Why book?
Think of the 1 Hotel Copenhagen as the physical embodiment of all that Danish hygge has come to imply, which is a kind of warm, convivial, touchable coziness. And in a hospitality landscape that is defined by neoclassical and neo-Baroque buildings with elegant interiors on one end and small, characterful boutique hotels on the other—with a handful of Scandinavian chain hotels in the middle—this should be no problem.
Set the scene
“Most Copenhageners think of hotels as stuffy, boring, and expensive; you’ll never see them hanging out in a hotel lobby,” says Toni Stoeckl, the brand’s former global CMO over coffee. Yes, the lobby is lively with mostly travelers, in particular Americans who know and value the brand for its convivial common spaces, but Stoeckl believes there’s potential to also make it a locals’ drawing room. To help this along, the hotel is throwing a number of everyone’s-invited events, pilates and design workshops included. Other gatherings will follow, from summer farmer’s markets with local vendors, garden brunches, and even winter sauna pop-ups. There are also DJ sets on weekend evenings at Pære, the spacious lobby lounge, which by morning turns into a café with a grab-and-go pastry section (it is Copenhagen, after all). In fact, there’s little about 1 Hotel that feels unwelcoming or off-limits to anyone that steps over the rubicon—in this case, a sweeping reclaimed wood staircase that leads up from the street level. And the overall vibe–from a casually well-dressed crowd to smiling staff–suggests that folks are happy to be ensconced in its airy, uncomplicatedly comfortable surroundings.
The rooms
At 990 sq. feet—complete with a generous living room, private bedroom, and two large balconies—not only is the Hazel Terrace Suite that I'm staying in the size of a typical New York City two-bedroom apartment, but it is also outfitted with the ease of movement of a home and the quality of a private sanctuary. The entryway had a rack for hanging up raincoats and umbrellas (both green, both waiting, ready to be used); the split-design bathroom put the shower and bathtub near the bedroom and the toilet nearer the lounge (great for when you invite your Copenhagen friends over to your new “home”); the multi-room configuration is designed for movement from one area to the other; even the motion-detecting switches and temperature controls felt intuitively designed. Expansive windows framed views of the city skyline and welcomed in a generous amount of natural light. A kitchenette included a generous selection of snacks and drinks, a coffee machine, and a water-filling station. The bathroom is a delight, with an area for the vanity and bathtub and a separate alcove for the shower. A dressing room is a lovely touch, as is a cozy reading nook adjacent to the living room. But my favorite spot throughout my stay remained the balcony with its views of tiled roofs where I’d start my day with a coffee.
Notably, many of the rooms and suites in the hotel come with private balconies, and even though the size of dwellings varies, they’re all well-designed and stylish (think: neutral without being spartan), comfortable, and often come with great views of the city.
Food and drink
Seasonal, clean cuisine is one of the cornerstones of the food and beverage program at 1 Hotel. For the Copenhagen property, they have enlisted Chantelle Nicholson, the New Zealand-born, Green Michelin-starred chef of Apricity in London’s Mayfair, who is recognized for championing veg-forward cooking. And while not local, at Fjora, the hotel’s main restaurant, she espouses the very Danish principles of slow, considered cooking that’s mindful of waste. Her menu also anchors itself to sourcing as much as possible from nearby farms and purveyors, whether for mushrooms, miso, or fermented NA drinks. While it’s easy to get comfy in the restaurant, there is a whole back garden that’s perfect to retreat to with a drink come dusk.
The same space turns into a light-filled breakfast room in the morning, with a delicious self-serve buffet of both local and standard-fare items. There’s also that coffee and pastry bar at Pære if you prefer grab-and-go sourdough buns with sliced comté to enjoy in the park.
The neighborhood/area
Location, location, location. If this was all that the hotel got right, it would still be winning majorly. Tucked into the historic heart of Copenhagen, in the neighborhood of Norreport, there is nothing that cannot be accessed easily from here, whether the best bakeries; small, relaxed eateries; cute design shops; peaceful parks; or even the throbbing Nyhavn. Even if you’re just wafting around aimlessly, instead of crossing off a list of bookmarked faves, you’re likely to stumble upon plenty of gems that you’ll make note to tell your friends and family about. A few steps over from the hotel is the Round Tower, a 17th-century tower and observatory that provides great rooftop views from the heart of the city.
Worth it?
Yes—by the end of my first day there, my guest suite felt like my own pied-à-terre in the city that I’ve always dreamed of living in.
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