Review: Copenhagen Marriott Hotel

During my trip to Scandinavia, I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful city of Copenhagen, Denmark. We were only in the city for a short time – about a day and a half – before trekking onwards to our main destination of Norway. Therefore, we opted to stay at the most centrally located Marriott hotel possible, to maximize our time. This was the Copenhagen Marriott Hotel.

I’ve stayed at a few nice Marriotts before, including the Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel and the San Francisco Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf. Read on to see what I thought of the Copenhagen Marriott hotel and how it stacks up with my previous experiences at this brand.

Booking & Check-in

I booked this property using a favorable industry rate of 846.00 DKK per night per room, which works out to about 125 USD per night. We saw per night prices surging as high as 2500 DKK (~350 USD) a few nights before our stay, so the rate we secured seemed to be good value. You could also redeem points at a rate of approximately 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

I opted not to bother trying to use any Nightly Upgrade Awards since we needed two beds and already had secured a two-bed guest room. Furthermore, none of the suites available had more than one bed or bed with a sofa bed.

Check-in went smoothly. We were offered a welcome gift of 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points or a $10 resort credit, of which I chose the former. We were also informed of the complimentary breakfast available from the Midtown restaurant. So far, every Marriott I’ve been to in Europe has not opted for using vouchers like I’ve seen in North America – instead, they just know based on your room number whether you’re entitled to complimentary Elite breakfast or not. It’s been a smooth experience.

Also at check-in, our deluxe double bedroom was upgraded from a city view to a water view. The check-in agent seemed to want to upgrade us further than that, but since we required two beds, a suite upgrade was less suitable for us. 

Location 

The Copenhagen Marriott Hotel is in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark, on Kalvebod Brygge, right on the waterfront of the Copenhagen Harbour. The hotel’s address is Kalvebod Brygge 5, 1560 København V, Denmark. It is situated just a short distance from popular attractions such as Tivoli Gardens, City Hall Square, and the famous shopping street of Strøget. The hotel is easily accessible by public transportation, with the Copenhagen Central Station located just a few minutes walk away.

Overall, the location of this hotel is impeccable and the main reason you are paying a premium for what is arguably a mid-tier brand in the Marriott portfolio of hotels.

Parking

Although we didn’t require it for our stay, the hotel has on-site parking available. Parking is valet-only for a daily rate of 290 DKK (~40 USD).

There appeared to be several other public parking lots located nearby including some free lots. You can also take your chances trying to find street parking.

As a city that favors bicycles, I was happy to not be driving a vehicle. Instead, I opted to rent a bike from the hotel for a short ride for kr150 (~20 USD).

Room – Deluxe Guest Room, 2 Doubles, Water View

The Deluxe Guest room had a basic and familiar setup as other double-bed guest rooms I’ve experienced at other Marriott hotels. 

The two double beds were in the center of the room sharing a single nightstand.

The bed closest to the window had a lounging chair and additional table space. The room included floor-to-ceiling windows which provided a fantastic view of the pier and waterfront below.

Across from the beds were a small coffee station and countertop, a TV on a credenza, and an office table with a chair.

The bathroom was on the right as you entered, directly across from a decent-sized closet. It included a shower tub. The sink had ample counter space.

Overall, the room was a bit antiquated, and the bedding was just okay. The toilet and shower were dated as well and would make gurgling sounds for about 15 minutes after use. The rooms are definitely in need of an update.

Facilities

Fitness Center

The fitness center at the Copenhagen Marriott Hotel was surprisingly spacious and impressive, boasting a plethora of cardio equipment, machines, and free weights. I made two visits to work out during my brief stay, which is unusual for me, especially considering I could easily just run on the Copenhagen waterfront instead.

The changing rooms had ample locker space, as well as nice full and private showers.

It is also worth mentioning that there is a sauna and steam room open from 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM. 

Swimming  – Kalvebod Bølge Harbour Bath

While there was no swimming pool located directly on site, there was something even better located close by – a public bath right on the canal waterfront.

There was even a slide! (Although I’m not sure what this is actually for since it’s made of wood…)

The temperature is close to 8 degrees in the Kalvebod Bolge Harbour bath (in April). I would often see groups of young adults enjoying these baths in the evenings.

Restaurants & Bars

Midtown Breakfast Restaurant  – Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Complimentary Breakfast

The Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status breakfast buffet at the Copenhagen Marriott hotel was extensive and more than made up for any other shortcomings we’d experienced at this property. Perhaps one of the most extensive breakfast buffets I’ve seen.

You know when a buffet features lychee juice, pomegranate juice, and guava juice, that it takes breakfast seriously. Not to mention, homemade ginger shots!

The food in general was all cooked well, particularly with items that can easily be screwed up. The bacon was perfectly crispy, and the sausage and eggs were all cooked to perfection.

The waterfront seating options were also really nice.

The buffet closes at 10:30 AM on weekdays and 11:00 AM on weekends, and they are fairly fast at take-down, so don’t sleep in too much as it gets busier near the final hour.

PIER 5 Bar & Restaurant (Lobby Bar)

Pier 5 is the restaurant area in front of what I would call a lobby bar and also includes the terrace behind the hotel.

I didn’t eat here or enjoy even a cocktail unfortunately so I can’t comment too much, but the food is from the same kitchen as Midtown so I’m confident the quality would be good.

Midtown Grill

The hotel’s main restaurant was the Midtown Grill, which was located in the same place where the breakfast was served (Midtown Breakfast). We did not sit down to eat here during our stay but did order a clubhouse sandwich for room service on the night we arrived. The sandwich was very tasty.

As Canadians, you can expect to pay a premium for nice meals in Denmark, and the Midtown Grill is no exception.

Executive Lounge

The Copenhagen Marriott Hotel has a very nice executive lounge located on the main floor, open daily between 6:00 AM and midnight. 

The offerings included:

• Day-time offerings, 15:00 – 17:00
• Hors d’oeuvres, 17:30 – 19:30
• Beverages (soft drinks, beer & wine), 17:30 – 21:30

We visited this lounge several times during our stay to refresh and refuel. The snacks and assortment of soft drinks, juices, and sparkling water were appreciated.

Complimentary alcoholic beverages were also much appreciated, as Marriotts in North America will charge you extra for premium drinks.

During hors d’oeuvres hour, we made sure to have some beer (Carlsberg of course) and wine along with the yummy appetizers provided, which included fresh bread, a variety of cheeses and meats, and several other finger foods with chipotle mayo and hummus for dipping.

I am a big fan of the Marriott Executive Lounges and M Club Lounges when they are available on a property, and complimentary to loyal Marriott Bonvoy Elite members 😉.

Conclusion

Overall, the Copenhagen Marriott Hotel had a lot going for it. Highlights include its prime location on the waterfront with proximity to the main city attractions and central station, comprehensive and high-quality breakfast buffet spread, and executive lounge offerings throughout the day.

On the other hand, the rooms are rather dated, both in aesthetics and function. They lacked some basic amenities such as a decent coffee machine or kettle. They also charge a steep fee (65 kr) to deliver to your room, which I find a bit unusual. Furthermore, there is essentially only one dining option (dressed up as three different options all using the same kitchen). 

I would certainly stay here again given my discounted rate and complimentary executive lounge access but would caution any non-Marriott loyalist to carefully consider before paying a full cash rate for the hotel in its current state. It needs some updating and additional dining options.