given the town’s walkability we have been in a position to cease in to a number of shops all through the day. For suggestions I turned to Redstone and Daisy Hoppen, founding father of London primarily based DH-PR, which counts the likes of Ganni, Re/Finished, and Simone Rocha as purchasers. So far as up to date clothes goes, each touted Holly Golightly as a nonnegotiable. That includes Danish manufacturers and upscale designers like Dries Van Noten alongside their very own whimsical line and classic items, Holly Golightly “type of defies definition,” says Redstone. Not solely is their clothes choice one thing to behold, however the retailer’s inside design is a feast for the eyes as nicely, boasting an eclectic mixture of brightly coloured tile and the best lighting fixtures and antiques. I went house with a pair of menswear-inspired, linen trousers by Danish model AF Agger, with which I do know I’ll be very completely satisfied.

If classic is what you’re after, you then’ve bought to take a look at Jerome Classic. Situated within the coronary heart of the principle buying district, Jerome is a one-stop-shop for expertly curated designer items in a brilliant and ethereal house. I used to be particularly tempted by a superbly tailor-made Gianfranco Ferre blazer. Just some blocks away, you’ll discover considered one of 4 areas for Pico, a jewellery and equipment store which Redstone described as being “like a sweet retailer for hair equipment!” To my delight I arrived to seek out velvet headbands galore and glass instances with rows upon rows of diamante barrettes and claw clips in a rainbow of colours. A number of the clips even had cute little cherry and apple designs on them, the latter of which I bought in a marbled child pink.

For “all issues Danish homeware,” Redstone recommends Stillebene. Whereas the packed retailer gives the whole lot from colourful glassware to framed artist prints, I’ve one phrase for you: Tekla. I had by no means seen such an assortment of the Copenhagen-based textile model earlier than. From their signature traditional pajama units to tub towels to impossibly mushy linen bedding, in the event you’ve ever wished a chunk of the Tekla pie, Stillebene is the place to go.

A few of my very own suggestions: For unique midcentury Danish furnishings, Dansk Mobelkunst Gallery is great. And Frama, oh, Frama. Situated not removed from Holly Golightly within the Nyhord district, the multidisciplinary design studio boasts minimal furnishings, a collection of house items, and an apothecary, all housed inside a powerful, turn-of-the-20th-century-era pharmacy. It’s additionally house to Apotek 57, a gorgeous seasonal cafe providing contemporary pastries and scrumptious iced oat matcha lattes. When you’ve gotten your caffeine repair, head on over to Studio X. The idea retailer, which has a number of areas inside a couple of block radius, has a clothes and furnishings showroom, a kitchen outpost (I’m nonetheless swooning over a set of polyethylene and marble chopping boards), and a restaurant I used to be instructed serves a beautiful breakfast and lunch.

Meals

“Meals by some means tastes higher in Copenhagen,” my pal and former head purchaser of Dover Avenue New York, Marissa Jartcky, instructed me simply after getting back from her personal journey, and I couldn’t agree extra. On this respect, I largely relied on Lauren Dru, founding father of the posh journey company Escapades. After seeing her in depth and expertly vetted restaurant listing, I knew I used to be in good palms.

Scorching off the aircraft, we have been ravenous, however at three p.m. most locations have been now not serving meals (one thing to notice). So, we determined to hunt out Hija de Sanchez’s summer time taco stand on the Torvehallerne market (their everlasting location is in Copenhagen’s Meatpacking District), a bustling indoor/out of doors meals corridor with a farmer’s market. Began by Noma alum, Rosio Sanchez, Hija de Sanchez “serves up high quality tacos made out of corn imported from Mexico and different high-quality native substances,” says Dru. The pork and potato tacos I bought have been the right snack earlier than our 18-course tasting menu dinner at Michelin-starred Kadeau that night.

From begin to end, our expertise at Kadeau was perfection. Housed on a residential avenue, the minimal house adorned with dried flowers and herbs is supposed to make you are feeling such as you’re eating in chef Nicolai Norregaard’s own residence. The menu is a love letter to the island of Bornholm, the place Norregaard is from, showcasing creatively plated seafood and different native substances. The restaurant grows all of its personal herbs, greens, fruits, and berries. Whereas the menu modifications seasonally, the standout dish for me was the candy shrimp with caviar and walnut leaf.

