Rox Resort trades Scandi minimalism for cinematic hospitality on Denmarks's coast, featuring bespoke room designs and a British-Sichuan fusion steakhouse. Olivia Palamountain reports

Rox Resort, located in the harbour town of Køge just 30 minutes from Copenhagen, opens in November 2025. The 154-room property represents an innovative approach to hotel design where storytelling takes precedence over traditional Nordic minimalism.

Created by Swedish hospitality group ESS through their in-house design studio Spik Studios, the resort's unique design philosophy centres on what the team calls a "design palimpsest" - layered and complex interiors that blend Danish restraint with East-meets-West influences.

Spik Studios has incorporated chinoiserie-lined firewood alcoves, rattan lighting, burnished brass details and chalk-painted walls that echo Nordic skies, ensuring no two guest rooms are identical. Bookings open from August 20; room rates start from €550 per night."We wanted to create an atmosphere that is mysterious and intriguing, yet warm and welcoming," say the designers at Spik Studios. "Rox is not overtly Nordic, nor overtly exotic - it's a design palimpsest: soulful, grounded, and quietly complex."

The property's culinary concept includes the Dirty Sichuan, a steakhouse that combines British fare with Sichuan cuisine's heat and complexity. This unusual fusion approach operates within R.F. SMITH restaurant, alongside The Dumpling Bar, a poolside venue with all-day dining.

The resort features five bars distributed across the property, including a rooftop Pool Bar, the Birdcage, Lobby Bar, outdoor terrace and a concealed cocktail space within the Fire Room - an unusually high bar-to-room ratio that reflects the property's focus on social spaces.

Wellness facilities include three heated rooftop pools, with one positioned indoors. The property also houses a full-service spa and high-performance fitness club alongside recreational facilities including two padel courts, golf simulators and a five-a-side football field.

Jonas Stenberg, chief executive of ESS Group, says: "Rox is both cinematic and grounding. We've created something original - something that feels intimate and intelligent at the same time. It's a place for people who notice details, who are curious about design, and who want more from their travel experience."

The resort's location provides access to UNESCO-listed Stevns Klint and the newly designated Borgring Vikingborg, with the concierge team offering curated experiences including visits to the Viking Ship Museum, the Forest Tower, and local microbreweries. Mercedes rentals and custom itineraries cater to guests seeking hyper-local exploration.

The November opening represents ESS Group's continued expansion across Scandinavia, demonstrating how Nordic hospitality companies are moving beyond traditional minimalist aesthetics to create more complex, narrative-driven guest experiences.