Copenhagen Plaza Hotel

Visually anchored in an age gone by, the Plaza still exudes the finesse of its original purpose -- a residence for the guests of King Frederik VIII. Judging by the likes of David Bowie and Mick Jagger gracing its Wall Of Fame plaque, the Plaza clearly hasn't given up on its royalty-gracing purposes. It occupies a traditionally Scandinavian white building with picturesque black balconies, and overlooks a bustling intersection of offices, bakeries, and quaint coffee shops. The interior design is all about traditional elegance, from the lobby's plush burgundy carpets and oak-paneled walls to the popular Library Bar's studded leather Chesterfield furniture, plaid carpeting, and dim-lit reading lamps. This vibe continues throughout, making guests feel like they've stumbled into an old gentlemen's club. It might err on the stuffy side and there's some visible wear and tear, but the handsome aesthetic is certainly a pro.

Overlooking Copenhagen's Central Station and a bustling intersection of cars and traditional bicycles, the Plaza's location is about as good as it gets in this city. The hotel borders the trendy Vesterbro district, filled with eclectic boutiques and trendy restaurants, plus it's a quick two-minute walk to the happening Vesterbrograde shopping street and less than five minutes to the more upscale Stroget pedestrian area. The hotel sits above Baresso Coffee and is across the street from the renowned Andersen Bakery, known for its traditional pastries and epic hot dogs. Also opposite is Copenhagen Central Station, which is three stops away (14 minutes) from the airport, a total journey time of 14 minutes. The historic Tivoli Gardens amusement park is a two-minute walk, while Copenhagen City Hall is a further six minutes on foot. 

Leaving behind the dark-leather opulence of downstairs, carpeted rooms take on a lighter feel, with powder blues and soft whites, plaid bedspreads, and boudoir-style furnishings set against damask wallpaper. Some rooms are a bit tight on space, particular top-floor Single Rooms with slanted ceilings over the beds. These rooms also lose the period theme for contemporary pieces such as lucite chairs. Note that twin beds are pushed together to form doubles and due to some wear, a refurbishment is needed. Some guests have also complained of noise from the nearby trains and air-conditioning units.

All rooms come with flat-screen cable TVs, free Wi-Fi, tea- and coffee-making facilities, minibars, and work desks. There are also laptop-compatible safes, as well as quirky sets of dumbbells hung on the walls. Family rooms add sofa beds. Bathrooms in Singles are small but modern -- think black-and-white checked tiles and rainfall showerheads. Other rooms are mostly white, outfitted shower/tub combos, toiletries, hairdryers, and decent shelf storage.

Under a domed glass ceiling, anchored by mahogany pillars and surrounded by walls of leather-bound books, the well-known Library Bar is by far the Plaza's most impressive feature. The cozy space has dim-lit oil paintings, ruby-red and forest-green leather chairs, and a center piano for live jazz. It is closed on Sundays, though, as is The Plaza Grill, which serves up solid steaks for dinner. The buffet breakfast (fee) offers everything from fresh fruit, yogurt, and cheeses to meat, eggs, and traditional Danish Smorrebrod open sandwiches. A small fitness center and meeting spaces are also available.