Few can hold a candle to the Danes when it comes to sartorial and decorative style

and Copenhagen is an unrivalled hunting ground for interior design goodies, sleek and often unique clothing, shoes and jewellery. Hundreds of small but superb independent shops and designers (how they all survive is a wonderful mystery) cluster on or near the city centre’s charming, cobbled, and mostly car-free shopping drag (Strøget).

Department stores and shopping areas

DET NY ILLUM

Østergade 53, Strøget / 3314 4002

Sporting only slightly less opulence than Galleries Lafayette in Paris and similarly topped by a grand glass dome, Illum also displays its wares with more style than the rather dowdy Magasin du Nord. A pretty good selection of designer mens and womenswear plus a great rooftop café offering views across the spires and tiled roofs.

MAGASIN DU NORD

Kongens Nytorv 13 / 3311 4433

The shed-like expanses and displays disappoint given the grand exterior, but although it may lack Illum’s sense of occasion Magasin du Nord does have size on its side: six vast floors of goodies including vast selections of clothing and even the occasional bargain.

Shopping streets

Strøget is the main drag but for less mainstream hunting grounds try the following:

For a good cluster of chic little fashion boutiques explore the area around Kronprinsensgade and the nearby streets including Silkegade and Pilestræde.

Hip little Nansensgade has everything from chic shoes, Syrian clothes and trinkets and vintage dresses, clothes and accessories. A sprinkling of cool cafés and restaurants too.

For cool little retro design purchases, antiques and bric-a-brac head to Ravnsborggade.

For your English newspapers and glossy mags fix, head to Central Station or either the Illum or Magasin du Nord department stores.

ANN WIBERG

Nikolaj Plads 9 / 3314 8181

In charming Nikolaj Plads, you’ll find beautifully-cut trouser suits and full-on glam evening dresses. Well worth a look.

BIRGER CHRISTENSEN

Østergade 38 / 3311 5555

Top designer womens and menswear, including Gaultier, Prada, Chanel, Reiss and Zileri. Not only that but Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Mulberry all have stores close by.

BRUUNS BAZAAR

Kronprinsensgade 8 / 3332 1999/69

The simple, effortlessly stylish, home-grown, own-label stuff in bold colours and fine fabrics sits well next to the Gucci and Ann Demeulemeester stock. The shoes are divine.

CASMOSE

35 Nansensgade / 3313 6163

The focus here is on Danish designers. The style is usually classic in wools and linens. Upstairs you’ll find shoes, necklaces and shoulder bags.

FILIPPA K

Ny Østergade 13 / 3393 8000 / www.filippa-k.com

Cool, young, trend-setting style from this Swedish designer.

HENNES & MAURITZ

Amagertorv 23, Strøget / 3318 8800

Cheap as chips and great for t-shirts and other basics.

KJOLER

69 Nansensgade / 2984 6017

Run by two former stylists Kjoler offers on-the-pulse vintage style including elaborate evening wear to everyday items all ironed and ready to wear plus a range of accessories. Prices start at a reasonable Dkr 300.

MADS NØRGAARD

Amagertorv 15, Strøget / 3332 0128

A great mix of mainstream and more cutting edge men’s (and some women’s) fashion both designer (John Smedley, Prada, Miu Miu) and own-label. You’re bound to find something wearable here.

MARIA & KENDT

42 Nansensgade / 3393 9223 / www.mariaandkendt.dk

Feminine, sensual and surprisingly affordable one-off dresses and tops from this Danish duo alongside shoes and bags from Dior, Gucci and YSL.

MENSCH

Peder Hvitfeldts Str 4 / 3311 5755

Very urban and out-there women’s stuff from bright young Swedish and Danish things including: Ivana Helsinki, Nudie, Dansk, Whyred and Dixie Grey.

MUNTHE PLUS SIMONSEN

Kronprinsensgade 11 / 3332 0312

This celebrated Danish designer and friend of supermodels makes decidedly feminine clothes in natural tones with exquisite detailing.

SABINE POUPINEL

Kronprinsensgade 12 / 3314 4434

Gorgeous, pricey, handcrafted Danish women’s couture.

SAND

Østergade 40, Strøget  / 3314 2121

Timelessly smart men’s and women’s wear. Stylish. Pricey.

