Café Mathisen at Hotel Randers – A Modern Take on Tradition

Mathisen – Modern in an Old Kind of Way…

At Café Mathisen, you’ll find high-quality food, drinks, lunch, and dinner, with service that stands out. It’s the kind of place that serves food on Royal Copenhagen porcelain with its own logo, yet never feels unapproachable. On the contrary, it’s the kind of place where you feel just as welcome as you would in your own home – and Mathisen takes pride in that!

Hotel Randers itself is full of quirky and captivating stories – from the royal Danish family, H.C. Andersen, and Victor Borge, to shoe shiners, the American Grill, and the first garage facility in Jutland. Not to mention its connection to Danish TV series Krøniken. But when you step into the lobby, passing through the big wooden carousel door, it’s evident that this place is steeped in history, full of traditions. From the intricate ceiling decorations to the fine carpentry on the doors and panels, every corner exudes richness, craftsmanship, and detail. Each room has its own unique personality – from the breath-taking Royal Room to the Bauhaus furniture in room 311, bought at the 1933 World Exhibition, and the large 17th-century clock.

In May 2006, Hotel Randers opened the doors to the brand-new and modern café, Mathisen. We were asked to design the café in close collaboration with Hotel Randers, with the aim of complementing the rich treasures we uncovered while renovating. Beneath the “modern” 60s interior, we found pieces of history, and we proudly showcased many of them, with images displayed on the café’s walls.

The café entrance is from the street, but you can also enter via the salon, which acts as the “soft-shift-zone” between the hotel lobby and the café. The salon was carefully renovated with a mindful eye for the many memories it holds.

Alternatively, you can enter through the hotel’s ballroom, Gauguin. Named after sculptor Jean Gauguin (son of Paul Gauguin), who decorated the walls of the ballroom, the room was hiding beautiful handmade mosaics behind false walls. We removed these walls to reveal the original pillars, and to connect the space with the café, we installed large glass doors to extend the view and open the two spaces. This has proven especially useful when Hotel Randers hosts intimate concerts with artists such as Lis Sørensen, Hanne Boel, Steffen Brandt, Rugsted Kreutzfeldt, and more.

We could continue telling you about the architecture, interior design, and graphic design work we’ve done – and continue to do – for Hotel Randers. But we’ll let the images speak for themselves. If you’re ever in need of a break or a trip away from home, take our advice and visit this amazing place. You won’t regret it! Here at Bonnelycke MDD, some of us call Hotel Randers our home away from home.

By the way, if you’d like to learn more about the hotel’s history, check out A Grand Old Lady – the anniversary book we designed for Hotel Randers’ 150th birthday →