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Hotel Phoenix Copenhagen
From the world of yesterday to the world of today
A LOOK BACK IN HISTORY
In order to understand the present, one must occasionally take a look back at
the past. At Hotel Phoenix Copenhagen, history plays a very central role. History
is part of the place. At Hotel Phoenix Copenhagen, our history is ever-present in
our every day – and our habits, traditions and customs as well as our language and
gestures are steeped in that history. The hotel's history is firmly rooted in how the
hotel is run today, and there is a sense of pride and humility in being able to be part
of a hotel with such a unique spirit and history.
In this brochure you can read about how Hotel Phoenix Copenhagen came to be
and its development over the years from the 1680s to the present day. We hope you
will find this historical retrospective interesting and give yourself the experience of
visiting Hotel Phoenix Copenhagen – we are ready to welcome you.
The phoenix has again been lured out of the ashes with a shiny new and magnificent nest to
match the former grandeur and splendour. The ancient Greek myth of the phoenix has again
been given a modern counterpart – a symbol of the fact that all things must pass, to later re-emerge.
THE PLESSENSKE GAARD BECOMES A
MANSION
THE FIRST HOTEL
THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE PHOENIX
HOTEL
From the death of Gyldensteen in 1749 and up until the 1830’s,
The foundation for the future Phoenix Hotel was laid as far back as in
the property had a number of residents. Owners included such col-
The place and the style appealed to a very special clientele. And the
the 1680s. Colonel Samuel Christof von Plessen, commanding officer
ourful personalities as the co-founder of the East Indian Compa-
Phoenix Hotel succeeded in making itself the most distinguished
of the Royal Life Guards, built an imposing new place. The original
ny (ØK), Brigadier William von Halling, who kept African slaves in
hotel of the town, and to maintain this position for more than a gen-
building comprised a 12-window, two-storey house with a basement,
the basement, and celebrities such as the court clockmaker, Urban
eration. If a wedding was to be celebrated in true style, there was no
a low 4-window brickwork attic, and a 3-window gable facing
Jürgensen, who lived in the side-wing from 1819 until his death in
other place than the Phoenix Hotel. Also jubilees, parties and other
Dronningens Tværgade. It was one of the first houses in the area,
1830.
gatherings of aristocrats and well-to-do people took place under the
which at the time was still relatively open and park-like, dominated
The Bredgade area was clearly the most distinguished part of
heavy crystal chandeliers, which indeed lit up entire chapters of Dan-
by the grandiose garden named after Queen Sophie Amalie.
Copenhagen, frequented by officers and gentlemen of the Court.
ish history as a host of prominent guests.
Over the following decades, an area of distinguished mansions for the
But something was a missing in the midst of all this splendour:
The first permanent guest of the hotel was the poet Adam Oehlen-
aristocracy of those times came into being around Den Plessenske
a rendezvous where refreshments could be taken and where gen-
schläger, who stayed there from 1848 to 1849. Christian VIII paid sev-
Gaard. This development was accelerated when in 1749, at the
tlemen could withdraw to play a game of billiards without having
eral visits there, and on major occasions in the Royal family, Chris-
request of Frederik V, four noblemen built the four mansions forming
to face the rather mixed company at other quality hotels. William
tian IX would lodge visiting royalty, for whom there was no room at
today’s Amalienborg.
Murdoch, a Scotsman, saw to this. He bought The Plessenske Gaard
Amalienborg, at „certainly the most fashionable hotel in town”. Thus
Not long before that, in 1730, Den Plessenske Gaard was bought by
in 1837 and subsequently rebuilt it, adding a low third storey, after
in 1905, the Phoenix Hotel saw red sentry boxes with life guards at the
Jean Henri Huguetan Gyldensteen, a well-to-do Frenchman, who
which it was reborn as a restaurant called „Stadt Hamburg”.
main entrance. When, in 1917, Henry Søborg took over the Phoenix
had arrived in Denmark in 1711 and been so successful that he had
„Stadt Hamburg” was successful, and in the following 10 years Mur-
Hotel, times were changing. The landed aristocracy could no longer
been ennobled. In his time, a 7-window wing facing Dronningens
doch made a fortune. The 1840s were a time of fermentation. 1847
afford prolonged stays in the capital. Besides, it was now possible and
Tværgade was built as an independent mansion in rococo style.
