Simply Abu Dhabi XX

2 9 4 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I All of these properties have their own charms and advantages, and when you can pry yourself away form there comforting embrace, head straight for Strøget, which is the main high street in Copenhagen and runs like an artery down five continuous, pedestrianized streets. It’s always busy and it’s a good introduction to the melting pot of people. The key here though is to stray form the main thoroughfare and get lost in the side streets to find cool independent stores, cafés, bars and restaurants. If a fine dining experience of the loftiest aspirations takes your fancy then the AOC has to be found. This subterranean restaurant has been awarded two Michelin stars and it’s not just an evening of food and wine – it’s a true dining experience with all the senses taken into account. Yes, the taste buds are in for some unprecedented first time revelations, but the entire AOC visit is curated to involve sights and sounds. The service is impeccable, although it does veer towards the very formal. The ‘Sensory’ evening offered by AOC involves a seven or 10- course menu with accompanying wines. The cuisine is based on Nordic produce and the focus of chef Søren Selin is on the pure taste. Situated in the vaulted cellar of a 17th Century historic mansion AOC is just a few minutes from Kings New Square in the centre of Copenhagen. AOC’s sister restaurant, No.2, is also well worth a visit. The same owners means the same level of commitment to excellence is evident and here seasonal delicacies from the beach, sea, forest and field dominate. In short, No.2 offers the best produce Denmark has to offer. For a far more relaxed and informal experience then seek out Gorilla in the hip Meatpacking District of Vesterbro. Restaurant Gorilla is unpretentious and has a great bar alongside killer tapas style snacks. The approach is not dogmatic, and the breezy attitude encompasses a mix of burger and guilty pleases with Mediterranean cuisine. With Spanish food in mind, a foolproof middle ground between formal and laid-back atmospheres is found at Work in Progress Restaurant, along with the city’s best tapas. Located in the hotspot boutique hotel SP34 in the bohemian Latin Quarter. The wine and boundless small delectable dishes here are enough to make you consider a permanent move to Copenhagen, perhaps on the same street, or at least walking distance – it’s that good. All of the above go a long way to lending to some truth to that friendly joke... maybe the best night out in nearby Stockholm really is Copenhagen.