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Andrew Meredith
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Our Favorite Scandi Design Spots Around the World
Scandinavian design has long served as inspiration for interior designers around the world, and that inspiration is often worked into public spaces like hotels, cafés and restaurants that seek to be known for their beautiful...
Scandinavian design has long served as inspiration for interior designers around the world, and that inspiration is often worked into public spaces like hotels, cafés and restaurants that seek to be known for their beautiful environments. Today, we’re sharing some of our favorites.
Head to Stockholm for an overnight stay in a room that’ll have you feeling wrapped in Scandinavian luxury. Stop into a coffee shop in London for a delicious pastry and setting that’ll remind you of your Scandi travels. Sip champagne in a gorgeous Australian tasting room that has serious Scandi design roots. Or, grab dinner at a minimalist Michelin starred restaurant in Chicago. We’re all about the options here, and these are some of the best in the bunch.
Reporter: Alyssa Brown
Head to Stockholm for an overnight stay in a room that’ll have you feeling wrapped in Scandinavian luxury. Stop into a coffee shop in London for a delicious pastry and setting that’ll remind you of your Scandi travels. Sip champagne in a gorgeous Australian tasting room that has serious Scandi design roots. Or, grab dinner at a minimalist Michelin starred restaurant in Chicago. We’re all about the options here, and these are some of the best in the bunch.
Reporter: Alyssa Brown
With its dual-toned walls, towering ceilings, Scandi furniture and dangling greenery, Prado is easily one of the most beautiful restaurants in Lisbon. The food here celebrates the best of local, seasonal and fresh Portuguese foods from both land and sea.
Modern Australian design takes a ton of influences from Scandinavia, and this stunning sparkling wine tasting room is the perfect example. Here, you’ll sip on a glass of Domaine Chandon bubbles while seated on a curvy leather banquette inside a sky-high space with epic glass-walled views of the surrounding vineyards.
Like the suites in the hotel, Dining Room At Six is also a gorgeous representation of modern Scandi design. The brasserie style restaurant is open all day, and it’s pretty wonderful to see the space transform from day to night via the glass walls that look out onto the neighborhood.
Photo by Soren Kristensen
If you’re a design lover like us, a stay at Nobis Hotel in Copenhagen is sure to send your inspiration drive into overload (in a good way). Book their special culture package and you’ll get a voucher for entry to the nearby Danish Architecture Center, which is not only a great place to learn about local architecture and design, but there’s also a gorgeous café on the rooftop.
Set in the small town of Hakuba, surrounded by the Japanese alps, Hotel Habuka is the only design hotel of it’s a kind – a place that serves as a tribute to legendary Danish designer Finn Juhl. There are six double rooms here along with a few shared spaces and a bar, and every piece of furniture inside is a Finn Juhl design.
The much-lauded Noma is not only one of the most famous restaurants in Denmark, but one of the most famous in the world. The new space in Copenhagen’s Christiania neighborhood is an incredible representation of today’s Danish architecture and design, with locally made tables and chairs set beside glass walls that overlook a pond.
The rooms at Hotel Sanders are elegant and timeless, with nods to classic Danish designers throughout. As for Sanders Kitchen, this small eatery has a vibe that’ll make you feel right at home, like you’re a guest at some private dinner party.
Photo by Sam St-Onge
Set just along Saint-Joseph Street in Quebec City, this gem of a restaurant has all the Scandi design vibes. Exposed brick walls are accentuated with a flood of natural light, while the furniture and light fixtures all feel equally Scandi. Adding to the effect, dining here is communal.
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Book the sky attic studio at Hotel St. George and you’ll have skylights and windows that offer some of the best views of Helsinki. And of course, your studio will have a fresh Scandi look too.
Nordic design reigns at Nord House in Australia’s Red Hill. This gorgeous three-bedroom cottage is complete with an indoor wood-burning fireplace, beautiful gardens and patios and easy access to wineries, restaurants, beaches and all the beautiful towns along the Mornington Peninsula.
Set in the old Latin Quarter of Copenhagen, Hotel SP34 is filled with vibrant gathering spaces and super cozy sleeping quarters. The design aesthetic here feels sleek and modern, with Danish classics around every corner.
Both the suites and the café at Long Story Short have a real Scandi design vibe, with minimalist décor and rich colors that pop within the spaces. It’s a place for nomads, creatives and travelers, and anyone looking for a good-looking spot to lay their heads during a trip to historic Olomouc.
Reminiscent of a café you might find in Copenhagen, this Toronto coffee roaster and shop is a total delight. Order up a pour over (or two, if you’re feeling wild) and grab a seat where you can comfortably enjoy sipping your brew and noshing on freshly baked bread.
London’s Leman Locke is the kind of place you’ll want to stay when you feel like really settling into a neighborhood and feeling part of the local community. The spaces here are all-around gorgeous, with everything from the apartments to the restaurants designed in colorful, stylish, modern Scandi style.
Designed with Scandinavian inspiration at the forefront, this luxurious cottage hideaway sits between Le Massif de Charlevoix and the city of Baie-St-Paul. Inside, you’ll find three bedrooms and full bathrooms, with enough sleeping space for up to a dozen folks.
This Swedish hotel provides an awesome example of minimalism when it comes to Scandi design. Think suites that are decorated in a white-and-grey palette with only a small plant, natural wood furniture and a black fireplace used for color.
You can’t help but love this little caviar shop in Helsinki. The space may be small, but with its well-appointed furnishings and perfect lighting, it packs a whole lot of design punch.
With its botanical wallpaper and cozy spaces, Pläj Scandinavian Restaurant in SF will quickly have you feeling like you’re in one of your cool Danish friend’s homes back in Copenhagen. The menu here is small plate focused, with dishes that range from Råraka & Caviar to Swedish meatballs.
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A collection of cool wood-and-glass cottages tucked into the woods of Coxsackie, Gather Greene has a real Scandinavian hideaway feel to it. You’ll find 17 cabins on the hundred acres here, along with a gathering space that was designed with the Dutch concept of Gezellig – loosely translated to mean, “to gather with friends in a cozy environment.” – in mind.
London’s Shoreditch sets the scene for this Scandi design hangout spot. Part café, part retail shop and part meeting place, Sans Pere is a lofty, open-plan space with an airy feel that lends well to grabbing a coffee with colleagues or enjoying a solo lunch.
High contrast interiors and clean-lined pieces dot the rooms of this Solvang boutique hotel, making it look like a spot straight out of some Scandi interiors blog. And with Santa Barbara wine country just around the corner, we absolutely love this spot for a girls’ getaway.
Ett Hem is a great place to get an idea of how old and new collide in regards to Scandinavian design. The townhouse hotel was built back in 1910 as a private residence but has recently been renovated and furnished by top designers who’ve incorporated both antiques and modern pieces to create a setting that’s absolutely stunning.
Craving a bite of Danish food in San Francisco? Head to Kantine, where the smørrebrød and tebirkes are totally authentic and served in a space that’ll have you feeling like you’re right back in Copenhagen.