saw the opening of the first Danish railway between Copenhagen
easy to go to town and back again on the same day. Also, social life had
and Roskilde. In the same decade J.C. Jacobsen, the brewer, began
taken on a new character, and the Phoenix was not exactly the obvious
to market the first Carlsberg beer. Albeck, the court baker, made
venue for an evening in town for the generations of the twenties.
the first Danish pastry, matches replaced tinderboxes, and in 1843
Even so, Henry Søborg did his best to maintain the traditions of the
Georg Carstensen, former lieutenant of the Danish voluntary corps,
hotel and its clientele by unswerving loyalty to his ideals of graceful
opened a resort called the Tivoli. It was also Georg Carstensen who
living. The leading interior decorators of the town were allowed to
came up with the idea that Copenhagen should have a modern, ex-
The papers of the time describe in detail how the Phoenix Hotel as-
throw out all the old furniture and replace it with new and sophisti-
clusive hotel for visiting landed gentry. And why not build it in the
tonished the citizens of Copenhagen and filled them with enthusiasm
cated decor from top to bottom.
middle of the aristocratic area.
when it opened. Owing to a consistent use of a style that recalled a
But the existence of the Phoenix Hotel was still threatened. In the
However, it was not Georg Carstensen but a merchant, Joachim
quality drawing room, with soft and comfortable furniture on parquet
1930s, things began to go downhill for the proud and timehonoured
Topp, who conceived the idea of letting „Stadt Hamburg” disappear
flooring, the natural clientele of the hotel, the landed gentry and the
hotel. Part of the old clientele remained faithful. But they grew older,
to rise again, rejuvenated, as the legendary Phoenix from its ashes.
gentlemen of the Court and civil servants, soon came to feel at home,
and disappeared. And then, in 1940, the hotel, already then somewhat
So why not call the new hotel the Phoenix? No sooner said than
and it became just the right place to stay when visiting Copenhagen.
shabby, was taken over by the German Wehrmacht for the use of German
done. Topp founded a limited company, which bought „Stadt Ham-
The cuisine, too, was to have quality. With that in mind, Stephen
officers and their guests, and when liberation came in 1945, the hotel was
burg" from Murdoch.
á Porta was called in from Switzerland; his name still appears in
used as military headquarters for the Allied Forces. When the building
And then they began to tear down and rebuild with a complete third
resplendent letters above the popular café at Kgs. Nytorv. During the
was empty once again, nobody had either the courage or the means to
storey, developing the attic and adding 4-windows. The building
eight years he was in charge of the kitchen at the Phoenix Hotel, he
call the Phoenix from its burnt-out nest once again. Paradoxically, the
was made to continue round the corner of Dronningens Tværgade
introduced such items as the hot lunch „dejéuner à la fourchette”.
property was bought by the Communist Party of Denmark in 1946, who
in three storeys, so that Gyldensteen’s small mansion disappeared
set up their party headquarters there and used it for their newspaper
altogether. This was indeed a brand-new hotel. Sumptuosly mod-
„Land og Folk”, whose offices came to occupy the very rooms which for
ernized and furnished according to all the rules of Victorian fashion.
ages had been the stronghold of the aristocracy.
A NEW PHOENIX HOTEL EMERGES
RESTAURANT GYLDENSTEEN
THE FREDENSBORG SUITE #1112
THE AMALIENBORG SUITE #2212
THE ROSENBORG SUITE # 3312
Towards the end of the 1980s, there was another period of unrest. Not
JEAN HENRI HUGUETAN GYLDENSTEEN
FREDENSBORG CASTLE
AMALIENBORG CASTLE
ROSENBORG CASTLE
curtains corroding, and the Communist Party of Denmark was short of
Jean Henri Huguetan Gyldensteen was born in Lyons in 1654 as the son
Fredensborg is the Royal summer residence at Fredensborg in North
Amalienborg is the Copenhagen residence of the Royal family; it was
Rosenborg is a former Danish chateau in Copenhagen. Originally it
funds and forced to sell their property. In 1990, the house was bought
of a printer and bookseller. His talents for banking first appeared when
Zealand; it was built from 1719 to 1722 for Frederik IV by the archi-
built between 1749 and 1760 by the architect Nicolai Eigtved, and is
was built as a summer residence in the years 1606 to 1607, and re-
by the Arp-Hansen family, who already owned and ran the Gentofte
as a very young man he ran a big business as money lender and busi-
tect J. C. Krieger in a style influenced by Italian baroque, with one
a major specimen of European Rococo. The four identical mansions
built by Christian IV from 1613 to 1634 in Dutch Renaissance style.
