Gondolen

Dining at Gondolen is nothing short of a treat. Suspended above the city with breathtaking panoramic views of Stockholm’s skyline and waterways, the setting alone is worth the visit. Whether you're enjoying a sunset dinner or a twinkling nightscape, the atmosphere is elegant without being stiff, and perfect for a special evening. The food? Absolutely superb. Every dish—from the perfectly seared fish to the seasonal starters—showcases attention to detail and Swedish culinary finesse. The staff were knowledgeable, attentive, and made excellent wine pairing recommendations that really elevated the meal. That said, it is on the pricier side. While the quality and ambiance justify the cost to a large extent, it’s definitely a place you go to indulge rather than for a casual night out. If you're looking to celebrate something meaningful or simply want to experience Stockholm from above with an exquisite meal, Gondolen won’t disappoint—as long as you’re prepared for the bill at the end.

Really unique restaurant, mainly due to its location, on the 11th floor of the Katarinahissen. Food is also excellent with a variety of a la carte choices or menus to choose. Prices are not that high, considering that you are in Stockholm. I would definitely visit again.

I flew from London to meet a friend and celebrate my birthday at Gondolen on 10th. together. The place has truly a mind- blowing view of the city. The menu was top- notch and the staff super attentive. I congratulate Maia for her magnificent service. The cherry of the cake was the dessert which she brought to the table with a candle on top. Lovely gesture!! A night to remember!! Thank you so much. x

Fantastic high class panorama restaurant and bar in the heart of Stockholm. Food is amazing, fresh and delicious. Friday there was a live music.

Beautifully located restaurant overlooking the city, this place is a gem. Great service and the food was terrific. Their wine pairing recommendations are carefully curated as well. Someone there knows their stuff. Highly recommend.

The view is basically the thing with this place and it was really great. Too bad that the construction work was still going on, making the view not 100%. Also small vibrations from the construction work during the lunch. Casual but elegant interior. The service and the food did not disappoint either. The service was professional and friendly. The food was also generally well made. The appetizer with bleak roe and potato cream was amazing. I don't recommend the poached cod though, as it was quite boring in flavour.

I enjoyed my visit here. I sat for a couple of hours and enjoyed small bites, dinner, drinks, amazing views and great service from Gustaf B.. Gustaf was very accommodating and made excellent recommendations. (Make sure you check out the many rooftop bars while you’re here - I almost missed them.)

We enjoyed a dinner for 14 in the Kings room. A private space with an excellent view. We did have to pre select our courses and they didn’t disappoint at all. The service was attentive. We went with their suggestions in wine parings which doubled our bill. So be sure to know pricing before saying yes. Great time over all.

This is a must eat in Stockholm. For the view alone, you should stop by for a drink. You have 360 views of Stockholm and amazing people watching as well. The staff was attentive and gave great recommendations. The dishes ranged from delicate to rich flavors with French and new Swedish influence. I think this was the best butter I've ever had in my life -- and that was just for the starter bread. This definitely has a romantic ambiance, but there were a few groups as well. I had several vegetarian options. This was the splurge meal, so come prepared to spend, but it's worth it.

If you want some place more exciting than the touristy restaurants in Old Town Stockholm (Gamla Stan), then take a 15-minute walk away from Old Town toward Slussen (going south). You can't miss this place because you will see this interesting looking bridge extending out from a building and you can't help but wonder what this is (see picture). This bridge is part of the restaurant Gondolen which offers diners a spectacular view of Stockholm where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. On a clear evening, you can see the sun setting over the classical architecture of Stockholm through the windows next to your table, and completely redefining the meaning of a romantic dinner. But before you get too excited, remember that you need to make a reservation days ahead (or maybe weeks ahead if it's for a weekend) and specifically request a window table inside the bridge. Yours truly made a reservation 3 days ahead for a weekday night and scored! Besides meatballs and deer meat, Sweden (and especially Stockholm) is also well known for its seafood. We ordered the Shellfish Plateau as an app to share. It came with half a lobster, half a crab, a dozen shrimps, half a dozen crawfish, two oysters, and maybe some other goodies that I've forgotten to mention. Everything was so fresh and so tasty. The shrimps, in particular, tasted so fresh that you thought they just caught those shrimps out of the sea right outside your window. We also ordered a rib eye steak which was accompanied by a baked tomato, sautéed onions, pieces of grilled beets, and what tasted to me like a red wine sauce. It also came with a side of fried baby potatoes. The steak was perfectly medium rare, and the garnishes were on point. Our server, Tilda, was awesome. She was very patient with us when she saw that we were a bit overwhelmed by the menu. She took the time to answer our questions without rushing us, and we really appreciated it. Throughout our meal, service has been attentive and friendly; prompt but not rushed.

