Villa Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

The hotel sits by a busy road junction, with the railway tracks of Copenhagen Central station on one side and a major building site on another. The well-glazed windows cut out unwanted noise, though, and being in such a central position means that convenient transport links and tourist attractions are all within easy reach. Points of interest within a ten-minute walk include the harbour, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Meatpacking District nightlife and the main tourist office.

By plane: there are direct flights to Copenhagen from London (1 hour 45 mins), Manchester (1 hour 50 mins) and Edinburgh (1 hour 45 mins). The hotel is around 20 minutes' drive from the airport. Book flights to Copenhagen.

There's no arguing with the hotel's design credentials. Behind its neo-Baroque façade lies a grand internal courtyard, entirely covered by a tessellated glass roof. Potted plants and decorative accents of gold and copper warm up the backdrop of cool white walls and marble floors, and backlit onyx blocks create eye-catching reception desks.

Fitness facilities include a sauna and gym kitted out with all the latest Technogym equipment. You can also book a hotel bike to go exploring for the day. Just off the Courtyard is the hotel shop, selling an interesting selection of designer homewares, accessories and arty coffee table books.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Gardens
• Swimming pool
• Gym
• Free Wi-Fi

Like everywhere else in the hotel, the bedrooms are beautifully designed affairs, decorated in neutral shades and natural materials, with clean-lined furniture sitting on handsome herringbone floors. Bathrooms, too, get a big tick in the good looks box and come with little extra luxuries like underfloor heating and full-sized bottles of Skandinavisk toiletries.

Room types: Standard, Superior, Family, Deluxe rooms, Junior, Shambala, Earth, Universal Penthouse, Shambala Duplex suites

Key amenities: Hilding Anders bed, ensuite with rainforest shower, underfloor heating

Drinking and dining options include a small pool bar and a cocktail bar that opens twice a week, but the two main venues are the Courtyard Bar and Kontrast Brasserie. The former serves drinks and light meals in the glass-roofed atrium, while the handsome brasserie next door has a short, Med-meets-Scandi menu that changes with the seasons.

Courtyard Bar: light meals, coffee and cocktails. Open all day 'til late.

KONSTRAST: cosmopolitan brasserie, local ingredients. Open Wed-Thurs 5.30-11pm, Fri-Sat 5.30-12am. Mains from 180DKK.