Hotel, the Hotel Opera, the Grand Hotel, the Hotel Astoria, the 71
ness manager for young aristocrats and the gentlemen of the Court.
central building containing a large domed hall and an octagonal
were built for the noble families of Moltke, Levetzau, Brockdorff and
The exterior of Rosenborg is more or less the same today as when
Nyhavn Hotel and the Hotel Christian IV. Once again, the Phoenix was
His later exploits included as different occupations as bookselling and
square, surrounded by low buildings. In 1753, the architect Nicolai
Schack, and placed in the garden of what was then Sophie Ama-
Christian IV died. Particularly the banqueting hall deserves mention
to be lured out of its ashes by the offer of a brand-new magnificent nest
arms trade all over Europe. In 1711, he appeared in Denmark with a
Eigtved built the four corner pavilions. From 1774 to 1776, the archi-
lienborg. Amalienborg became the Royal residence after the fire of
for its beautiful stucco ceiling from 1706 to 1707. Rosenborg is now a
to match the grandeur and splendour of the past.
Dutch title, the „Baron of Odyk”, and a considerable fortune which
tect C. F. Harsdorff created the present appearance of Fredensborg
Christiansborg in 1794. Also in that year, the colonnade between the
museum for the Royal collections, particularly of furniture, china and
The old Greek myth about the Phoenix had come alive again – as a
was invested in land, a.o. the manors of Enggard, Oregaard and Ugger-
by adding to the wings in the yard. The chapel, also designed by J. C.
Schack and Moltke mansions was built. In Moltke’s mansion, there
porcelain, and a recently renovated collection of Venetian glass. In
symbol of the fact that everything passes away, only to be reborn.
slevgaard on Funen.
Krieger, was built in 1725 in a style influenced by Dutch Baroque. The
is a magnificent rococo hall. In the courtyard is Saly’s world-famous
the basement, we find the Danish regalia and crown jewels.
Ladies and gentlemen: Welcome to the Phoenix Copenhagen.
Soon he was admitted to the Court, where he became financial advis-
park, originally laid out by Krieger, was changed from 1759 to 1769 by
equestrian statue of Frederik V. Today Queen Margrethe and Prince
er to Frederik IV. In 1714, he was made chamberlain. In 1717, he was
Nicholas Henri Jardin, who is remembered for the Marmorhaven with
Henrik reside in Schack’s (Christian IX’s) mansion.
knighted, and in 1720 he was ennobled as Count of Gyldensteen.
Wiedewelt’s sculptures, the Nordmandsdalen with statues by J. G.
so much in Denmark as in the rest of Europe. Walls were falling, iron
Grund, and other works. When the Royal family is not in residence
RESTAURANT VON PLESSEN
BRASSERIE MURDOCH´S
OBERST SAMUEL CHRISTOF von PLESSEN
WILLIAM MURDOCH
Den Plessenske Gaard, whose buildings form part of the Phoenix
William Murdoch was born in Scotland and trained as an engineer. In
Copenhagen Hotel of today, was built in the 1680s by the Schleswig-
1827, under the Danish commander Rothe, he sailed as first engineer
born Colonel Samuel Christof von Plessen, commanding officer of the
on the Royal Danish steamship, the „Kiel”. When one day the cook de-
Royal Life Guards.
serted, Murdoch offered to cook for the officers’ mess.
He was a great success and in confidence told the commander that his
dream was to open a restaurant in Copenhagen. Rothe remembered
this when 10 years later he ran into Murdoch again in Copenhagen,
just as Rothe and his set were looking for a first rate restaurant manager to open an exclusive restaurant in the Bredgade area.
