The latest addition to Copenhagen’s hospitality scene leans on old-world grandeur rather than the city’s signature minimalism. Hotel Bella Grande, which opened this spring, occupies an 1899 building near City Hall Square that once hosted Hollywood stars, politicians, and jazz legends. After more than a century, the Italianate structure needed refurbishment, but its new owners chose to preserve its character.
An Italian palazzo in Copenhagen
Designed by Copenhagen-based Tonen Agency for the hospitality group Copenhagen Food Collective (Cofoco), the hotel follows the agency’s 2021 Parisian-style Coco Hotel. Unlike that project, which blended modern and classic styles, the new property highlights its historic elements. Tonen’s founders, Malene Bech-Pedersen and Mette Bonavent, took inspiration from a Venetian palazzo, particularly its open-air courtyard and peach-colored walls.
In Copenhagen, they reimagined the ground-floor spaces—reception, lounge, restaurant, atrium yard, bar, and gym—with strong colors and patterns. Two-toned marble floors, mirrors, and flower arrangements create an outdoor-like feel, while carpets and textiles add warmth. The designers call the approach a celebration of the building’s past rather than a reinvention.
The philosophy extends to the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Donna. A glossy dark-red ceiling, blood-red sofas, and pink curtains create an intimate, nightclub-like atmosphere. Bech-Pedersen and Bonavent said they wanted to capture the energy of Italian dining. “It’s moody and mysterious, but most of all it’s an atmosphere of wanting to conquer the night,” they explained.
Quiet luxury above the street
The 109 rooms and suites, spread across five floors, differ from the lively ground floor. The palette shifts to muted creams, whites, burgundies, and golds, with 1980s chrome accents adding retro glamour. Bespoke dressing tables by Københavns Møbelsnedkeri replace standard desks, while rounded forms—armchairs, lamps, mirrors, and headboards—reinforce the hotel’s grand style.
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Bathrooms feature alternating rows of red and cream tiles. Corridors are lined with brown carpet patterned in ornate gold foliage. Tonen sourced vintage objects and artworks to complement contemporary pieces, including furniture from &Tradition, bedside lamps by Tom Dixon, and side tables from Polspotten. Coordinated upholstered armchairs and fabric lampshades from Danish company Oi Soi Oi tie the spaces together.
For guests, the design prioritizes comfort. Soundproof windows overlook the pale-pink courtyard, and acoustic foam covers internal walls to block street noise. A skylight at the top of the atrium brings natural light into the building’s center, even during Copenhagen’s long winters.
Cofoco has expanded into hospitality before, operating 18 restaurants across the capital. Hotel Bella Grande stands out for its rejection of Scandi chic. It revives an era when hotels were destinations, where architecture and atmosphere mattered as much as service.
The hotel’s blend of history and modern comfort may appeal to travelers seeking an experience beyond a simple stay. Copenhagen’s visitors, used to clean lines and neutral tones, may find its boldness unexpected. Yet the building’s past as a gathering place for celebrities and musicians lives on in its details. Some spaces are meant to be felt, not just seen.
