By focusing on aesthetic expressions, Stilleben uses interiors to tell new stories that reflect the time we live in. ‘Stilleben’ got its name from a German art concept referring to a work of art depicting mostly inanimate objects. The name is closely related to the Stilleben signature – to handpick products and mix them in a personal way. Today Stilleben runs an online shop and a store located in the heart of Copenhagen, offering a carefully curated mix of handmade ceramics and glassware, one of a kind-products, textiles, furniture, jewelry and prints – all handpicked by its two founders. This selection is displayed among Stilleben’s own designs – including Stilleben Tableware, Stilleben Print Collection and Stilleben Accessories.

2. PAUSTIAN

Paustian has represented some of the most celebrated and renowned furniture designs for homes and organizations. It all started on Vesterbrogade in Copenhagen, where Ole Paustian founded his furniture store in 1964. With various collaborations with some of the world’s best designers and furniture manufacturers, Paustrian is now the exclusive distributor of Vitra, Artek and Viccarbe products in Denmark. Their furniture collection is designed and created by Danish architects and designers, representing their strong eye for design and quality. With a wide range of leading brands and both Danish and international designers,  you’ll feel inspired to bring a piece of Paustian into your home.

3. RUE VERTE

Located in the busy streets of Copenhagen, Rue Verte is housed in a beautiful building that’s more than 250 years old. The multi-level store looks like a stunning apartment and even has a kitchen, dining room, living room and bedroom. All rooms are carefully selected with high-end furniture, lighting, unique objects, fine arts as well as an expansive portfolio of Rue Verte’s own interior designs and brand collaborations. With a great combination of using fine materials andhjsuperb craftmanship, Rue Verte is known for its signature style with an uncompromising approach that’s independent of seasonal trends.

FASHION & LIFESTYLE STORES

Scandinavian women are known for their chic and classic wardrobes that are loved by women all over the world. Below we round up 3 of our favorite Danish fashion stores in Copenhagen. Happy shopping!

4. STORM

While internationally renowned as one of the leading and most trendsetting lifestyle and fashion stores in Europe, Storm is a lot more than a retail space. With owner Rasmus Storm acting as driver and mediator, it is a conceptual platform where commercial and artistic expressions meet, cultural meanings are exchanged, and new concepts evolve. Beyond clothing, they also carry a large selection of beauty products, music, magazines, books as well as exciting and inspirational in-store exhibitions. It’s a must see!

5. WOOD WOOD

We’re bringing the ’90s back. Wood Wood is a sub-culturally founded lifestyle brand, which evolved around graffiti and ’90s street culture. Since its opening, the collections have reflected an influence from sports, art, music and various eras of youth culture. Wood Wood balances expression and function, and it best describes as contemporary streetwear combined with a strong sports component.

6. ACNE STUDIOS

Acne Studios is a Stockholm-based fashion house with a multidisciplinary approach. Through founder and creative director Jonny Johansson’s interest in photography, art, architecture and contemporary culture, an alternative path has been found, turning Acne Studios into a well-respected creator of ready-to-wear clothing, magazines, furniture, books and exhibitions. The collections are defined by Jonny creating a unique design and attention to detail, with an emphasis on tailoring and an eclectic use of materials and custom-developed fabrics. The collections cover men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories and denim.

COFFEE & CAFES

Copenhagen runs on coffee! And scattered across town are some of the very best brewers in the world, serving up top notch specialty coffee for the people of Copenhagen. Coffee bars are cozy spaces to meet your friends, work away from the office or to just get away for a bit with a quick caffeine boost. To make the hunt for the best ‘cup of joe’ a little easier, we have listed our go-to cafes below.

7. THE NOMAD & THE BEAN

The Nomad & The Bean is a gourmet espresso bar, serving 100% Arabica coffee imported directly from the coffee plantation in Shan State, Myanmar (Burma). Getting as local as you can, their coffee is roasted right on the spot! The Nomad & The Bean is well known by neighbors, which also makes it a great place for visitors and locals to come together. Fun fact: they are the first and only seller of Burmese coffee in Scandinavia.

