OK!’s Must-Do Guide to Copenhagen: Where to Stay, Dine, Drink and Unwind in the Hip Danish Capital

Copenhagen is a city that doesn’t have to shout about how cool it is — it simply is.

Effortlessly stylish, culturally rich and quietly confident, the Danish capital has become one of Europe’s most exciting cities right now, drawing in chefs, creatives, fashion insiders and celebrities who prefer substance over spectacle.

Case in point: Lily Collins, star of Emily in Paris, has recently made Copenhagen her home — prompting whispers that the next chapter could easily be Emily in Copenhagen.

From its world-class restaurant scene and cutting-edge art spaces to intimate boutique hotels and candlelit wine bars, Copenhagen delivers a kind of understated glamour that rivals Europe’s biggest capitals, without the crowds or clichés.

And while the city is often associated with winter hygge and Christmas lights, Copenhagen is very much a year-round destination, with long summer evenings along the canals, an ever-evolving Spring and Fall food scene and a creative energy that hums no matter the season.

To help you experience the city like an insider — not a tourist — OK! has curated the Ultimate Copenhagen guide, spotlighting the best places to stay, sip, dine and sightsee in a city that’s proving cool doesn’t have to try so hard.

HOTEL PETRA

Tucked inside a beautifully restored 1940s building, the Hotel Petra feels like the kind of place Copenhagen does best — effortlessly cool, impeccably designed and completely unpretentious. One of the city’s most buzzed-about boutique stays, Petra blends mid-century flair with modern comforts, serving up Scandinavian minimalism with just the right amount of warmth. Think honey-toned woods, soft lighting and furniture so well curated it feels more like crashing at a very chic friend’s apartment than checking into a hotel.

The rooms are calm, stylish sanctuaries, with crisp linens, clean lines and subtle design details that nod to the building’s original bones. Downstairs, the lobby hums with low-key energy from morning to night, as guests linger over coffee, cocktails or a casual bite. Add in its central, walk-everywhere location Hotel Petra quickly proves itself as the perfect Copenhagen home base — relaxed, design-forward and quietly luxurious, just like the city itself.

COCO HOTEL

Just a short stroll from Hotel Petra, Coco Hotel brings a flirtier, more fashion-forward energy to Copenhagen’s hotel scene. With a subtle Parisian sensibility layered over Scandinavian cool, the hotel feels instantly inviting — the kind of place you check into and immediately start plotting reasons to stay longer. Set inside a character-filled historic building, Coco pairs vintage touches with modern design in a way that feels curated, not contrived.

The rooms are cosy and full of personality, dressed in patterned wallpapers, plush bedding and thoughtful details that make each one feel individual rather than cookie-cutter. Downstairs, the café and bar buzz from morning coffee runs to evening aperitifs, drawing in a stylish mix of guests and locals. And then there’s the leafy courtyard — a quiet little oasis that feels like a secret garden in the middle of the city. Hotel Coco doesn’t just offer a place to sleep; it delivers the feeling of being let in on one of Copenhagen’s best-kept secrets.

POPL

If you want to eat like a local — and like someone who knows Copenhagen’s food scene inside out — POPL is the move. Backed by the team behind NOMA, often crowned one of the world’s best restaurants, POPL strips things back in the best possible way, delivering laid-back dining with serious culinary credibility. This is where Copenhagen’s famously experimental food scene goes casual — without losing its edge.

The menu is seasonal, unfussy and designed for lingering, but it’s POPL’s cult-status burgers that have truly put it on the map, drawing crowds who know exactly what they’re here for. The space is warm and relaxed, the wine list leans heavily into natural and European labels, and the overall vibe is effortlessly cool rather than overthought. It’s the kind of place you drop into “just once” — and then find yourself planning a return visit before the bill even arrives.

Esse

For a more elevated night out, Esse is Copenhagen’s newest table to know — and it comes with serious culinary pedigree. Newly opened by American chef Matt Orlando, a former NOMA chef who previously helmed the much-loved Restaurant Amass, Esse reflects Orlando’s deeply considered approach to food, flavour and sustainability. This is conscious cooking at its most refined, with a strong focus on using every part of each ingredient and wasting as little as possible — without ever feeling preachy.

The experience is intimate and quietly confident, with a seasonal tasting menu that evolves alongside what’s available at its best. Each course feels thoughtful and precise, balancing bold flavours with restraint and creativity. Esse is the kind of restaurant that reminds you why Copenhagen continues to sit at the very top of the global dining conversation — serious food, beautifully executed, and delivered with a sense of calm that feels unmistakably Scandinavian.