I knew I had to stop by here before leaving Stockholm and today was that day! I noticed the odd protruding crane like structure when I was walking around Slussen and looked up the name of it. Turns out Gondolen is a bar/restaurant that was converted to from a crane! Of course my New York self just had to stop here. Expensive cocktails, views of the city? Pretty much what every New Yorker lives for. So I made my way through the construction and followed the signs to Gondolen. Once you walk into this glass building there's 3 elevators. 1 elevator can hold 1 person, another elevator can hold 2 and I believe the 3 elevator can hold 5. Anyways I took the 2nd elevator that held 2 people all the way up to the 11th floor where the bar/restaurant was located. Once I walked in, I was greeted by the coat check lady and she was super nice in seating and welcoming me! She informed me that they won't be serving any food since the kitchen was closed but I can sit at the bar and enjoy some drinks/desserts. So that's exactly what I did! I ordered a elderflower and lime juice drink that was strong but not too strong and refreshing. I can definitely see myself ordering these while laying out by the pool. They're so crisp and cooling! I decided to get the creme brûlée because I heard great reviews about it. I'm honestly so glad I did! I've had creme brûlée at other restaurants before and I never noticed the vanilla bean seeds in them. However, Gondolen did not disappoint as I saw MANY vanilla bean seeds which indicated they used the actual bean instead of the extract. Way to go Gondolen! Anyways, the view was breathtaking, the atmosphere was cozy and the staff was extremely friendly. If I lived in Stockholm, I would come here at least once a week to enjoy the environment and views!

Gorgeous views overlooking Stockholm. Great service , great beers , comfortable atmosphere. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to have a relaxing drink with a gorgeous view.

It's difficult to give three stars because the view from the top of the restaurant was beautiful. We got a nice view of old town and of the water. However, the food here is what brought it down to 3 stars. We expected a lot more from the food given the price (over 1400 Kronas a person). Rib eye was extremely salty and overall, the food lacked a layer of delicacy. I would recommend coming up here for a drink (although still pricey for what it is), but skip this place for dinner.

Had dessert and drinks up here. For dessert we had the strawberries and creme and chocolate truffle. The strawberries came in a bowl with a side of creme that didn't seem to have any sugar. The sugar came on the side. It was almost something you could make at home. The chocolate truffle was a dense ball of chocolate. Dry apple cider, you can never go wrong with an apple cider. They served it with a glass of ice, amazingly refreshing ! The view was beautiful. You can see all of Stockholm from this. There's an enclosed area in which you are able to borrow blankets and be warmer. There's also an outside area, which is the bridge..

We were here for the Christmas smorgasbord - "julbord" - and this is what this review is about. This was the second time I was there for the smorgasbord in three years. We were a company of four with a reservation for 7:30pm (yes, reservations are needed and in due time to reserve a spot). Arriving 15 minutes early we were sent to the bar to get a drink - and enjoy the magnificent view, overlooking the city in 270 degrees; be it a summer's day or a winter's night - it is sensational! When we got our table we were immediately seems by the head waiter for our order of drinks - both the signature aquavit and the "mumma" were delicious. Then he ushered us on to start at the table with herrings. After a feast of herring and Atlantic herring, it was time to start with more fish; salmon in a myriad of ways, paté made from seafood. Thereafter followed cold cuts, then warm meats, then... And, if you ever get confused where you are or what you "ought" to eat, there is a list on all tables. If you are a fan of either lutefisk or porridge ("risgrynsgröt") they have to be ordered separately but are part of the menu. But do remember to leave some room for the desserts... Lord! We left after 2.5 hours, bellies full, we were happy - and I remained full for three days after this! :D Service was very attentive, professional and kind. The meals were all excellent, and well-prepared. To some the (porcelain) pig head on the table was a turn-off although very traditional.