8.  SONNY

Danish couple Sara and David Andersen have grown their coffee bar Sonny into a friendly neighborhood favorite, where regulars gather for coffees, salads and rugbrød sandwiches—all while enjoying the sunshine in the café’s cozy backyard. Sonny is a day-time place where you can enjoy home-made breakfast, lunch and freshly baked cakes along with specialty coffee & tea and cold beverages. If you are visiting Copenhagen, add Sonny to your list. You won’t be disappointed!

9. COFFEE COLLECTIVE

From their slick, modern, yet Scandinavian “hyggelige” coffee shop, The Coffee Collective wants to give you an exceptional coffee experience. They make coffee with care, by focusing on the entire process of the coffee making. The Coffee Collective is a micro-roastery with a handful of coffee shops around Copenhagen, including a coffee school. In order to achieve their goal of making the best coffee, they cooperate with farmers to develop a sustainable production model and to improve the quality of the coffee. Their downtown coffee shop offers seven different taps with cold coffee, coffee kombucha, coffee beers and coffee cocktails in addition to their range of espresso and filter brews. The historic location captures the atmosphere of the old brown bodega and is a meeting place for everyone.

RESTAURANTS

Copenhagen may be the birthplace of New Nordic cuisine – the culinary movement that champions hyperlocal, seasonal ingredients – but its foodie credentials go well beyond fermenting, foraging and farm-to-table cooking. Here you’ll encounter one of the world’s most exciting and diverse food scenes, and here are some of our favorite restaurants in Copenhagen that help capture this.

10. RESTAURANT ALOUETTE

What might be the most beautiful restaurant in the city is also the one that’s the hardest to find. Michelin-decorated Alouette hides in a raw neighborhood on Islands Brygge and serves contemporary and refined tastes with the best products of the season. Restaurant Alouette has a Michelin star and is run by American chef, Nick Curtin, together with his wife, Camilla Hansen. Along with chef Andrew Valenzuela, the two draw inspiration from America’s many cuisines as well as from their time together in some of Copenhagen’s best restaurants, including Noma. The quality of ingredients and the relationship to the suppliers is what matters the most at Alouette. There’s a fixed 5-course menu that constantly changes with the seasons. Alouette hides within the same courtyard as a bunch of music studios and the workshop of Københavns Møbelsnedkeri. Both worlds are highly visible in the design of the restaurant, which Københavns Møbelsnedkeri designed from scratch. Everything from the floors, to the kitchen, to the tables are designed by them, which creates a sense of calmness throughout the space.

11. PLUTO

Ready to experience rustic and unfussy flavours in a buzzy atmosphere inspired by the metropolitan city of New York? Restaurant Pluto offers exactly this accompanied by juicy wines, cocktails and good music. Pluto has been serving happy times for almost ten years and is famous for serving its dishes in family style. The interior is raw with concrete pillars, wooden tables and a long metal bar. You can either eat at the long metal bar and socialize with other guests, or you can enjoy your meal at one of the wooden tables in the restaurant. Enjoy a glass of wine, a plate of snacks, their signature 10-serving “family style” menu, or your own selection of à la carte dishes, it’s up to you!

12. ADMIRALGADE 26

‘If I have no other virtues, then at least I have the ability to keep experiencing everything anew’. That’s the mantra when you walk through the door of Admiralgade 26. The blackboards that display the menus act as a conversation starter, setting the tone for your evening and guiding your mood through the culinary experience that you want to have. Located on a more quiet street, Admiralgade 26 wants to pamper, surprise and delight you with spontaneous menus that reflect the best of what Denmark has to offer that day.

13. SANCHEZ

We love mixing cultures. Located on the Vesterbro street Istedgade, Sanchez offers delicious Mexican food based on combining Danish and Mexican ingredients. The chef behind Sanchez is the former pastry chef at Noma, Rosio Sanchez. In 2015, she opened her taco shop Hija de Sanchez in Torvehallerne and in 2017, Restaurant Sanchez followed. The restaurant is modeled after a traditional Mexican cantina, and has a rotational menu. You can enjoy your food with both tasty cocktails, Mexican craft beers, non-alcoholic aguas frescas and natural wines.

