Canals, Coffee, and Colorful Buildings in Copenhagen
Copenhagen was my dream city, thanks to its cozy corners, pastel-hued buildings, and an assortment of delicious baked goods. I spent most mornings (sometimes afternoons) wandering around, discovering the many, many different home decor shops since the city is so walkable. My favorites were the pottery shops, including the beloved Studio Arhoj, where I perused aisles upon aisles of brightly colored vases, mugs, and planters. I have a *slight* obsession with homeware and wanted to buy everything in the shop, but practiced restraint.
Copenhagen fashion is just as chic, and the clothing stores didn’t disappoint. When I wasn’t looking at homeware, I spent time browsing shops such as Samsøe Samsøe, Arket, Ganni, and Acne Studios. Aside from the fact that everyone there is SO nice, they have impeccable style, and from my visits to the stores, I understand how. While I didn’t find anything that I felt my wardrobe needed, if I had an unlimited budget, there were so many things I would’ve been happy to give a new home to.
Not sure what it is, but Scandinavian countries have the best-baked goods of anywhere in the world. Suffice to say: I took full advantage. Around the corner from my hotel was one of the oldest bakeries in Copenhagen, called Sankt Peders Bageri. Grabbing a Cinnamon Snail (a.k.a cinnamon roll) from there was like my form of morning prayer. The bakery itself first opened in 1652 and *always* had a slight line, but it was worth waiting for.
Honestly, though, the real reason I went to Copenhagen was to dine at Noma, one of the world’s best restaurants. The experience was mindblowing. I mean, the thought behind every dish and how the concept of each dish was created from start to finish was incredible to witness. We visited Noma earlier in the day and got a behind-the-scenes look into the test kitchen and fermentation lab. The innovations coming out of the place are just something else and I left feeling inspired. Plus, the grounds are breathtaking with their lush greenery and abundance of different florals.
The Noma team works for three months on each menu, drawing inspiration from local flavors, unique ingredients, or the places they are in. Since we visited during the vegetable season, our entire 15-course menu was created entirely of vegetables. I tried dishes like grilled bamboo shoots, flower soup, and foraged berries and cream, to name a few. Each dish challenged my palette and encouraged me to try new textures, flavors, and ingredients. At the end of the day, it’s a meal I won’t forget.
Transparently, my trip to Copenhagen was quick. There are SO many things I still have to go back and see. However, I did adore Nyhavn (shown in the photo above). It’s Copenhagen’s famous waterfront district and although touristy, it was surreal to see it in person. The buildings reflected off of the canal, showing off the colored 17 and 18th-century townhouses. I visited around sunset and the yellow and orange hues in the sky made the entire experience dream-like.
I can’t wait to go back to explore more of Denmark and its surrounding countries. Until then, I have the memories of my first trip to Copenhagen.