A wee trip to Copenhagen, Part 1
I spent a short but very sweet weekend in Copenhagen last year, which is an exceptionally pretty town with lots of treats for design obsessives. Everything you've heard about it being expensive is sadly very true (no cheapie Georg Jensen/ By Malene Birger/ Arne Jacobsen for me!), but I would have loved to have spent a wee bit longer and explored further afield. Still, I discovered quite a few gems on my travels. Here are some of my highlights...
Crème de la Crème a la Edgar
This utterly gorgeous boutique may be for (very fashionable) babies and children, but that didn't stop me from sighing over the incredible styling as well as the eclectic collection of toys and gifts.
Featuring an excellent (though very pricey) range of own-brand children’s knitwear alongside a selection of niche fashion labels, it’s definitely worth a peep - even if it’s just to catch a glimpse of the vintage wallpaper, floral-print cushions and brilliant ‘70s-style string art.
Crème de la Crème a la Edgar
Kompagnistræde 8
1208 Copenhagen
Tel. +45 3336 1818
I was just about giddy with excitement when we booked lunch at this double-Michelin-starred restaurant, which is renowned for its Nordic cuisine and innovative use of local produce.
It's been billed as the third best restaurant in the world (behind elBulli and The Fat Duck), but nothing quite prepared me for just how exquisite it all was, from the animal pelts draped over the chairs to the series of ingenious amuse-bouches designed to tickle the senses. A single egg arrived on a bed of steaming straw, followed by crispy pork sprinkled with the prettiest edible flowers and a snowy dusting of powder. Then there was the potted vegetable, which you were invited to pluck from the edible 'soil' in a teracotta pot. It was all rather theatrical and extraordinary.
I had heard that the three-course lunch menu was quite reasonable at around £30 per head (considering its Michelin-starred status and all), but the wine list was unexpectedly astronomical, with prices starting at around £70 a bottle (the average price was double that). I know this is where restaurants really make their profit, but I was quite scared my dear old dad was going to have a heart attack. Should have stuck to the water. Still, it was an amazing and unforgettable experience.
Noma
Strandgade 93
1401 Copenhagen
Tel. +45 3296 3297
A treasure trove of the finest vintage clothes, FN.92 stocks an
impressive collection of frocks dating from the 1850s, as well as
costume jewellery, headpieces and bags.I particularly loved the collection of cotton ‘50s day frocks lined up outside the store. But just one thing: mind the (seemingly innocuous) steps on the way down to the shop (don’t ask).
FN.92 Vintage
Larsbjornstræde 6
1454 Copenhagen
Tel. +45 3313 2050
Part 2 coming tomorrow.
