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Anyone who thinks that every city in the north is the same is mistaken: in Copenhagen everything is so uncomplicated, the area, the people. You come here and feel at home. Denmark’s capital has soaked up the best of the world while retaining its Nordic charm: warmth, winding streets and plenty of space for cycling. Hipster City comes very close, even if for some it’s more of a swearword than an anthem. Eric Landon moved to Copenhagen from the USA 15 years ago and won’t be leaving any time soon. Luckily for us, this month he shows us Copenhagen’s best places.
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Living
The CPH living hotel in Copenhagen is a really cool place to stay – and it floats! The small boat hotel with twelve rooms offers an amazing view of the city while you drift off to sleep. The best mix of exclusivity and friendliness can be found at Bertram Guldsmeden. Here you are still greeted by name and not in an artificial way, but really warmly. Unfortunately, this is almost no longer a secret, which is why it pays to book early.
Hotel CPH living, Langebrogade 1C, 1411 København, cphliving.com
Bertrams Guldsmeden, Vesterbrogade 107, 1620 København, guldsmeldenhotels.com
Food
Organic delicacies can be found at Bio Mio, the largest organic canteen in Denmark. Their focus on sustainability ensures that you are guaranteed to leave the restaurant with a clear conscience. A little tip: try the Open Burger. The hippest place for a tasty dinner is Kate’s Joint in Nørrebro: here you’ll find everything from Indian to Caribbean, Indonesian and African cuisine. Kødbyens Fiskebar offers our Nordic friends culinary delights. The mussels here are the best in town.
Bio Mio, Halmtorvet 19, 1700 København V, biomio.dk
Kates Joint, Blågårdsgade 12, 2200 København N
Kødbyens Fiskebar, Flæsketorvet 100, 1711 København, fiskebaren.dk
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Shopping
A visit to Henrik Vibskov is a must on a trip to Copenhagen. Visit his showroom in the city center and let yourself be inspired. The Danish streetwear label Wood Wood has its “Museum” store here, where old inventory and samples from past collections can be purchased at reasonable prices. Second-hand junkies are in the right place in Copenhagen anyway, but at Prag in Nørrebro they have definitely arrived in heaven: go by, rummage, get a bargain. Sögreni designs cool bikes – even according to individual wishes, unusual fonts and posters are available from Playtype, ceramics from Tortus Copenhagen. Foodies should not miss out on Karamelleriet: Here, caramel is produced by hand, including watching and tasting!
Henrik Vibskov, Christianholms Ø “The Paperisland ” Trangravsvej 5, 1436 København, henrikvibskov.com
Prague, Nørrebrogade 45, 2200 København N, pragcopenhagen.com
Sögreni of Copenhagen, Sankt Peders Stræde 30A, 1453 København K, sogrenibikes.com
Playtype Concept Store, Værnedamsvej 6, 1620 København, playtype.com
Tortus Copenhagen, Kompagnistræde 23, 1208 København K, tortus-copenhagen.com
Karamelleriet, Jægersborggade 36, 2200 København N, karamelleriet.com
Party
There’s always something going on in Copenhagen. Here, people don’t just party in mysterious clubs, but also on the street. Chat to real city dwellers and get carried away – don’t worry, you’ll soon find yourself in the middle of the hottest party you’ve ever experienced!
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Quarters
One of Copenhagen’s oldest districts is Kødbyen, which is teeming with trendy restaurants, bars and clubs. It is worth allowing a little more time here. The city’s creatives can be found around Nørrebro. The areas around Sankt Hans Torv, where almost all stores are open around the clock, are particularly worth seeing. The coolest street, Jægersborggade, is located in the middle of the Stefansgade district: small boutiques and cute cafés make this place a hipster paradise.
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Must do
The best time to visit Copenhagen is when spring arrives. Spend a relaxed afternoon near the Dronning Louises Bro bridge, where the city’s young people meet for a lively exchange. Here you can end the day in a cozy atmosphere in one of the cafés and watch the Copenhageners cycling past on their brightly painted bicycles.
Dronning Louises Bro, 1371 København
Events
CPH:PIX Film Festival
104. until 16.04. At Denmark’s most important international film festival, young directors present their more than 170 works. cphpix.dk
The Queen’s birthday
16.04. Every year, numerous events are held throughout the city to mark Queen Margrethe II’s day of honor.
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Eric Landon is a designer and co-founder of Tortus Copenhagen. Loves raw authenticity. Hates almost everything that glitters. tortus-copenhagen.com