Hotel Ottilia
Staying in fantasy: the Brewmaster’s Nest
An imposing entrance gate flanked by life-size, granite elephants, a brick tower with a perky onion dome and a cluster of distinctive, old industrial buildings, one topped with a bronze statue of a man on a chariot pulled by rams. The age of industrialism certainly brought about some wow-inducing architectural marvels. This almost psychedelic block is also home to a modernist structure, decorated with 64 eye-catching gold shields, just to hammer the surrealism a bit further. Welcome to Hotel Ottilia, located on the grounds of the legendary Danish brewery Carlsberg, home of the Elephant beer, a high-octane bock bier with a jaunty elephant on its label.
The remarkable fantasy edifice, once part of the brewery, was commissioned by Carlsberg’s founder, Carl Jacobsen – and Ottilia was Mrs. Jacobsen. Jaunty informality is clearly also the leitmotif of Brøchner Hotels, Copenhagen’s own progressive boutique hotel chain. With the original grain silos still in place, the lobby is a set of individually decorated, rambling rooms that encourage socializing. The check-in counter extends to a bar where the chatty staff spills complimentary wine and beer every afternoon. If that’s not your speed there’s a vast gin selection, handpicked from all corners of the world. The rooftop restaurant Tramonto’s terrace offers prime views of the incongruous Carlsberg Byen, which is now rapidly transforming to Copenhagen’s latest innovation hub, next to the Meatpacking District.
Accommodation is stunning. The gold discs on the street-facing façade are mirrored on the opposite side of the building where 64 round windows of the exact same dimensions (an impressive 2.2 meters in diameter) flood the superior-sized hotel rooms with light and allow for some prime relaxing in the semi-circular, leather cushioned “porthole seats”. The contemporary furnishings, lack of fussy décor and muted color scheme are de rigueur Scandinavian while the high ceilings, stainless steel bathroom fixtures and raw concrete touches are pure warehouse chic.
This being Denmark, of course there are loaner bicycles and a very sturdy breakfast buffet with rye breads galore and a generous spread of organic sweet and savory treats.
Published July, 2019