Choix Guide: Copenhagen


Choix Mood Board of trip to Copenhagen May 2024

A longer than usual CHOIX DU MOIS post...
I just returned from a trip to Copenhagen with two great friends, both of whom encouraged the creation of Choix Travel Guides.
Here's the first installment - I hope it inspires you to book a trip ASAP !!!
🧡 Esme

Choix Guide: Copenhagen, May 2024 

starting top left + going clockwise...

Kødbyens Fiskebar @Fiskebaren
delicious seafood resto in an industrial/rustic type space in Kødbyen - the former meatpacking district of Copenhagen. Started by a @Nomacph alum (common theme here). Loved everyone who worked here! Star of the show - chilled raw Garfish with pumpkin seed, parsley and gooseberry paste, a rich sauce made from the roe, finished with seasonal herbs.
 

Bread, butter, cheese, jam + ham plate from @LilleBakery
chefs kiss perfect community forward bakery in Refshaleøen (lil island, big food scene). This is my ideal breakfast. 

Danish Dipping Culture @LaBanchinacph
"Dip, eat, repeat", as their website says. La Bachina (the dock in Italian) is the epitome of what I have decided to refer to as #DDC*. This little 14 seat resto has its own swimming zone in the harbor surrounded by wooden docks. We visited on a perfect 75 + sunny day + the docks were packed. We grabbed a bottle of wine, found a spot, played cards, dipped, + shamelessly people watched. In the winter you can take an icy dip + warm up in their sauna.

*DDC = Danish Dipping Culture (taking a dip, temperature be damned + CPH having a clean urban harbor).

@Apollo_bar small/beautiful/perfect wine bar w. small plates in the courtyard of the Kunsthal Charlottenborg museum. Come for the food + wine, stay (for hours) for the immaculate vibes. We attended a tasting event put on by @frederikbillebrahe, @anders.frederik.steen + @pierrejancou, wine by by @gustav_klint + music by @anenonmusic (live) + @emilbroome (dj). It turned into a true party — endless glasses of Que du raison red / sitting at the bar eating spoonfuls of Gateau Zoe (flourless chocolate cake) straight from the pan, groovin to a dj set + observing all the cool ass Danes (of the natural wine set — you know the type) Ft. this artichoke with sauce albufera, stunnin 

@RestaurantSchonnemann old school lunch only resto serving up classic Danish smørrebrød - open faced sandwiches - accompanied by beer + schnapps since 1877. One of my favorite meals EVER (coming straight from the mouth of a girl who often says “I hate lunch”). Turns out I’m a lunch devotee where smørrebrød is involved. Order multiple to share + sample !!!

FAVORITE Smørrebrød (with v great names):
Formandens Laksemad/The Chairmans Snack - warm-smoked salmon with horseradish cream, lemon pickled apple, fennel, horseradish and chervil; served on toasted rye bread
Jomfruens Natmad/The Maiden’s Midnight Snack - chicken mayonnaise salad, smoked potatoes, bacon and fried carrots
Klassisk/Tartare - tartare of beef with raw egg yolk, capers, horseradish, onions and pickles


Cocktails @birdcph

cool lil cocktail bar in Frederiksberg where “where music played from vinyl has optimum conditions to flourish” (lol, love their description) If in the area, def worth a stop in.


@Choixhome
x @Cocoshopwi Noni Pouch #perfecttravelcompanion


@LouisianaMuseum
@Elmgreenanddragsetstudio,
Powerless Structures, Fig.13, 2015 

Take a 40 min train north to The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Now one of the most renowned international art institutions in Scandinavia, the country home turned museum was founded by Knud W. Jensen in 1953 as a place for Danish modern art, which previously had no place in Danish museums. Regardless of interest in contemporary art, enjoy the coastal train journey and incredible grounds, architecture and view of the Øresund Strait between Denmark + Sweden.
(why Louisiana? bc. built + named in 1855 by Alexander Brun who married three women who were all named Louise. J'adore.)


