Boutique hotel group and Denmark’s best hotel chain of 2012, Brøchner Hotels, reinvents one of its Copenhagen outposts with a new, easygoing identity and a fresh respect for the setting.

Brøchner Hotels closed the doors of its flamboyant Hotel Fox and after wiping the slate clean with a design overhaul, the Copenhagen hotel reopened under a new name and sporting a fresh, refined look. The new Hotel SP34 does away with the Fox’s kaleidoscope of rooms in favor of a more streamlined décor complete with conference center, cinema, two restaurants and bars, and additional guest rooms. Stripping away the former hotel’s flashy insides, Hotel SP34’s appearance is visually much simpler; though this subtle elegance better reflects the vibe of the Latin Quarter, the neighborhood where the hotel is located. The wood floors, neutral tones, and flood of natural light throughout the hotel create a laid back atmosphere and with a daily “Wine Hour” from 5 to 6 PM when guests are offered a glass of wine to be sipped from the bar lounge or rooftop terrace, you can’t help but relax.

Worlds away from Hotel Fox’s colorful décor and mash up of 60 rooms that ranged in inspiration from Pop Art to Anime, Hotel SP34’s less-designed design aesthetic honors and accentuates the building’s original architecture rather than contradicts it. White walls reflect the light that streams in through the many skylights and large windows giving the augmented and revamped hotel a clean, airy feel. The now 118 rooms, some of which serve as business apartments and include a kitchenette and private entrance, keep with the neutral theme—slate colored walls, white linens, along with wood floors and furniture. Clean, classy, yet comfortable.

The overhaul also included the addition of a two-story conference center with seating for 100 as well as a private cinema that seats up to 25. When it comes to food and drink, Hotel SP34 seems to have it all covered with its organic breakfast buffet, restaurants, and bars. Bar Moritz, where their motto is “Wine—Dine—Repeat,” is inspired by the dining culture in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and San Sebastian. The bar and restaurant offers beer imported from Spanish breweries, an extensive list of international wines, as well as tapas and larger plates for sharing. Cocks & Cows is the hotel’s “classic American burger joint” where everything but the Heinz Ketchup is homemade. To go along with your burger, the eatery is known for its cocktail bar offering up classic and signature cocktails. The major wining and dining bases covered, what’s left is a good old-fashioned coffee house. Din Nye Ven meets caffeine needs as well as offers beer, shots, and sandwiches. The café also serves as a cultural hub, hosting poetry readings, art exhibitions, and concerts.

The name “SP34” is an abbreviation of the hotel’s address—Sankt Peders Stræde 34—located in central Copenhagen in the vibrant and historic Latin Quarter. The neighborhood is bursting with cafés, shops, and boutiques as well as a lively night scene. Once home to the University of Copenhagen established in 1479, the area was known for the Latin language, which was widely spoken among the students and academics. Though the University has long since dispersed into four campuses elsewhere in the city, the name stuck to the neighborhood.

The new Hotel SP34 embraces its classic setting with a simple, modern style. Rather than upstaging its surroundings with an explosion of color and pattern, this toned-down and relaxed design approach within a building full of vast windows, high ceilings, and terraces invites the city into the hotel and celebrates the personality of the neighborhood.

Photography: Brøchner Hotels