14. FISKEBAREN

At Fiskebaren, it’s all about fish, seafood and good wine. The atmosphere is informal and the interior is quite rough (in a good way). There are still traces of the old meat halls and you detect a rather deliberate use of second hand décor throughout its spaces. You can choose to eat at the bar, relax in the sofas, or dine at rustic tables. If it’s all clear skies, you can eat outside overlooking a beautiful sunset with just a few nibbles and a glass of wine, a main course, or the full treatment – the choice is yours. Apart from an interesting wine list, the bar also offers a diverse drinks menu.

15. MANGIA

Mangia inspires an informal, no frills setting. All the food is made from scratch from chefs who aim to master the creations of Italian delicacies. The chefs originate from Piedmont, Puglia, and Marche, and hand-make their spaghetti in accordance with their own traditions: following the classic Italian style of dining with antipasti, primi, secondi and dolci. The wine selection is also from the hometowns of the chefs, and are definitely worth the hype.

BARS & NIGHTLIFE

Traditionally, Danes have been famous for beer, but in recent years, a cocktail revolution has put Copenhagen on the map as a top-tier cocktail destination. The chefs’ experimentation with flavors and combinations have expanded from restaurants into bars. And it doesn’t stop there… Copenhagen has also has a large selection of wine bars throughout the city. Enjoy your cocktail of choice or kick back with a glass of wine in one of our favorite Copenhagen bars!

16. TOTO VIN & SPISEBAR

At Toto, the spotlight is on the wine. The wine list embraces most parts of the world and consists of both classic conventional wines from the famous regions, as well as organic, biodynamic and natural wines from smaller areas. Each evening, Toto always has a minimum of 15 wines you can enjoy by the glass. That way you can come by for just a single glass with a bite of cheese and charcuterie, or you can choose to dine on good food and wine all night long.

17. DEN VANDRETTE

Den Vandrette is a wine bar located in the inner city right by Copenhagen Harbour. The one thing its wine all has in common? They have personality! The men behind Den Vandrette are merchants Rosforth & Rosforth who supply wine to some of the best restaurants in Copenhagen. The spaces are simple and rustic, decorated with plastered brick walls, comfortable lighting and oak furniture. All the wines they serve as all the wines are biodynamic and natural and to accompany your wine, you can enjoy charcuterie, cheeses, bread and a hot dish based on the best ingredients.

18. FALERNUM

Falernum is a wine bar in the hip Vesterbro area of Copenhagen where you can enjoy tapas, breakfast and lunch. Falernum is not just a wine bar, but it’s a place where you can eat your breakfast or quickly grab a salad or sandwich for lunch. In the evening, the place turns into one of our favorite wine bars with tapas and other delicacies to enjoy after a day’s hard work.

19. THE UNION LOCAL

The Union Kitchen is located in Store Strandstræde street near Nyhavn in Copenhagen. They’re known for their breakfast, English “balls” and tasteful cocktails in classic surroundings. English “balls” are the focal point at The Union Kitchen – tasty meat balls – served in every possible size and with various fillings, sauces and sides. On top of this, the breakfast platters as well as salads are a big hit, and if you find yourself at the restaurant after a rough night out, try the Bartender’s Hangover Burger with a fried egg and a shot of Fernet Branca on the side. You can order delicious cocktails on tap or get the surprise of the day, which changes daily and is served in a miniature shaker.

ONE-STOP SHOP

20. ZOKU COPENHAGEN

We may be biased… but you’ll definitely feel right at home at Zoku Copenhagen. Bringing together both travelers and locals, we provide a home base for people who want to live and work in the city anywhere from a few days to a few months. Whether you want to live in our Lofts, grab a bite to eat in our Living Kitchen restaurant, enjoy a drink from our Kindred Spirits bar, or spend a day working in our coworking spaces and meeting rooms, our hybrid hotel have got you covered.

Want to see for yourself? You can be one of the first to visit us and grab a map of our ‘Copenhagen Neighbors Guide’ on May 10th.

Think you have what it takes to be featured in our Copenhagen Neighbors Guide? Send us an email at marketing@livezoku.com for a chance to collaborate!