ibis Styles Copenhagen Ørestad review

When you think of Copenhagen, the colourful buildings of Nyhavn or the trendy streets or Nørrebro may first spring to mind. But just a 15 minute Metro ride from the centre of the capital is Ørestad, an up-and-coming, modern neighbourhood which Scandinavia’s first ibis Styles calls home.

ibis Styles Copenhagen Ørestad first opened its doors to guests in February 2023, and is a modern take on the budget hotel. Though it is part of the wider Accor hotels chain, like all hotels in the ibis Styles portfolio, the stylish design is unique to this location.

With the metropolitan area of the city to its north, and the protected area of parkland, Vestamager, to the south, the ibis Styles is perfectly positioned between urban and nature. These surroundings are the inspiration behind the hotel’s design story.

Upon arrival, guests will be enveloped by the bright and colourful open plan lobby, which has been designed in partnership with local artists. The north side of the lobby pays homage to the metropolitan landscape, with walls adorned in graffiti art by street and visual artist Soten. The south side, meanwhile, embraces elements of nature with animal floral wallpaper and animal portraits.

One thing guests might notice about the lobby area is that it’s a little different to your typical hotel entrance. Instead of a reception desk, a bar area surrounded by contemporary neon lights is the focal point of the room. Check-in is instead a more casual affair, with friendly staff on hand to prepare your details and room key via iPad. This approach makes the area feel more like a cultural hub, with both guests and locals mingling to enjoy a coffee or hand crafted cocktail from the bar.

However, guest security remains paramount, and only those with a valid room key are able to operate the lift to higher floors.

Rating: 4/5

Of its 186-room offering, the ibis Styles has three room types to choose from, spread across six floors, including accessible and family-friendly options.

Guest can select from a Standard Room, Superior Room with high floor views or a Deluxe Corner Room, with the option to choose twin or double beds. For families, certain Standard Rooms come with a sofa bed.

Quirky, colourful interior elements are uniform across each room type, embracing the sleek lines and sophistication which Danish design is known for.

The Deluxe Corner Room, which we checked in to, is a spacious accommodation with plenty of natural light flooding in from the vast, corner window.

From here, guests can wake up each morning to views of the contemporary architecture and sparkling canals of Ørestad. There’s a convenient, wrap around seating area too, perfect for curling up with a cup of coffee and watching the neighbourhood come alive.

Pops of primary colours add a sense of liveliness to the room, while tree emblazoned wallpaper embraces earthy elements.

Though you might not find a complimentary dressing gown or pair of slippers, every basic amenity is covered, as well as some particularly helpful modern additions. USB and USB-C ports can be found by the bedside table, meaning if you happen to forget an adaptor, you can still charge electronic devices with ease.

The room also features a large flatscreen TV, hairdryer and a compact coffee and tea making area. However, other than tea and coffee, the room does not come with any other complimentary drinks or snacks, including bottled water.

The bed serves as the heart of the room, with marshmallow pillows and cosy duvet helping you sink into a peaceful sleep. Though rooms are mostly quiet, come morning you may be awoken earlier than expected by the slamming of neighbouring doors.

Bathrooms are modern, with a well-sized shower and ibis Styles’ branded shampoo and shower gel inviting guests to “press to impress”.

The room isn’t a luxury affair, nor does it pretend to be, but when compared with other budget hotel offerings, the ibis Styles Copenhagen Ørestad sets itself apart from the rest thanks to its character and flare.

The hotel’s on-site restaurant Sunder is open from lunchtime through to sundown. Housed in the open plan lobby, Sunder and the adjacent bar area are flooded with light by day, and transforms to a cool, casual watering hole by night.

The easy-going bar and eatery focusses on healthy dishes with a Danish twist. The menu is fairly basic, but does include options for vegan and vegetarian guests. The Forrest Mushroom Toast is a must-try, whether as a lunch time dish or a small plate at dinner time. And if you aren’t satisfied without a sweet treat, the baclava is a popular choice.

Sunder also has its own limited range of house cocktails, including their signature cocktail – a “super stylish” take on the Martini. Even if one of the cocktails on offer doesn’t pique your interest, knowledgeable staff are happy to whip up a custom drink on request.

Rating: 4/5

Although the ibis Styles has chosen Ørestad as its home rather than the centre of Copenhagen, the hotel is fantastically located. With a Metro station mere yards from the front entrance, guests can find themselves in the heart of downtown in 13 minutes, or at the airport in approximately 20 minutes.

However, if you do fancy exploring the local neighbourhood, there is plenty to see and learn about constantly evolving Ørestad. It’s hard to imagine that around 30 years ago, this contemporary neighbourhood didn’t exist.

Now, Ørestad is home to a mix of residential and commercial buildings, many of which have been designed by renowned architects from Denmark and beyond. A short walk from the hotel is Fields, the largest shopping centre in Denmark.

And if you do fancy getting out of the hotel for a bite to eat, there are plenty of local eateries to choose from, including Brasseriet 8Tallet housed in architect Bjarke Ingels’s bow-shaped building of the same name.

Here, you can try a selection of smørrebrød – a local delicacy which in its simplest form is an open sandwich. Even if you just fancy popping on your walking shoes and going for a wander, there is plenty of unique architecture and design to see in the nearby area.

Rating: 5/5

Double rooms start from £107 (DKK 895) per night for two people sharing or £142 (DKK 1,195) for two people sharing with breakfast included. Find rooms and book direct on the ibis Styles Copenhagen Ørestad website.

Or, compare deals and prices for a stay at ibis Styles Copenhagen Ørestad with Booking.com or Hotels.com.