THE FACTS ABOUT SKOVSHOVED HOTEL

Denmark Copenhagen

The Skovshoved Hotel was founded in 1660 and quickly established itself as a meeting place for locals in the beachside neighbourhood of Charlottenlund, about 10km north of Copenhagen. Last spring, what was once an eclectic jumble of dark rooms and odd knick-knacks was transformed by new owners Tofa and Ivan Nadelmann into a bright, serene space with plenty of Scandinavian charm. Charlottenlund still considers itself a fishing village, despite its proximity to the city and the ambassadorial residences that pepper the area, so architect Mikael Mammen was given a brief to modernise the hotel without losing the romantic, seaside feeling. Located between the two best beaches in Copenhagen - Charlottenlund and Bellevue - the hotel has 20 double rooms and two suites kitted out with bespoke furniture; some rooms have sea-facing balconies. The restaurant, with an Italian- and French-inspired menu, has been fully booked almost every night since it opened. Enormous glasses of wine are served in the living room; with its comfortable white couches, it is a great spot for post-sightseeing or pre-dinner relaxation. Weekends are more energetic, with the country's best DJs entertaining the Copenhageners who drop in to get away from it all. WHEN TO GO Between June and August: there's nothing in Europe like summer in Copenhagen. ROOM TO BOOK Room 24 has sea views and a balcony where you can sit and spy on locals. CONTACT Skovshoved Hotel, Strandvejen 267, Charlottenlund, Copenhagen, Denmark (00 45 3964 0028; fax: 3964 0672; www.skovshovedhotel.com). Doubles from DKr1,300 (about £120); suites from about £255