Inside Fairfeld by Marriott Copenhagen Nordhavn

Conveniently located near the oceanfront in Copenhagen, Denmark, the newly opened Fairfield by Marriott Copenhagen Nordhavn is a great option for travellers embarking on and disembarking from a cruise.

Fairfield by Marriott Copenhagen Nordhavn is adjacent to the Residence Inn by Marriott, both nestled in the Århusgadekvarteret neighborhood. The hotel is approximately a half-hour drive from the airport, and is under 10 minutes from the cruise ports Ocean Quay, Nordre Toldbod and Langelinie.

The 222-room pet-friendly property is the brand’s first European hotel. Designed to fit the area’s hygge aesthetic, the overall style emulates home living: cozy, comfortable, and calming. It’s a basic property in the midscale range, but with small touches that elevate the overall experience, like ocean-view rooms and the charming lobby.

Thanks to its close proximity to both the port terminals and public transit, the Fairfield by Marriott is suitable for guests needing a short-term stay in the North Harbour district; however, the rooms’ small size and general lack of amenities—as well as some of the property’s quirks—may frustrate guests staying longer than a single night.

An inviting lobby

The hotel’s biggest draw is its public seating area. The first floor offers multiple areas to sit, where one can socialize, relax, or even work. The lobby lounge area by the entrance is bright, spacious, and homey, with bold art pieces decorating the walls and lots of natural light. The design is feels stylish and has a personal flavor—more like a private residence than a hotel chain.

The room wraps around the elevators and market (a small area with food and drink for sale), and transitions to more restaurant or cafe-style seating. In the evening, guests can be found playing cards, chatting, and reading books in this area.

Comfortable rooms with basic amenities

Travelers who have stayed at other Fairfield by Marriott locations may be disappointed by the very basic rooms offered at the Nordhavn location. Even for a Copenhagen rental, there was a surprising lack of basic features in the room.

The rooms include a bed, a bathroom with a shower, and a TV. There’s a small bench area near the door, as well as a small stool that could double as a table or ottoman, and an end table. The bed was comfortable, and the shower had great water pressure.

There is no fridge, coffeemaker, dresser, luggage rack, or closet. There are also no USB ports for charging devices so bringing a converter is a must. For single-night stays before or after a cruise, this is fine—but for longer stays, guests may be frustrated by the lack of space and storage.

A word to the wise

The amenities listed on the hotel’s website are somewhat misleading. For example, the FAQ says the rooms all “have a desk for working.” In our experience, this is a stretch. None of the surfaces in the room were large enough to be appropriate for sitting and using a laptop, for example. The lobby is a fantastic work area, but the room was not.

As well, the website lists air conditioning in the rooms to keep temperatures low during warmer months. We could not get the air conditioning working, and looking at other reviews for the hotel, this appears to be a common complaint. It was very warm in the room, and opening the window did not help. Guests who struggle with the heat would be wise to bring a travel fan.