Image by David Brandt

One of the oft-overlooked museums in Copenhagen is the Designmuseum Danmark (Previously known as The Danish Museum of Art & Design). I think it is a shame as the museum illustrates both Danish and international industrial and functional design history.

Housed in an old 17th century hospital the museum has a large permanent collection of historic applied arts and crafts ranging from European and Asian textiles over Chinese ceramics to colonial furniture. But more importantly there is a permanent collection on 20th century Danish design. All the famous Danish designers (Arne Jacobsen, Poul Henningsen etc) are represented with drawings, models and furniture. This is my favorite collection and it makes a visit worthwhile if you are interested in Danish design.

There’s always a number of special exhibitions on display as well. The special exhibitions differ enormously in range and focus. Currently you can see a photography exhibition on Northern Women in Chanel by Peter Farago & Ingela Klemetz Farago alongside an exhibit called Phantom Limbs featuring: “elaborately-crafted architectural constructions whose materiality houses inbuilt physical and conceptual absences.”

In the museum is a Cafe (complete with Danish design furniture, of course) and a gift shop.

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Designmuseum Danmark | Art & culture | Entrance adults DKK 60.00
Bredgade 68 | Inner City | +4533185656
Tue – Sun 11:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Copenhagen

Image by The Library Bar

What do you see when you look at the picture illustrating this article? Is it a bar? is it a library? Well, hence the name, it’s The Library Bar. In the heart of the city, located right next to the Copenhagen’s Central Train Station and inside Plaza Hotel, this bar is a hideaway for those who want a great place for a chat, for a drink, for some snacks or relaxing after a busy day at work or after a busy day being a tourist!

“I would like it to be my own”. I heard this phrase from one of the bar’s customer that I chatted with and it got me thinking. It’s true. It’s a very cool bar, with such an inviting atmosphere, that you do wish it was your own! In a sense that you wished you had come up with the idea of such a place!

The moment you step inside The Library Bar, you have a smile in your face. Dim lights, jazz music in the background, books and encyclopedias everywhere, a beautiful grand piano, cozy and comfortable tables and chairs, and a nice staff ready to serve you a great drink! Those are definitely reasons to make me smile!

No wonder it was voted twice one of the best hotels bars in the world, by Forbes magazine. And it does feel this way! If I was visiting Copenhagen, I would surely find the time to visit this bar and find out what it’s all about!

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The Library bar | Art & culture, Bars | Glass of Cava DKK 60.00
Bernstorffsgade 4 | Inner City | +4533705732
Mon – Thu 16:00 – 00:00, Fri – Sat 16:00 – 01:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Copenhagen

Image by Mayra Lemos

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is an art museum of international stature in the centre of Copenhagen. It’s right next to Tivoli and it’s such an impressive building that you can’t miss it! The Glyptotek is not just another art museum, it is also architecture, ancient and modern art, beauty, culture and relaxing!

The Glyptotek houses over 10.000 works of art divided into two principal collections. One of them is works from the Mediterranean cradle and the other is of Danish and French art from the 19th and 20th centuries. And in addition to the permanent collection, the museum also mounts very special exhibitions. In recent years these have included “Whispers – works on paper by Ian McKeever”, for an example.

A stroll around the building is worth your time and like the Museum advertises, Glyptoteket is a place to be experienced. Amazing rooms, interesting surroundings, excellent art collections, a peaceful garden in the back and a very nice and informed staff, ready to help you with any requests you might need!

And another reason to visit the museum: their wonderful cafe, which is right under the dome, around the winter garden. The cafe is full of of surprises for those craving a nice cup of tea, wonderful pastries and/or some lunch!

It’s free entrance on Sundays, so you’ll probably find full house. But get past the people and enjoy a world of art, culture and pleasure!

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Ny Carlsberg Glyptoteket | Art & culture, Coffee & tea | Entrance (Sun Free) DKK 75
Dantes Plads 7 | Inner City | +4533418141
Tue – Sun 11:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Copenhagen

Image by Mayra Lemos

Zusammen is not just another cafe in Copenhagen. Is much more than that. It is music, events, food, atmosphere, poetry, conscience, kids, books, and fun! As you walk in, you see their red room, where they hold their music and alike events. There’s always something cool going on in this room. In the picture, for example, you see a show case of different Djs, that happened on a Saturday afternoon.

