Nobis Hotel, Copenhagen

So, where are we?

Downtown Copenhagen, just ten minutes from the Central Station, which is ten minutes by train from the airport, so it couldn’t be handier for a weekend jaunt. Opposite the Ny Carlsberg Glypotek art museum with views of the higher rides of Tivoli Gardens and ten minutes from the main gay bar and the shopping streets. It’s also ten minutes from the spectacular waterfront with its lidos and walkways and drive-yourself solar-powered GoBoats.

And where we’re staying…?

Nobis Hotel, which is unfortunate in that it makes you think of Ibis hotels, until you get here, that is. Based in a building that was once the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music, it has the grand thing and the high-ceiling thing and the marble thing and the huge-windows thing. But that’s all it has in common with an old school thanks to designer Gert Wingardh who has taken the 1903 building and shaken it vigorously.

What’s the style?

Modern meets classic is probably the best way to put it. Original features have been put centre stage with a full supporting cast of contemporary furniture: black chandeliers, a marble stairwell hung with lights, salons with huge leather Danish design squashy chairs in tan overhung by outsize geometric light concepts. The colour palette couldn’t be more on trend with teals and blues and flashes of white. And they play disco 24/7.

And the rooms?

With huge turn-of-the-century windows looking out over the red brick loveliness of the art museum and some verdigris statuary, you’re already on a winning ticket with these rooms. Modern four-poster beds in black metal, a raffia mid-century-modern-esque chair, broad herringbone parquet and a shower with a frosted window into the room make it sleek and simple with plenty of hanging space both inside your wardrobe and on the funky pegs by the front door.

Is there a story?

Copenhagen seems to excel at taking old buildings and converting them into beautiful hotels as Villa Copenhagen, once a bank or a post office or something, just up the road testifies.

And to eat?

Just one flight down that marble staircase is a lower ground-floor bar that is all loungey leather fitted sofas and superstar lighting. Walk through the glass partition and there’s an indoor/outdoor restaurant serving up a simple buffet breakfast that you can take out into the sunshine. And while you’re down there, check out the compact little fitness room and the hammam.

So, to sum up…

It just goes to show what getting a great designer on board can do for a classic bit of architecture especially if you’re willing to splash out on some proper spendy design furniture. Nothing old-school about this beauty.

nobishotel.dk