After a years-long love affair brought on by the resurgence of Scandinavian design, a string of captivating TV series and a line-up of revolutionary restaurants, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the world’s appetite for all things Scandi might be waning. But nothing could be further from the truth; certainly not in Copenhagen, where the opening of two gorgeous design-focused boutique hotels last year – Sanders (pictured below) and Nobis – set the stage for a new wave of Danish adoration that begins with the reincarnation of the Royal Hotel this month.
Originally created by Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, the Royal was heralded as the world’s first design hotel when it opened in 1960. Everything from the exterior to the cutlery was conceived by the late designer, including the now famous ‘Egg’ chair, which remains a design icon.
Almost 60 years on, the hotel (now the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Copenhagen) is in the final stages of a major facelift, which sees the historic hotel modernised and the revival of some of Jacobsen’s original furniture. Arne Jacobsen Suite 606 has been faithfully restored to how it was when the hotel first opened – a rich blend of green, blue and grey with dark wooden panelling – and four other signature suites created Fritz Hansen pay tribute to Jacobsen and the canon of Scandinavian Design he pioneered.
Other news shaking Copenhagen’s gourmet scene is the second coming of Rene Redzepi’s noma, which reopened at a new address on February 15, following a yearlong hiatus. The acclaimed restaurant will open for three seasons throughout the year, with bold menus created to focus on the ingredients that are at their best during each period.
The first season, which runs until April 29, focuses on Scandinavian seafood, followed by vegetable season in the summer months and game and forest season from autumn until the end of the year. The 40-seat restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday; the menu costs US $373 per head, excluding beverages.
