Guide to Copenhagen's trendy Vesterbro neighborhood

If you want to tap into Scandi cool, make sure Vesterbro is the first stop on your tour of Copenhagen. Once one of the less salubrious parts of town, it's since been reincarnated as a fashionable hotspot for the city's artists and foodies.

Wide streets lined with al fresco café tables guide you through this charming neighborhood of Vesterbro, located just south of the Langebro bridge and a ten-minute car ride from our Radisson Blu Scandanavia Hotel, Copenhagen. For creative types, leading galleries in the area include V1, which has a reputation for promoting thought-provoking international artists, and Vess, an exciting young gallery that attracts impressive crowds with its multimedia exhibitions.

Designer boutiques, cluttered record shops, and custom-made bicycle stores all spill out onto the streets of Vesterbro. Start your excursion with a stroll down Istedgade, where Kaffe and Vinyl proves that vintage records and perfectly-brewed coffee are a match made in heaven. Find a formal show-stopper among the antique evening gowns and carefully curated garments at Beware of Limbo Dancers, or pick up chic and colorful homewares at Girlie Hurly. You can rummage through cheerful fabrics and colorful floral rompers for kids at Tout Petit, or for more grown-up furniture, clothing, and lifestyle designs, visit Designer Zoo on Vesterbrogade. It's filled with work by local designers who staff the shop themselves, so you're guaranteed expert advice.

A cluster of eateries are housed in what used to be fishmonger's and butcher's shops, retaining their original Meatpacking District chic with minimalist white tiled walls. One of the highlights is Kul, where you can nosh on delicate raw scallops with kimchee, yuzu, and sesame, or opt for the hearty down-home flavors of rib on bone with a side of mac and cheese. Værnedamsvej is a picturesque street that's another top spot for foodies – particularly Francophiles, with its selection of wine bars, cheese shops, and bistros tucked amidst art galleries. Don't miss a trip to Les Trois Cochons for rustic French cuisine, including casual favorites like Niçoise salad and juicy steak frites. Vegetarians will want to head back to Istedgade for an inventive, fresh salad in a buffet setting at the quirky MADglad cafeteria.

When the sun goes down, Vesterbro wakes up, with a lively bar and club scene. If you're looking for something a little more mellow, you can sink back into a leather chair with a freshly muddled cocktail and listen to live jazz music at Lidkoeb. For a girly evening, head to 1656, where the bartenders incorporate fruit purees and tart compotes into dangerously moreish concoctions. Finally, dance the night away to live music at Vega. One of Denmark's most popular historic music venues, it's hosted concerts by Prince, David Bowie and Björk.