Shopping in Denmark
-
A
Normann
This recently opened, 1700-sq-metre clothing and interior design store is housed in a vast, whitewashed room – formerly a cinema – on Østerbro’s main shopping street. As well as stocking its own award-winning brand of homewares (including the famous rubber washing-up bowls, collapsible ‘Funnel’ strainer, stemless cognac glasses and outlandish cardboard lampshades), Normann also stocks vintage-style sportswear, furniture and Alessi homewares, and clothing by Joseph and Resteröds. Think of it as a more cutting-edge Illums Bolighus.
reviewed
-
B
Royal Copenhagen Porcelain
This is the main showroom for the historic Royal Danish Porcelain, one of the most popular souvenirs to take from a visit to the city since Nelson’s time (legend has it he took some home after bombarding the city in 1807). Its ‘blue fluted’ pattern is famous around the world, as is its Flora Danica dinner service, costing upwards of a million kroner for a full set. The shop was recently refurbished and is definitely worth visiting even if you have no intention of buying anything.
reviewed
-
C
Bülow
Stine Bülow is one of the city's best independent contemporary jewellers. Her studio-shop is tucked away behind Højbro Plads and is thus easy to miss if you don't know it's there. Her delicate, original earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets skilfully blend metals and precious stones, abstract and often with a rough-edge finish to surprisingly sophisticated effect.
reviewed
-
D
Day Birger Mikkelsen
The magnificent new flagship store for this leading Danish brand is right in the heart of the mainstream fashion district. Birger’s clothes are elegant, classic and sexy, with just a hint of hippy (and that’s just the menswear). Designer Malene Birger’s own shop (she is no longer part of the Day group) is just around the corner on Antonigade 10 and has the same opening hours.
reviewed
-
E
Produce Market
Copenhagen's main produce market is at Israels Plads, a few minutes' walk west of Nørreport station. Stalls are set up until 17:00 Monday to Friday and until 14:00 on Saturday, when it doubles as a flea market. As we went to press, there were ongoing plans to move the Israels Plads market underground, which would certainly make it more pleasant to shop there in winter.
reviewed
-
F
Sweater Market
Scandinavian sweaters are typically made of heavy wool, in rich blue or black colours accented with white and sporting snowflake-like designs. They are very distinctive, and ideally suited for warding off the chill in cold climates. A wide variety, including popular Norwegian styles, can be found at the Sweater Market, plus a range of other winter woollies.
reviewed
-
G
Henrik Vibskov
Not just a drummer and prolific artist (past exhibition venues include New York’s PS1 MOMA), Danish enfant terrible Henrik Vibskov is pushing the fashion envelope, too. Stock up on his bold, multiprinted creations for progressive guys and girls, as well as other fashion-forward labels such as Surface to Air, Comme des Garçons and Walter Van Beirendonck.
reviewed
-
H
Storm
Having recently graduated from the fashion ‘underground’ on Elmegade, this Danish fashion house now has a large corner store in the heartland of the city’s fashion establishment. Storm sells an impressive range of Danish and international labels including Visvim, Sixpack France and Anne Demeulemeester, as well as design books, CDs and fashion magazines.
reviewed
-
I
House of Amber
This rather touristy but extremely central establishment houses a small, suprisingly fascinating amber museum in its 17th-century quarters. House of Amber exports worldwide and sells some fantastic pieces of jewellery here. (Some pieces even have specks of prehistoric plant life in them.) Service and standards are high, and staff are multilingual.
reviewed
-
Ofelia Comforter Shop
One of the biggest treats of travelling in Denmark is getting intimate with those big fat soporific Danish comforters. If you have half a mind to take one home with you, like a stray kitten, this is the place to go ga-ga on light cotton duvets and chunky warm white goose down fillings. You'll even get a sports bag to carry it home.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
POP Cph
In 2005 Mikkel Kristensen and Kasper Henriksen began hosting parties for Copenhagen’s creative community. The parties continue to inspire the duo’s burgeoning fashion label: four collections per year combine dinner-party glamour with subversive detailing and hipster staples such as printed graphic tees.
reviewed
-
K
Designer Zoo
Denmark’s renowned design mojo finds its contemporary home at this supercool interior and fashion complex at the unfashionable end of Vesterbrogade. Here, fashion and furniture designers, as well as ceramic artists and glass blowers, work and sell their highly desirable, limited-edition creations.
reviewed
-
L
Fjeld & Fritid
If you're heading off the beaten track and need some gizmos to keep you company, this outdoor supplies store is one of the best in the game. If you're a walker, cyclist, climber, kayaker or just like camping you'll find a gadget for just about every situation and weather condition imaginable.
reviewed
-
M
Matas
Matas is a national chain of health and beauty stores (like Boots, but without the dispensing chemists), selling a wide range of vitamins, nonprescription medicines and beauty products. This one, in the heart of Strøget, stocks products by the Danish skin-care guru, Ole Henriksen.
reviewed
-
N
Georg Jensen
This is the world-famous silversmith’s flagship store, selling everything from tiepins and watches, to silverware and gold pieces. It can be fearfully expensive but popular gifts for less than 300kr include candleholders and its iconic elephant bottle openers and key rings.
reviewed
-
O
Hay House
Rolf Hay’s fabulous interior design store sells well-chosen examples of the latest Danish furniture as well as wonderful gifts, including Andreas Lintzer’s cuddly towelling toys, books and homewares. Look out for their ceramic versions of plastic vending machine cups.
reviewed
-
P
Stilleben
This tiny boutique is a favourite on the pedestrian street Strædet. Owners Ditte and Jelena are graduates of the Danish Design School’s ceramic and glass course, and stock a contemporary and stunningly beautiful range of ceramic and glass from young, local designers.
reviewed
-
Q
Frydendahl
Jan Frydendahl has been scouring the world for beautiful and quirky home design items for 30 years and his shop sells an eclectic and fascinating range of products; everything from chandeliers to watering cans spills out onto the pavement in front of his store.
reviewed
-
Form/Design Center
The exhibition space on the first floor of this historic warehouse just off Lilla Torg is dedicated to mainly Swedish design and architecture. There is a café and shop selling a range of cleverly designed clothing, textiles and homewares on the second floor.
reviewed
-
R
Sand
Stylish Sand sells Danish-designed men's and women's clothing with lots of subtle neutral tones punctuated by just-so bursts of next-season's hippest colours. Not exactly budget-priced, but beautifully made and built to last from quality, durable fabrics.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
S
Hoff
Ingrid Hoff selects only the best Danish contemporary art jewellery for her showroom. Though her designers mix gold and silver with acrylic and nylon, this is not just of-the-moment fashion jewellery but one-off and limited run pieces to last a lifetime.
reviewed
-
T
Magasin du Nord
The best thing about this slightly old-fashioned but impressive department store – the oldest in Scandinavia, in fact – is its gourmet food hall in the basement. This is also where you will find the city’s best range of international magazines.
reviewed
-
U
Bruuns Bazaar
Bruuns Bazaar is now an internationally recognised fashion label selling archetypal, contemporary Scandinavian style around the world. This is where the men’s and women’s Bruuns Bazaar stores began – they also stock other well-known brands.
reviewed
-
V
Galerie Asbæk
Martin Asbæk has been at the centre of Copenhagen’s contemporary art establishment for over 30 years and represents top local artists as well as some major names from overseas. He also sells slightly more affordable books and posters.
reviewed
-
W
Kendt
Designer Kendt has lured everyone from Danish fashionistas to American hotel heiresses with his light, girly, vivid cocktail frocks (think chiffon and silk) and more casual threads. Not cheap, but these are limited runs, darling.
reviewed