with love from copenhagen: explore with jenny nguyen

Scandi-chic meets wabi-sabi at Tortus Copenhagen.

Founder of meltingbutter.com, Jenny Nguyen, visits the Danish capital and hot spot for all things design, food, fashion, and art—and the spaces are a draw on their own.

photography by  LINE KLEIN

Stedsans ØsterGro

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK

Spontan

GULDBERGSGADE 29 F, TAPPERIETBRUS.DK/SPONTAN Located in the Nørrebro area in an expansive former factory building (also home to BRUS, one of the city’s most deservedly hyped brewpubs) is Spontan. Diners can expect an experimental yet relaxed food experience from Copenhagen’s youngest Michelin-starred chef, along with carefully paired craft beers that are brewed on-site.

The Standard & Almanak Restaurant

HAVNEGADE 44, THESTANDARDCPH.DK Claus Meyer, founding father of New Nordic cuisine, and Danish jazz legend Niels Lan Doky joined forces to convert this former 1937 Art Deco customs house into The Standard, a stylish dining and jazz destination. Almanak (just one of The Standard’s top-notch restaurants) serves up traditional Danish food with a contemporary twist in a space boasting views of the harbor.

Atelier September

Stedsans ØsterGro

ÆBELØGADE 4, CLEANSIMPLELOCAL.COM One of the most coveted communal dining experiences in Copenhagen, Stedsans is situated in a greenhouse in the middle of ØsterGro, a rooftop farm–meets–urban sanctuary. The locally focused fare served family-style lives up to all the hype, so be warned: Tickets to one of the 25-seat sessions can be tougher to score than a table at Relæ (another must-visit spot).

Manfreds

JÆGERSBORGGADE 40, MANFREDS.DK Located on trendy Jægersborggade Street, which is filled with artisan bakeries, third-wave coffee shops, and well-curated boutiques, is this cozy wine bar. Order from the shared tasting menu (the focus is on vegetables, but the standout dish is the steak tartare) to pair with one of the hard-to-find natural wines.

Mikkeller & Friends

Tårnet

CHRISTIANSBORG SLOTSPLADS, TAARNET.DK Tårnet is perched inside the uppermost section of the Danish Parliament’s tower, affording one of the most spectacular views of the city once you pass through the security checks (this is Parliament, after all). A meal here is like dining in a museum, and the menu by chef Rasmus Bo Bojensen (a fixture in Michelin restaurants across Europe and Japan) is as refined and unique as the surroundings.

Amass

REFSHALEVEJ 153, AMASSRESTAURANT.COM Matthew Orlando, former chef de cuisine at Noma, heads up Amass—a restaurant that purposely shies away from the austerity of his Michelin star–spangled predecessor. Here, guests experience new-fangled Danish dishes with an American twist—think: carefully art directed Nordic cuisine that includes Amass Fried Chicken (AFC!). Modern industrial interiors and graffitied walls add to the fun and edgy vibe.

Torvehallerne food market

Mikkeller & Friends

STEFANSGADE 35, MIKKELLER.DK Take one step into Mikkeller & Friends and you enter instant vacation mode: the walls, floors, ceilings, and bar tops are all painted a refreshing teal. Add minimalistic blonde wood furnishings and you have a directional craft beer bar like no other. Gorgeous interiors aside, the beer selection is equally impressive.

Ved Stranden 10

VED STRANDEN 10, VEDSTRANDEN10. DKA casually elegant wine bar and store situated directly on the canals, Ved Stranden 10 is where to go to spend an evening nursing a glass of earthy Sicilian red. Pick a bottle (or a glass) from the well-stocked cellar and make yourself comfortable in the Danish Modern living room space.

Møller Kaffe og Køkken

Lidkoeb

VESTERBROGADE 72B, LIDKOEB.DK Hidden down a back alley in an 18th-century apothecary, Lidkoeb is one of Copenhagen’s most stylish and discreet watering holes. Order an expertly mixed cocktail in the bright first-floor bar and sink into a leather banquette strewn with sheepskin throws by the fireplace.

