Travel: Nimb hotel, Copenhagen

Owned by the Tivoli company, the hotel forms part of the garden’s external wall. Following a major refurbishment, it opened in 2008. The grand Moorish-style front is covered with 4,000 light bulbs, which illuminate at night, while the street side, which faces the main train station, is a large white metal carapace façade.

Despite its size, there are only 14 rooms, including nine suites. Since opening, it has won many accolades, including Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List 2011 for the World’s Best Hotels – the first time a Danish hotel has featured on the list. They were celebrating Halloween when we visited and there were a whopping 30,000 pumpkins around the 15-acre park.

WINING AND DINING? You really are spoilt for choice. There’s the Nimb brasserie, whose three open kitchens allow diners to watch the chefs create seasonal Scandinavian dishes. Breakfast – buffet and à la carte – is also served here. The Nimb terrasse, a French-style bistro, is in the gardens.

Last year, the Bar ‘n’ Grill opened. It’s in the former dairy and serves seafood and meats from the grill. Our waiter picked perfectly the wines to go with our various dining choices. I was on whites while David was on reds to go with his meaty dishes, which included a delicious veal tartare. Next door is the bakery, if you’re just looking for a snack.

If you fancy a treat, book a table at the Michelin-starred Herman. Chef Thomas Herman and his team won a star in 2009, thanks to their new Nordic-style cuisine – think Scandinavian scallops and bisque of dried chamomile, and seared foie gras with pickled cherries. Those who like a tipple should check out Vinotek, a large basement area that is home to around 1,200 wines. Relax at the end of the day with a cocktail in the Nimb bar, a classic hotel bar that is adorned with chandeliers and wall drawings.

ROOM SERVICE? The rooms feature a picture-perfect blend of old and new. Beautiful antique furniture sits alongside a Bang & Olufsen TV and iPod docking station. There’s also free wi-fi. There’s a four-poster bed and a copy of Nimb Herman, a recipe book from the Michelin-starred restaurant – if you can’t afford to dine there you might as well see what you’re missing. The bathroom has underfloor heating and is decked out with a huge free-standing tub as well as twin sinks, Molton Brown toiletries and Vipp accessories.

WORTH GETTING OUT OF BED FOR? With a world-famous amusement park on your doorstep, it would be rude not to. And you don’t need to worry about queuing as hotel guests get complimentary entry. Even if you’re not a fan of scary rides, there is plenty for the faint-hearted – I started on a gentle ride celebrating the work of Hans Christian Andersen but was soon feeling the wind in my hair on one of the world’s oldest wooden rollercoasters. There were also plenty of cafés, restaurants and fast-food kiosks – the Fransk hotdog is a popular snack, but perhaps not before the rollercoaster.

Stroget, the longest pedestrianised street in Europe, is a ten-minute walk away. Here you’ll see familiar high street and designer names such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry, H&M and Topshop. There are also lots of interesting side streets, squares and historic buildings, as well as cool design shops and chic cafés.

BUDGET OR BOUTIQUE? With only 14 rooms, this is boutique but with grand ideas.

LITTLE EXTRAS? All the rooms, bar one, have an open fire. After a thrill-filled but chilly day in the gardens, it was lovely to warm up by a roaring fire. There’s also a bottle of premium Sobieski vodka on the coffee table.

GUESTBOOK COMMENTS? Copenhagen is a beautiful city with much to offer, so explore.

Nimb, Bernstorffsgade 5, 1577 Copenhagen V, Denmark (00 45 8870 0000, www.nimb.dk)