Great Danes: The Copenhagen in NYC - Remodelista
Scandinavians in New York City have their own underground circuit of home-away-from-home hangouts. And tucked out of sight at 5 East 48th Street, there’s Svenska kyrkan, a Swedish church with an all-white chapel and a homey cafe serving kaffe and Swedish newspapers; it’s a secret haven just inches from the madness of Fifth Avenue. Photography by Marta S. McAdams. With its painted exterior advertising sild (herring), snaps (schnapps), rugbrí¸d (brown rye bread), postej (pí¢té), and aeg (egg), the restaurant feels like it was teleported straight from Denmark. The Copenhagen, originally called Aamanns-Copenhagen, was opened in 2013 by Sanne Ytting, a native of Denmark who felt the flavors of her country were underrepresented in Manhattan. The restaurant seats 50 on classic Arne Jacobsen Ant Chairs from Fritz Hansen. The aquavit is house-made and served in Holmegaard glasses. It’s infused with flavors such as beet and apple-walnut, leading The New Yorker’s reviewer to comment: “It remains to be seen what kind of foot traffic dill aquavit will attract.” For some of our favorite Holmegaard designs, see The Timeless Table: Glassware with Heart and Soul. The revolving art display comes from Galleri Oxholm, in Copenhagen. The microbrews on tap are from Brooklyn’s Evil Twin Brewing, owned by Danish transplant Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso. Plates and bowls are by Danish designer Anne Black. (Read more about Japanese charcoal and the many products made with it, in Black Magic.) The Copenhagen is at 13 Laight Street, on the border of TriBeCa and SoHo. See our Denmark City Guide for our favorite Copenhagen finds, including the new Hotel SP34, Ilse Crawford’s Temporary Headquarters (Restaurant Included), and, according to Gardenista, The World’s Most Charming Flower Shop.