Cult Danish fashion label Rotate: our perfect Copenhagen weekend

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This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s guide to Copenhagen

Copenhagen is our chameleon city. It’s where we balance work challenges with our laid-back family lives, as well as the city’s vibrant events and parties. For us, it’s important to find the fine balance in our busy schedules to let off steam at the weekend for a renewed sense of self for the working week ahead.

When we can get together on Saturday mornings, we kick off in Vesterbro, the heart of foodie heaven and vintage shops. After pastries and coffee at either Orsa or Sonny, we go on to explore the neighbourhood shops on and around Værnedamsvej, where we like to spend our afternoons: Thiemers Magasin for curated books, Tootsie for vintage treasures and Blomster Bjarne for fresh seasonal flowers and, on Gammel Kongevej, Hvornum for eclectic designs.

We’re avid vintage hunters, so Jerome Vintage on Vesterbrogade is a must-visit. It offers an inspiring shopping experience with rare finds — for example, we recently came away with a vintage Balenciaga leather jacket by Nicolas Ghesquière with gingham fabric inside and a Chanel silk shirt with fine cut-out detailing. And for music enthusiasts like us, Accord on Vesterbrogade is a treasure trove of vinyl.

On the rare occasion we have a day together without the kids, Saturdays effortlessly turn from afternoon to evening, and we tend to stay in Vesterbro. This area has some of the best restaurants in Copenhagen. It feels so young and vibrant, and you can go from bodegas to small hidden cocktail bars. If you can’t get a table somewhere, you move on to the next. The proximity of bars and restaurants in the district encourages spontaneity and excitement.

We start our evenings with a glass of champagne at Les Trois Cochons. Then it’s dinner and cocktails at our go-to, Italo Thai on Værnedamsvej. What’s nice is that they often change the menu; we recently had ricotta and pumpkin ravioli, which was amazing — catch it when you can. Afterwards, we hit Rouge for more champagne. The vibe here is very casual but you don’t sit and relax — it’s a bar with a very inclusive energy where you can end up dancing. We’ve met tons of people there.

The best spot to visit on Sunday mornings with our families (and sometimes without) is Refshaleøen. Even though this neighbourhood is a separate island it is connected and considered part of the city, and it offers anything and everything you could think of. Here you feel you’ve escaped the city — it’s peaceful, and there is a sea breeze — but an urban vibrancy remains with food stalls, art, music and bars. We would suggest starting the day at Lille, a famous bakery located in a warehouse space that has been decorated with unconventional furniture, dried flowers and fresh produce, creating the perfect “rustic” spot to start the day. Our favourite treat is a yummy cardamom bun or bread roll with whipped butter and cheese, which we like to enjoy outside on the terrace, in the sun.

When we are with our children, we’ll visit the experimental gallery Copenhagen Contemporary, in an old warehouse in Refshaleøen. It showcases exhibits of exciting modern art in large open rooms. The art is unusual and interactive, making it the perfect place to bring the kids without them getting bored. When we are by ourselves, we visit the B&W furniture flea market — another former warehouse, which has been turned into a dream for vintage furniture lovers.

Nearby is La Banchina, an unsuspecting-looking hut right next to the sea that is home to a big open deck where you can catch the sun and take a dip (if you’re brave enough to swim in the winter) and a sauna. La Banchina is also a café that serves light, fresh seasonal food, making it ideal for a long Sunday lunch. They also offer an amazing selection of natural wines and it feels almost rude not to have a glass when you visit.

Our Sunday-night ritual? A leisurely stroll by the charming canals of Christianshavn. Here we like to soak in the sights, watch the world go by and let the inspiration flow for the exciting week ahead.

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