Rothe also handled the formalities with the King, as Murdoch as an
alien, lacking formal training in the trade, was not entitled to a trade
license. It was probably also Rothe who was behind the investors who
enabled Murdoch to acquire Gyldensteen Palæ in 1837
at Fredensborg, the park and the gardens are open to the public.
THE HENRY SOEBORG SUITE#1102
THE OEHLENSCHLÄGER SUITE #2202
CONFERENCE ROOMS
HENRY SØBORG
ADAM OEHLENSCHLÄGER
FREDERIK III
Henry Søborg owned and ran the
Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger (1779-1850) was one of the most
Frederik III (1609 to 1670) was a son of Christian IV – perhaps the
Phoenix Hotel from 1917 until his
famous poets of the golden age of Danish literature. He made his
most famous of all Danish kings. On the death of his older brother
death. He was the son of a crofter
first appearance as an actor at the Royal Theatre in 1797, but in 1799
Christian in 1647, Frederik was elected heir to the throne, and already
from Esbønderup. As a young lad he
resigned to devote himself to his writing. His true career began when
the following year, in 1648, he ascended to the throne on the death
left for the capital to be trained in
he had met Henrik Steffens, and the meeting resulted in what is
of Christian IV. Supported by the commoners, Frederik III introduced
the hotel business. He continued his
probably the most famous poem of Danish romanticism, „The Golden
hereditary rule, and later absolute monarchy.
training in London, Paris, Hannover
Horns”, which was included in „Poems” in 1803. In 1805, „Poetical
and Berlin. This experience was part
Writings” appeared with the lyrical drama, „Aladdin”, based on the
of a well-made plan, viz. to get his own
fairy tale. Later followed the tragedies of „Palnatoke”, and „Axel and
hotel.
Valborg”, etc. In 1810, Oehlenschläger was appointed professor of
Frederik V was a son of Christian IV and born in 1723. During his reign
On his return, he obtained a position at the favourite resort of the
aesthetics. After that, he led the quiet life of an industrious pillar of
from 1746 to 1766, Frederik V among other things built the Royal Or-
aristocracy: The Phoenix Hotel. At the time, he was in his twenties,
society, and only rarely reached the peaks of his early work.
phanage and Frederiks Hospital, now the Museum of Applied Art, in
Gyldensteen conference or function room
in a setting which harks back to the Golden
Age, but with technical facilities and a level
but already then he decided that he must own this magnificent hotel.
His way to the Phoenix Hotel went via the Hotel Kronprinsen in Hillerød, which he bought at the age of 34, and the Slotspavillonen in
FREDERIK V
Bredgade. Besides, he was the founder of the Royal Danish Academy
CHRISTIAN HARTMAN #3302
the park of Frederiksborg Castle. His dream came true when he was
nearly 51, and under his management the ideals of preserving the
of service that are fully up-to-date.
of Art at Charlottenborg, Kongens Nytorv. However, what is chiefly
remembered is his founding of the Frederikstaden with Amalienborg
and the many neighbouring aristocratic mansions. In the middle of
CHRISTIAN HARTMAN
Phoenix as a paragon of old time elegance were maintained.
Amalienborg Square, one can now see Frederik V on horseback, one
of the world’s most celebrated equestrian statues.
Christian Hartman was a Danish writer who lived at the Phoenix
Hotel in his youth. In his book, „The Victoria Hotel”, he drew on his
Frederik VII conference or function room, also with techFREDERIK VII
experiences of the Phoenix.
requirements.
Frederik VII (1808 to 1863) became one of the most controversial
THE LOUISE HEIBERG SUITE #4402
kings in Danish history when, in 1850, two years after his succession
to the throne, he married his mistress, Louise Rasmussen, who for the
occasion was given the title of Countess Danner.
