You know your Egg chair from your S chair, but have more 'cool' than 'kroner'. The bad news: 'Copenhagen' and 'cheap' don't usually share the same sentence. On these streets, a sexed-up salad and juice can easily set you back US$25. The good news: with a little bit of know-how, you can have a chic day in CPH without selling your Jimmy Choos. Here's how:
To revamp the wardrobe, head to Frk Lilla (Frederiksborggade 41), the place for pre-loved, cut-price women's threads, shoes and accessories. Expect anything from Marlene Birger cocktail frocks to Miu Miu heels and Marc Jabobs shades, often at 50% off.
If it's Saturday, hunt for bargain-priced Danish design pieces (think Stelton water jug for US$8.50) at Frederiksberg Flea Market (Frederiksberg Town Hall carpark, cnr Smallegade & Falkoner Allé). On from 6.30am to 3pm, mid-April to late October, head in before 9am for the best finds.
Shopped out and famished, refuel at the gourmet hotdog vendor next to Andersen Bakery (Bernstorffsgade 5). Order the prized Grand Danois (DKK50), made with organic pork sausage, Bornholm mustard, and a Chanterelle sauce. It's filling and downright fabulous. Mental note: book a dinner table at Damindra (Holbergsgade 26). Quite possibly the best mod-Jap this side of Mt Fuji, it's gourmet nosh without the Noma price tag.
Spend the afternoon high on art. Many of the city's cultural hotspots are free at least one day a week, including Thorvaldsens Museum (Bertel Thorvalsens Plads 2; www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk) on Wednesdays and Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (Dantes Plads 7; www.glyptoteket.dk) on Sundays. On any given day, don't miss national gallery Statens Museum for Kunst (Sølvgade; www.smk.dk) and Islamic art heavyweight Davids Samling (Kronprinsessegade 30; www.davidmus.dk).
With a few extra kroner to spare, indulge in a post-dinner cocktail at The Union Bar (Store Strandstræde 19). Close to Damindra and hidden behind an unmarked black door (ring the buzzer), this speakeasy-inspired bar mixes some of the city's smoothest liquids.
Done, dusted and still in the black, retire to hip budget hotel Wakeup Copenhagen (Carsten Niebuhrs Gade 11; singe/double from DKK400/500). A sleek mix of designer Danish furniture and small, space-age rooms, it's the perfect finale to a day of kroner-conscious cool.
Cristian Bonetto has just finished researching the Copenhagen Encounterand Scandinavian Europeguides.
