In the era of the £1,000-a-night hotel room, in a city that can be hard on wallets, it’s almost a shock to discover a stay that genuinely feels like value for money. All too often these days, affordability is a trade-off for style, location, service, or even basic comforts like a decent mattress – but at Coco Hotel in Copenhagen’s creative Vesterbro district, rooms start at around £125, and you won’t have to compromise on any of those things. Affordability is part of good hospitality and it's refreshing to encounter a hotel that hasn't forgotten that.
Coco describes itself as a “Parisian-style” hotel and it’s true that details like the central courtyard, tasselled room keys, marble bar and even the tiny, creaking lift (others are available) could be straight out of Saint-Germain, but the warmth of the staff and the smattering of design icons dotted around the place are unmistakably Danish.
Coco describes itself as a “Parisian-style” hotel and it’s true that details like the central courtyard, tasselled room keys, marble bar and even the tiny, creaking lift (others are available) could be straight out of Saint-Germain, but the warmth of the staff and the smattering of design icons dotted around the place are unmistakably Danish.
Coco Hotel has 88 rooms spread across five floors
Each of the five floors has a different colour scheme, which is reflected in the room decor. The rooms are light, spacious and simply styled with rattan accents, colourful poster prints and vases of faux-but-you-wouldn’t-know flowers that make them feel more homely.
Rooms
There are 88 rooms across eight categories, ranging from cosy singles to two-bedroom suites. We stayed in a family suite that had two adjoining bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. The suite was kitted out with almost as many toys and books as my five-year-old has at home (plus one she doesn’t – a PlayStation 4, to her great delight), making Coco the most family-friendly city hotel I’ve stayed in.Each of the five floors has a different colour scheme, which is reflected in the room decor. The rooms are light, spacious and simply styled with rattan accents, colourful poster prints and vases of faux-but-you-wouldn’t-know flowers that make them feel more homely.
What’s for breakfast?
In warmer months, breakfast is served in Cafe Coco, which spills into the lush courtyard. In winter, you’ll need to cross the road to sister restaurant Delphine for a continental buffet of fresh fruit, pastries, artisan breads, boiled eggs, cheeses and cured meats.
A relaxed communal corner, left, and one of Coco’s 88 hotel rooms
Hotel guests receive 15 per cent off the bill at all 19 restaurants in the Copenhagen Food Collective (Cofoco) that Coco is part of, and the options are extensive, whether it’s Llama for Latin American, Les Trois Cochons for French or Jah Izakaya for Japanese-inspired menus.
Bakeries are also having a moment, as fine-dining pastry chefs embrace the better work/life balance of a daytime business. Juno, Lille, Hart, Rondo and Andersen & Maillard are all worth seeking out.
How about lunch and dinner?
Cafe Coco serves light bites such as charcuterie and salads, but really these are a supporting act to the drinks. You’re in one of the world’s best food cities, so head out and explore. Noma may be closing but standards remain high here in the birthplace of the New Nordic Food Manifesto. There’s still Alchemist (currently fifth on the World’s 50 Best list), Geranium and Koan, but you don’t have to go Michelin-starred to eat well – even a humble hot dog from a well-chosen vendor can be something special.Hotel guests receive 15 per cent off the bill at all 19 restaurants in the Copenhagen Food Collective (Cofoco) that Coco is part of, and the options are extensive, whether it’s Llama for Latin American, Les Trois Cochons for French or Jah Izakaya for Japanese-inspired menus.
Bakeries are also having a moment, as fine-dining pastry chefs embrace the better work/life balance of a daytime business. Juno, Lille, Hart, Rondo and Andersen & Maillard are all worth seeking out.
Is there a bar?
Yes – a sweet and stylish one on the ground floor that’s open all day and is popular with locals. Don’t miss your free glass of wine between 5-6pm, then stay on for some anchovies and a grape spritz before heading out to dinner.
Breakfast is served at Cafe Coco in summer, with light bites on offer throughout the day
While there are no fitness facilities on site, the hotel has access deals with various local health and wellness places, including Vesterbronx Gym, AIRE Ancient Baths, and Studio 41 Pilates, next door.
For every night booked through its website, Coco donates one tree to Eden Reforestation Projects, an organisation that plants trees in countries with significant deforestation problems. In the past year, the partnership saw more than 6,000 trees planted.
Like all Cofoco properties, the hotel runs on energy from the group’s own solar park in north-west Jutland. Power- and water-saving practices are standard throughout, which means no mini-fridges or coffee machines in the rooms (something we missed, admittedly, however, coffees can be ordered via room service).
