Café Sommersko

“Girl from Ipanema” is flowing from the speakers. According to the old “flip” clock on the wall it is a (perhaps warm) Thursday summer morning in Copenhagen, more precisely June 12th, 8.10 am. This computer however, tells a whole different story - Friday, February 12th, 9.43 am.
Copenhagen fashion week has just started and Café Sommersko is located in the heart of Copenhagen, close to some of the hottest Danish clothing designer brand headquarters - Bruuns Bazar, Heartmade...

A young, chic guy sitting on the table next to us, is quite representative of Sommersko's fashion neighborhood: Hat, slim fit jeans, knitted shirt and a beautiful white golden retriever on a leash. He has just released hold of the dog's leash and the beautiful thing is now quietly wandering around the café, under the tables, few of them occupied. Not making a sound, just a quiet investigation of the premises... Just like us. :)

We are drinking “Kontra Brazil”, a really good bitter sweet Arabica, served at what seems to be an extra high temperature when feeling the temperature inside. Even cafés are struggling to keep warm this winter. Yes, it is another cold, but sunny winter morning in Copenhagen.

Café Sommersko opened in 1976. It is the oldest French bistro café type in town. The owners have tried to establish this style by serving classical bistro dishes, providing service at the table and by creating a bistro atmosphere: in the middle of the room a piano, square tables covered with white sheets complemented with reddish leather banquette seating and wooden chairs, while a "traditionally" dressed waiter (white shirt, black west, butterfly and an apron) is moving around ably.

The place is very well lit with many different lamps but what interests the eye are the two big chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. Further up two fans are slowly turning.

Many paintings on the pale yellow walls. They are supposed to be from rising painters at the time the café was established. A huge painting Andy Warhol-like. It is full of “sommersko” (Danish word for summershoes) in bright colours.

Somehow, it really does feel like summer here. The café has a huge front of folding doors, making it able to open up when the clock on the wall matches the actual date. And it seems like the owners, by letting the fans on the ceiling circulate even on this cold day, want to evoke memories of summer.

For now, writing is over, a refill of the coffee for 10 kr and a conversation with one’s coffee blogger partner is on order.