As a long-time local with a brand based in Copenhagen, Ditte Reffstrup knows the chicest spots and stays like no one else. This is her guide to doing the city in style.
What’s your favourite destination and why?
Copenhagen! It’s where all my friends are and I moved there at 20 years old. It’s my forever city. It’s such a cool place to go when you’re young — it’s a lot of fun, but it’s also a fantastic place to take your family. I really love the healthy work-life balance of locals.
Where do you like to stay?
The Central Hotel. It’s a tiny, tiny house and there’s only one room on top of a mini café, so they call it the world’s smallest café and the world’s smallest hotel. It’s in a really cute area where there are a lot of nice restaurants and vintage shops. It looks almost like something dreamt up by Hans Christian Andersen.
Or if I were treating myself, I would go to Hotel Sanders which has really lovely interiors with both an English and Scandi influence. My latest collection for Fall Winter is influenced by homes and interiors, so places like this are so inspiring. It’s just behind the Royal Danish Theatre.
What’s your favourite meal?
At Restaurant Maison you can order a tower of skinny fries! Plus I love the shrimp which comes with a lovely old-school prawn cocktail dip. They also have amazing white fish with potatoes, which are displayed almost like a flower around it. Plus I’d order a green salad.
What are you top three restaurants?
Restaurant Maison is my favourite and you can always get a table — I don’t understand how! It’s a friend’s restaurant and they have a very simple menu with just a few options, which are all super good. Then there’s Hos Fischer, which is Danish, but the chef lived in Rome for many, many years, so it specialises in pasta and pizza. And Apollo if you’re more in the city centre, and want a bit of a party vibe. It’s quite a late-night place that is bustling with people having drinks and sometimes dancing. It has a courtyard for when the sun is out and it’s a vibe!
If you only had 24 hours what would you do?
In the morning have a dip in the harbour, because it’s so special that there’s such a peaceful place in the city to swim. Afterwards I would go for a coffee at Dallas Coffee, which is very charming. Then I’d eat at Atelier September, which is known for its breakfast menu.
Next I would take the train and visit Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, which is beautiful. It takes about half an hour and it’s a lovely trip. You can spend the full day there, then I’d head back to Maison for dinner. The perfect day.
What’s the one unmissable thing you recommend doing?
Renting a bike and making your way around the city to enjoy the best restaurants and bars. It’s so special that you can actually see the full city in one day. It’s pocket-sized.
Are there any hidden gems that you’re willing to share?
Three amazing vintage stores! They’re a little bit on the expensive side, but they’re so curated and have some real treasures. There’s Time’s Up Vintage which is central, then Jerome Vintage in Vesterbro and Paloma Vintage in Frederiksberg.
They’re world-class for textiles, which is what I’m super-interested in. The owners will pull out some beautiful lace or silky piece and have a story about the lady who owned it. And it’s fun to go window shopping to look at crazy archival pieces you would never wear.
Where do you go to let your hair down?
I’m older, so I don’t go out that much, but if I would, I’d say go to Vega. It’s a beautiful building to visit, and there’s always a good concert on. I saw a Danish local band there and it had fantastic sound. I also did a show there during Covid for Ganni.
Though here in Denmark people arereally good at inviting people into their homes. So if you can somehow find ahouse party, they’re the best! We’re always sharing meals and you’ll end up in the kitchen dancing.
What are your favourite shops?
My friends at Hay have this really big place in the city centre. It’s over a few floors and they have their own products, but they also have a lot of other different brands and you can spend a lot of time in there. Oh … and of course, you should not miss Ganni.
What’s your dress code for Copenhagen?
Wear what you feel like. Though make sure to have different variations of layers, because you can’t trust the weather. Wear your sneaks but then be sure to have ballerinas or a little pump in your bag, so you’re ready for the day and can cycle. You could wear some of the beautiful printed denim pieces from the new Ganni collection — with a T-shirt during the day and then a blouse and some high heels at night.
What’s the one souvenir you should bring home with you?
Something from our great food scene. We have an in-house chef here at Ganni called Eva Hurtigkarl— she’s becoming famous and has a book called Spis Med (eat with us).
What’s your favourite beauty spot?
The garden of the Royal Library. It always surprises me with how beautiful it is. And next to it there’s the Royal Stables and you can go inside and see them in this beautiful old building.
What songs remind you of the city?
When I moved to Copenhagen from a small fisherman town, I was really homesick for two months. Then this girl put on Portishead’s Dummy album. It’s one of my favourites, so it made me feel so connected to her. It reminds me of having just moved.
Have you ever had an emergency incident?
I went to a bachelor party seven years ago and I fell down the stairs of the apartment. I was very drunk and broke my wrist! It was almost worth it because it was a lot of fun.
