Birthday Fun with My Danish Besties – Skinnydipping & Social Dining by the Copenhagen Canals

Here we go again with more birthday festivities – this time with my lovely Danish besties, Vibeke and Helene! Today it’s skinny-dipping in the sea and social dining at a fabulous hotel in my favourite area of Copenhagen, Christianshavn! I mentioned a few weeks ago that, instead of gifts or a big party for my birthday, I prefer to spend time with friends and family. The best things in life are not the things – for me, it’s the people and experiences!

We started the day just as we do all year round: with a bracing skinnydip in the sea. When I arrived at the bathing club, they were waiting for me with Danish flags in hand – such a sweet surprise! There had been a bit of rain at first, but then the sun came out, woo hoo!

In the evening, we met for a birthday dinner at Hotel Kanalhuset in Christianshavn – one of my absolute favourite neighbourhoods in Copenhagen, full of charm and crisscrossed by canals. Are you beginning to understand that my favourite place to be is beside the sea, or any waterway?! The weather was glorious, so we took a little pre-dinner stroll before heading in for dinner.

Hotel Kanalhuset offers social dining every evening – and it’s something really special. You arrive at 6.30pm, and the staff seat you at long tables with a mix of guests. We ended up beside a lovely group of internationals working in Copenhagen. Last time I was there, I sat with French and American tourists; once before that, older Danish couples and a family celebrating an anniversary. You never know who you’ll meet – it’s part of the magic, and very hygge!

We started with an apéritif: Apérol spritz for Helene, G & T for me and Vibeke had a White Temple Tea. Tea tea, not a cocktail, ha ha!

At 7pm, the experience properly begins: the staff line up and introduce themselves, and the chef presents the evening’s menu. They even mention if someone’s celebrating something – and yes, I got a birthday shout-out! It feels like being at a family celebration or a wedding – cosy, relaxed, and full of people chatting away. It can get rather loud, so take that into account if you are sensitive to noise.

Dinner was, as always, delicious! The menu changes daily and they publish the menu a few days beforehand. We enjoyed slow-cooked beef with rhubarb, a white bean salad with herbs, roasted aubergines and tomatoes with a zesty yoghurt and hazelnuts, a mixed green salad, freshly baked bread and a tangy sauce. Vibeke had the vegetarian option, and everything was beautifully presented and plentiful. At 150 DKK, it’s pricier than some of Copenhagen’s other social dining spots, but for the quality of food, the charming setting, and the lovely service, it’s worth every krone. Dessert (we had the semi-freddo with crumble and berries) or the cheese plate is optional and costs 50 DKK. Do make sure to book your seats well in advance, it sells out every day!

Kanalhuset also hosts all sorts of community events – yoga, “stitch & bitch”, harbour dips, and even daily morning singing to the café across the canal at 7.45am! What a great way to start your day!

If you’re visiting Copenhagen, I can’t recommend it enough – it’s a taste of Danish community spirit at its best. If you can’t make dinner, try their breakfast, lunch or pop in for a cup of coffee and a pastry. And beautiful Christianshavn is always worth a wander around, at any time of day! (Nearest Metro stop is Christianshavn).

Have a fabulous day and remember to keep your friends and family on your radar. Send them a quick text and tell them how much you appreciate them! Oh, and I have a couple more birthday celebrations still to share – watch this space!

Hugs

Diane in Denmark