NH Hotels: Two Excellent Options for Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a vibrant Scandinavian capital with centuries of history and should be on your cruise agenda if you are embarking or disembarking here. There are two well-located accommodation options you may wish to consider, both of which are part of NH Hotels & Resorts.

NH Collection Copenhagen: A Historic and Modern Juxtaposition

NH Collection Copenhagen is in the Christianshavn neighborhood, known for its canals and colorful heritage buildings. It is a few minutes’ walk from Christianshavn metro station, about 20 minutes from CPH International Airport, and about the same to the cruise terminal by car. Cross a canal, and you’ll be in the city center.

NH Collection Copenhagen sits on the banks of Copenhagen’s main canal, steps from the city center. Photo: Ming Tappin.

The building first opened in 1962 as the headquarters for Burmeister & Wain (B&W), then a leading Danish shipbuilder and one of Copenhagen’s largest employers. Between 2018 and 2021, it was extensively renovated, emerging in its present form as Minor Hotels‘ first Scandinavian property, with 394 rooms and suites, meeting spaces, a bar, restaurant, and a stunning rooftop lounge.

A Corner Premium Room offers expansive views over Copenhagen’s Christianshavn neighborhood. Photo: Ming Tappin.
The elegant lobby bar on the main floor sits beside the restaurant. Photo: Ming Tappin.

A competition was held to design art for the space, and the winner was Danish visual artist Anna Bak, whose three-piece installation graces the hotel’s entrance. Drawing on the building’s shipping history, Ms. Bak created Ever Mighty – Forever Transforming. The wooden fishbone-like structure represents the ship’s hull, the clock-like feature is the engine, and the hanging brass strips are the propellers. Ever Mighty was the last container ship built by B&W, and the installation appropriately pays homage to the building’s historic past and its modern transformation.

Danish visual artist Anna Bak’s “Ever Mighty – Forever Transforming” installation graces the entrance to NH Collection Copenhagen. Photo: Ming Tappin.
Anna Bak’s “Ever Mighty – Forever Transforming” installation reflects the building’s shipbuilding history through forms representing a hull, engine and propellers. Photo: Ming Tappin.

More art is found throughout the hotel, through Danish sculptor Julie Stavad’s marble handbags and suitcases placed along the hotel’s corridors. While it is logical for luggage to be at a hotel, perhaps one can also read into the notion that everyone’s lives come with a bit of baggage, and we take them with us everywhere?

One of Julie Stavad’s marble suitcase sculptures adds a playful travel reference to a corridor at NH Collection Copenhagen. Photo: Ming Tappin.

Rooms at the NH Collection Copenhagen are simple but elegant, with a small sitting area, a tiled bath, robes and slippers, and espresso machines. The hotel was at full capacity, so I wasn’t able to view any suites, which have floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive views. There’s also a fitness center.

The hotel’s fitness center includes weights, resistance equipment and space for floor exercises. Photo: Ming Tappin.
The fitness center at NH Collection Copenhagen includes stationary bikes, treadmills and other cardio equipment. Photo: Ming Tappin.

The pièce de résistance is ROOF Bar & Lounge on the eighth floor, with 360˚ views of Copenhagen. Open six days a week, it is a popular spot for guests and visitors alike. I tried several items from the snack menu, which were perfectly portioned to accompany happy hour or nightcaps. Speaking of which, the cocktail list is named after Copenhagen’s landmarks.

The ROOF Bar & Lounge is a perfect spot to enjoy sunsets and cocktails at the end of the day. Photo: Ming Tappin.
Tasty treats are served at the ROOF Bar & Lounge. Photo: Ming Tappin.

From this vantage point, the hotel’s sedum-covered roofs are visible. The plants help absorb excess rainwater and provide shelter and food for insects and birds. Together with several other environmental and energy conservation initiatives, the living roofs are part of a sustainability masterplan that earned the hotel the Green Key and Denmark’s only DGNB Gold certifications.

Sedum planted across the hotel’s roofs supports NH Collection Copenhagen’s sustainability efforts. Photo: Ming Tappin.

NH Copenhagen Grand Joanne: A Classy and Modern Lady

This newest addition to the NH family in Copenhagen, NH Copenhagen Grand Joanne (pronounced “Joan”) opened in spring 2025 in the Vesterbro neighborhood, steps from Tivoli Gardens, Strøget pedestrian shopping street, and Køberhavns central station with train service to and from CPH.

Although I didn’t get a chance to stay here, I dropped by the hotel for a tour.

NH Copenhagen Grand Joanne is located steps from Copenhagen Central Station and the city’s attractions. Photo: Ming Tappin.

Dating back to 1892, the imposing building occupies a prominent corner lot, but I was immediately struck by its boutique feel as soon as I stepped inside. The eye-pleasing, earth-tone décor blends contemporary, light industrial, and Boho chic.

The lounge is a good spot to enjoy a cocktail from the bar, surrounded by contemporary artwork. Photo: Ming Tappin.
Just off the lobby, the bar shares space with the dining room and lounge. Photo: Ming Tappin.

The hotel’s 162 rooms have something for everyone. For a short stay or one with a busy schedule that keeps you out all day, the 130-square-foot “Cosy” room is a good fit. Larger options include standard, superior, and deluxe rooms, junior suites, and penthouses with balconies. All rooms have coffee and tea-making facilities, TVs, and bath amenities. The hotel is also pet-friendly.

Rooms have contemporary décor, and the exposed brick wall adds a nice touch. Photo: Ming Tappin.
The 130-square-foot Cosy room suits a short stay or busy itinerary. Photo: Ming Tappin.
Metal fixtures and a black shower frame give the bathroom an industrial feel. Photo: Ming Tappin.

Dining venues include Joanne’s Restaurant & Bar and a rooftop that is open in the summer. Guests also enjoy complimentary use of a fitness center, yoga studio, and Wi-Fi.

The restaurant pairs a soothing color scheme with patterned wall coverings and contemporary artwork. Photo: Ming Tappin.

And finally, who is the mysterious Joanne? The name was inherited from the building’s former occupant, the Grand Joanne Hotel, which was named after Johanne Sophie Frederikke von Bothmer, the headstrong mother of a Danish politician. Today, NH has modernized the concept of Joanne to represent a well-traveled, open-minded woman.

About NH Hotels & Resorts

The NH Collection and NH Hotels are part of Minor Hotels’ global portfolio of more than 500 properties. NH Collection comprises upscale hotels with premium accommodations and elevated dining and services, while NH Hotels focus on comfortable stays at a more moderate price point. Both brands can be found in major cities around the world.