Søtorvet 2 – French-flavoured corner by the Copenhagen Lakes

Lakefront gateway with Parisian overtones

Søtorvet 2 occupies a prime corner of the Søtorvet development, the grand ensemble that frames the Inner City end of Queen Louise Bridge where Frederiksborggade meets the Copenhagen Lakes. Raised between 1873 and 1876 on former fortification land, the buildings were part of an ambitious reshaping of Copenhagen as the ramparts came down and new boulevards and squares appeared. From the pavement in front of Søtorvet 2 you look both into the historic centre and out across Peblinge Lake toward Nørrebro. The water, bridge traffic, cyclists and steady flow of pedestrians make this one of the city’s most dynamic urban viewpoints, while the ornate facades behind you add a theatrical backdrop to the scene.

Neo‑Renaissance drama on the corner

Architects working under Ferdinand Meldahl drew heavily on French historicism, clothing Søtorvet in a 19th‑century neo‑Renaissance style that feels more Paris than provincial Scandinavia. At Søtorvet 2 this translates into high, palace‑like elevations, elaborate window surrounds and a rhythm of pilasters and balconies that march along the facade. Look up to spot dormers and corner turrets punctuating the steep roofs, details that were carefully restored in the 21st century to preserve the original character. The stone and plaster ornamentation catches the shifting Nordic light, and at street level large arched openings hint at the building’s former life as a fashionable café address.

Café de la Reine and the poets’ corner

Around 1900, the ground floor of Søtorvet 2 became home to Café de la Reine – the Queen’s Café – which quickly gained a reputation as an elegant, very modern meeting place. Its covered pavement terrace was unusual for the time, earning it the witty nickname “Café let it rain,” a nod to the fact that guests could sit outside even in wet weather. In the 1930s the café evolved into a famed poets’ salon. Writers such as Sigfred Pedersen and Otto Gelsted gathered here, sometimes reciting verses from the tabletops while pianist Niels Clemmensen provided the soundtrack. That mix of literary bohemia and lakefront elegance gave Søtorvet 2 a special place in Copenhagen’s cultural memory until the café closed during the Second World War.

Everyday life in a grand setting

Today Søtorvet 2 functions as part of a residential and commercial block, but the sense of occasion remains. Commuters stream past on bikes, students and friends cluster along the lakeside railings with coffee, and the corner by the building is a natural pause point to admire the sweep of the water and the line of facades reflected in it. From here you can trace the story of Copenhagen’s expansion in the 19th century, when investors such as C. F. Tietgen backed prestigious housing schemes that matched the city’s new confidence. Søtorvet 2 stands as a tangible remnant of that era: urbane, decorative and built to impress both residents and those simply passing through.

Photographs, reflections and changing skies

For visitors, the appeal of Søtorvet 2 is as much about atmosphere as architecture. The building’s creamy tones, masonry detailing and tall windows form a striking frame for photos of the lakes and Queen Louise Bridge. At sunset the sky often glows behind the towers, while on grey days the scene feels moody and cinematic. Even without stepping inside, you can linger under the arches, listen to the hum of the city and imagine the clatter of café cups and bursts of poetry that once filled this corner. Søtorvet 2 may now be part of everyday Copenhagen, but its layered history and lakeside setting give it a quiet, enduring drama.