Why book
This American-headquartered brand with global ambitions comes to rest at a time when traveler interest in Copenhagen is soaring and room rates are the highest they’ve ever been. But 1 Hotel is not content simply joining in; it’s hoping to stand out—with its friendly, approachable approach to hospitality and a carefully and consistently branded eco-loving aesthetic. Think of it as the physical embodiment of all that Danish hygge has come to imply, which is a kind of warm, convivial, touchable coziness. And in a hospitality landscape that is defined by Neoclassical and Neo-Baroque buildings with elegant interiors on one end and small, characterful boutique hotels on the other—with a handful of Scandinavian chain hotels in the middle—this should be no problem.
Set the scene
“Most Copenhageners think of hotels as stuffy, boring, and expensive; you’ll never see them hanging out in a hotel lobby,” says Toni Stoeckl's, the brand’s global CMO over coffee. I look around me: It’s been six days since the hotel opened and the lobby—dressed in low-slung white couches, lots of reclaimed wood, living walls, and plenty of natural light—is lively already. Yes, it’s mostly travelers, in particular American travelers who know and value the brand for its convivial common spaces, but Stoeckl believes there’s potential to also make it a locals’ drawing room. To help this along, the hotel is throwing a number of everyone’s-invited events, pilates and design workshops included. Other gatherings will follow, from summer farmer’s markets with local vendors, garden brunches, and even winter sauna pop-ups. There are also DJ sets on weekend evenings at Pære, the spacious lobby lounge, which by morning turns into a cafe with a grab-and-go pastry section (it is Copenhagen, after all). In fact, there’s little about 1 Hotel that feels unwelcoming or off-limits to anyone that steps over the rubicon—in this case, a sweeping reclaimed wood staircase that leads up from the street level. And the overall vibe–from a casually well-dressed crowd to smiling staff–suggest that folks are happy to be ensconced in its airy, uncomplicatedly comfortable surroundings.
The backstory
The 282-room hotel marks the brand's first Nordic location and its 13th global property. The hotel occupies the same building that used to house the Skt. Petri hotel, which in turn, was formerly an old department store built by famed designer Wilhelm Lauritzen in 1928. The adaptive reuse of this historic structure was bound by preservation codes, so the exterior, for instance, has simply been painted a different color (green, naturally). Once inside, however, the changes are more liberal. The escalator of the former hotel has been replaced by the aforementioned staircase that opens out into the light-filled atrium lobby. The neutral palette and warm furnishings are also a far cry from the Skt. Petri hotel aesthetic that veered more bold and glam. But as much as 1 Hotel brings its distinctive aesthetic values to the project, it also feels quite fitting of the location itself—the world’s design capital—with its nubby textiles, white and cream palette, and organic texture.
The rooms
“Welcome to your new home in Copenhagen,” read my welcome note in the Hazel Terrace Suite when I arrived. By the end of my first day there, that’s exactly what it felt like: my own pied-a-terre in the city that I’ve always dreamed of living in. This is entirely by design. At 990 sq. feet—complete with a generous living room, private bedroom, and two large balconies—not only is the suite the size of a typical New York City two-bedroom apartment, it is also outfitted with the ease of movement of a home and the quality of a private sanctuary. The entryway had a rack for hanging up raincoats and umbrellas (both green, both waiting, ready to be used); the split-design bathroom put the shower and bathtub near the bedroom and the toilet nearer the lounge (great for when you invite your Copenhagen friends over to your new “home”); the multi-room configuration is designed for movement from one area to the other; even the motion-detecting switches and temperature controls felt intuitively designed. Expansive windows framed views of the city skyline and welcomed in a generous amount of natural light. A kitchenette included a generous selection of snacks and drinks, a coffee machine, and a water filling station. The bathroom is a delight, with an area for the vanity and bathtub and a separate alcove for the shower. A dressing room is a lovely touch, as is a cozy reading nook adjacent to the living room. But my favorite spot through my stay remained the balcony with its views of tiled roofs, where I’d start my day with a coffee, listening to church bells toll—and end it with wine or tea, listening to the clip-clop of shoes and the ebbs and flows of chatter on the streets below. It was where, even six floors up, I felt most grounded in the city.
Notably, many of the rooms and suites in the hotel come with private balconies, and even though the size of dwellings vary, they’re all well-designed and stylish (think: neutral without being spartan), comfortable, and often coming with great views of the city.
Food and drink
Seasonal, clean cuisine is one of the cornerstones of the food and beverage program at 1 Hotel. For the Copenhagen property, they have enlisted Chantelle Nicholson, the New Zealand-born, Green Michelin-starred chef of Apricity in London’s Mayfair, who is recognized for championing veg-forward cooking. And while not local, at Fjora, the hotel’s main restaurant, she espouses the very Danish principles of slow, considered cooking that’s mindful of waste. Her menu also anchors itself to sourcing as much as possible from nearby farms and purveyors whether for mushrooms, miso, or fermented NA drinks. On a Friday night, a friend and I tucked into cured Nordic trout with fermented strawberries, a dreamboat of a seafood pot pie, complete with a floating biscuit crust and plenty of stewed greens, and a warm chocolate mousse (first fridge-set and then baked—a genius idea) with a miso dressing. We capped it off with aquavit martinis—this was Copenhagen after all. While it’s easy to get comfy in the restaurant, there is a whole back garden that’s perfect to retreat to with a drink come dusk, and so we did.
