Gondolen

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

There are restaurants with views, and then there is Gondolen. Suspended 33 metres above Stockholm's waterfront on Södermalm, the dining room looks out over the point where the city's fresh and salt waters meet — a panorama that shifts with every season and every hour of the day. The White Guide, which awarded Gondolen its "Very fine level" recognition, put it plainly: it is impossible not to be breathless the first time you step inside.

A Classic Reinvented

The 2023 reopening gave the entire establishment what the White Guide called a rare, successful blend of gentle restoration and bold reinvention. The result is an atmosphere that is, in their words, "tastefully classic and luxuriously lively" — a description that captures Gondolen's particular balance well. The art collection threaded throughout the space reinforces this character: curated works by Swedish artists including Ann Wåhlström, whose glass lanterns were commissioned for the reopening, and pieces in photography, painting, sculpture and textile give the rooms a visual depth that goes well beyond decoration.

The Kitchen and the Bar

Gondolen's cooking is rooted in Swedish husmanskost — traditional home cooking — reinterpreted with quality ingredients and careful craft. The kitchen's philosophy is straightforward: simple dishes made from good produce, executed with genuine skill. The cocktail bar, positioned at the social centre of the floor, keeps a live jazz ensemble playing and offers four distinct Dry Martini variations alongside creative signature drinks. Sommeliers manage a wine cellar stocked with select vintages, and the drinks list is designed to carry an evening from aperitif to late night.

Spaces for Every Occasion

The venue spreads across several distinct spaces. The main dining room on the eleventh floor is where the fine dining experience unfolds. One floor up, Bar Zeppelin has an outdoor terrace reached from the Katarinahissen elevator or via the footbridge from Mosebacke — a more relaxed setting that still serves food from the main menu. For private gatherings, Kungarummet accommodates up to 30 guests with the same unobstructed view and full table service. Gondolen also marks the Swedish calendar with dedication: midsummer, crayfish parties in August, lobster days and weekend brunches are all treated as occasions worth dressing up for.

The building is reached from Slussen on foot, by the historic Katarinahissen, or across the Mosebacke footbridge — each approach arriving at a different floor of the same remarkable place.