Inside Villa Copenhagen: Luxury Meets History at the Heart of Denmark’s Capital

In a vibrant city with no shortage of trendy hot spots, Villa Copenhagen stands out.

Located in the historic Central Post and Telegraph Head Office, first built in 1912, the hotel fuses the historic charm of Denmark’s capital with contemporary “conscious” luxury. The property is nestled between the meatpacking district and the inner city, channeling qualities from both: it’s ornate without being stuffy, and has a Scandi fashion aesthetic that feels timelessly trendy.    

The 390-room property first opened to the public in April 2020, right as the country was in COVID-19 lockdown. Despite that rocky launch, the hotel thrived post-pandemic, quickly gaining a reputation for conscious luxury and gourmet dining. 

Dining and more
By 10:000 a.m., the grandiose, sunlight-lit courtyard (covered by a spectacular glass ceiling) is bustling with activity, filled with happy faces sipping Americano and enjoying the hotel’s in-house baked goods. The Food and Beverage Director Per Voss Kjærgaard told TMR the hotel welcomes the public and takes aims to be a part of the greater community. The onsite restaurant RUG Bakery is now open to the public, as is the courtyard bar, downstairs Villa Breakfast, and the restaurant, Brasserie Kontrast.

There is no shortage of great dining options at Villa Copenhagen. The food features local, fresh ingredients, prepared in a sustainable kitchen. In the mornings, breakfast is served buffet style in a restaurant downstairs. This is open from 6:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on weekdays and 11:00 a.m. on weekends. The space fills fast, although it is possible to book a slot. Hotel guests and visitors will enjoy an assortment of freshly baked goods, omelettes made to order, and other Scandi breakfast favorites, as well as juice, tea, and coffee. 

On the main level, guests and visitors can enjoy breakfast and lunch at RUG Bakery from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. RUG also offers an assortment of baked goods, like croissants, breads, and buns. The Courtyard Bar also provides guests and visitors with a variety of drinks and light meals and is open from 7:30 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday, and until 2:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant Brasserie Kontrast is open for dinner and boasts more local, sustainable ingredients prepared in the Scandi fashion. The hotel guests have access to room service as well.

Just adjacent to the courtyard is the Playroom and wine and cocktail bar T37. This space is multi-purpose and can be rented out for events.    

Room options
Villa Copenhagen offers a variety of comfortable, luxurious accommodations, ranging from the modest standard queen-sized-bed rooms all the way to two-storey suites complete with spiral staircases and free-standing baths. The suites come in a variety of sizes with distinct interior designs, which get updated every two years or so. The Shamballa Master Suite, for example, features dark tones and masonry design elements whereas the Earth Suite is lighter, with wood paneling and copper accents.

The standard rooms are on the small side, as many hotel rooms are in this part of the world. The layout and design help mediate this by making the room feel larger than it is—however, there is no desk or table, so those planning to work will need to head down to the courtyard. Each room comes with a rain shower head, a coffee maker, USB ports, a stocked mini-bar, and even heated bathroom floors. 

There are several more room categories. The superior rooms are more spacious. The family rooms can accommodate two adults and one child, whereas the deluxe rooms feature a standing bathtub and other spa-inspired upgrades. Finally, the junior suite is the largest room category and has the option of connecting rooms for more space.

There are six suite categories, each with a bespoke design. The upgrades in these vary based on the theme; for example, the Earth Suite features an earth bike and punching bag, and the Shamballa Suite, which was designed by the founders of Shamballa Jewels, has jewelry displays.   

Good to know
Villa Copenhagen is affiliated with Preferred Hotels & Resorts and participates in the I Prefer Hotel Rewards points-based loyalty program from Preferred Travel Group.

Villa Copenhagen is a unique property because it is a converted post office. While this provides the space with a lot of personality and charm, it also limits the amenities. There is a heated outdoor pool (it’s sustainable too, using heat generated from the kitchen), as well as a small fitness area. However, the pool is only accessible to guests in one-hour booked slots, with additional hours costing a fee, and there are no change rooms. There is also no spa on-site at Villa Copenhagen. 

Location
Villa Copenhagen is conveniently located right across from the Copenhagen Central Rail Station and the historic Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. (Some lucky hotel guests can view the nightly fireworks show from their rooms.) The hotel is also just a short walk from the inner city, with nearby attractions like the National Museum of Denmark and the 12th-century Christiansborg Palace in walking distance.

The hotel is approximately a 20- to 30-minute drive from the cruise terminals, and a 20-minute drive from the airport.