Review: 1 Hotel Copenhagen is a tranquil oasis in the heart of Denmark

If I had to describe how a stay at 1 Hotel Copenhagen feels like in two words, it would be tranquil peace. From the moment you enter the hotel to the second you step out, you feel nothing but a sense of calm – a level of zen I’ve only ever experienced at a holistic spa or by a majestic waterfall. Set right in the heart of the city, the hotel is designed to reflect Copenhagen’s deep-rooted relationship with nature, design, and climate-conscious living, offering a calm, tactile counterpoint to the city’s vibrant cultural life.

Throughout the hotel, natural materials, living greenery, and locally crafted details create an atmosphere that feels distinctly Danish: understated, warm, and intentional. A sweeping staircase adorned with plants leads you to the lobby – a giant oasis of calm and a nature-led sensory experience, with handcrafted Danish furnishings, sculptural lighting, and layered textures that reflect the organic beauty of the Nordic landscape. Lush greenery appears throughout – from trees rising in the atrium to terraces framed with vegetation to pocket gardens – creating an environment that is alive and distinctly of place.

Every aspect of the hotel is a nod to sustainability and eco-conscious living. The hotel’s outdoor terraces are designed as green sanctuaries filled with wildflowers and seasonal herbs like peppermint, marjoram, thyme, and lavender. A dramatic living wall brings a lush, biophilic element to the façade, offering a connection to nature while adding greenery to the cityscape. There is also an onsite bee hotel that plays an important role in the local ecosystems.When we get to our room, we are met with breathtaking views of the city, with a beautiful snowfall coating everything in a sheet of white. Inside, we are bathed in natural light, organic textures and locally inspired details with reclaimed wood, woven textiles, sustainably sourced bedding, and mineral-based paints. The bathroom continues the nature-led aesthetic with stone basins, rainfall showers, and leafy accents that evoke a forest retreat.

Copenhagen is a vibrant city with some incredible attractions like the Tivoli Gardens, the Round Tower, Rosenborg Castle, and the Botanical Gardens. So it is a true feat when your hotel stay experience is so incredible, that you don’t want to leave and explore your surroundings. Being at 1 Hotel Copenhagen makes you feel that way. It is not an exaggeration to say that during our entire stay, I felt a deep sense of peace and a true connection with my surroundings. You can feel tension leaving your body and the tranquil ambiance makes you feel completely at ease – and that is before you even make use of the hotel’s wellness experiences like full moon meditations, candlelight sound socials, a run club, jewellery workshops, yoga, and more.Adding to the hotel’s incredible list of amenities is its food and drinks offering, which, in my opinion, was second to none. At breakfast, 1 Hotel Copenhagen’s signature restaurant Fjora provides a huge buffet spread with just about any food item you can think of. From traditional Danish foods and pastries to pancakes, waffles, make-you-own-bagels, plant based dishes, an eggs and omelets station and more, I’d dare anyone to not go back for seconds, because it is impossible not to. Not to mention, the amazing selection of teas, coffees, cold pressed juices and cocktails are the perfect accompaniment to a mouthwatering breakfast.

Come nightfall, Fjora’s Nordic-inspired decor of wild herbs, edible flowers, and mushrooms transforms into a dimly lit, date-night hotspot complemented by its reclaimed brick flooring, mycelium-grown pendant lights and reclaimed timber millwork. During the weekend, your meal is soundtracked to a DJ spinning tracks to add a social spirit to the evening. Green Michelin-starred chef Chantelle Nicholson oversees the entire food and beverage, and is known for her commitment to seasonal, low-waste cooking. This is evident in the cuisine, which champions mindful luxury, with flavours and sustainability at the heart of it all.

The local sourdough bread with salted butter is a highlight, as well as the Nordic scallops and the sunchoke winter salad, whipped goats’ cheese, pickled pear. We followed this up with a slow-cooked Danish pork belly with nduja sauce and charred leek and a chicken schnitzel with horseradish cream and pickled red onion. Both were mouthwateringly delicious, and were perfectly complimented by the Danish potatoes we ordered as a side. We also sampled some specialty cocktails that rounded off our dining experience with a delightful flourish. 1 Hotel Copenhagen blends wellness, artistry, and immersive experiences to create a balanced stay that inspires creativity, mindfulness, and community. It is more than just a place to stay while in the city – it is a holistic wellness destination that invites you to travel more consciously, connect more deeply, and discover the beauty of Denmark’s capital through a new lens. It is also family-friendly, with engaging, nature-inspired activities designed to inspire young guests and nurture a lifelong connection to the environment. Not to mention, the hotel’s sustainability initiatives within its amenities as well as behind the scenes make it an even more compelling choice for anyone looking to travel more consciously.

My experience at 1 Hotel Copenhagen was nothing short of rejuvenating. The peace and calm I felt during my stay is something I’ll chase in all my future travels – that is until I’m back in Copenhagen, of course, because this is one hotel and destination I simply cannot get enough of. 

Images: Mikkel Vang

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