Elegant yet inclusive and relaxed boutique hotel in downtown Copenhagen

Hotel Sanders / Copenhagen / Denmark

I often think about what would be the perfect urban boutique hotel? I have stayed at a couple of such hotels over the years, not many but a couple, and I have one more to add to that exclusive short list; Hotel Sanders in Copenhagen.

This 54-key hotel is located in a beautiful building dating back to 1869, on a quiet side street sandwiched between Kungens Nytorv and Nyhavn. It almost doesn’t get more central than this.

Sanders was created and is also owned by one of Denmark’s most famous ballet dancers, Alexander Kølpin. When he decided it was time to retire from the world of dance in 2015 he decided to fully focus on the family hospitality business. In January of 2016 work began on transforming the former Hotel Opera into a unique boutique hotel. In order to do that, he decided to hire London design studio, Lind + Almond to create the interior. In November of 2017 the work was complete and Hotel Sanders opened its doors.

The look and feel of this hotel is truly unique. It is elegant, classy but at the same time relaxed and welcoming. It feels vintage but at the same time contemporary. It feels international but at the same time so completely local and typical Danish. The combination of all these different elements is really difficult to merge and to balance.

The design is dark and sombre combining elements from an upscale British gentleman’s club with those of a French bistro. There are colonial features next to classic Danish mid-century design. I know! It all sounds like a totally bonkers combination. This discombobulated mix shouldn’t work but it really does and it is what makes this hotel so unique.

And when you combine the location, the size and the truly unique design and then throw in some world-class level service from the attentive staff working here, you might understand why I rate this as a (more or less) perfect urban boutique hotel.

The hotel is situated in this beautiful building dating back to 1869, on a quiet side street just off Kungens Nytorv, in the centre of town.

The lobby area feels both cozy and elegant.

I love this wall paper which I found on my way to the bathroom.

…except for my room which was bright and warm.

Right next to the hotel you’ll find tourist magnet Nyhavn. I was here in the deepest, darkest Winter so had Nyhavn all to myself.

if you need a coffee fix when in town, Coffee Collective is a great option. I especially like the one in Torvehallerna, an indoor food market close to Nørreport.

If you want to eat something typical Danish but in a more contemporary environment, you should try the smørrebrød at Fleisch in Kødbyen, the meatpacking district.

We ended the day with a stiff Negroni in the hotel cocktail bar. A perfect way to end a perfect Copenhagen day.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…are coming to Copenhagen and you are looking to find a cozy boutique hotel for a romantic getaway. If you like affable service, somber design with a hint of elegance you are going to love Sanders.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is the perfect balance between cozy and elegant. The design is inviting but still classy. This is a fine line to walk where the atmosphere feels inclusive and not snobby. To pull something like this off is a real achievement.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is to take advantage of the skilled and knowledgeable staff at the hotel. They really want to make sure you leave loving this city as much as they do.

If you like this hotel you might also like:

Redchurch Townhouse / London, UK

Hotel August / Antwerp, Belgium

Hotel Rochechouart / Paris, France

Ett Hem & Ett Hem / Stockholm, Sweden