Overview
1 Hotel Copenhagen is the brand’s first property in Denmark and brings its signature sustainability focused philosophy to the capital city. Other properties in Europe include Mayfair (London), Paris and Crete (Greece).
We had a short stay of two nights over a weekend as we were doing a short trip from London. Our stay was booked pretty last minute and I was curious to see how the property compares with other luxury hotels in Copenhagen and whether it delivers the elevated experience the brand is striving for. Copenhagen doesn’t have a dearth of luxury options. Villa Copenhagen is a good option although their base rooms are quite small. Hotel D’Angleterre is probably the best, but sometimes too $$$ for Copenhagen.
Location
The hotel is located in a very central part of the city and is an easy 20 to 30 minute drive from Copenhagen Airport depending on traffic. Public transport is also a viable option. You can take the metro from the airport and get off at a nearby station before walking the final five to ten minutes to the hotel. This works well if you are travelling light, but with larger suitcases the walk can feel a little inconvenient on the cobbled streets.
The surrounding area is a great base for exploring the city. Many of Copenhagen’s main attractions, restaurants and shopping streets are within comfortable walking distance, making it easy to explore the city without needing transport. During our two night stay, we walked everywhere we needed to go and this is a huge plus point for this hotel for sure.
Arrival & Check In
We landed at Copenhagen Airport quite late at 9pm and decided to take the Metro straight to the hotel, arriving at around 10pm.
Our arrival experience was slightly confusing. The entrance is not particularly easy to identify at the moment as there is still construction hoardings around the front of the building related to the Bamford Spa , which is expected to open later this year (hopefully!).
There was no doorman outside when we arrived. Maybe because it was 11pm. We made our own way inside and eventually found the lift that takes guests up to the reception area on level one. The concierge desk was deserted at this time of the night.
Check in itself was smooth but there was only one desk operating at the time, so we waited around five minutes before being assisted. Once it was our turn the process was quick and efficient. The staff were friendly. The front desk agent informed us that we had been upgraded to a city view room, which was appreciated.
The check-in area also had a small sop which sold 1 Hotel Copenhagen merchandise and Bamford products.
Room – City King
The rooms at 1 Hotel Copenhagen incorporate many of the brand’s signature design elements with a strong focus on sustainability and natural materials. Although we had been upgraded, the room was fairly tight.
A narrow entrance corridor included a small wardrobe and a minibar. The minibar was well stocked with a selection of alcoholic drinks, nuts and some rather fancy chocolates.
The bedroom area felt cosy and fresh plants in the room added to the natural aesthetic and ‘homely’ feel to the room. The room also featured electronic blinds that made it quite easy to control the lighting throughout the day.
There was a room-length sofa along the window. The view itself was fairly modest. Most of it looked directly onto the roof of building across the street, although if you looked carefully you could just about spot part of a cathedral in the distance.
The bathroom was spacious and well-stocked with toiletries from Bamford, an up and coming brand from England. One feature that stood out was the fresh drinking water faucet integrated into the bathroom sink. It felt like a clever and environmentally conscious alternative to bottled water. I’ve not come across that previously.
That said, the sustainability messaging is very prominent throughout the room and sometimes felt slightly overemphasised. Sure, I do appreciate their efforts but I’m there to enjoy my stay and not specifically with an objective to save the world…
Breakfast
Breakfast was included in our stay but during our short stay, we didn’t have breakfast at the hotel. What we were most excited about was trying out the lovely boutique cafes and bakeries in Copenhagen of which there are plenty. For the sake of this review, I did nip in to see how it looked. It was a standard buffet spread with a large variety (by European standards) and plenty of pastry options. If I didn’t have an objective of trying local bakeries, I would’ve been satisfied with the offerings here.
Hotel Amenities
At the time of our stay the Bamford Spa had not yet opened and is expected to launch later this year. This was a bit of a disappointment as a proper spa facility would likely elevate the overall experience significantly. There is also no pool on site, which further limits the wellness offering.
The gym itself is fairly simple with a few treadmills and some free weights. It is perfectly adequate for a short stay but nothing particularly extensive. The hotel does run a number of wellness activities such as pilates and other fitness classes, which is a nice option for guests who want to stay active while travelling.
Bicycles are available for hire from the hotel, though they are not complimentary. This felt slightly surprising given that cycling is such an integral part of everyday life in Copenhagen. One area that felt like penny pinching. Probably that’s why there was a row of 30+ cycles, unused, awaiting a rider.
Without the spa and a pool, the hotel currently lacks the kind of standout amenities that often define a true luxury hotel stay.
Paere Bar
I must say though that the main bar is fantastic. Lovely drinks, a decent variety in the menu and excellent vibes for evening cocktails. The crowd was certainly on the younger side and included hotel guests as well as locals. On Saturday evenings, they host a live DJ which added to the atmosphere.
Service
Service throughout the stay was friendly and relaxed. The concierge staff near the entrance were welcoming whenever we passed by. The front desk team also accommodated a late check out for us until 3pm, which was greatly appreciated and made the final day much more comfortable. They also recommended a few nearby pizza spots which turned out to be solid suggestions.
One thing that was missing was a turndown service in the evening, which is something you might normally expect from a hotel positioning itself at the higher end of the market.
Service at the bar was one of the highlights of the stay. The bartender was extremely friendly and took the time to recommend a few cocktail options based on our preferences. The main bar host also checked in on us a few times during the evening, which added a nice personal touch.
Summary
Overall, the rooms were comfortable, the location was excellent and the service was consistently friendly. I would return for its excellent location and friendly service. Overall it is good value for money I’d say, further helped with the lack of strong competition in this city.
However the hotel did not leave a particularly strong or memorable impression. The missing spa and lack of a pool mean that some of the amenities you might expect from a luxury hotel are not yet in place.
For now though, this feels closer to a 4.5 star hotel rather than a full five star experience. Once the spa opens, that assessment may very well change.
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