Way back in January I left my wonderful family to pop over to Denmark and visit some of my besties in Copenhagen. We used to all live in Brighton, and eventually parted ways, one going to Copenhagen, one to New Zealand and me to Portugal. It had been a over a year since we’d seen each other, and to make up for lost time we spent the weekend eating, drinking and still riding the Christmas wagon, in a continuous state of being merry.
It was wonderful to be schedule-free, nap-free, and able to just roam the streets sans-buggy, eat when you feel like and sleep without being woken up at night. On the first day my Danish friend and her boyfriend took us to one of the coolest food markets I’ve ever laid my hungry eyes on: Torvehallerne. We spent the majority of that morning roaming through the market and having small bites of the delicacies on show.
Although it wasn’t snowing there was still a very strong chill in the air, so after a mandatory visit to see the Little Mermaid, we went back for a lovely afternoon tea with pastries, knowing that we’d probably give dinner a miss, since the plan was to go for a sophisticated evening of cocktails at Ruby.
Ruby really sets the bar high when it comes to chic urban cocktail bars, with people hanging round the bar to watch the barman’s mixology skills (think Tom Cruise’s Cocktail, minus the drama). The décor is everything you could expect and more: luxe & dark wallpapered walls, moodily lit by modern pendant lights and comfy leather seating.
We had a brilliant evening, and what was supposed to be a few drinks before dinner turned out to be a full-blown night of dancing and drinking Diplomats. I am afraid none of my phone pictures came out because of the ‘mood lighting’, but if you’re still not convinced, give it a google or have a look at their awesome website as it’s well worth a visit.
The next day we only had a morning, so just had a quick drive through the city and a little bit of the outskirts. I’m a little too curious, so am always observant of people’s homes, and loved to see how every house had this special Scandinavian warmth to it – generally white décor with calm lighting, modern pieces and large windows, families gathering around in kitchens going around their daily business. Just how I had pictured it.
This stall sold anything and everything that is liquid, from vinegar to liqueurs and olive oil. A real beauty.
The Hans Christian Andersen Little Mermaid!
Wonderful Copenhagen and its beautiful people make it a warm & welcoming city, and it’s easy to see why Denmark is said to be the happiest country on earth.
Have you ever been to Copenhagen? What were your thoughts?