JOHANNE LOUISE HEIBERG
This was quite a leap for the former ballet girl, and a source of indignation for the citizens. Nonetheless, Frederik VII was beloved by the
The legendary Danish actress, Johanne Louise Heiberg,
people because of his straightforward manner. Indeed, one of his first
(née Pätges) lived from 1812 to 1890.
tasks as king was to abolish the absolute monarchy and to pave the
Mrs. Heiberg came from a poor home and in 1829 was
way for the first constitution of the country in June 1849.
admitted to the ballet school of the Royal Theatre. Here
Johan Ludvig Heiberg discovered her talent and in 1826
wrote „April Fools” for her. In 1831 they married and the
couple soon became centre of Danish cultural life.
nical facilities and a level of service that meet all modern
GALLERY CORRIDOR AT PHOENIX COPENHAGEN
MICHAEL ANCHER (1849-1927)
CARL FIEBIG (1812-1874)
CHRISTIAN ALBRECHT JENSEN (1792-1870)
EDWARD SPENCE (1822-1866)
At Phoenix Copenhagen, you will find a special selection of the Arp-Hansen family's private Golden Age art
VIEW FROM BRØNDUMS HOTEL IN SKAGEN
PORTRAIT PAINTER OF FREDERIK VII
KOMTESSE SCHIMMELMANN
STATUE OF OPHELIA
and respect for the history of the hotel, which is important when the hotel is continuously redecorated and
The young dark-haired woman standing behind the pianist is the daughter from Brøndums hotel, Anna
Frederik VII reportedly commissioned this painting and used it as
The later Baroness Blücher-Altona, daughter of Count Heinrich
The statue of Hamlet's fiancée that has a history of its very own:
renovated.
Brøndum, who later married painter Michael Ancher and became an artist herself. Both were central figures
used it as part of a barter deal with Chamberlain Berling (found-
Schimmelmann, who built the present Odd Fellow Palace, opposite
Commissioned in 1850 by the director of the British railways, it stood
As something special, we have selected three Golden Age art paintings by artists Michael Ancher, Carl
of the artists' colony in Skagen, which also included P.S. Krøyer, Holger Drachmann and Laurits Tuxen.
er of Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidende) in return for Louise
the Phoenix Copenhagen in Bredgade. The little Countess would
in an English country garden until appearing at an exhibition in
Fiebig and Christian Albrecht Jensen – and the statue of Ophelia by Benjamin Edward Spence. There are
Michael Ancher came to Skagen as a 25-year-old in 1874. He was one of the first artists to take an interest
Rasmussen, also known as Countess Danner. The painting was in the
probably have run around and played in the street outside.
London, where it was so admired by the English Queen Victoria that
more paintings at the hotel.
in Skagen, and he was the only one of the visiting artists who settled in the town. Through his marriage to
ownership of the Berling family until Master Builder Alf Arp-Hansen
she wanted to buy it. She could not, however, so the artist Benjamin
Anna Brøndum, Ancher became part of the local environment, getting closer to the people of Skagen than
purchased it for the opening of Phoenix Copenhagen. Berling did not
Edward Spence made a copy for her. We have the original, and we
the other painters. The Anchers were central figures in the artists' colony in Skagen, which also included P.S.
win Countess Danner, but she followed his advice, and Berling left
do not know the story of how it ended up in Denmark, but the copy
Krøyer, Holger Drachmann and Laurits Tuxen.
a vast fortune to institutions such as 'Kong Frederik VII’s Stiftelse'
remains at Buckingham Palace. Edward Spence was England's answer
(King Frederik VII's Foundation) and 'Jægerspris Stiftelse' (Jægerspris
to the famous Danish sculptor Thorvaldsen.
collection. This collection of Golden Age art leaves a clear mark on the hotel and helps preserve the spirit
Foundation).
THE ARP-HANSEN HOTEL GROUP
The Arp-Hansen Hotel Group consists of 11 privately-owned, centrally-located hotels in Copenhagen
comprising Phoenix Copenhagen, 71 Nyhavn Hotel, Imperial Hotel, Grand Hotel, The Square, Tivoli
Hotel & Congress Center, Copenhagen Island, Copenhagen Strand, Hotel Opera, Wakeup Copenhagen
and Gentofte Hotel.
The group has a total of 2,673 rooms and approximately 20% of the room capacity in Copenhagen. It
is our goal to be among the industry's best when it comes to quality and service, as well as employee
and guest satisfaction.
The group's strategy is:
To develop and run exciting hotel projects.
The group's philiosophy is:
Unique buildings – Unique location – Unique hotels at the best addresses in Copenhagen.
The group's core values are:
Trust – Presence – Commitment to innovation.