Possibly the coolest restaurant in Stockholm! Ride the elevator to the top of a crane like structure than wander out the arm to a fantastic view far above the city and a delicious cuisine. Wait staff were great along with a fine choice on the menu. This restaurant is a must go place for guests to the city. You will not be disappointed!

What a difference a season can make! In the summer this bar is somewhere I'd go on the regular to soak in the sun and gobble up the incredible view of Stockholm. In the winter I find it far less appealing. One thing is for sure: cocktails are good no matter the time of year you visit (just be ready to pay handsomely for them).

If you are a sucker for the views this is one of the places to go to in Stockholm. Although it is far past its glory days, Gondolen serves food and drink of impeccable quality. They excel in fish and seafood and they will pick a wine for you that perfectly matches the food. It's pricey, but not outrageous. For starters, I can recommend the oysters that are fleshy and fresh. For the main dish, the turbot with capris and beetroot is delicious and perfectly cooked. My objections then. First, the servings are way too small, you will never be statisfied if you order just a main dish. Second, the whole place seems a bit unmodern and it's easy to feel a bit out of place. Finally, the entrance is just horrid. It smells of urine and the elevator ride to the restaurant will make you lose your apetite. It's too bad to lose points on things that should be hygiene..

Really interesting place, glad I just got a drink versus dinner. The staff was not very helpful when I was asking about dinner or the menu available at the bar, so I figured I should move on, which I did. While sitting at the bar I experienced a rude bartender, who really knew what he was doing when it came to drinks. Superb drinks and ambiance, the view was a 5. The service was a 1, so I'm calling it a 3. Not sure I would come back to try the food, but I might endure the rude and annoying service for the view.

This place had the best service of any restaurant I have been to for a while. All the reviews below that suggest you don't eat here... why not? The food is good! Ok it's not the cheapest place to eat but it has an outdoor roof terrace wirh a fantastic view of Stockholm. Maybe the inside part of the restaurant is run down but there's nothing wrong with the open area. They have a good selection of wine, staff who can help you choose it and are genuinely friendly, and the food though expensive is still tasty. I will surely return here next time I am in Stockholm :)

Went to Gondolen tonight with a few friends. Had the trout which was very nice and looked great on the plate. Wife had the Gondolen fish casserole which wasn't really that amazing, lack salt, only tasted tons of chili and you could not taste anything resembling to fish unfortunately. Friends had lamb which looked great and tasted very good. The view here is good and you can see far away, at nighttime you see all the neon lights which is lovely. Now our table had quite a few drinks and a couple of hours later we brought the bill. My friends had some cash so they wanted to get rid of that and I used my card. When the older female waitress came back she salted the bill with additional 1000 Kr on top, which I fortunately noticed. She had pocketed the money and knew exactly how much she got. She was probably thinking that we were too drunk to notice that she added her own tip. She hardly apologized for the mistake so in return i didn't give her any tip at all, this ruined our experience here at least. Also they have a wardrobe which you have to pay when you leave your clothes, this should be a service which is free when you spend thousands in the restaurant. Instead you have to pay 12kr for each coat which feels so cheap. The food is decent, but there are many nicer restaurants to choose from. Best is probably to have a drink before dinner at some other place in the city and enjoying the view. And check the bill one extra time.

Quite a fancy place. The atmosphere is quiet and pleasant. Great for a Tuesday business lunch meet up or if you're ever in town on a 7hr layover catching up with a cousin. Had the fish and chips which apparently is Tuesday special. Good prices. Good service. Tip here: once you're done you can walk up to the next floor where there is a terrace and can get a beautiful snapshot of the city.

