
Samantha Pettyjohn/Business Insider
When you picture a high-end stay in Copenhagen, you might imagine a historic European space or a room inspired by the Danish concept of hygge.
But those images don’t apply to Manon les Suites, one of the buzziest hotels in Copenhagen.
Manon les Suites, a Guldsmeden hotel, offers a break from the city’s Scandinavian vibes with a Bali-inspired aesthetic. Full of lush greenery, a massive pool, and sustainably designed spaces, the hotel has 87 rooms, all of which are suites (hence the name). It offers guests other amenities like a rooftop restaurant, gym, and basement bar as well.
Manon les Suites is best known for its Instagram-worthy Junglefish pool and for being an adults-only haven. All guests at the hotel must be 15 or older, though Guldsmeden has other properties in Copenhagen that are open to guests of all ages. On a recent work trip to the city, I knew I had to check out the hotel for myself.
The one night I stayed at Manon les Suites ended up being one of my best travel experiences to date, though the adults-only environment had little to do with it.
I arrived at Manon les Suites midmorning on a Wednesday.

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Manon les Suites is one of several high-end hotels in Copenhagen. While its rooms can be expensive, its prices are actually on the lower end of comparable hotels, especially when you consider that all of its rooms are suites.
The hotel has petite, classic, and deluxe suites, as well as poolside options. I booked a classic poolside suite for a discounted media rate of 214 euros, which is around $250. The room typically costs about $500.
In addition to the suite, the booking included breakfast at the hotel’s buffet, pool and spa access, and a bottle of bubbly upon arrival.
Check-in time was 3 p.m., but I swung by the hotel in the morning to drop off my luggage because I was already in town. The front desk team was kind and welcoming to me and my husband, who was traveling with me, letting us know they would stow our luggage and get us into a room as quickly as possible. The suite ended up being ready at 12:30 p.m.
My room was on the second floor, right next to the pool.

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When you walk out of any room at Manon les Suites, you can see the Junglefish pool, which is positioned in a courtyard on the second floor. My suite was directly next to it, so I got a close-up view every time I left the room.
When I stepped out of the elevator and got my first glimpse of the pool deck, my jaw dropped. As I took in the water, the greenery surrounding the pool from every angle, and the glass ceiling that provided natural light, it felt like I had been transported to another world.
A few guests paddled in the water while others lounged on surrounding cabana chairs. A staffer was stationed at a small bar so guests could order drinks or snacks. It looked like heaven.
I couldn’t wait to spend time there.
The entrance to the suite was immediately inviting.

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I knew my room would be a suite, but I wasn’t sure how large the space would be before I stepped inside.
When I opened the door, I was greeted by a small kitchen with a Smeg coffeemaker and sink. There was also a half-bath right next to it, and a door to the left could be closed to separate the entryway from the rest of the suite.
The additional door was a nice touch considering the room’s proximity to the pool, where guests often socialize.
The living area was spacious and chic.

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When I walked through the second door, I stepped into a living area that had two couches, a TV, a coffee table, and a separate dining table.
Large windows provided natural light, and several lamps adorned the space. Hardwood floors contrasted with the cement ceiling to create a cozy yet modern feel. Two archways led to the bedroom and full bathroom, but they could be closed with pocket doors for privacy.
I was impressed by how big the suite was, as I’ve often stayed in smaller spaces when I’ve visited Europe or other big cities. My husband and I ended up keeping our luggage in the living area to prevent the bedroom from feeling too crowded.
The bedroom was tucked into the corner with a dividing wall keeping it private.

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I wanted to dive into the bed the second I saw it.
The frame was built into the wall that separated the living area and bedroom, and curtains hung on either side to create a modern take on a canopy. It was private and inviting, and I could already see myself snuggling into the plush comforter later that evening.
The bed was designed for lounge time in addition to sleep. There was a second television on the wall at the end of the bed, and lights were built into the frame above the other side to make reading easy if the curtains were closed. There was also a shelf above the bed, which was a lovely convenience.
The bedroom also featured a dresser and a full bathroom with a shower and vanity.
There were sustainable touches all over the suite.