Olise Bistro

Olise is exactly the kind of neighbourhood gem Copenhagen excels at — relaxed, quietly confident and seriously good. Conveniently located right next door to Coco Hotel, it’s an easy win for guests looking to roll straight from check-in to dinner without sacrificing quality. Blending classic bistro energy with a modern Scandinavian point of view, Olise focuses on beautifully executed dishes that feel refined without ever becoming formal.

The menu is seasonal and flavour-driven, weaving French influences through Nordic ingredients, while the atmosphere stays warm, buzzy and unpretentious. With a strong wine list and a dining room that always seems to hum with energy, Olise is the kind of place that turns a “quick dinner” into a long, lingering evening — and one more reason Hotel Coco’s location is so spot-on.

BIRD

Bird is one of those Copenhagen bars that instantly feels like you’re in on something. A cosy, low-lit cocktail spot where vinyl records spin all night, it blends great music with seriously well-made drinks — and somehow makes it all feel effortless. The crowd is a mix of locals, creatives and visitors who’ve done their homework, drawn in by the intimate energy and the sense that anything could happen once the needle drops.

The cocktail menu is inventive but approachable, with classics given clever twists rather than overworked theatrics. Add in the warm, relaxed vibe and the soundtrack of carefully chosen records, and BIRD becomes the kind of place you duck into for “one quick drink” — only to realise hours have passed. It’s laid-back, a little bit moody and exactly the sort of bar that keeps Copenhagen’s nightlife feeling cool without ever trying too hard.

BRUS

Brus is where Copenhagen goes when it wants to drink well — but keep things relaxed. Part brewery, part bar and part social hub, BRUS is known for its constantly rotating lineup of beers on tap, spanning everything from crisp lagers to experimental brews that reflect the city’s adventurous drinking culture. It’s casual without being basic, and elevated without feeling precious.

With its airy, warehouse-style space and communal tables, BRUS is a standout spot for a long Sunday afternoon session that easily rolls into evening. Locals linger over pints, conversations stretch, and the vibe feels more like a stylish neighbourhood hangout than a traditional pub. Whether you’re a craft beer devotee or just along for the ride, BRUS delivers Copenhagen day drinking done properly — laid-back, social and effortlessly cool.

GAIA

Gaia Cocktail Bar is Copenhagen after dark at its most polished — intimate, seductive and quietly glamorous. Tucked away from the city’s louder nightlife spots, GAIA feels like a grown-up secret, where beautifully crafted cocktails take centre stage and the mood is set by low lighting, plush interiors and a crowd that knows exactly where it’s meant to be.

The drinks here are thoughtful and refined, balancing classic techniques with modern twists, and served with an attention to detail that never tips into fussiness. It’s the kind of place you come for a pre-dinner drink and end up staying for one more — and then another — as the night unfolds. Sophisticated without being stiff, GAIA is proof that Copenhagen’s cocktail scene can hold its own with Europe’s best, one perfectly mixed glass at a time.

Shopping in Copenhagen feels less like ticking off stores and more like falling into a very well-dressed rabbit hole. The city’s vintage scene is particularly strong, with beautifully curated second-hand and archival boutiques lining streets like Gl. Kongevej and Værnedamsvej, where browsing quickly turns into discovery.

These neighbourhood pockets are a goldmine for one-of-a-kind fashion finds, Scandi staples and pieces that feel impossibly cool without trying too hard.

For a more classic retail hit, Strøget remains the city’s main shopping artery. One of Europe’s longest pedestrian streets, it blends international luxury brands with Danish design labels and independent stores, making it easy to jump from high fashion to local favourites in a single stroll. Whether you’re hunting for minimalist wardrobes, elevated homewares or that perfect Copenhagen souvenir, the city’s shopping scene delivers style with substance — and just the right amount of edge.

AIRE ANCIENT BATHS

After days spent walking the city, eating far too well and staying out just a little too late, AIRE Ancient Baths is the reset your body didn’t know it needed. Set inside a beautifully restored historic building, the spa feels worlds away from the city outside, with a candlelit circuit of thermal pools inspired by ancient Roman, Greek and Ottoman bathing traditions. Think warm and hot baths, icy cold plunges, a saltwater float pool, steam rooms and relaxation spaces designed to slow everything right down.

Low lighting, hushed tones and attentive, unobtrusive service create an immersive experience that encourages you to linger — moving from pool to pool before sinking into total relaxation.

Add in optional massages and private bathing experiences, and AIRE becomes the ultimate counterbalance to Copenhagen’s buzzy restaurant and nightlife scene. It’s luxurious without being showy, deeply restorative and the perfect reminder that in Copenhagen, slowing down is part of the lifestyle.