Incredible view of the city and water, and the most amazing rib eye ever! It was so perfectly juicy and slightly charred, and the seasoning was delicious. Everything we ate here was amazing. The view from the restaurant and ambiance were unforgettable. Highly highly highly recommend this place! Don't go to Stockholm without coming here for dinner!

This is a solid long-standing restaurant with the best view in Stockholm. Don't expect the latest cutting edge cuisine but instead classic fare, properly served and a solid wine list. I recommend the multi course tasting menu.

It was our first night in Stockholm and we went here. It is a very dated establishment that was so hot! finally someone put the AC on but with the sun in the windows, it was HOT! The service was mediocre at best and the food was good but not amazing for the prices. YEs, this seems like a place that gets hype because it has a great view, but hasn't been updated in a long time. The upstairs view was spectacular and looked like the spot to be instead of having a sit down meal.

View is a 5, place itself is a 2 so I'm going for 3. The view really is spectacular. To accompany the view you can eat a mediocre meal or have an average at best cocktail - both of which are pretty expensive. The venue is super tacky. Random things (strips, rails, poles etc) in the interior are gold plated for no apparent reason. It kind of feels like visiting the house of someone who got a lot of money overnight and spent it on touching everything up with no taste in mind. Hope they renovate & take it up a notch soon because the view doesn't really get better!

Came here for a late lunch / early dinner with my kids. My six year son absolutely loved the view and the fries. He asked me two nights later if we could go back to the roof deck for a meal. I had pickled herrings which were fantastic, and then for the main course, the seafood platter for two. The salad beneath the seafood was delicious, not salty at all not bitter or sour. Perfect balance. The seafood was abundant, no way that we could finish it. The price - coming from San Francisco, and have been previously outrageous in other Scandinavia countries, and quite to my surprise, reasonable, if not down right affordable. The bread, let's not forget about the bread. The "Bread Upon Request: is getting tiring in fancy San Francisco restaurants. I have gotten annoyed by it because I just assume that they should provide decent bread wherever you go. Of course that's not the case in Stockholm, in fact, their bread selection is way better than my other country of residency, France. Vika bread, or Wasa bread was abundant there, which my children called "Pizza Crust", and the dark bread with nuts are surprisingly tasty. This was one of the many great restaurants I dined in Sweden. Having traveled the world, and having two foodie places as my primary residences (San Francisco bay area and Burgundy France), I now have to crown Sweden as my favorite country to visit. Beautiful, clean and exceptional good food, relatively affordable (comparing to Denmark and Norway), on par with U.S. standard of living, if not higher. This place definitely contributed to my view about Sweden in general. Sadly we ran out of time to go back here to eat. But I suspect that I'd be coming back to Sweden lots. Air France has round trip from Charles De Gaulle to Stockholm Arlanda for $200. I hope to check in here again soon. I so deserve to own a regular badge for this restaurant.

Although Im born and raised in Stockholm i have been yet so far to experience this classic venue. I leave to say if its been due to previous lack of interest or economic indulgence. Time pass, so i went here a Thursday night for a light "having some drinks" version experience. Crowd was upscale elder who enjoyed their night having great food and drinks. We headed for the sky bar in the very end, which offers some lounge sofas and a long bar along one side of it. Its kinda roomy and you can probably get a nice spot without elbowing too much. Pricing is steep(read Stockholm), but there is no problem charging premium when you can serve the audience mind-blowing views along with your food and drinks. Service was accurate and fast and the view was obviously at the top. If you havent had the opportunity to try it out yet, i would definitely do it. I will, again, but then ill go for the food as well.

The views from the restaurant are simply beautiful. The location close to Gamla Stan (the Old Town) also brings many tourists. Living in Stockholm I think that Gondolen has a slightly touristy feeling, the prices are high even considering that quality of the food is good. It is possible to eat better at lower prices in Stockholm (I would for example recommend Mathias Dahlgrens 'Matbaren' instead). That said I still believe it is worth visiting Gondolen at least once. The food is good, the service is almost always very good and the view towards the water are stunning. I often have venison when I am there and it is almost always great. I am not personally a seafood person but I have been told that the seafood is great. The bar is also excellent, they make superb drinks and it is still possible to sit gazing out the windows. So if you do not go there to eat do at least stop by for a drink at the bar.

