A quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture) – Oxford Living Dictionaries
For me, personally, the undisputed star of hygge in Copenhagen is Paludan Bog & Cafe (much more beautiful than it sounds if you’re reading in English!). With floor to ceiling books, some for sale, some for decoration, a menu of coffees, cocktails and cakes that can keep you enteratined for hours and the atmosphere of a sophisticated, snug, university library. It became our haven in our short time in the city. We would walk miles and miles each day, exploring different parts of the town but we knew a hot drink would be waiting for us in Paludan. The cafe also sells an assortment of food, and we dug in to a bowl of salted potatoes – hot, steaming and delicious.
If you’re after some more options food wise, then Flottenheimer on Skindergade is a great spot for brunch, cakes or a more substantial meal. I indulged in a tuna sandwich which was frankly a tuna sandwich beyond my wildest dreams. If you’re a pescetarian abroad,you can find yourself trying all sorts of fish and seafood you’ve never heard of before but the old classics can still be spectacular.
Flottenheimer features so many beautiful textures (something I’m slightly obsessed with when it comes to decor) that you feel cosy, secure but also slightly out in the Scandiavian wilds. The beer isn’t cheap but it is delicious, and you can quite comfortably spend a few hours enjoying the friendly atmosphere of this totally hygge watering hole.
Really wanting to indulge the hygge loving hipster in you? Look no further than The Living Room on Larsbjørnsstræde. With an array of cakes, cocktails and coffees on offer we hid from a drizzly day in The Living Room to boost our moods and calorie intake for the day. I went for a chai latte and a piece of apple pie. Delicious. As with many of these venues, unlike what we’re used to in the UK, the Danish venues tend to shift seamlessly from coffee and students in the day to cocktails and board games at night and often close their doors around 11.00pm. Perfect to relax after a long day sightseeing.