d'Angleterre, Copenhagen

Proof that there’s more to Copenhagen than mid-century furniture: there’s nothing remotely modernist about the d’Angleterre, a 250-year-old throwback on Kogens Nytorv, the city’s central plaza. It’s a relic of the days when grand hotels used to be called things like, well, the d’Angleterre — in fact with over 250 years in operation it’s one of the world’s oldest hotels.

They just don’t make them like this anymore, in marble, gold, velvet and crystal. The rooms may look a bit delicate to a modern eye but it’s all part of the fantasy of the place. And while the vibe may still be winningly antique, the d’Angleterre has kept pace with the times — the rooms aren’t simply preserved, museum-style, but have been refurbished and renovated so that they look as fresh as they must have looked in the 18th century. They’re also fully wired, with all the latest communications and entertainment technology, plus in-room Nespresso machines, alongside low-tech luxuries like Duxiana mattresses.

The spa and fitness center are very much up to date as well, and the indoor pool is a rare treat in this town. The restaurant, Marchal, quite smartly dials down the gilt a bit, serving modern Nordic and French cuisine in a room that’s more like an old member’s club than a banquet hall. Meanwhile Balthazar, the first champagne bar in Denmark, is a vision in Parisian black and white. And, if you’re here to do more than dine and drink, you’ll find the business services are very much up to snuff, perfectly suiting the high-powered execs who’ll stay nowhere else — right down to the Rolls-Royce limo service.