It’s not just these big ideas but the thread of green thinking that runs through the place that proves Coco’s eco-cred. For instance, the sprightly green dining chairs with striped seat pads in the café were rescued from the basement by the interior designers during the building’s year-long renovation. “Reuse, reduce and recycle” isn’t just a catchphrase here.
Amenities
There’s a lounge on level five with a ping-pong table and board games, and some of the rooms come with toys and the aforementioned PlayStationsWhile there are no fitness facilities on site, the hotel has access deals with various local health and wellness places, including Vesterbronx Gym, AIRE Ancient Baths, and Studio 41 Pilates, next door.
What are the hotel’s eco-credentials like?
Extremely solid. Coco Hotel is Green Key certified, meaning it meets 13 sustainability criteria on issues like waste and water use, and is answerable for them annually.For every night booked through its website, Coco donates one tree to Eden Reforestation Projects, an organisation that plants trees in countries with significant deforestation problems. In the past year, the partnership saw more than 6,000 trees planted.
Like all Cofoco properties, the hotel runs on energy from the group’s own solar park in north-west Jutland. Power- and water-saving practices are standard throughout, which means no mini-fridges or coffee machines in the rooms (something we missed, admittedly, however, coffees can be ordered via room service).
It’s not just these big ideas but the thread of green thinking that runs through the place that proves Coco’s eco-cred. For instance, the sprightly green dining chairs with striped seat pads in the café were rescued from the basement by the interior designers during the building’s year-long renovation. “Reuse, reduce and recycle” isn’t just a catchphrase here.
Details at Coco Hotel
On the way, you’ll pass the famous Tivoli Gardens, the world’s second-oldest theme park, so if you’re travelling with kids (real or adult-sized), be prepared to make a detour for a rollercoaster ride or two in the summer months.
The Rosenborg and Amalienborg palaces and buzzing Nyhavn area (you’ll recognise its colourful waterfront buildings) are another five-to-10 minutes away.
Buses stop right outside the hotel and can easily get you to cool Refshaleøen, the former shipyard that’s home to Noma (for now), Alchemist, Ferm Living, Copenhagen Contemporary, Lille Bakery and La Banchina – the swim/drink/sauna bar Instagram loves. Or you can bike, of course, if you know what you’re doing.
What’s the crowd like?
Cool and, if you’re in the lobby bar, often from Copenhagen. The bar is such a popular hangout that you feel like you’re mingling with locals without leaving the hotel. As for guests, expect everyone from hip young couples to older professionals on business trips and families with children.Within a short walk I can find
Loads of indie boutiques, hipster bars and the Meatpacking District (get coffee at Prolog and fantastic seafood at Kødbyens Fiskebar. The city centre is a 10-minute stroll away, where you’ll find designer boutiques, Illum department store and the Lego flagship (to nab Denmark-only exclusives).On the way, you’ll pass the famous Tivoli Gardens, the world’s second-oldest theme park, so if you’re travelling with kids (real or adult-sized), be prepared to make a detour for a rollercoaster ride or two in the summer months.
The Rosenborg and Amalienborg palaces and buzzing Nyhavn area (you’ll recognise its colourful waterfront buildings) are another five-to-10 minutes away.
Buses stop right outside the hotel and can easily get you to cool Refshaleøen, the former shipyard that’s home to Noma (for now), Alchemist, Ferm Living, Copenhagen Contemporary, Lille Bakery and La Banchina – the swim/drink/sauna bar Instagram loves. Or you can bike, of course, if you know what you’re doing.
Al fresco breakfasts at Cafe Coco, and a green-infused bedroom
Buy a Copenhagen Card if you’re planning to go hard on touristing. This gives you free entry to dozens of attractions, tours and transport, including boat cruises.
Don’t panic if you see a sleeping baby alone in a buggy outside a restaurant. Danes prioritise fresh air, and they’ll be well bundled up and closely monitored!
Things I should know
Download the DOT Tickets app in advance to make planning and paying for Copenhagen’s excellent public transport easy.Buy a Copenhagen Card if you’re planning to go hard on touristing. This gives you free entry to dozens of attractions, tours and transport, including boat cruises.
Don’t panic if you see a sleeping baby alone in a buggy outside a restaurant. Danes prioritise fresh air, and they’ll be well bundled up and closely monitored!
The Lowdown
Singles cost from around £125 a night and junior suites cost from around £265 a night; coco-hotel.com