There’s nowhere quite like Copenhagen at Christmas, especially when you stay somewhere just as memorable as the destination itself. 25hours Hotel Indre By opened this spring and it truly captures the magic of the Danish capital.
I’ve stayed at 25hours Hotels in Cologne and Hamburg, however each house is totally unique, so there was a lot to discover.
The hotel sprawls across a grand 19th century building which was once a porcelain factory, followed by a paper mill in the 1800s and later University of Copenhagen’s school of theology and law. References to the building’s heritage can be found throughout the hotel, as art and knowledge meet for a stylish sleepover.
Its Indre By (inner city) location couldn’t be any better, especially for Copenhagen first-timers, as it’s right in the middle of the action, between the historic Round Tower and the bustling Kobmagergade shopping street.
Designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the hotel is a wonderland of colour, echoing the rich palette that you will see on the streets of Copenhagen’s old town. Antique and vintage finds sit among bespoke pieces by Danish designers and makers, keeping the air miles to a minimum.
Arrival
Walking through the front door, we were immediately dazzled and overwhelmed by the size of the residence. Within moments we were at the centre of The Assembly Bar, a light-filled atrium lounge with exotic wall tapestries, comfy sofas and a fabulous island bar.
This inviting bar leads off to the reception and a warren of chilled out guest spaces, from the retro, neon glow of the Vinyl Room to the bijou, blood red Love Library.
In the middle of the lobby is a Harry Potter-esque whirlwind book sculpture and vintage typewriters (for writing love letters from a faraway land), inspired by the building’s paper mill history. There’s also the 25h things shop with a curated selection of local products and unusual finds – ideal for cool souvenirs.
Check-in was friendly and welcoming and we were swiftly navigating the myriad of brightly-coloured hallways to our room on the first floor.
The Room
The hotel boasts 243 rooms, ranging from the cosy Medium Single to the impressive Gigantic suite at 55-59sqm. Continuing the hotel theme, the room have two distinctive styles – ‘passion’ or ‘knowledge’. Judging by the curtains artfully illustrated with a tangle of naked bodies, our Medium room was clearly in the passion style!
The room was absolutely stunning and generously sized with high ceilings and large windows looking out to the shopping street below. Pale lemon and inky grey-blue hues cover the walls, with polished parquet floors and decorative red and white tiles around the open-plan bathroom area. The style of the room is maximalist and homely with a cork wall adorned with well-chosen artwork, plus vibrant local craft pieces, books and trinkets dotted around.
There is a comfy seating area with a large Smart TV, free wifi and best of all, a free minibar stocked with fritz-kola, mineral water, local craft beer and sweet and savoury snacks. There’s also a free FREITAG bag to use during your stay, which can also be bought on departure.
The king-size bed was extremely plush and comfortable with signature 25hours embroidered pillows and a furry owl friend for company.
The bathroom sink area may be open-plan but there’s plenty of privacy with a separate toilet and walk-in shower room with full-size STOP THE WATER eco-conscious bathroom products, fluffy towels and a powerful hairdryer.
NENI Kobenhavn
Those familiar with 25hours Hotels will know the joys of dining at NENI, Haya Molcho’s rapidly-growing Balagan-style restaurant brand. At NENI Kobenhavn, you can feast on sharing dishes with Mediterranean, Persian and Austrian influences, including home-made hummus, chargrilled aubergine, popcorn falafel, sabich, chicken shawarma, grilled pulpo and stone oven whole cooked fish.
It’s a spacious, colourful restaurant and is open for lunch and dinner everyday – perfect after a long day of travelling. For a stylish nightcap, there’s also the Boilerman Bar, a dimly-lit neighbourhood speakeasy in the basement.
Cafe Duse
After a day of exploring Copenhagen, there’s nothing better than warming up at Cafe Duse, the hotel’s cosy ground floor cafe from Italian pastry chef Melissa Forti. Named after the Italian actress Eleanora Giulia Amalia Duse, the cafe is the epitome of Italian elegance and has become a popular local spot for a teatime treat or aperitivo.
The counter is filled with Forti’s authentic Italian cakes such as torta di mele e Calvados, tiramisu and baba, as well as red velvet layer cake, cookies and brownies.
We sat next to the Christmas tree and watched the world go by over rich, velvety cioccolata calda and a selection of five delightful mignons. It was just magical!
Breakfast at NENI
In the morning, we headed down to NENI for a delicious breakfast and were sat at a cosy corner booth. The generous buffet is laden with creamy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and sausages, cured meats and Danish cheeses, freshly-baked bread, mini pastries and scrumptious lemon cake, yoghurt with dried fruits and seeds and a colourful array of raw veggies and olives with cream cheese, hummus and labneh.
There’s also a self-service drinks bar with freshly-squeezed orange or apple juice, a wide selection of artisan loose-leaf teas (my favourite 25hours signature) and strong filter coffee. You can also order a barista-made cappuccino or latte and indulge in some bubbles.
Copenhagen is best explored by bicycle, so it’s worth making use of the hotel’s partnership with Berlin-based Schindelhauer and renting a bike for the day. Getting around is made even easier with a tour map of the city’s hotspots, curated specially for 25hours.
If you have any energy left, there’s also a wellbeing area, including a fitness studio with technogym equipment, yoga mats and an outdoor sauna. In the summer, this space is set up for sunbathing with loungers and is conveniently on the same floor as the lovely secret garden.
25hours Hotel Indre By is an absolute gem, expertly weaving local charm with whimsical design and a sense of uncomplicated luxury. The warm, friendly staff go the extra mile to make guests feel at home and with so many facilities, you’ll want to spend as much time there as possible. It’s hard to pick a favourite 25hours hotel, but the Copenhagen house truly blew me away and I will definitely make it my go-to address when visiting Copenhagen.
For more information and booking, visit: www.25hours-hotels.com
Cherie City was a guest of 25hours Hotel Indre By
All photos by Cherie City
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