The Guide: Copenhagen
Copenhagen consistently hits #1 in Monocle’s Quality of Life survey. No surprise because it’s a delightful city which is pro outdoor swimming, with easily accessible cycle paths and a slick Metro system. It’s so good that this list cannot be comprehensive but treat this as your starter pack to CPH.
Designmuseum celebrates Danish and international design, with a collection ranging from objects from classic to contemporary across furniture, ceramics, textiles, and graphic design. The museum frequently exhibits innovative work in the field that pushes past the norm and is home to many prolific works by some of the greats; Arne Jacobsen and Poul Kjærholm among others.
A neighbourhood delicatessen meets grocery store in Frederiksberg, filled with high-quality beverages, bread, preservatives and organic produce direct from their minimal intervention farm outside the bustling city centre. Turned evening, vinyl is spinning and it becomes a friendly wine bar amongst the floor-to-ceiling warm wooden tones of the shelving units, complimentary stools and central communal table.
An eatery located within FRAMA, curated by chef Chiara Barla, Apotek 57 offers seasonal dishes at breakfast and lunch bound by simplicity. Cooking up homemade goods on a daily basis, food is presented on slender plates and drinks are poured into handcrafted glassware, the venue is the perfect spot embedded in the local community.
FRAMA is a multi-disciplinary design lifestyle brand spanning furniture, homeware and bespoke fragrances with their physical store extended next to Apotek 57. What unifies the company is its emphasis on natural materials, quality craftsmanship and mindful living. Founded by Niels Strøyer Christophersen, considered design is paramount in the studio’s practice which also offers architecture and interior design services.
Originally funded by Kickstarter, Lille has blossomed into a community-led bakery, that specialises in artisanal food set in an airy, light-filled warehouse in Refshaleøen. Using high-quality ingredients, their menu is known for its rich taste and rustic appearance sourced from small, local farmers, fishermen and food producers.
Top-draw coffee and great interiors. CUB is a cosy, basement-level coffee bar that serves up pastries and baked light bites. The intimate setting is ideal for one-to-one catch-ups with friends or going solo.
One for the readers. New Mags has a stylish collection of literature, coffee table books, travel guides and magazines. The stripped-back, minimalist interior is filled with stone and wooden materials, designed by Norm Architects, allowing for the product to be the pride of place on the display ledges. For those further afield, get lost in their beautifully compiled online store.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Located outside of Copenhagen’s city centre in Humlebæk, Louisiana is worth the train ride. Not only for their incredible collections and rotating exhibitions but for the architecture, the scenery and taking in the calming atmosphere. A few insider tips: Louisiana is closed on Monday and evenings are less busy. You can also exit out the back and sit by the waterfront.
A sauna, open water swimming platform and cafe serving fresh vegetables, sustainable seafood and clean drinking wines. Exclusively using natural ingredients, La Banchina provides a laid-back environment and is an ideal place to chill, relax and unwind.
This is a must-see, the house is a preserved former home of midcentury-modern architect & furniture designer Finn Juhl which is exactly the original decoration he completed in 1942. His designs pride on being functionalist and embody the modernist ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ approach, meaning a ‘total work of art’ where multiple forms (architecture, design and art) work simultaneously.
Gro Spiseri is a stunning rooftop, greenhouse restaurant located in the middle of the urban farm, ØsterGro. The concept is a pre-booked dining experience which eliminates waste, using the produce grown on-site which is presented as a tasting menu. The vision for the community farm is to supply biodynamically grown vegetables, ethically made honey and free-range eggs to the city residents, while also welcoming volunteer gardeners.
A concept store centred around meaningful craft, supporting design-led makers and showcasing a range of glassware, ceramics, textiles and fragrances. Tadaima promotes thoughtful shopping to curate a considered home with exquisitely made objects that are timeless and enhance the everyday.
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