Apollo Bar

In the charming courtyard of Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Apollo Bar showcases Danish culinary creativity.

Danish chef Frederik Bille Brahe has reimagined the concept of a museum restaurant, creating a vibrant yet unpretentious space that offers culinary experiences in a delightful atmosphere, enhanced by patinated Danish design.

A key aspect of Apollo Bar is its collaboration with the art world. The interior design of Apollo Bar reflects its close connection to Kunsthal Charlottenborg, housed in the impressive Dutch-inspired Baroque palace, Charlottenborg Palace. The gallery has showcased contemporary art since 1883 and collaborates with the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and its Schools of Visual Arts.

Since opening in April 2017, Apollo Bar has set new standards for what a museum restaurant can be. Bille Brahe envisioned creating a social space where art and people converge in an atmosphere that merges creativity with togetherness. Located on the ground floor of the art hall, Apollo Bar serves as a unique meeting place within a historic building characterized by spacious, light-filled rooms, high ceilings, and magnificent windows that foster intimacy and inspiration. Adjacent to Apollo Bar is a courtyard that hosts culinary and cultural events throughout the year, including the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, art fairs, lectures, and flea markets.

Bille Brahe directly reflects his refined interest in contemporary and traditional Danish design in his curation of Apollo Bar, where spontaneity and intuition shape his aesthetic. With interior architect Rune Bruun Johansen, they aimed to create a generous and avant-garde space.

The interior features Poul Henningsen’s iconic Charlottenborg lamps from 1925, which hang from the ceiling, and Piet Hein’s stools at the bar, upgraded with velvet upholstery. The walls are adorned with small artworks by students of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, while plaster-cast statues add an extra dimension of artistic depth. Design classics such as Børge Mogensen’s C18 tables and J39 chairs are also integral to decorating. Over decades of use by art students and visitors, the chairs have acquired a beautiful patina, highlighting their timeless design and high quality.

Interior designer
Rune Bruun Johansen