The Hotel D’Angleterre, in the heart of Copenhagen, is one of my favorite hotels in the world. Originally built in 1755, it has been lovingly restored by owner and Danish philanthropist Else Marie Remmen, who set the bar so high it hovers toward the heavens.
Sit by the fire, savor an extraordinary meal in the Michelin-starred Marchal restaurant, relax in the gorgeous indoor pool after a massage at the Amazing Space spa (featuring local Nordic ingredients) and sip from the menu of 160 champagnes and cocktails at Balthazar, the stylish new champagne bar.
But what ultimately distinguishes the D’Angleterre is the genius of creative director Alan Evensen. Trained as a floral designer in New York by the legendary Renee Reynolds, Evensen eventually moved into interior design. “If you’re a creative person, you don’t want to be limited in any way,” says Evensen. “So if I get to choose the carpet and sofa, as well as floral design, it’s perfect for me. If you are open to visual ideas, you are inspired by everything.”
Though he still combs the local markets for “bio” (pesticide-free) fruits and flowers to flavor his extraordinary arrangements, by now the creative dynamo oversees every visual and aesthetic decision that is made at the hotel, from furniture and flowers, to teaspoons and candles. This spring, a new shop, D’Angleterre Creations, will open on the ground floor, where guests can take a piece of that unique vision home with them, along with a tantalizing new book of the same name, showcasing the creative director’s vision.
For Evensen, inspirations include “People, an old door handle, a food dish, things that have a shape or expression. Whimsy plays a big part. I get into a kind of Zen state. It’s very meditative.” dangleterre.com
—Rona Berg