Hotel SKT. Annæ, Copenhagen Review
Located in the heart of Copenhagen, this boutique hotel from the outside looks like the rest of the street named Sankt Annæ. An old building, unassuming and nothing that really sets it apart but step inside and you’re welcomed into a beautiful setting that really surprises you. Lets take a look at this hidden gem of a hotel in Copenhagen.
Getting to the hotel from Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport
It’s pretty simple thanks to Copenhagen’s 24 hour metro service. Take the M2 line from the Airport Station to Kongens Nytorv then a 10 minute walk - in total it takes just about 25 minutes which is more or less the same as a taxi. Tickets cost around DKK 36 or GBP 4 as a one-way trip.
Lobby and entrance
Once you’ve set foot through the understated entrance, you’ll be greeted by a homely, beautiful lobby that is very cozy. When we arrived, there fire was also on - although not really necessary in mid-October Denmark, it really made the place feel comfortable and unpretentious. I don’t know about you but this would be a great space to work from for a couple of hours with a hot coffee.
Moving further through, you’ll head to a nice atrium which sits as a centrepiece of the hotel. Around the surrounding walls, there’s all the hotel rooms which overlook this space and I imagine that at one time this was formerly open air - but now featuring a glass roof into the sky. This is one of two atriums in the hotels. I assume this section can be closed off for events owing to the table in the centre.
Accommodation
Heading up to the room via either the stairs or dated escalators, the corridors are not particularly nice - but this is likely more reflective of the building’s age than anything else. The room itself is sleek but tight at the same time - as seems to be common in Copenhagen hotels. It is dominated by the double bed which takes up most of the usable floor space but thankfully it is comfortable and provided a great sleep. The colour palette is quite pleasing to the eyes too and fits pretty closely to the design of the hotel without being too dated.
The window did not open onto the street but instead to the other atrium I mentioned earlier. Although it’s a little annoying that the wooden area next the window takes up so much space (which could have been better used for greater room), it does create a nice vibe to have this open into a beautiful space - which hosts breakfast in the morning. For those wondering, the room is pretty good at cancelling out external noise as I couldn’t hear the hubbub of the breakfast time without opening the window up.
There is some storage space in the form of a small wardrobe but you wouldn’t fit much more than a few days worth of clothing for a couple -also in here is a safe to store valuables, ironing board as well as kettle with free coffee and premium tea.
The desk is pretty small and the chair was not the best to work from. For me, this would be a last resort option to work from whilst travelling.
The television above the desk was decent also and even allowed casting from your device for YouTube only as well as a selection of local television channels (no foreign language from what I could see).
The bathroom left me with mixed feelings. On the positive, its very modern and I love the fixtures or fittings in the room - it is very on trend and nice to look at. The shower was powerful and perfect temperature with premium amenities from a local brand called I love Eco Essentials.
The only irritating thing about this bathroom is the faucet above the sink. It’s just too close to the basin to be able to wash your hands underneath - which is quite important at the best of times, regardless of the pandemic.
Breakfast, bar and eating areas
Breakfast is not included in the regular room rate and costs around DKK 175/GBP 20 per day per person which is on the steep side. That being said - it’s very tasty and the breakfast buffet has made a comeback! I was very surprised that this hotel had self-service buffet on offer but this was aligned to the regulations in place in Denmark at the time (which compared to Spain is far more laissez faire especially in regards to masks too). The buffet consists of a combination of continental pastries, eggs (scrambled and boiled), the tastiest Danish bacon (which I say is the best in the world), smoked salmon, fresh bread and more. It was very tasty and filling us up until dinner time. Coffee was okay and just from a pretty average self-serve machine.
Breakfast seating takes place across two areas. The first is a more enclosed seating area near the hotel bar that is close to the entrance whilst the second is in the more impressive atrium which our room looked over. This was a lovely place to sit and eat with the daylight bearing down through the glass roof.
Would I eat here every day if I was here for an extended period? Probably not and neither should you. By paying for your breakfast on the day, it will give you the flexibility to eat wherever you want for this meal and enable you to try other great restaurants every morning.
Location
Copenhagen isn’t particularly big but this hotel is very central. You are just a couple streets back from the world famous Nyhavn area or just a 20 minute walk to The Little Mermaid statue. This hotel is a great place to get to all the sights in the city on foot and in a very pretty area of the city.
To conclude…
Prices at Hotel SKT. Annæ begin at around GBP 117 per night throughout the year which, in my view, represents great value for the location, style and modern rooms. I highly recommend visiting this hotel for a comfortable and relaxing stay with great Danish breakfast (even if it does cost extra).
