The iconic restaurant in Stockholm celebrates its 90th anniversary this October. Since opening in 1935 in the Slussen district – one of the city’s most famous landmarks connecting the Old Town to Södermalm – its high perch has offered breathtaking views of the harbor. Among the first to dine here was King Gustav V of Sweden, who attended the grand inauguration.
As much of a landmark itself as the early modernist KF building it has inhabited for the last 90 years, Restaurant Gondolen is one of the everlasting constants in Stockholm's restaurant scene. This October, they will will celebrate their nine-decade milestone with a tribute to the man who brought it to new culinary heights in 1994 – the celebrated Swedish chef Erik Lallerstedt, a pioneer of modern fine dining in Sweden. On October 16, head chef Patrik Castillo invites guests to an evening of festivities on the twelfth floor, featuring a special menu inspired by the flavors of Eriks Gondolen – as the restaurant was known under Lallerstedt.
“ Every element of the anniversary menu tells a story – about Erik, about Gondolen, and about the joy of food that continues to define this restaurant,” says Castillo.
The menu will be served à la carte, offering guests a choice of four starters, four mains, and three desserts. Favorites making a comeback include the classic shrimp sandwich on rye and the fish and shellfish stew. For those craving something richer, there’s Venison Rossini with foie gras and Madeira sauce, or beef tenderloin with potato terrine and three sauces: béarnaise, salsa verde, and fried bone marrow with pata negra ham. Dessert brings the celebration to a nostalgic close with Gondolen’s signature chocolate dessert, petit fours, and pralines.
Several of Gondolen’s alumni will return for the occasion. Former bar manager Jakob will once again mix house classics such as the Gondolen Sour, Ginger Drop, and Dry Martini. The restaurant’s former wine bar will also make a temporary comeback – this time in Bar Zeppelin on the twelfth floor – offering a curated selection of wines for SEK 90 per glass.
Restaurant Gondolen first opened in 1935 in the so-called KF building, a modernist icon overlooking the Saltsjön inlet. When Erik Lallerstedt took over in 1994, he breathed new life into the restaurant, turning it into a culinary institution. Since 2023, Gondolen has been operated by Svenska Brasserier, one of Sweden’s leading restaurant groups, known for establishments such as Sturehof and Riche, which reopened Gondolen after extensive renovation.
Gondolen’s 90th anniversary celebration takes place on Thursday, October 16, starting at 17:00. The anniversary menu will be available October 16–19 for both lunch and dinner. Reservations can be made at gondolen.se.
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