After the red room, you will come across the white room. It’s where they actually have the cafe and the kids corner. It’s just so nice! The clean, beautiful, bright room gives you peace of mind and you may actually enjoy the meal even more! I sure did!

They serve great food, even though there’s not so much to choose from. But the hole idea of the Cafe is worth the visit. They are located in the heart of Frederiksberg, very charming neighborhood of Copenhagen. So, location is a plus. Any surplus will go to Youth Red Cross Foundation. So, conscience is a plus. Their very nice kids corner is full of toys, books and more. So, kids are very welcome, another plus. Well, thumbs up for the hole concept of Zusammen!

Don’t forget to have a look at their web site for some of the events on the red room. You can easily combine food and great drinks with music, lounge, relaxing and fun. All in one place!

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Zusammen | Art & culture, Music, Restaurants (Cafe food) | Brunch buffet DKK 99.00
H.C. Ørstedsvej, 47 | Frederiksberg | +4522659161
Tue – Wed 11:00 – 22:00, Thu 11:00 – 23:00, Fri 11:00 – 01:00, Sat 10:00 – 01:00, Sun 10:00 – 16:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Copenhagen

Image by Elina Roivainen

Have you been shopping all day? Or walking around the city looking at sights? Are your feet screaming for a break and your mind graving for a moment off from the fuss on the streets? How about a break in the city’s book mecca?

In the very middle of the city you can find Hovedbiblioteket -The main library. Especially during the daytime this is an excellent place to go have a moment of quiet, afternoons might be a bit busier as people get off from work and the numerous students of Copenhagen roll in to study.

The recently renovated main library has lots of places to lounge with a good book: chairs, lean chairs, couches, you name it. They have a quite comprehensive selection of foreign books and newspapers, too, so there’s a read for everybody.

And if you wish to have a cup of coffee to accompany your break, head to the brand new coffee joint based on the ground floor called Democratic café, their coffee is totally out of this world.

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Hovedbiblioteket | Art & culture, Coffee & tea | Free
Krystalgade 15 | Inner City | +4533736060
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 19:00, Sat 10:00 – 16:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Copenhagen

Image by Elina Roivainen

This place’s name says it all – it serves as a place to exhibit new contemporary art and houses a nice restaurant and probably some of the city’s best weekend parties.  So said, they seem to offer it all to the hip and urban Copenhageners.

Karriere is situated in the up-and-coming area of Kødbyen in Vesterbro, just a few minutes’ walk from the main railway station. The art is included to the décor -for example, the latest, different kind of lights created by six different artists are in use to create this funky atmosphere. Even the bar is a work of art, with all the mirrors and lights, and they promise that the mirrors in the bathrooms show more than just the viewer.

As a bar and a restaurant they, as many other Copenhagen’s restaurants, try to have their ingredients as ecological as possible. They also make a big part of their juices, marmalades and such themselves. And as a place to party: always a great idea! On Fridays and Saturdays they have a live DJ playing and the atmosphere is guaranteed to be up in the roof. Even though it seems to be a trend to go out in this city after 23:00 or even later, it’s a good idea to be here in time to secure minimum time standing in the line to get in.

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Karriere | Art & culture, Bars, Restaurants (European) | Cocktail DKK 95
flæsketorvet 57-67 | Vesterbro | +4533215509
Thu – Sat 18:00 – 22:00 | Bar Fri – Sat until 04:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Copenhagen

Image by Elina Roivainen

Copenhagen is definitely a city of music – all kinds of music: whether it is classic, rock, pop, world music, rap, opera, you name it, Copenhagen has it. In my opinion one of the coolest spots for experiencing music can be found in the side streets of Amagerbrogade in Amager – Amager Bio.

For almost 15 years this old cinema has served as a scene for great concerts and events, and it really offers something for everyone. Even the big stars have found their way to Amager Bio. The spring 2012 includes such names as The Gym class heroes, Jason Derulo, Shelby Lynne and many more.

They also organize concert for kids and sometimes special arrangements in the “Musiktorvet” -the music market -outside in front of the building. Tickets can be booked beforehand via their homepage. Even though the place is quite big (500 seats and 1000 standing), at least in the concerts I’ve been the atmosphere has been very intimate and warm. Highly recommending this one for all music lovers!