The same space turns into a light-filled breakfast room in the morning, with a delicious self-serve buffet of both local and standard-fare items. There’s also that coffee and pastry bar at Pære if you prefer grab-and-go sourdough buns with sliced comté to enjoy in the park. Given the generous proportions of the restaurant coupled with its unhurried atmosphere, guests seemed to linger longer than necessary, drawn out eventually by the delights awaiting them at the hotel’s doorstep.
For families
This is not a hotel that’s designed for families necessarily, but I saw plenty of kids get really comfortable here, running around or sinking into cushy seating with a book or iPad. Given that Copenhagen is highly rated for its kid friendliness, and the fact that the hotel is located in the center of town, it’s bound to attract families with young children. There are a number of connecting rooms that would be ideal for families, so ask for those should you need one.
The spa
The spa hadn’t opened when I arrived, but when ready, promises to be on par with its siblings in Brooklyn and London, complete with sauna, steam, and a large menu of treatments using Bamford’s signature botanical products, which also make their way into rooms as bathroom amenities. It’s hard not to love the hotel's signature blend of geranium, lavender, peppermint and tonka, and you can take home a candle or shower gel from the retail space in the lobby. Until the spa is ready, the hotel has a temporary gym with bikes, treadmills, and weights that more than suffices, should you be looking to supplement your 10,000 steps.
The neighborhood
Location, location, location. If this was all that the hotel got right, it would still be winning majorly. Tucked into the historic heart of Copenhagen, in the neighborhood of Norreport, there is nothing that cannot be accessed easily from here, whether the best bakeries, small, relaxed eateries, cute design shops, peaceful parks, or even the throbbing Nyhavn. Even if you’re just wafting around aimlessly, instead of crossing off a list of bookmarked faves, you’re likely to stumble upon plenty of gems that you’ll make note to tell your friends and family about. Some of my favorite things to do around here include getting getting a cardamom bun from Hart or Sankt Peders Bageri, taking a picnic and a book to Rosenborg Garden, walking over to Torvehallerne, Copenhagen's largest food market, shopping at HAY House or Illums or one of many indie boutiques strewn around, or riding the iconic Dæmonen followed by smørrebrød at Tivoli, a 15-minute walk away. A few steps over from the hotel is the Round Tower, a 17th-century tower and observatory that provides great rooftop views from the heart of the city.
Keep in mind that this is also a residential neighborhood, so move with intention. You’re reminded of this if you sit in the hotel’s back garden, which reveals life in motion in apartments all around.
The service
The staff here are as global as the brand’s ambitions—and on your trip, you’ll hear every manner of accent. Given the hotel was brand new when I visited, the staff were still settling into a rhythm. However, everyone I met was friendly and professional, there to provide support rather than be a smothering presence. The concierge team, led by Michelle, was particularly helpful. Speaking of which, I really appreciated that they send you a series of questions before your trip to tailor make your experience for you while in Copenhagen. Suggestions to me included a coffee-tasting experience at April, a specialty coffee roaster and lifestyle shop up the road, and a jewelry making session with local bespoke jeweler Cióió Studio.
Eco effort
You can’t say you’re sustainably minded in Denmark unless you absolutely mean it. And even when you do, shouting it out from the rooftops can be perceived as gauche. Luckily, the hotel can rely on fans of the brand knowing and valuing the hotel’s low-impact promise. For the newly initiated, there is subtle messaging around the use of refillable water stations or reusing towels and linens, notes on sustainable shopping printed on hangers in closets, and a sand hourglass timer in the shower to help reduce water waste. Then, there is its design, which features large living walls and plants (there are around 1500 across the property, guided by local ecosystems), ethically sourced, natural materials (reclaimed wood; sustainable textiles by Kvadrat; large pendant lights made of mycelium and green wood waste) and biophilic design—I was fascinated by the panels of eelgrass, a naturally abundant, locally sourced sea plant that aid with acoustics, regulates moisture, and is a throwback to a 400-year old building tradition. There’s a “bee hotel” in the backyard built in partnership with a local collective and a courtyard garden with wildflowers and herbs, and the menus at the restaurant and lounge that are designed to be low-waste. Yet, at no point are you hit over the head with any of this, and that feels refreshing.
Accessibility
ADA standards are met across all common spaces and there are elevators and ramps in place. There are five ADA rooms and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms in the public spaces. Service animals are allowed.
Anything left to mention?
Use one of many bicycles lined up outside the hotel to get around, but you might want to brush up on rules and safety on the bike lanes before you zip off. Try and avoid rush hour on the bigger streets when Copenhageners are heading to and from work and school.
Krystalgade 22, Copenhagen, 1172
Denmark
https://www.1hotels.com/copenhagen
+45 33 45 91 00