25hours Hotel Copenhagen Paper Island: Where Maritime History Meets Scandinavian Summer Dreams
Photography by Erik Nissen Johansen
Just a 10-minute stroll past the colorful houses of Nyhavn and across the sleek Inderhavnsbroen bridge, I arrived at the doorstep of the 25hours Hotel Copenhagen Paper Island. I was about to discover that this wasn't just another urban hotel – it was a masterclass in hospitality and design.
Paper Island, or Papirøen to the locals, is a microcosm of Copenhagen's urban reinvention. Once a hidden industrial site spanning 45,000 m², it's now been revitalized as a thriving new corner of the city. The island has worn many hats over its 300-year history – shipyard, wartime hospital, cannon storage depot, and yes, paper warehouse. Now, it's the canvas for COBE Architects' vision of a can't-miss new neighborhood.
Photography by Erik Nissen Johansen
As I checked in, I couldn't help but feel like I was part of this transformation. The 25hours Hotel isn't just a place to crash after a day of work and coffee shop hopping. It's an anchor for this evolving district, a testament to how thoughtful design can bridge past and present, and provide a haven from the bustling city just across the water.
The lobby, with its sophisticated wood paneling, warm leathers, and tasteful harbor-themed accents, made this salty sea dog feel right at home. Just around the corner, I was surprised to find a trendy pop-up selling designer hats and boots. Something old, something new. The artwork in the common areas is a mix of the whimsical and the profound. In the Tiger Lily restaurant, a mural by Andreas Welin featuring a tiger entwined with lilies dominates the space. Over at the Nomad Day Bar, MP Auer's mural captures the lazy, hazy vibe of a perfect summer day. Is it Instagram bait? Maybe. But it's also a genuine celebration of serious artistic talent. A win-win.
Photography by Erik Nissen Johansen
Stepping into my 'Large' room, the vibe was "cozy modernism." The Gothenburg-based design firm Stylt Trampoli has managed to bottle the essence of a Scandinavian summer house and uncork it in the heart of the nation’s capital.
Walking the fine line between quirky and stylish, the space felt authentically cool and undeniably local. Traditional wood paneling and stick-back chairs nodded to old summer cottages, while the sleek desk setup reminded me I was here to do some work, too. The walls were a collage of posters, old family photos, and works by contemporary Danish artists – like scrolling through your cool Danish artist friend's IG feed.
But the best part of the room wasn’t in the room at all. As I sipped on a complimentary drink from the minibar, I was treated to a five-star view of the iconic Copenhagen Opera House. It’s a behemoth of neo-futurist design, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, and the starkest of stark contrasts to my nautical-chic surroundings. This juxtaposition, I realized, is Copenhagen in a nutshell – deeply rooted in history yet unafraid to embrace the future.
Photography by Stephan Lemke
As a remote worker, I've developed a sixth sense for good co-working spaces. Copenhagen's Paludan Bog & Café is one of my favorite places in the world to spend eight hours staring at my laptop. 25hours might just be the next best spot in the city. I spent a good chunk of my stay working away in a gorgeous semi-private space just off the lobby on the hotel's ground floor where bold navy blue built-ins teem with richly curated books and ephemera, tasteful pendant lights provide a warm, productivity-fueling glow, and HAY swivel chairs provide much-needed lumbar support for marathon work sessions. More than once, I had to assure a Zoom caller that, "No, my background isn't fake."
The larger workspace off the lobby feels more like a creative studio than a boardroom. Through its huge glass-paned walls, I watched a group of important-looking and sleekly-dressed business types hold court around the oak and metal conference table as if in a Warby Parker ad brought to life.
Photography by Stephan Lemke
In an era when every boutique hotel seems to be a carbon copy of the last, 25hours Hotel Copenhagen Paper Island is a refreshing splash of cold North Sea water to the face. It resists the creeping sameness that has infected so much of our designed world – daring to be different by staying true to its native roots.
This hotel doesn't just pay lip service to the idea of local character; it embodies it. From the maritime charts decorating the rooms to the fishing rods available for guest use, it's a deep dive into Copenhagen's seafaring soul. Yet it manages to do this without feeling like a nautical theme park. It's subtle, it's clever, and most importantly, it's genuine.
Photography by Stephan Lemke
The Verdict: A Harbor for Design Enthusiasts
As I reluctantly checked out, already mentally planning my return trip, I realized that the 25hours Hotel Copenhagen Paper Island had achieved something rare. It managed to be deeply rooted in its local history and culture while still feeling totally fresh and unexpected. It's a hotel that rewards the curious, with layers of design and storytelling that reveal themselves to those who are thoughtful enough to peel them back. For the design-obsessed traveler, this hotel is more than just a place to sleep. It's a destination in itself, a case study in how thoughtful design can transform a space, tell a story, and create an experience that lingers long after you've returned home.