Great view. Terrible service. The drinks were decent.

Had lunch in early Feb 2010 with two business colleagues. Spectacular view of Stockholm, matched by attentive service and excellent food. I ordered soup, a fish entree and dessert and found them to be Michelin star quality, with prices to match.

We enjoyed this place very much in the company of friends. Food was excellent, tasty and good size portions. The view of downtown Stockholm is unbeatable. Be sure to reserve in advance.

Erik's Gondolen is a Stockholm tradition. The restaurant is a glass box in the sky (almost like a bridge) that you access via a rickety old lift. Reservations are required and when we visited on a Thursday night everyone was dressed pretty well. It's one of those places that probably gets visited because it's a talking point rather than because the food is particularly brilliant. The location overlooks the sea and if you visit at sunset it's particularly pretty. Like everything in Sweden, it's super expensive, so expect wine from £10 a glass upwards and main courses costing £30+. We particularly enjoyed the mixed herring starter which was like kit food - a slab of cream in the middle with 9 different flavoured herrings surrounding it in mini dishes. The steak was well cooked, and another fish main was fine. However we were left feeling like we'd spent a lot of money and weren't wowed by the experience. Visit the bar (also in the glass box) instead of forking out for food. The cocktails looked lovely.

Very meh. You get what you pay for I guess, which is a great view in a high-traffic tourist zone serving mediocre food in a faux-chic setting. Gondolen serves standard Swedish restaurant fare and doesn't do a great job of it. I found the food to be very bland, and overproduced for a customer that doesn't know any better. One that thinks they're having a good dining experience when in reality they're just getting overcharged for no good reason. That said the view is nice and the service is good, but the food wasn't terribly memorable.

The view is outstanding! The servings are generous, in fact, more then I could stomach. The service are good. My expectations on this well known restaurant were high, for sure. I thought the flavors were plane, good, no more no less. After you are filled up go to the bar, enjoy a drink to let all that food digest and have more of the amazing Stockholm skyline.

A must for the tourist! The view over Stockholm is like nothing else! Never ate here, just had drinks and they are delicious!!

The evening I spent here was the highlight of my trip to Stockholm last year. Located in the Slussen part of the city, close to the old town and port, this is a huge crane offering fantastic views of this most beautiful city. You can go on the crane part for a few drinks, before going to the restaurant for a meal. This is fine dining and priced accordingly, but the quality is second to none. The service is unintrusive but friendly. If you are in Stockholm for a special occasion, this is definitely the place to go to celebrate.

Great views, good food, you can't go wrong. But beware, this place is popular and would be difficult to get in without a reservation.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Sweden. I always go here when I come back. I love their lunches. The view is incredible and the service is amazing. I love sitting there looking at Stockholm for hours, eating and drinking with my mum when I go to Sweden. The salads are delicious, and I also love their bread! yum. The wine menu is great. I don't have to much to complain about...except that it is swedish prices... pretty expensive. But this is definitely worth the money!

If your visiting stockholm and want a classic drink with a great view go to this bar. I would however not eat at the restaurant. It is a bit pricy and traditional in the "bordering on boring"-way.

Great place to stop in for a drink and take in breathtaking views of the city. Use the elevators (they open like a door to a room) to go to the top floor and then take the stairs up to the bar.

I went with a friend for drinks after dinner - what a view!! Such a beautiful place to spend a few hours, whether you're going for dinner or drinks. However, it is SO expensive, as Scandinavia is known for its prices, this place lives up to the stereotype! Two drinks put me back almost $25!! Basically - a mixed drink is 98 crowns, wine is 78. It isn't cheap, but the views are so great I'd say it's worth is for a night out. The surrounding area is also really cool to check out - Gotgatan has lots of bars/resaturants/shops to keep you entertained.