All of my sources unanimously really useful chef Frederick Bille Brahe’s laid-back Atelier September and Apollo Bar for breakfast or lunch. That includes favorites like avocado toast on skinny rye bread, pancakes with wild blueberries and cream, and a standard Nordic breakfast of soft-boiled eggs, cheese, and thick, crusty bread, Brahe’s eating places are a testomony to the pleasures of straightforward but elegant meals. Located inside Kunsthal Charlottenborg’s exhibition house, and that includes pure wines and a courtyard, Apollo Bar turns up at night time as nicely. “I’ve had two of probably the most memorable nights of my journey life to this point there, which looks like a powerful endorsement if ever there have been one,” Redstone says.

We additionally made positive to strive Popl, the tasty burger joint from a handful of Noma veterans. We have been fortunate that the climate was lovely throughout our keep, so we ended up getting our burgers to go and sat on the picnic tables on the water watching the boats go by. Hoppen had instructed me, “If the solar is out, pack a swimsuit and head to La Banchina for a glass of pure wine and a swim,” and whereas we weren’t in a position to make it there for this journey, the farm-to-table restaurant is one I used to be unhappy to overlook.

For dinner, I had heard about a number of standout Asian eating places in Copenhagen, so we determined to strive Juju for some family-style Korean meals. The sister restaurant to the now-closed Koan, we beloved Juju’s expertly ready dishes in a hip setting. Nonetheless, the grilled mackerel at Barr Restaurant, the place we dined on our last night time, was considered one of our favourite meals of the journey. “From the group behind Noma and positioned inside Noma’s beautiful former digs, Barr is a extra informal idea serving traditional, consolation Danish meals together with an array of craft beers,” Dru explains, and in my view, it’s to not be missed.

After all, it’s not likely a visit to Copenhagen in the event you don’t strive one of many cardamom buns from Juno Bakery. Situated in Osterbro, which was a little bit of a trek from our lodge, the mushy, pillowy pastries are what desires are fabricated from and have been nicely definitely worth the journey. And in the event you’re searching for a severely nice cocktail in refined digs, make sure you take a look at Tata Bar at Resort Sanders. It was named the perfect bar in Denmark two years in a row (I like to recommend the strawberry margarita).

Tradition

Our final day was devoted to seeing Copenhagen’s cultural choices. Whereas it’s a half-hour automobile trip and hour-long prepare trip outdoors of the town, if there’s one museum you completely should go to, it’s The Louisiana Museum of Trendy Artwork. “I used to be not ready for a way superb it might be,” Jartcky says. “The gathering and the grounds are really particular. You may make it into an entire afternoon. … It’s located proper close to the water and you may simply sit outdoors on the garden for hours.”

Based in 1958, the museum was initially meant to showcase solely trendy Danish artwork. At the moment, it’s a global museum housing many notable works, from Picasso to Kusama. Whereas the gathering can be sufficient in itself, it’s the design and surrounding grounds that push The Louisiana into the spectacular. I can indubitably say that it’s one of the vital lovely museums I’ve ever been to. Designed to slot in seamlessly inside the panorama, it’s a shining instance of Danish trendy structure. Whenever you’re completed experiencing the indoor assortment, make sure you discover the encompassing sculpture backyard and take within the views of the sound. In the summertime you’ll be able to even deliver bathing fits and swim. Should you thought it couldn’t get any higher, the cafe can also be excellent and a pleasant place to have lunch.

From The Louisiana, we took a brief prepare trip to Grundtvig’s Church within the Bispebjerg district, which is a web site I’d had by myself listing. Nonetheless, in the event you select to do each The Louisiana and Grundtvig’s Church in the identical afternoon like we did, I’d advise that you just think about renting a automobile for the day because it was complicated navigating the bus again to our lodge (we ended up asking a form shopkeeper to name us a cab). The notable gothic cathedral, which has been featured in Architectural Digest, was initially entrusted to architect Peder Vilhem Jensen Klint in 1913. Klint died earlier than its completion, ensuing within the building being turned over to his son, Kaare Klint, who accomplished the challenge in 1940. The standout function of Grundtvig’s Church (which was named for the Danish priest and scholar N.F.S. Grundtvig) is Jensen-Klint’s option to assemble it totally out of yellow-gold brick. It took 5 million to erect the towering construction and the result’s really breathtaking. One be aware: Should you go on the weekend remember that the church nonetheless holds companies and occasions, so that you might need to kill an hour or two earlier than it’s open to the general public. Should you’re searching for some points of interest which can be a bit extra central, Hoppen names the Thorvaldsens and Glyptotek museums as favorites, and Redstone likes to go to Frederik’s Church for a typical instance of Scandinavian non secular structure.