The Restaurant Esmée Copenhagen, designed by the award-winning design duo Space Copenhagen, is an elegant and light-filled culinary destination located on the sunny side of the historic Kongens Nytorv square in the heart of the city center. Developed in close collaboration with acclaimed chef Andreas Bagh, the interior architecture is conceived as a lively, urban orangery that marries the classic spirit of La Belle Époque with a fresh, modern Scandinavian sensibility. The restaurant’s visual narrative centers around a light and naturalistic tapestry that bridges the gap between indoors and out, utilizing pale tones, rich natural materials, and an abundance of leafy indoor trees and plants arranged at varying heights. A dominant color scheme featuring a multitude of green shades, from soft sage wall panels to deep fern-green upholstered textiles, creates a serene yet energetic atmosphere. Immediately to the left of the main entrance sits a dramatic, high-gloss bar hand-painted in a deep, plum-plum tone that mirrors the front doors of traditional Copenhagen townhouses, topped with a solid natural stone counter. Seating within this moody bar zone includes high Salsa barstools from Sika-Design and custom high bar seating upholstered in a plum-colored, premium leather from Space Copenhagen’s own Nuance collection for Sørensen Leather. Moving into the brighter central dining room, guests relax in the plush curves of Loafer dining chairs, Loafer lounge chairs, and Loafer two-seater sofas provided by the design brand &Tradition. The lighting design avoids standard fixtures, instead relying on the geometric, sculptural forms of the 1920s Fly Light reissue by Galerie MCDE, which uses alabaster panels to throw a soft, uniform glow. The restaurant expands toward the rear into an open kitchen flanked by deep booth seating and an adjacent, multipurpose private dining room. For this exclusive private area, the designers partnered with Studio Oliver Gustav to source a dramatic vintage Italian cabinet that serves as an artistic focal piece and waiter station. Thick green drapes and heavy glass doors draw open to connect the dining room with a secluded, U-shaped cobblestone courtyard garden. This tranquil outdoor space is fully furnished with Sika-Design's woven Margret dining chairs set around custom benches crafted from beautiful cumaru hardwood that is allowed to naturally patina over time
