13 November, 2018
Tucked on a side street behind the Royal Danish Theatre just steps away from King's New Square in the centre of Copenhagen, Hotel Sanders encapsulates the casual coolness of Copenhagen. And no wonder, because owner Alexander Kølpin - a former dancer for The Royal Danish Ballet - has teamed up with modish designers Lind + Almond to create a handsome townhouse that is at once comfortably homely and impeccably chic. This is, in part, due to nonchalantly cool staff who are quick to foster an easy rapport (without straying into over-familiarity) that will provide you with plenty of under-the-radar recommendations and leave you feeling like their favourite guest. Teamed with an excellent restaurant and bar, this is the kind of hotel that you'll go back to - if only to pick the brains of your new friends.
Of the 56 rooms we recommend opting for a standard double or larger, as the smallest room really is tiny - even just for one person. Draped velvets are a nod to Kølpin's theatrical background, brought bang up to date when combined with natural wooden flooring, rattan headboards, minimalist chairs and potted plants. Don't be surprised if you find yourself snapping away for inspiration chez toi. A free mini-bar loaded up with savoury snacks, sweet and drinks aplenty is hard to resist, while industrial-sleek bathrooms are supplied with Ortigia products that you'll also want to stockpile.
We're a bit bored of everyone claiming to have found the best scrambled eggs in town, but Sanders really is in the running on this one - perhaps partly due to the homemade ketchup that you'll want the recipe for. Next up it's a croissant the size of a dinner plate, followed by palette-cleansing grapefruit piqued with mint and brown sugar. In the warmer months, grab a table on the street to watch effortlessly stylish Scandis drift by (mainly on bicycles) or take refuge in the rooftop conservatory for city views and a zen start to the day.
Dine in Sanders kitchen and courtyard, a casual restaurant with a handful of tables serving a concise Mediterranean menu of sharing plates in retro surroundings. If you're there for dinner, plump for a whole-roasted fish.
Yes. Marble-topped Tata is as popular among locals as it is among guests, serving Sanders' very own craft beer, cellar wine and cocktails in copper cups. Moody lighting, velvet booths and heavy curtains create the ambience of an old-fashioned speakeasy, but in summer months there is space to sit outside.
Although there's no gym or spa, reception can arrange in-room treatments for you, as well personal training and yoga classes. Opt for a "curated stay", a pre-planned itinerary giving you insight into Copenhagen's hotspots - though we recommend reading our insider city guide and leaving the rest up to good fate.
The hotel is an old building so the walls are quite thin. Don't get a connecting room unless you would like to hear more than just your neighbours' conversation...
Nyhavn is on your doorstep as is the main shopping street Strøget - but you're not here to follow the masses. Instead, head a bit further into town and you'll find the classic Danish treasures like Ganni, Stine Goya and Mads Nørgaard among independent shops and cafés. Wind up at tree-lined Kongens Have and king's castle sits.