The still undeveloped site at the corner of Bredgade and Dronningens Tværgade was in the middle of the 17th century owned by the pharmacist Esaias Fleischer. He was the owner of the It was later acquired by commander of the Rotal Gorse Guards Samuel Christoph von Plessen. In circa 1780, he constructed a two-storey town mansion at the site. He left Copenhagen when the Toyal Horse Guards were moved to Møn in 1785 but kept the house in Bredgade. Its value was estimated at 16,000 Danish rigsdaler at the time of his death in 1704. The property was later acquired by count Jean Henri Huguetan Gyldensteen. He adapted the building in 1740. Gyldensten passed the house on to his illegitimate sonJean Henri Desmercières in 1749. He constructed a new wing towards Dronningens Tværgade as an individual Tococo-style town mansion. At the turn of the 19th century it was owned by grocer Peder Erichsen. At this point it was the only privately owned building in Copenhagen whose facade featured a clock.
Hotel Stadt Hamburg
In 1837, the property was acquired by restaurateur and hotelier W. Murdoch from »Stadet Lauenburg« in Store Strandstræde. He converted it into a hotel under the name »Stadt Hamburg«. The shipbroking firm N. Schiøtt & Hochbrandt was based at Dronningens Tværgade 1-3 from 1820-46. It then moved to new premises at No. 10.
Hotel Phoenix opens
In 1847 it was acquired by an aktieselskab. The old building was demolished and Hotel Phønix opened in a new building in 1848. The hotel was frequently used for housing guests of the nobility as well as the royal family. The hotel was privately owned from 1883 to 1919. In 1891, Carl Neiiendam bought the hotel from the grocer Christopher Emil Sødring. He was appointed to Royal Court Hotelier after the hotel had been used for housing some of the guests for King Christian IX and Queen Louise's fold wedding in 1892. Carl Neiiendam sold the hotel in 1917.
Closure and reopening
Hotel Phoenix was confiscated by the occupying German forces during World War II. The building was used as local headquarters of the German Navy. In October 1945, a few months after the liberation, Hotel Phoenix was acquired by the Danish Communist Party. Ole Buhl and Harald Petersen were commissioned to adapt the building for its new use as party headquarters in 1946. The party's newspaper Land og Folk and several other associated activities were also based in the building. Arp-Hansen acquired the building in 1990. The architect Robert Grünbreger refurbished the hotel in 1990-1991.
Today
Hotel Phoenix Copenhagen has 213 rooms and suites. Facilities include Brasserie Murdoch’s Books & Ale, meeting and conference rooms and fitness centre.
Cultural references
In Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth, Professor Lidenbroch and Axcel stay at Hotel Phenix when they pass through Copenhagen on their way to Iceland.