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Amager Bio | Art & culture, Music, Festivals & events | Concert ticket DKK 240
Øresundsjev 6 | Amager | +4532860200
Depending on event

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Copenhagen

Image by Elina Roivainen

The thing about Copenhagen is it surprises me almost every day. I found this  surprise on a beautiful night after walking home from the Fisketorvet -cinema. This skinny,gray and simple biking/pedestrian bridge happens to be an exquisite “work of art” telling the Copenhageners and its visitors’ love stories.

On this bridge combining areas Islands Brygge and Kalvebod Brygge you will find hundreds of padlocks. The phenomenom behind is Love locks, also seen in other big cities of the world. The couples come and lock their padlocks (decorated with their names) to the wires of the bridge, then throw the keys to the water below as a sign of unbreakable love. 

Absolutely cute idea, and without a big effort, creates a beautiful story of romance and love in Copenhagen. Go see in the evening when its dark, the view from the bridge offers a lot to watch in the surroundings, too, with all the modern buildings being lit with pretty lights. An every romantic’s must-see -spot.

p.s. On the Kalvebod Brygge’s side, there is a very nice spot looking over the water  to sit and talk sweet with your “kæreste” f.ex. before going to see a film in Fisketorvet’s Cinemaxx

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Bryggebroen | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Brygge broen | Amager
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Copenhagen

Image by Massimo Fiorentino

It is my honor to write this article about perhaps the greatest venue of culture in this city, Jazzhus Montmartre.

This “jazzhus” (jazzhouse) has long, thick roots in the soil of Copenhagen. The club was originally opened in 1959, and during its existence, to the year 1995, hosted all the amazing jazz artists’ concerts from Webster Gordon and Stan Getz to Dizzy Gillespie. The club stayed on Store Regnegade till the year 1976 and on Nørregade till 1995. Since then the admirers of the late club have been eager to re-establish the club, and in 2010, their dreams came true when the original house of the first Jazzhus Montmartre became vacant again. With the strength of the volunteers and CEO Rune Bech, Jazzhus Montmartre is in its previous glory, hosting as magnificent concerts as in its past.

Concerts are amazing, the small, intimate club’s feeling intense and the food and drinks offered by their restaurant: mouth-watering! The restaurant even got five stars from Politiken, one of Denmarks most appreciated newspaper. Unfortunately one cannot dine at Montmartre every day, just the concert nights, and usually it is wise to book the table in beforehand. Many people like to come for a dinner before the concert and continue the evening with the greatest jazz artists of today.

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Jazzhus Montmartre | Art & culture, Music, Restaurants | Two course menu DKK 199
Store Regnegade 19A | Inner City | +4533329666
Wed -Sat 17:30 – 23:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Copenhagen

Image by Mikkel Skjoldan Svenningsen

Copenhagen Jazzhouse is more than one thing. First of all it is, as you might have guessed, a jazz house. There are concerts almost every day. Mostly jazz, but also tango, soft rock and other genres are represented. Especially the tango concerts are fabulous, because people actually hit the floor and dance the tango. Both young and old, practiced and less practiced. Not just on the dance floor but in front of the bar and between the tables, people swing around like true tango alley cats.

Very different kinds of people come at the jazz house and the atmosphere is most often positive. People who come to the concerts are usually true lovers of music and it’s always easy to talk the ears off someone who shares your passion for some strange genre.

After the concerts, Copenhagen Jazzhouse turns into a swinging nightclub. Latin, acidjazz, soul, house and the likes of it is played and people of all ages come to sway their hips and flirt with each other. The bar serves good cocktails (definitely a decent cosmopolitan), excellent Danish beers and delicious wine. If you are not much into dancing, you can sit on the ground floor, where the music is not too loud. The ground floor has a bar of its own and conversations are easily made.

The nightclub opens after the concert and it is nice not having to bother with where on earth you are going to go afterwards.

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Copenhagen Jazzhouse | Art & culture, Bars, Music | Concert ticket DKK 80.00
Niels Hemmingsensgade 10 | Inner City | +4533154700
Concerts Sun – Thu 20:00, Fri – Sat 21:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Copenhagen