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I knew sustainability was part of Manon les Suites’ mission, but I was impressed by how many eco-friendly touches there were throughout my suite and how seamlessly they were built into the space.
For instance, I was a bit confused when I first explored the suite, as none of the lights would turn on when I flipped the switches. Then, I realized there was a master switch at the entrance to the suite controlled by a hotel key, allowing you to turn the power off to conserve energy when you left the room.
In the bathroom, I also found a bamboo hairbrush, a bamboo toothbrush, toothpaste tablets, and crystal deodorant. The offerings felt luxurious, and they offered sustainable alternatives to products most people use daily.
The room also came with gear designed for the pool.

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Two printed robes were hanging on the dresser in the bedroom, along with rolled-up towels and refillable water bottles. I also found two sets of slippers on a shelf below.
Of course, the robe and slippers could be worn around the room, but because there were additional towels in the bathroom and I had already spotted people wearing them around the pool, I deduced that they were provided with pool lounging in mind.
A tag on the robes advertised that they were “chipped,” discouraging guests from trying to take them home with them. However, if you really wanted to take one home, you could purchase a robe in the lobby.
Staff went out of their way to make the stay comfortable.

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Staff’s attention to detail and welcoming energy made a huge difference in my stay at Manon les Suites.
For example, my luggage was already waiting for me in the room when I came back in the afternoon to check into the hotel, so I didn’t have to worry about getting it upstairs.
Then, exactly five minutes after I got to my room, I heard a knock at the door. I opened it to find a kind staffer arriving with the bottle of bubbly that came with the room. The timing was impeccable.
Later, staff did turn-down service while I was spending time at the pool, and the bed felt even more inviting after the transformation. The blinds in the bedroom had been closed, the curtains on the bed were shut, and chocolates were arranged on the pillows.
Although they were small gestures, the staff’s attention to detail added to the relaxing ambiance of Manon les Suites.
I headed to the pool as soon as possible.

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After I settled into the room, I changed into my swimsuit, grabbed a robe and slippers, poured a glass of sparkling wine, and headed to the pool. I was just as overwhelmed by the beauty of the space as I had been before, and I couldn’t believe I got to spend time in the luxurious space.
As we walked in to find a seat, a bartender stopped me and my husband, asking us to pour our wine into plastic glasses instead of the glass flutes we had been drinking from in our room. It wasn’t a big deal, and he said we were welcome to bring the bottle of bubbly with us as we lounged. I was glad to know I shouldn’t bring glasses with me to the pool again, though.
A few other guests were spending time at the pool that afternoon, and because everyone there was an adult, the space had a quiet, relaxing energy.
Towels were provided for guests on the seats surrounding the pool.

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The seating around the pool was first-come, first-served, so I was happy a cabana was available when we arrived. I grabbed a two-seater just on the edge of the water.
I liked that the cabana featured a small curtain to make it feel private from the other seats nearby. There was also a table to the side where we could place our glasses, and a food-and-drink menu rested nearby for us to peruse at our leisure.
Many guests seemed to be taking advantage of the pool during the stay, which didn’t surprise me. You can also buy a day pass to the Junglefish pool if you aren’t a guest, so some of the poolgoers may have just been there for the day.
Spending the afternoon at the pool was a highlight of my stay.

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The two hours I spent at the pool, swimming, sipping wine, and reading, were not only a highlight of my stay at Manon les Suites but of my three-day trip to Copenhagen.
Everything about the pool deck encouraged relaxation, from the plush seating to the ambient music. I felt tension leaving my shoulders as I lounged in the cabana, and staring up at the glass ceiling as I floated in the pool felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The pool was also well-heated, so I could have stayed in there for hours.
It seemed like everyone at the pool was feeling the same way I was. I saw others quietly talking, swimming, and even some snoozing in their cabanas. And despite the adults-only nature of the space, the pool never got rowdy, staying calm throughout the evening when I walked by it later.
I couldn’t believe a haven like this existed in the bustling European city.
I went to the hotel’s rooftop restaurant for dinner.