Atelier September

GOTHERSGADE 30, ATELIERSEPTEMBER.DK This café attracts an in-the-know crowd from all over the world thanks to its incredibly photogenic sunlit space, outfitted with a mix of French vintage and modern mid-century pieces. Be sure to try the famous avocado on rye bread along with a perfectly pulled espresso.

Atelier September

Møller Kaffe Og Køkken

NØRREBROGADE 160, KAFFEOGKOEKKEN.DK Committed to the most important meal of the day, Møller serves breakfast only, seven days a week. Assemble your ideal plate from the list of sweet and savory menu items, such as Danish Rye bread, freshly baked beans, scrambled eggs, granola, baked sunchokes, sausages, and all manner of freshly squeezed juices.

Hija De Sanchez

FREDERIKSBORGGADE 21, HIJADESANCHEZ.DK Mexican-American chef Rosio Sanchez opened Hija de Sanchez, a pint-sized taqueria stand in the city’s Torvehallerne food market. The former Noma chef (whose boss has given his stamp of approval) serves a limited menu of tacos with fillings like carnitas, chicken, and mole.

SP34

WHERE TO SHOP

Hay House ØSTERGADE 61, HAY.DK Inside the cult Danish design brand’s understated yet lavish flagship you’ll find furniture, accessories, rugs, design objects, and the Hay Mini Market, where well-designed everyday home and office objects make for the perfect useful gift.The Standard & Almanak RestaurantHAVNEGADE 44, THESTANDARDCPH.DKClaus Meyer, founding father of New Nordic cuisine, and Danish jazz legend Niels Lan Doky joined forces to convert this former 1937 Art Deco customs house into The Standard, a stylish dining and jazz destination. Almanak (just one of The Standard’s top-notch restaurants) serves up traditional Danish food with a contemporary twist in a space boasting views of the harbor.

Carl Hansen & Søn Flagship

BREDGADE 21, CARLHANSEN.COM/BREDGADE Entering this shop is like visiting a small design museum. Hansen & Son has been making exquisitely crafted furniture for more than a century and produces many of the most iconic Danish design pieces.

Møller Kaffe og Køkken

Arhoj Ceramics Studio & Store

KIGKURREN 8M, ST., ARHOJ.COM Studio Arhoj, a Danish ceramics studio originally founded in Tokyo by Anders Arhoj, recently opened this shop, which allows visitors to browse for pieces as they watch potters throwing at the wheel and carefully glazing each vessel.

Gubi Store

MØNTERGADE 19, GUBI.DK Housed in a beautiful 1916 building complete with original swivel staircase, Gubi offers an equally chic aesthetic of Scandinavian opulence (think: clean lines and luxurious materials).

Gubi  

Paper Collective

Playtype

VÆRNEDAMSVEJ 6, PLAYTYPE.COM A true wonderland for designers and type geeks, this concept store sells posters, stationery, and homewares with Playtype’s unmistakable typefaces, as well as digital fonts loaded onto USB sticks.

Wood Wood

GRØNNEGADE 1, WOODWOOD.COM Wood Wood is the go-to store for Copenhagen’s hip crowd, offering avant-garde accessories, collectibles, and art books, along with the shop’s own clothing line—a favorite on the local fashion scene. You can also find similarly design-forward brands like Comme des Garçons, Common Projects, and Jacquemus.

Stine Goya

GOTHERSGADE 58, STINEGOYA.COM The darling of the Danish fashion scene, Stine Goya is best known for her feminine prints, soft colors, and flowing pieces embellished with gold and sequins. Her flagship complements her clothing styles, with brass, marble, and colored glass accents scattered around the inviting space.

Atelier September

WHERE TO STAY

SP34

SANKT PEDERS STRÆDE 34, BROCHNER-HOTELS.DK Nestled in the middle of Copenhagen’s buzzy Latin quarter, SP34 offers stylish yet price-conscious rooms (starting at around $130 per night) with calming gray walls, warm wood accents, and REN toiletries—making the space feel like a chic local residence.

STAY Copenhagen

ISLANDS BRYGGE 79, STAYCOPENHAGEN.DK Located about 15 minutes by bike to the city center is this upscale apartment-style property, for those who prefer to stay outside the more heavily trafficked tourist areas. Each flat is decorated with Hay furniture and accessories that lean toward sleek Scandinavian minimalism.