Review of Storebælt Sinatur Hotel & Conference Centre, Funen, Denmark

Storebælt Sinatur Hotel & Conference Centre is a gorgeous, modern hotel in a glorious setting right beside the sea.

Situated just outside Nyborg, close to the E20, and easy to find, it's ideal for an overnight stop – but, with plenty to see and do nearby, the hotel and surrounding area would also make a wonderful destination for a longer stay.

Arriving at the hotel, to a friendly welcome, our first impression was one of light. The hotel's stunning architecture includes huge floor-to-ceiling windows, creating the sensation that there's nothing between the interior and the beautiful nature outside.

These full-length windows allow guests to fully appreciate the views. And the views are spectacular – a calm seascape of blues and greys stretching to Storebælt Bridge and the distant horizon. Most visitors will have crossed the bridge on their way to Nyborg. It's the world's third longest suspension bridge – an impressive, 18km-long feat of engineering spanning the sea between the Danish islands of Zealand and Funen.

Storebælt Sinatur Hotel has been designed to maximize the natural light throughout the building. Even the corridors – so often dark and gloomy in hotels – were bright and airy, with a curved design, floor-to-ceiling windows, vases of fresh flowers, and modern art on the walls.

The guest rooms were fresh and modern, and beautifully decorated in calming shades of mustard yellow and grey, with gleaming wooden floors.

Each room has a little balcony or sitting out area, and from our first floor room we had a lovely view across the grounds and to the sea, with the Storebaelt Bridge visible in the distance.

The fabulous restaurant also has panoramic views of the seascape. Breakfast is served here and you can choose to sit at one of the cosy indoor tables or, in sunny weather, take your breakfast out onto the terrace next to the beach.

The breakfast was outstanding. For us – with a vegetarian and a vegan in our party of four – it was the best we've ever had in a hotel. The choice of plant-based options was impressive – alongside the usual soymilk and yoghurt was a whole table of vegan dishes: roasted Mediterranean vegetables, bulghar wheat, chick peas, and potatoes, all deliciously fresh and tasty.

There were plenty of classic breakfast choices too, with bacon, eggs, cold meats and cheeses, and pastries all on offer.

Much of the produce on offer is organic – the hotel has recently been awarded an Organic Food Label in silver for its use of organic food – and much of it is homemade. There's a fruit and vegetable garden in the hotel grounds, and guests are welcome to stroll around the apple, pear and fig trees growing there.

The hotel also has its own beehives, with jars of honey produced on site and sold at reception. Any food not produced at the hotel itself is sourced locally wherever possible.

Use of organic and locally produced food is just one of the ways that the Sinatur group of hotels aims to be the most sustainable chain in Denmark – including by becoming CO2 positive – by 2030.

Storebælt Sinatur Hotel minimises waste, recycles as much as possible, and there are solar panels on the roof to generate electricity. The hotel has been awarded Green Key certification.

It's perhaps the location that makes the hotel really special though. It's about as close to the water's edge as you can get – step outside, take a few paces, and you can dip your toes in the sea. There's a swimming platform that juts into the water for ease of access if you fancy a dip – and the sea is beautifully clear and inviting.

If you don't like getting wet, the beach is perfect for an evening or early morning stroll. On the evening we visited, the quality of the light was superb, with hues of blue, grey and pink reflected in the clear, still water.

There are also the lovely gardens to stroll around, with a couple of hammocks for serious lounging and relaxing. During our late summer visit we saw nature everywhere: house martins and swallows swooping overhead, hares hopping through the grass, and bees and butterflies in the orchard.

Further afield, the attractive town of Nyborg is within walking distance of the hotel. The town's pretty cobbled streets are home to numerous shops and cafés – the latter with outdoor tables that were buzzing with locals and visitors on a Saturday morning.

There are plenty of things to see and do in Nyborg, including a 12th century castle, beautiful churches and a distillery producing whisky, gin and rum.

A stay at Storebaelt Sinatur Hotel & Conference Centre soothes the senses. The combination of high quality accommodation, access to nature and the sea, and the beautiful views left us feeling relaxed and refreshed. We loved it, and can't wait to return.