Hotel Ottilia: a brutalist gem in the Carlsberg Byen District
We will soon publish a series of articles about the city of Copenhagen, one of our favorite cities in the world, but this time we will talk about the Ottilia, a beautiful four-star boutique hotel that belongs to Brøchner Hotels.
Address: Bryggernes Plads 7 (Copenhagen)
Hotel Ottilia is housed in two iconic buildings of the legendary Carlsberg Brewery, which gives it a unique character and an extraordinary brutalist architecture.
It features 155 rooms and suites, common areas like the Dipylon Hall, a rooftop terrace with an impressive 360º view of the Carlsberg city, an Italian restaurant, a gym, and facilities for conferences and meetings.
Industrial and Cozy
All the rooms have an industrial yet very cozy look, featuring raw concrete walls, leather details, soft-colored carpets, translucent curtains, warm lighting, round or arched windows, and designer interiors, making you feel better than at home.
“The rooms at Hotel Ottilia are as iconic as the rest of the building.”
In the first building, “Lagerkælder”, there are various types of rooms and suites. Here, the raw concrete walls are preserved and highlighted with other industrial elements, such as the original brown bathroom tiles.
Some rooms face the street and have “zipper” windows located behind the spectacular “golden plates” on the building’s facade, representing the bottom of a beer glass.
Across the building, there are the Deluxe rooms, featuring large round panoramic windows where you can sit to read, relax, stargaze, or simply watch people pass by Bryggernes Plads, a vibrant square with a fountain surrounded by small shops.
The Loft Suites are located in the tower of the second building, “Malt Magasinet,” giving them an exclusive and refined character.
Original elements such as the herringbone wood floors, large multi-sided tower windows that let in incredible light, and beautiful stuccoes have been preserved.
Good Morning Copenhagen!
One of the standout features of this hotel is its delicious organic breakfasts. In the buffet located on the top floor of the hotel, next to the terrace, and home to the famous Italian restaurant Tramonto, there are options for every taste. From gluten-free and low-sugar options to freshly baked croissants and bread, fresh fruits, cereals, yogurts, hot dishes, and much more.
Tramonto: A Slice of Italy in Copenhagen
The menu includes the best of Italian cuisine, and you can choose your own menu from an excellent selection of starters, main courses, and desserts. The restaurant also boasts an extensive wine and cocktail list.
Other Services
Wine Hour & Nightcap Hour
As a guest of the hotel, you are invited to enjoy a glass of wine every day starting at five in the afternoon during wine hour in our lobby bar. Additionally, there is the “Nightcap Hour” starting at ten at night, where guests are offered complimentary cocktails.
Local Shop
Near the lobby, there is a small shop featuring a curated selection of items from local brands. The tote bags they created in collaboration with Kvadrat are beautiful.
The Carlsberg District
A rich cultural heritage comes to life in one of Copenhagen’s newest neighborhoods. This unique area features historic buildings flanked by modern residential buildings, restaurants, art galleries, and shops.
The district’s land was once a former “island” in the sense that it was a closed industrial area. The legendary brewery has left an exceptional legacy on which this emerging district has been built.
Among the various hotspots in this neighborhood, we highlight the following:
Art
Von Bartha
This art gallery from Basel, Switzerland, is located in the iconic Chalk Tower, a unique and distinctive 75-square-meter space.
The building houses a large exhibition hall and a smaller room used as a showroom, where they display contemporary artworks.
Gastronomy
Cadence
Excellent breakfasts, healthy lunches, and brunches. It has a bakery/pastry shop right next door, and on nice days, the terrace is a great place to be. Excellent service.
Gasoline Grill
The burgers at Gasoline Grill rank 23rd in the 2024 World’s Best Burgers ranking. All are made with organic ingredients and have a smash style. There are several locations, but the original one is located in Langreven, in a former gas station. They are delicious!
Beyla
This was one of our favorite restaurants. This vegan restaurant has been developed by the team behind Ark and Lupa. In a relaxing and very cozy atmosphere, they serve delicious, honest, organic plant-based recipes, with ingredients sourced from their own production at Funga Farm. Their burgers, mushrooms, and gnocchi are truly irresistible. The chef is very friendly and personally attends to the tables. A must-visit!
The Coffee Collective
Considered the second-best coffee roaster in the world according to the Roastful ranking, a subscription service that selects the best coffees in the world to bring to your home. They have several coffee shops and their own roastery.
One of their core values is complete transparency in their work. Since 2008, they have only sold coffee that comes directly from the farmers. We assure you it is delicious. Their pastries are also excellent, especially their cinnamon roll.
Københavns Bageri
One of the best bakeries in Copenhagen, specializing in traditional Danish breads and sweets. The masterminds behind this project are Anders Lorenz and Rasmus Sjødahl, both of whom have previously worked at noma, and they also have other bakeries like Alice in Amager and Benji in Nørrebro.
Their two star products are the BMO (cheese bun) and the Kringle, made with croissant dough and filled with vanilla, French prunes, brandy, cardamom, and nuts. It’s amazing!
Miscellaneous
AIRE Ancient Baths
This spa, located in a historic building next to Hotel Ottilia, was chosen as the “Best Spa in Denmark” in 2021. This wellness oasis is the perfect remedy at the end of the day after exploring the city. Here, time stands still, and your body and mind will thank you.
Without further ado, the truth is that the Carlsberg Byen district is an emerging neighborhood that maintains the essence of its roots.
Additionally, even though it’s not in the center, which we consider an advantage, it offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars, cafés, shops, and galleries, and the best part is that it is very well connected by public transportation to the rest of the neighborhoods.
“Carlsberg Byen district is an emerging neighborhood we love.”
By the way, remember that next week we will publish a new report on Copenhagen. Stay tuned!
(*) Photos by Ely Sánchez and Cecilia Camacho (CC/magazine).
