Rox Resort is redefining coastal romance in Køge – here’s why it’s worth the trip

Perched on the quiet shoreline of Køge, Rox Resort feels like a world apart. The hotel may be freshly opened, but it already carries a lived-in calm through earthy, tactile textures, sculptural lighting, and an architectural reverence for old-world details despite being completely new-built. And then there’s the scent: a soft, smokey aroma drifting through the halls, courtesy of Ess Group’s signature open fireplaces.

What sets Rox apart, though, is its style of hospitality. Before we even arrived, the team called to check dietary needs and preferred activities. Mentioning a gluten intolerance in passing resulted in gluten-free bread materialising at dinner without us ever asking again. When we admitted we missed having a coffee machine in the room, fresh lattes and americanos were delivered to our door at 7am. If that isn't considered luxury, then we don't know what is.

Below, senior beauty editor Josefin Forsberg shares highlights from her stay – from couples’ rituals and steaming pools to unexpectedly perfect dumplings.

We stayed in a Premier Ocean View room, positioned high enough to give us a full sweep of the coastline. Mornings began with pale light skimming across the water, best observed wrapped in cloud-soft pillows and the impossibly plush robe that I was (briefly) tempted to smuggle home. The interiors lean quiet and textural: soft woods, generous windows, sculptural lamps and hints of old-world ornamentation placed sparingly.

While there wasn’t a coffee machine in the room, as habitual early-morning consumers we were offered something better: At 7am on the dot, a knock at the door delivered two steaming brews exactly as ordered: one latte, one americano with milk.

Lunch was poolside at the Dumpling Bar, where the vegetarian shiitake and pak choi dumplings with roasted cashews and black garlic emulsion stole the show. Even the edamame, dressed in white miso and citrus vinaigrette, felt unexpectedly clever.

Dinner both nights was at Smith Steakhouse. The scallop toast with roasted sesame and black garlic, the deep-fried squid with sesame mayonnaise and lime, and the striploin steak frites with XO hollandaise were the standouts. The grilled half chicken for two, lacquered in fermented plum glaze and umami butter, was the romantic choice. Service was smooth enough that by night two, the staff remembered exactly what we’d loved the evening before.

We ended the night in the Birdcage – the hotel's home for spectacular tipples – with a house Old Fashioned built on Macallan 12, rock candy, house bitters and brown butter tincture. A proper nightcap.

This is where Rox becomes a true romantic escape. The pools sit in a warm, low-lit space with gentle lounge music and long, padded two-person loungers that encourage doing absolutely nothing. The water runs on the steaming side, perfect for sinking into after the November chill.

We booked the Seventh Heaven couples massage, a full-body ritual using warm oils and flowing techniques that melted whatever tension remained. And because the spa stays open late, until 1am, slipping back into the pools after dinner turned out to be the highlight of the whole stay.

We didn’t leave the resort once. Not because Køge lacks charm, but because Rox makes it incredibly easy to unwind without wandering. There’s a softness to the whole operation: attentive but unintrusive staff, slow mornings, late-night dips and rooms designed to usher in calm.

For couples craving a quietly romantic escape wrapped in sharp design and intuitive hospitality, Rox Resort is well worth the trip to Køge.