Scenic Kolding, Denmark

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The hotel features a bar that serves food called Bertrams Pub, and two full service restaurants (Saxen Pianobar and Latin).

The staff is very friendly here, and willing to help you with directions, dinner reservations, etc. In typical European fashion, the room keys are huge and very heavy. When you leave the property, the front desk holds on to your key for you. In the lobby, they have an internet terminal, and a nice sitting area.

The rooms can definitely vary. I checked in and out of this hotel five times in the past year and have received wildly different rooms. Some of the rooms are extremely small. I did complain about the size of the room and they gave me a bigger room (the one with the balcony in the photo, which apparently is a suite). The "normal" rooms are quite nice, with either a single or double bed. The furnishings are fairly "old" looking, but to me, it added to the charm. The building does appear to be quite old, but it is charming, and comfortable.

Room rates are approximately DKK 695 per night. At the currency conversion rates in May 2003 that was about US 110/night. Last year the exchange rate was much better, making the room about $85/night. A wonderful breakfast at the Saxen is included with items such as meats, hard and soft cheeses, fruit, yogurt, cereal, boiled eggs, and fresh crusty breads and jam.

All things considered, I whole-heartedly recommend the Saxidlhus Hotel -- it has three things going for it -- location, price, and charm.

The restuarant is in the Saxildhus Hotel. At dinner, reservations are not required, but if you need a table at a specific time, I'd recommend them.

They serve a three-course menu every night, as well as a full menu. Their wine list is quite impressive -- even the house wine is great. Before dinner, homemade bread, whipped honey sweetened butter, and fresh black olive spread are served.

The menu is quite extensive, but here's a brief description of some of the dishes I have tried:

Appetizers/Soups
Lobster Bisque -- thick and creamy, flavored with wonderful lobstermeat. A definite recommendation.
Beef Tenderloin Salad -- thinly sliced chilled, rare beef tenderloin over greens. The beef was tender, flavorful, not fatty. Very good, and healthy too!
Fish Platter -- this was a plate of salmon and swordfish over greens. The salmon was smoked, and extremely good (this was part of a three-course meal, not available on the menu).

Main Dishes:
Duck -- grilled boneless duck breast in an plum sauce. Served with potatoes, seasonal vegetables, jumbo grapes, and oranges. I was skeptical about fruit and duck together, but one bite and I was convinced. Grapes, oranges, and duck do go together!
Veal They have several veal options on the menu, one served with shrimp, one without. Both are excellent -- tender and tasty -- served with a large dollup of a garlic type butter. Very tasty!

Desserts:
Strawberries Romanoff was fabulous, but the best was the Hot Banana -- a whole banana, cooked in the skin until it turns black, split open, and served with vanilla ice cream. The natural sugar in the banana makes this one of the sweetest and most flavorful desserts I've ever had. They also have a fine selection of after dinner cordials and coffees.

The atmosphere is quaint, resembling a forest -- the lamps are artsy "pine cones" and the forest green napkins and wood tables add to the effect. As in most places in Europe, smoking is permitted everywhere in the restaurant. Dinner menus are available in English for those who don't speak Danish.

A Hereford Beefstouw has 10 restaurants and three microbreweries in Denmark alone, as well as a few other locations in other European countries.

Prime beef is what A Hereford Beefstouw is all about. They import the beef from Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay. However, no matter which country of origin, the beef always carries the distinguished Hilton-Classification thus guaranteeing the highest possible quality.

OK OK, so how's the food?

We started with the salad bar. I have honestly never seen so many different vegetables and types of preparations of vegetables on a salad bar in my life! And the salad dressings - too many different types of oils and dressings to count (see picture).

Dinner was, of course, steak. I chose a small sirloin served on a hot cast iron plate - initially my steak was WAY overcooked (well done), but they apoligized profusely and brought me a new one within five minutes (rare). The steak was quite good, as was the potato, bread, and wine.

It might seem touristy, dining at a chain restaurant in a forein country, but the A Hereford Beefstouw is quite good and worth the trip!

Koldinghus The last royal castle in Jutland (mainland of Denmark), built in 1268, destroyed by fire in 1808, rebuilt and reopened in 1989 – with attractions including the fantastic South Wing. Features permanent and special exhibitions.

Trapholtmuseet Built in 1989 and extended in 1996. Permanent and special exhibitions of modern art and furniture design.

Den Botaniske Park/Geografisk Have
A delightful attraction with more than 2,000 species of plants from all over the world, laid out according to their continent of origin.

Culture Card:
With the Culture Card you receive a discount on entry to the four main attrations in town. The card costs DKK 70 (around US $11)for adults (age 16 or over) and is on sale at Kolding Tourist Information Office or at any of the three attractions above.

Ice Rink:
Free admission to ice rink in historic surroundings, and skates are avaiable for rental. The ice rink is open Monday-Friday from 2pm - 8 pm and Saturday from 10am - 8pm.

The Municipal Park Playground
Situated only a stone’s throw from the castle, the playground in the municipal park, known as Legeparken, is virtually in the heart of town. It is a recreation area for children and adults, and is open all year round.

The big attraction is a 5000 square meter artificial lake, moon buggies, go-carts, small boats, and barbeque sites. There is also assorted playground equipment, as well as activity buildings, a kiosk, grill sites, bathrooms, etc. Admission is free. Playground staff are on duty year-round during daytime hours. When you have had your fill of the wonderful museums, there are plenty of opportunities to continue your active vacation in Kolding, as the town provides a wealth of activities and challenges for everyone – indoors and out.