Ever since mid-century icons put it on the map, Copenhagen has drawn aesthetes from around the world; and its reputation as a capital of design is well earned. That signature Scandinavian style – clean lines, a balance between warmth and efficiency, form in harmony with function – has shaped everything from global furniture trends to the way the city does bike lanes. But for travellers hoping to live that design dream, the best place to start isn’t a museum or a showroom. It’s your hotel.
While the Danish capital’s wide streets are dotted with iconic chairs and carefully curated cafés, a new wave of hospitality is translating the city’s design DNA into full sensory immersion: spaces where mood matters as much as materials, and where the lobby lighting is often as considered as the bedsheets.
The eight hotels below go beyond good looks. They’re atmospheric and imaginative, distinctive and harmonious. Whether you’re after glassy minimalism, lush maximalism or something in between, these stays offer more than comfort – they offer character. And in a city as serious about style as Copenhagen, that makes all the difference.
Coco Hotel
Coco Hotel brings a touch of Parisian flair to Copenhagen’s vibrant Vesterbro district. Housed in a classic turn-of-the-century building and wrapped around a leafy interior courtyard, this 89-room boutique is a masterclass in eclectic charm. Created by the Danish restaurant group Cofoco, Coco feels less like a hotel and more like the stylish home of a well-travelled friend. Rooms and shared spaces are layered with retro furnishings, velvet and bouclé textures, and a soft, sun-washed colour palette that feels both curated and effortless. Every corner, from the cosy lobby nooks to the light-drenched café, is designed to invite lingering. On the ground floor, the Coco Café serves up espresso by day and natural wines by night, doubling as a lively neighbourhood hangout. It’s equal parts style and soul, capturing the easy elegance of Copenhagen at its most charming.
Hotel Alexandra
A night at the boutique Hotel Alexandra evokes the experience of a sleepover in a Danish design museum. Just steps from City Hall Square, it’s a space that feels like a love letter to mid-century modernism, every room thoughtfully outfitted with original pieces by icons like Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner and Finn Juhl. The atmosphere is warm and nostalgic, yet never fussy. Modern Danish art lines the 100-year-old walls, while period textiles and wallpapers create a richly layered sense of time and place. Founder Jeppe Mühlhausen’s passion for design – sparked by a single Kaare Klint chair – has shaped not just the interiors, but the ethos. Staff are trained in the history of the furniture, and guests are welcomed like fellow collectors. A vinyl library, complimentary wine in the lobby and the in-house Alexandra Chronicles newspaper round out the experience. For anyone craving retro charm with real soul, Alexandra is a one-of-a-kind stay in the heart of Copenhagen.
Hotel Bella Grande
A touch of Fellini in the heart of Copenhagen, Hotel Bella Grande is all velvet, terrazzo and vintage Italian flair – set inside a grand 1899 building just steps from City Hall Square. It’s theatrical without trying too hard, bringing Venetian-inspired opulence to a city better known for restraint. Throughout, antique mirrors, moody lighting and deep jewel tones bring the drama, while clean lines and smart details keep things grounded. At its heart is a vibrant restaurant and bar where red-and-white checkered floors, floral banquettes and fringed lamps conjure up a lavish old-world trattoria. The space flows into a soaring glass-roofed atrium, complete with marble statues and lush greenery – perfect for negronis, oysters and old-time romance. For travellers who like their stays with a side of cinema, Bella Grande is the scene.
Hotel d'Angleterre
Copenhagen’s original grande dame isn’t stuck in the past. Behind its palatial façade on Kongens Nytorv, Hotel d’Angleterre has been quietly reinvented, swapping stuffy tradition for a sleeker kind of luxury. Think crystal chandeliers above clean-lined Danish furnishings, creamy marble baths and cloud-like Duxiana beds in every room. The vibe? Old-world grandeur with a modern pulse. Guests drift between the Michelin-Starred Marchal, the buzzy Balthazar Champagne Bar and the scent-infused Amazing Space spa. And while the building holds centuries of royal romance, political intrigue and ballroom drama, the interiors feel fresh and balanced: it’s heritage, polished – not precious. If you like your history with a side of impeccable design, d’Angleterre delivers in spades.
Hotel Sanders
If Wes Anderson opened a hotel in Copenhagen, it might feel a bit like Sanders. Set on a quiet side street near the Royal Danish Theatre, this boutique hideaway combines the glamour of yesteryear with Nordic restraint. Vintage film posters, velvet banquettes and rattan accents conjure up a cinematic sense of nostalgia, while the textiles and colour palette – think moody olives and warm caramels – add a layer of cosy sophistication. Owned by former ballet dancer Alexander Kølpin and designed to channel the buzzy intrigue of his theatrical past, Sanders is as graceful as it is grounded, making it an obvious choice for aesthetes who believe luxury is best served understated.
Manon Les Suites Guldsmeden
Forget Nordic neutrals. Manon Les Suites is a tropical fever dream in the heart of Copenhagen. Nestled behind an unassuming façade on a wide thoroughfare near the lakes, this all-suite hotel opens into a lush, jungle-like atrium with soaring glass ceilings crowning a central pool. Hanging plants, Balinese furnishings and earthy textures set the tone – worldly and warm. Part of the eco-conscious Guldsmeden Hotels group, Manon is more boho resort than Danish hospitality, and it delivers on a serious sustainability ethos: organic linens, upcycled materials and climate-friendly operations are all part of the stay. It’s maximalism with a mission, so if your version of design-forward includes dramatic flair and barefoot luxury, this one’s for you.
1 Hotel Copenhagen
Tucked between the buzz of the city’s so-called Latin Quarter and the calm of its canals, 1 Hotel is a serene, sustainability-minded retreat where nature takes centre stage. Interiors are rich in reclaimed wood, soft linens and living greenery – thoughtfully chosen to ground guests in comfort without losing touch with the city’s vibrant rhythm. Rooms are designed for rest and renewal, with in-room dining, wellness amenities and touches of biophilic design that bring the outdoors in. Downstairs, the daily stocked Lobby Farmstand offers fresh, seasonal snacks, while the restaurant and bar serve up hyper-local, Nordic-inspired fare that shifts with the seasons. It’s a refuge for design lovers who care as much about the planet as the pillows.
Zoku Copenhagen
Zoku Copenhagen rethinks the business hotel through the lens of Danish design: sharp silhouettes, intuitive functionality and a quiet sense of style. Created for the new generation of working travellers and modern nomads, this long-stay hotel replaces the traditional room with a smart, loft-style space that seamlessly blends sleeping, living and working zones. Elevated beds, modular furniture and clever storage make each unit feel as efficient as it is comfortable. Upstairs, rooftop social spaces offer room to connect, with plenty of greenery and natural light softening the streamlined aesthetic – and optimizing productivity, of course. Designed to feel like a second home, even on your first stay, Zoku makes business travel feel less transient and more grounded. For those who move between cities but still want to feel rooted, Zoku offers a base that’s as adaptable as you are.Hero Image: © Manon Les Suites Guldsmeden, Copenhagen, Denmark