Accessories

SNEAKY FOX

Larsbjørnsstræde 15 / 3391 2520

Flimsy, flirty party dresses. Labels include Betsy Johnson, Patty Shelabarger and Bettina Bakdal.

STIG P

Kronprinsensgade 14 / 3314 4216

Lots of women’s labels including Cacharel, Sonia Rykel, Paul & Joe and Marc Jacobs, plus Stig’s own-label products.

STORM

Store Regnegade 1 / 3393 0014

A designers’ who’s who: For him there’s Dries Van Noten, Martin Margiela, Raf Simons and Dirk Schönberger and for her Balenciaga, Martine Sitbon, Comme des Garçons, and Eley Kishimoto.

YMER DRESS

38 Nansensgade / 2324 1625 / www.ymerdress.dk

One of the best reasons to hit hip little Nansensgade, you’ll find vintage clothing from New York plus Danish designs, jeans, bags, belts and shoes in this cosy cellar boutique.

ZONE 1

Nikolaj Plads 7 / 3312 1343

Cosseting but cool threads for women: the tailoring is sharp, the colours muted and the textures sumptuous.

A PAIR

Ny Østergade 3 / 3391 9920

Cool, playful French and Italian footwear, right by Strøget or along cool Nansensgade. 

BRUNO & JOEL

Kronprinsensgade 2 / 3313 8778

The Danes design ‘em, the Italians make ‘em: a shoe junky’s dream come true. Fabulous, covetable women’s shoes.

BRIDGWATER

Gothersgade 109 / 3311 0039

Margaret Bridgwater’s elegant, finely-wrought and highly desirable necklaces, cufflinks and rings look almost edible.

SAMARKAND

Dag Hammarskjölds Allé 32 / 3538 1445 

Jane Eberlein makes just a few lavish embroidered silk and fur hats a year. Royalty and First Ladies snap up these millinery masterpieces, so you’re in great company.

SUSANNE JUUL

Store Kongensgade 14 / 3332 2522

Chic, stylistically eclectic handmade women’s headgear.

POUL STIG BRILLER

Østergade 24, Strøget / 3315 5252.

Designer eyewear from Paul Smith, Prada and Vera Wang.

Interiors

GEORG JENSEN

Amagertorv 4, Strøget / 3311 4080

A Danish legend selling jewellery, cutlery and ornaments from some of Denmark’s best designers.

BANG & OLUFSEN

Kongens Nytorv 26 / 3311 1415

Competitively-priced B&O systems for audio fetishists to drool over in special acoustic showrooms.

CASA SHOP

Store Regnegade 2 / 3332 7041

Well-chosen Italian, Danish, British and Japanese furniture, lamps and home fittings in one cool shop.

DANSK MØBELKUNST

Bredgade 32 / 3332 3837

Classic Danish and European furniture from Arne Jacobsen, Poul Henningsen, Hans J Wegner, Le Corbusier and Kaare Klint. Take a taxi.

DESIGNER ZOO

Vesterbrogade 137, Vesterbro / 2681 1826

This designers’ collective is a rich hunting ground for stylish one-offs to buy and be smug about, be they furniture, glass, clothes, jewellery or ceramics.

GREGORY PEPIN

Bredgade 22 / 3311 5252

A dragon’s hoard of Antique Jensen silver.

HOLMEGAARD

Amagertorv 8, Strøget  / 3312 4477

Magnificent glassware (but probably best avoided in summer when it can be chaotically busy).

ILLUMS BOLIGHUS

Amagertorv 10, Strøget / 3314 1941

The pricey but impeccable home furnishing cousin to the Illums department store.

PAUSTIAN

Kalkbrænderiløbskaj 2, Østerbro / 3916 6565

This temple to Scandinavian interior design in the docks area occupies a stunning Jørn Utzon-designed warehouse shop. Let’s designer name drop: Aalto, Eames, Starck and Jacobsen.

ROYAL COPENHAGEN PORCELAIN

Amagertorv 6, Strøget / 3313 7181

Classic but terrifyingly pricey decorative Flora Danica dinnerware as well as more realistically-priced porcelain.

SØLVKÆLDEREN

Kompagnistræde 1 / 3313 3634

Antique silverware. Lots of it.

LE KLINT

Store Kirkestræde 1 / 3311 6663

These concertina-style lampshades and accompanying lamps are definitively Danish.