Background of mood:
Asger Jorn, The Still of the Eye, 1971 @LouisianaMuseum


Wearing on repeat 🔁
- not one to pack light but I could have bc I wore these @pierrelouismascia Thomas Poplin Striped pants NON-STOP AD NAUSEAM - available in two slightly diff versions on @Choixhome!


@Haydesign
House

The main studio/store of Danish contemporary design + furniture brand primarily inspired by Danish furniture from the fifties + sixties - you may know them for their colorful collapsable milk crate-like-storage bins + bright takes on "quotidian objects". Loved seeing all their objects in situ, + contemplated a do-over of my entire apt.


The Colorful Houses of Nyhavn

IKYK (i know you know) about these, but they're quintessential CPH !!!

Mood Board of favorite food and restaurants in Copenhagen
 MINI FOOD MOOD 

when one mood board just won't do

1. Formandens Laksemad/The Chairmans Snack @restaurantschonnemann
2. charcuterie d'@apollo_bar
3. vin rouge 2023, from @queduraisin by @pierrejancou at @apollobar
4. my wonderful friend @_shealagh_ (Choix guide encourager #1) enjoying said rouge
5. spaghetti w. butter colatua d’alici + caviar @barabbacph - modern Italian resto with a (mostly) natural wine list.
6. @poplburger (aka NOMA burger) not all burgers are created equal + this one rivals most. René Redzepi’s (co-owner @Noma) covid take-out pop-up turned permanent resto due to popularity + absolute deliciousness 
7. @Hartbageri - amazing bakery w. multiple locations through out the city (NOMA alum, bien sûr)
8. stunnin' martinis + negronis @bird.cph
multiple images of favorite stores in copenhagen
multiple images of favorite stores in copenhagen
 Shopping, left to right 

@fildefercph wonderful shop specializing in French antiques in Bredgade - go-to area for antique and furniture shopping
 
@Lubarol carefully curated multi brand boutique in a beautiful space
 
@beaumarchecph funky shop w. a curation of art, contemporary + vintage furniture, objects, café à vins + bistro
 
@Haydesign another fab corner of HAY House

Not pictured...
Thanks, it's vintage! CPH is gaining notoriety for its fab vintage/second-hand shops. Top recs @jerome_vintage, @iblamelulu, @timesupvintage

Other Fave Shops: @another Nué, @Lot29DK, @KongesSlojd (A+ children's boutique)

multiple images of water scenes in copenhagen
multiple images of water scenes in Copenhagen
 CPH Life Aquatic, left to right 

View from Trekroner Fort in CPH harbor. Book a @heycaptainCPH tour to explore/learn about the city by boat. Fight your urge to book the private tour + NOT participate in their "social sailing"- très amusant...
 
Houseboats of CPH
 
#DDC off our houseboat 
 
Our @Airbnb Houseboat (10/10 rec a houseboat stay for CPH no matter the season). Our hosts, Toke + Barbara, also own the cutest one-room hotel-houseboat next door, @KAJhotel #Hygge


 Pay it forward ✨ 

couldn't do it all, so passing on these unconquered recs.
(blaming low museum attendance on PERFECT WEATHER -
sorry, bizzy w. #DDC)

 
MORE Food@Propagandacph (cool Korean resto + natural wine shop, same owner @Barabbacph), @Barrcph (did have a lil drink harborside here, loved, former NOMA space + chef partnership (lol) seems like it would be v cozy in the winter) @Silberbauers_Bistro (French bistro), @AtelierSeptember (bakery + lunch + @frederikbillebrahe of our fave Apollo bar), @Juno the Bakery 
 
Shopping - @theApartmentDK, @MrLarken, @Ganni.Lab Post Modern (past seasons, showpieces + samples, i 🧡 this concept)

Hotel - if houseboats are not for you (???), try @hotelsanders 

 Post Scipt 
amazing public transport, big bike culture, no uber, use @viggo_dk <3 

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