So one of my favorite places in the entire world is Copenhagen and not just because many of the men look like they stepped out of a Ralph Lauren ad, but because their exuberance for life is like that of which I have never seen. Most people will tell you to go in the summer when it is warm, but I think going in the winter months is just as fun. You get to take in the sights, sounds and making restaurant reservations won't be mission impossible.

HOW TO GET THERE

If you are coming from Paris, I would take Norwegian flight from Paris Orly. If you are coming from the US, Norwegian also has great deals leaving from NY and other US States into CPH.

WHERE TO STAY

If it is your first time staying in Copenhagen, I recommend a hotel. One of my favorites is the SP34. It is centrally located and not mobbed by too many tourists. There is also shopping and restaurants in the blocks surrounding the hotel. Breakfast is locally sourced and organic, the staff is friendly and there is a daily wine hour everyday. How can you say no to that?

WHERE TO EAT

Now this is the fun part. Copenhagen has one of the best food scenes in the entire world. I had the opportunity to eat some of the best food that I have ever had in my life. Based on the culinary epic-ness of this city, there are a lot of tasting menus on this list, so you probably shouldn't eat the whole week prior.

NOMA

This is a MUST especially if you are an extreme foodie. NOMA was actually closed when I went this fall, but got to experience their pop-up, NOMA Under the Bridge. Unlike it's sister, the NOMA Under the Bridge Experience was a communal table experience, which was pretty cool. I got to meet travelers from all over the world who came to enjoy this once in a lifetime experience. I mean how many times can you say you had a Michelin Star experience under a bridge? NOMA opens back up April 2018 so if you have a trip planned make sure to make reservations months in advance

STUDIO

Another tasting menu and the Chef is a NOMA alum. This restaurant not only has an amazing menu where the chef will surprise and delight you, but amazing views of the Baltic Sea. Not sure how many courses they market, but you will get roughly 14, so you probably don't need lunch that day. AND if you love wine, I would do the wine pairing with this meal.

AMASS

Set in an industrial building, this restaurant has more of a cool and trendy vibe. Think more Soho/Tribeca vs Upper East Side. One of the things that I love about this restaurant is like one of my favorite Parisian haunts, Aperge, all the vegetables are grown in the garden adjacent to the restaurant. Sustainability is their frame of mind and in today's day and age, that is pretty darn cool. Skip the wine pairing here and choose your own. And if it is cold out, take your wine or beverage of choice outside and enjoy it by the bonfire.

For lunch options, I would check out Palaegade. They have the Classic Danish smørrebrød or ope-faced sandwiches for laymen like us. If you are looking for a more super casual option, I would go to the Copenhagen Street Food Market. They have a lot of options and is also a fun experience.

Warning: Some of the tasting menus may use some weird ingredients, like ants. My friend would kill me if I did not add this note. Happy eating!

THINGS TO DO

Since this is the city of HYGGE, think you should definitely experience the bar scene. Two of my faves are Balderdash and Ruby's.

Balderdash has a casual and fun vibe--even if you come here alone, you will be sure to leave with some new friends. Some nights they have jazz or some sort of live musical performance which adds to the overall experience. The cocktails are nothing short of amazing. I think I may have had some of my best cocktails of my life here. The staff is friendly and attentive, going above and beyond to get you what you need. If you are lucky, you will get to meet the owner, who tends to frequent the establishment.

Ruby's has more of a sophisticated speakeasy vibe. Their cocktails are as good as they sound and you feel like you are transported back to the 1920s. The space is big and they even have an outdoor garden area, which is more suited for the summer months. If you are going on a Friday or Saturday night, make sure to make a reservation!

In Copenhagen, you MUST shop. Nordic fashion is way cool and unique so you know your best friend won't be wearing the same outfit back home. So my favorite areas to shop are in Old Copenhagen and the Latin Quarter just wandering the streets. There are also great pop-ups leading up to and into Paper Island. Make sure to check those out for some great finds. And of course not trip to Copenhagen is complete without a trip to Nyhavn. It tends to be pretty touristy, but it is so worth it. 

TOURIST STUFF

The other MUST area besides from Nyhavn is Christiania. This neighborhood is self-proclaimed as the "free city of Christiania", functioning as a self-governing community founded in 1971. Not going to lie--this is definitely a difference experience than the rest of Copenhagen, but if yo uare into artsy stuff and empathize with the hipsters and Williamsburg crowd, this is the place for you. Ignore the signs warning you not to take pictures to protect yourself from being harmed. You are allowed to take pictures of the actual park and artwork/art installations. You are just not allowed to take pictures of the area where a certain substance is being sold. Saying that, if you make your yearly sojourn to Amsterdam, Christiana is definitely the place for you.

If you are looking for something more PC, make sure to visit The Little Mermaid.