Review of Avenue Hotel, by Isabel Clift

A box-ticker on all fronts, Avenue Hotel is a good-value, independent boutique bordering affluent Frederiksberg (which is only a ten minute walk from Copenhagen's Town Hall Square). Everything about this refreshing three star is quirky and memorable - starting with staff, who glide about in uniforms designed by Danish fashion house DAY Birger et Mikkelsen.

The facilities

Artfully mismatched sofas, Turkish rugs and a gleaming pewter bar make up an excellent lobby lounge. Magazines are piled high next to armrests, and cocktail masterclasses are on offer as well as regular Yellow Lounge events (where DJs remix classical music). There's no restaurant, but breakfasts are of superior quality with plenty of fair-trade and organic produce. Another bonus is the pretty patio lounge with its parasols and squashy cushions, which is lantern-lit by night.

The rooms

Rooms vary in shape and size, but all have modern decor with a clever balance of minimalism to cosiness. LAVA LCD TVs, free Wi-Fi, Missoni bedspreads and custom-designed furniture add extra luxury. Check in to an A+ room for more space and treats - including a complimentary non-alcoholic minibar and DVD player.

Families should request one of the four guestrooms with a parents' bedroom and separate lounge with sofa-bed (TVs grace both rooms). Most romantic, though, is room 414 - one corner is a tower section with a leather window seat for two, and it's the only room with a four poster bed. If you're looking for an attractive alternative to homogenised, tourist-central city break hotels, Avenue couldn't be a sounder choice.