Last Updated on May 6, 2026
Danish chic with a taste of hygge
An early spring city break to Copenhagen brought us four gloriously sunny days perfect for exploring. The short flight to this fascinating city makes it a great option for a long weekend with time to explore museums, eat plenty of pastries and fill up on smørrebrod, the Danish open sandwich. Having a central location from which to enjoy all that this beautiful city has to offer was one of the highlights of the trip. Hosted by Visit Denmark and invited to review Hotel Kong Arthur, I was delighted to discover this beautiful hotel on a small cobblestoned street leading to the historic lakes that run through central Copenhagen.
The Danish capital is renowned for its mix of architectural styles from its elegant 17th-century city mansions to the contemporary opera house, theatre and national library, all three imposing buildings set along the waterfront. Copenhagen is also a haven for visitors seeking New Nordic cuisine, which became world-famous with the success of NOMA and has since spread across the city as chefs trained there have branched out to establish their own restaurants. Whether it was Michelin-starred dining or a simple sandwich lunch, Copenhagen never failed to impress me.
A 4-star hotel with 281 rooms, Hotel Kong Arthur occupies a traditional building that dates back to 1882, which was originally used to house carpenters’ apprentices. The wooden bannister in the oldest part of Hotel Kong Arthur still has raised buttons along its length to discourage the boys from sliding down. The building was later transformed into an elegant hotel, to which further buildings on the same block were added over time. This arrangement creates several attractive courtyards filled with lovely seating areas. Hotel Kong Arthur retains its fine façade and many of its original features, while the interior is contemporary Nordic chic.
The ground floor has a bar and lounge, where guests are encouraged to mingle over a complimentary drink during a cosy welcome hour between 5-6 pm. The L-shaped lounge was an inviting space throughout the day, having plenty of comfy sofas and Danish designer armchairs, throws and rugs, ceramics, books and artefacts. In the evenings, it was full of guests enjoying pre-dinner drinks and then used by families and couples playing games and reading after dinner. In the mornings, sunlight streamed in through its floor-to-ceiling glass walls, a fire burned in the grate, and it was tempting to spend the morning relaxing there rather than venturing out into the cold.
There is a range of rooms from standard singles and doubles to larger superior doubles, junior suites, and the largest of all, LOFT duplexes that can sleep up to five guests. Our fifth-floor room had a small face of a Buddha alongside the door, which indicated that it was a Spa Executive room. These spacious rooms include a one-hour entry per night to the water temple in the Ni’mat Spa. On the first night in residence, this spa session was scheduled for 5 pm, but since we arrived close to midnight, our Spa experience took place after breakfast on our first morning.
The Spa Executive room felt like a small apartment with an entrance hall, a bathroom to one side and a bedroom to the other. A storage corridor extended towards a desk where one could do some work or make a hot drink. The room was a good size with the same lovely parquet flooring that runs throughout Hotel Kong Arthur, rose taupe walls with white wooden panels. The large bed had a range of pillows that made reading in bed very comfortable. As in most Scandinavian hotels, there were two single duvets which prevent any potential arguments over who hogged the bedding during the night. Stylish lamps, an armchair with a woollen throw and a selection of monochrome prints above the bed completed the hygge vibe.
The bathroom was gorgeous, with a double bath and a walk-in rain shower. Bath products were so good, the Woods_Copenhagen range would make fabulous gifts for friends back home. They are available to purchase in the lobby if you love them as much as we did.
Breakfast is served in a large, light-filled conservatory that overlooks courtyards on two sides. There was an excellent Nordic buffet selection, including an array of herrings, award-winning local cheese and charcuterie, wonderful breads and rolls made from traditional Nordic grains, and Danish pastries, along with warm oatmeal, cereals, yoghurt, and every sort of milk you could think of. Eggs were either soft-boiled or served scrambled, with bacon or tomato, in small, lidded glass jars. A salad bar had an impressive selection of fresh vegetables, along with jars of pickles. Fresh seasonal juices included a very healthy spinach juice. Hotel Kong Arthur has an ethos of providing local, organic food wherever possible, which is part of its commitment to four of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
After a capacious breakfast, we went to explore the Ni’Mat Spa. Entering the Spa felt like being transported to Thailand, paired with a hygge ambience. There were large Buddha sculptures and a multitude of Thai artefacts, woollen throws, butterfly-print wallpaper, mirrors, and offerings of Cava, juice, or an invigorating, relaxing ginger tea. In a subterranean area was a double-vaulted Water Temple, a gorgeous space boasting a jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, and ice-cold water shower. Turquoise-hued benches were available for resting, surrounded by Buddhas, candles and plants. A mezzanine overlooked the water temple, where one could relax on sofas and order drinks and food. While my husband spent a leisurely hour in the water temple, I was treated to a 50-minute Buddha massage, which included a back, neck and shoulder treatment along with a mini facial. Princess was a wonderful masseuse, and I only wished I had a whole morning to spend in this welcoming, soothing environment. The Spa is open to hotel guests and non-guests, and I highly recommend booking in when you visit the city. There is a range of massages and packages on the website.
Hotel Kong Arthur is perfectly located for visiting the city sights. A short walk from a metro stop that links to the airport and central train station, it is equally good for setting off on foot. Copenhagen is very walkable, and we hardly used public transport at all. The hotel is surrounded by restaurants, bars and bakeries that sell outstanding pastries. A few minutes’ walk away is Torvehallerne, a covered food market that is an essential stop for anyone interested in eating well or drinking what is reportedly the best coffee in the city at Coffee Collective. Sat alongside the glass windows with a coffee and a pastry – despite having recently eaten breakfast – and watching people walking and cycling by was one of those perfect holiday moments. Just a few minutes further brought us to the shopping mecca of Støgert, where you will find every high-end brand you can think of, including the magnificent Georg Jensen shop filled with iconic Danish jewellery and homeware.
Copenhagen boasts a host of excellent museums, from art to history. Although we packed in a number of museum visits into our four days, we only managed to touch the surface. Most of the museums we visited were within a half-hour walk of the Hotel Kong Arthur.
Returning to Hotel Kong Arthur at night after a day of sightseeing, we were met with a warm welcome. The hotel welcomes visitors as guests and hopes that they will leave as family. It is certainly a hotel I would happily recommend to my own friends and family.
Hotel Kong Arthur, Nørre Søfade 11, 1370 Copenhagen
Visit Denmark and Wonderful Copenhagen– visit these websites for all the information you will need for a visit to Copenhagen.
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