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The foundation of the present Phoenix Copenhagen was laid as far back as in 1684, when Colonel Samuel Christof Von Plessen erected a noble mansion on the corner of Bredgade and Dronningens Tværgade. Plessens estate came to symbolize the beginning of a new era, and soon several distinguished mansions for the aristocracy emerged in what had become one of Copenhagen's finest quarters. In 1730 the mansion was bought by the wealthy Frenchman, Jean Henri Hueguetan Gyldensteen. Gyldensteen died in 1749 and from his death and up till the 1830's the property experienced years of great change and it had a large number of different residents. Among the different owners was one of the founders of the Danish East Asiatic Company LTD, Brigadier William Von Halling, who kept slaves in the basement! In 1837 the Scotchman William Murdoch bought the mansion and he opened the restaurant 'Stadt Hamburg'. In 1847 the property once again changed residents. This time it was bought by the merchant Joachim Topp, who redecorated the buildings in order to make them a noble and distinguished hotel for customers such as the landed gentry, celebrities and royalty. The golden years lasted until the 1920's when Henry Søborg became the new owner. Despite a total renovation things began to go downhill for the hotel, and it was requisitioned by the German Wehrmacht in 1940. When Liberation came in 1945, the hotel was used as military headquarters for the allied forces. In 1946 the buildings were once again empty, but were soon after bought by the Danish Communist Party, who stayed until 1990. That year, the property was bought by the present owner, the Arp-Hansen family. Following a very thorough renovation, Phoenix Copenhagen opened in 1991. Rising like the mythical Phoenix from the flames, the hotel has entered an era of renewed glory.
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