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We were having such a good time at Manon les Suites that my husband and I decided to have dinner at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant, Chapung, which offered a mix of cuisines.
We opted to sit outside because the weather was nice. The outdoor area was cute, with a collection of shorter bistro tables and blankets available in case it got chilly. The walls surrounding the outdoor patio made it so you couldn’t see the street below, though. I was able to see views of Copenhagen when I sat inside for breakfast (more on that in a bit), but I was a bit disappointed I couldn’t see the street from our dinner table.
I had the Penang curry for dinner, which cost 185 Danish krone (DKK), or about $29.10, and was pretty tasty. I liked my appetizers better, which included a Broccolini dish (75 DKK) and french fries (65 DKK). A refreshing cocktail called the Skinny Lady, which cost 95 DKK, completed the meal. Altogether, the meal cost 420 DKK, and I added a 5% tip, which I saw online was customary in Copenhagen, for a total of 440 DKK, or just over $69.
Other guests dined on the rooftop at the same time as us, and I heard at least one other group of diners saying that it was their second time eating at Chapung during their stay. The restaurant’s adult vibe was obvious, too, as people sipped on cocktails and mingled with other diners.
I was glad we chose to eat at the hotel instead of going out that night.
Other amenities like a gym, sauna, and basement bar added to Manon les Suites’ appeal.

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After dinner, I spent some time exploring the hotel’s other recreational areas. There was a sauna and a cold plunge on the roof, and I found a bar, massage rooms, and a spacious gym in the basement.
I was particularly impressed by the massive gym, which had everything from exercise machines to punching bags. I found myself regretting not staying at Manon les Suites longer, as I wished I had time to take advantage of all of its amenities.
I slept like a baby in the canopy bed.

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The suite was surprisingly quiet despite its proximity to the pool. Once I stepped away from the kitchen in the suite, I couldn’t hear anything outside. We didn’t even bother shutting the door that closed off the entryway.
When I lay down to go to sleep, I slept harder than I had in days, finally feeling like I rested enough to get rid of the jetlag that had plagued me on the trip.
If I hadn’t set an alarm, I probably would have slept the morning away thanks to the quiet of the room and the darkness the curtains provided.
A delicious breakfast buffet rounded out my stay.

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Although I was sleeping so well, getting up wasn’t too difficult when I remembered the breakfast buffet awaiting me upstairs at Chapung. The restaurant was much busier in the morning than it had been the night before, so we quickly grabbed a table inside the restaurant before hitting the buffet.
It had almost everything I could think of to eat, as well as coffee, tea, and juice. Staff were also on hand to make specialty coffee beverages or breakfast drinks like mimosas.
I enjoyed a latte with my breakfast spread, and while the food was delicious — Nutella-covered crepes have my heart — there was something I liked even more about my breakfast experience.
I loved the view of Copenhagen from the rooftop.

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I could see glimpses of the city from the glass windows surrounding the restaurant, and after I ate, I popped onto the small balcony on the far end of the dining room to get a better look.
The view was incredible. It was a clear day, and I felt like I could see all of Copenhagen from the balcony. I found myself torn between wanting to explore the city on foot and staring at it from the roof.
We gathered our luggage shortly after breakfast, and before we could even ask, a front desk attendant asked if we would like Manon les Suites to stow our bags for us while we explored the city after checkout. We took her up on it, coming back to grab our bags a few hours later when we headed to the airport.
The kid-free environment was fun, but it wasn’t the highlight of my stay at Manon les Suites.

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Even though it lasted just one night, my stay at Manon les Suites is one of my favorite hotel experiences to date.
The suite was beautiful, and the sustainable touches added to the luxurious feel. Spending time at the Junglefish pool would have been incredible no matter where I was, but it felt extra special to be in a tropical-feeling space in the heart of a northern European city.
The adults-only atmosphere certainly added to the fun of my stay at Manon les Suites, but it was really how attentive the staff was that made all the difference for me. I felt welcome from the moment I stepped into the hotel, and it seemed like the staff approached every guest with intentionality and care.
I think Manon les Suites is definitely worth a stay for tourists visiting Copenhagen. You might come for the adults-only environment or the iconic pool, but you’ll stay for the service.
Personally, my only regret was that we didn’t get to enjoy a second evening in the hotel.
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