Amazing views, fabulous service! delicious toast skagen and margaritas. Can't wait to go back someday for a full meal!

A great atmosphere if you sit around the bar. For my wife and I in our late 20s, the clientele seems to be split - a cool crowd around the bar until about 9pm; the regular dining room more of the second-rate crowd, some families. The food is very good but not excellent, and somewhat over priced - which is probably what pays for the view, which is fantastic! Overall, we had a very good time. The bar made one of the best whiskey smash cocktails I've had anywhere in the world! Would recommend for a chill, early evening spot to grab some food and a few drinks.

Amazing views, very friendly bar staff, great mixed drinks, really easy-going atmosphere. The drink prices weren't totally out of control considering how nice the views were.

One of the clear draws for Gondolen is the amazing view. Luckily for us, they still take the effort to choose quality ingredients and skillfully prepare them in classic dishes. While the menu doesn't push any boundaries, it makes for a very enjoyable meal coupled with the lovely view of Stockholm. I believe the menu changes, but we had a beef dish, a lamb dish, a halibut dish, and a casserole. The beef was a very good quality cut of meat, and was well prepared. It is one of the better beef dishes we have had in Stockholm. The halibut was grilled perfectly, only very slightly dry, and served with a seasonal chanterelle risotto. Yum! The lamb dish was not the best we've had, but was certainly enjoyable. Not quite as good of quality as the beef. The restaurant was also very quiet, great for holding a conversation with friends and family. While I agree that it feels a bit designed for tourists, that doesn't mean it's not a very good place for a nicer meal when friends or family are visiting.

Perfect, if your palate belongs to the generation of chef Erik Lallerstedt (born 1946). Capers, beurre blanc, baked beans and shellfish sallad.

Wonderful view. I went for a birthday dinner and it was very expensive but I can't complain it was an experience eating there.

We came for the view but did not eat or drink. We came at the end of Sept. A little bit cold at the top. Took the steps to the top, near the road and walked around.

I agree with the previous reviewer, great place to bring tourists because of the excellent view. I have never been impressed with the food at Gondolen. Try Eric's Bakficka instead.

Gondolen is situated on an island called Södermalm directly near the Stockholm city centre. It definitely is one of the top restaurants in Stockholm due to the fact of its little, but thought-out range of food and its large range of wine. When I first reached the top of it with the elevator, it was absolutely spell-binding. From there you may see many different quarters of Stockholm, for instance the historic centre Gamla Stan, or the wonderful place Djugarden. Well, for such an experience you have to pay a certain amount of money, which can be found on the menue card. To put it in a nutshell, nothing for the little portemonnaie but it's the money worth at all!

One needs to go to this Stockholm landmark at least once, for a cocktail, but don't waste your money on the food. From the bar one has one of the best views of Stockholm. With a classy fifties interior, It feels like one is visiting the set of Mad Men for Sweden. That said, if one lives in Sweden the menu is a rather tired version of what can be had at other places, with better portions, higher quality and more hospitality. THe menu is fine dining for 70's not now. Last time my husband and I had the Redarmeny, seven courses , so we gave it a fair shot. but was far from impressed. Even though the restaurant was not full were told we had to leave after 2.5 hours. Although the food was well prepared, it was typical of what one gets at most Swedish krogs or on the crusie ships, and not really fine dining. Caviar, and herring are out of the jar are not special in Sweden. Perhaps they are waiting to spend money on a real cheif until the renovations are finished at Slussen. Lunch is a better value, but once again, one can get the same food at a krog.

Been here a number of times. Absolutely one of my favorite places in Stockholm. Pricey, but top service and fabulous food!

View wonderful, food very average, prices sky-high. There are probably at least 30 or 40 restaurants in Stockholm that are priced similarly or cheaper and serve significantly better food. They do not employ sufficient waiting staff to provide the level of service the price suggests, and those that they do have are not particularly knowledgeable about food or wine. Lowpoint of my meal was a tough overcooked duck breast served with an absolutely awful glass of Côtes du Rhône.