The Swedish Club

The Swedish Club is a hidden gem in Seattle! We recently held our company holiday party here and were blown away by the experience. The panoramic views of Lake Union and the Seattle skyline are absolutely stunning, especially in the evening. The food was delicious, featuring authentic Nordic cuisine that impressed our whole team. The staff provided friendly, attentive service that made everyone feel welcome. Whether you're planning an event or just looking for a unique dining experience with incredible views, the Swedish Club is a must-visit spot. The venue perfectly balances its role as a cultural center with modern amenities, making it an ideal location for special occasions.

This is a review of the Sunday brunch, not the special events venue. First off, the staff were friendly, courteous and helpful, if also inattentive at times. The overall vibe of the restaurant is like visiting the cafeteria at your grandparents' senior living home, however with a better view. Dated, sparse and uninteresting furnishings and decor in an aging 60s building. The food was... not good. Comparable to the free breakfast buffet at the Holiday Inn Express, at best. (The photo was taken at 1:00pm on Sunday, 2/16/25.)

I highly recommend the Swedish Club for a private event. I rented the Three Crowns Lounge for a 60th surprise birthday party. The Club was incredibly communicative and helpful in organizing, answering my hundreds of questions with patience and courtesy. The space was perfect for 40 persons. We had room for a buffet and a DJ, and enough places for everyone to sit. The space was decorated already (maybe always) so I didn't need to add anything. Guests even asked me if I had decorated. Having the bar right there was perfect. Loved that I didn't have to coordinate hiring a bartender. We also used one of the preferred caterers which worked great as they knew the space and what to expect. On top of it all, the view is incredible.

I have been going to the Swedish Club since I was about 6. It was so elegant! Now the bones are there, but it shows the years. The view has always been spectacular. It looks out on Lake Union. The schedule is rather odd, so check the website first. The bar is great. The Club offers a lot of cultural events. The first Sunday of each month is the Pancake Breakfast if you want to check it out.

We were invited as guests of members to enjoy a Friday evening dinner and music. The food was delicious, and the views of Lake Union and downtown Seattle were amazing. We had a great time!

We love the Swedish Club!! We've been here from time to time for Friday night dinners, special events and particularly their Scandinavian Holiday Bazaar. We haven't done language lessons or dance classes yet but my kid is interested so we'll probably be trying those things out soon. This week, for the first time, we tried their "light dinner" on a Wednesday and it was fabulous. It's set in the bar, so be aware that you'll need to go to the dining room or balcony if you bring a kid (whoops!). That said, I've never had such delicious stew. And their bar is reasonably priced and gorgeous on sunny Seattle days! It's absolutely a hidden gem, and I'm so glad we found it!

I’ve been here twice now. Once for the holiday bazaar. It was a busy event but a lot of fun. Now I’m taking a weaving class there and I love it. Great, friendly atmosphere of people who just love Sweden.

On the first Sunday of every month, they provide a Swedish Pancake breakfast. My son and I go as our little tradition. Check their calendar for dates and other events. They also serve various lunches and dinners though the month.

We went for the Pancake breakfast. Big plus was they have their own parking lot. Pancakes, lingonberry sauce and ham were tasty. Folks were friendly. We aren't members but hope to visit the club for other events

What a fun time and the Swedish pancakes and sausage Was delicious!!! Live Scandinavian music and friendly people!

4 of us had brunch in the Crown Room. It's a bright location, top of the building. The view east over Lake Union is unparalleled. The food was ok. The service was nice but mediocre. I had corned beef hash w 2 fried eggs and 2 half slices of barely toasted cold white bread. It was supposed to come with homemade hot sauce on the side which I had to ask for. I sent the first plate back as there was a curly dark hair in it. Plate 2 was eggs and potatoes. The bacon came on the side. It was cold and not crispy at all. There was a large puddle of grease on the plate under the bacon. The scrambled eggs were perfectly done. She had to ask for salt and pepper for the table. Plate 3 waffle and side of bacon. Same bacon. They brought whipped cream and butter but no syrup. Plate 4 was a waffle. No whipped cream just butter. Bacon was the same as the other plate. They went back and brought whipped cream then went back for syrup which came from a Log Cabin bottle. The mimosas were good. We were the only ones in the room. There was a volunteer lady who brought the menus and a bartender who took our order. There were also two other females who were support staff? My eggs were good and I enjoyed the bit of fresh dill that garnished them. I've enjoyed the pancake breakfasts in the past but will avoid the brunch in the future. Please train the staff as to what goes with each item. We had to ask for at least one thing per person. This is not competent service.

I have been attending the monthly friends and family Wednesday night with my mother and really love the experience! The bartender is super friendly and nice and the food has been incredibly delicious! Last meal was a chicken curry casserole and the flavors were extremely delightful and delicious. I love hearing about my heritage and excited to attend more events as the club has a very active event calendar! Membership is affordable and it's really a friendly, happy place! Can't beat the beautiful view either! Checkout their website for more information, so happy to have more events planned in my near future :)

Swedish pannkakor with lingonberries, whipped cream, and ham? YES PLEASE. The first Sunday of every month, the Swedish Cultural Center in Queen Anne puts on an authentic Swedish breakfast complete with music and festive fun. Arriving, you are immediately greeted by a door person in traditional Swedish garb and are then ushered into a hall with vendors, such as the Swedish Women's Choir, selling cardamon rolls and other tasty goodies. The Swedish breakfast costs $9 (for non-members), and this gets you tickets for not only your first helping but a second round as well. The cafeteria is full of old and young Swedish descendants alike, and of course your typical hipster (or dozen) making an appearance. You will find some people really get into the spirit of their Swedish ancestry and will dress up in full regalia, which is really neat. You basically go through an assembly line of servers to get your food, which comes with three Swedish pannkakor, a slice of ham, lingonberries or strawberries, and orange juice. Silverware and coffee are already at the table, which you seat yourself at with other people. The food is actually REALLY good; I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely much better than any Swedish pancake that you'll find around at non-Swedish restaurants (i.e, IHOP, etc.). The second helping ticket gets you a choice of one or two additional pancakes. There are people walking around to empty your table of your plates as well as fill up the coffee jugs. It was such a great experience, and I definitely look forward to going back. I'm not sure you can find a better breakfast for $9 in Seattle that also provides such charming entertainment. Breakfast runs until 1:30 PM, so it's ideal even for people who sleep in on the weekends, too. It seems like there are a lot of really interesting things to do at the Swedish Cultural Center in addition to this breakfast. I will have to continue to check back and see what's on the calendar!

Just love this old building, it's like a museum all around. Beautiful view of Lake Washington (I think that's what its call) or the Puget Sound..lol one or the other. Had some old weaving mills displayed on the second floor and some other artifacts. I was there for an Uber event and I think it's a private club so it's not accessible to the general public. Great place to have a conference, wedding reception or any big event. Easy to find and lots of parking available on the lower lot.

We rented a space here for a baby shower last week. The venue is wonderful and has absolutely beautiful views of the lake! The huge windows were a big selling point for us. The club had everything to make my guests comfortable; there was an elevator available, bathrooms nearby, electrical outlets and furniture included. And the coordinator Chris was great to work with! He answered all my questions, found me a space within my budget, and overall made the process really smooth. All of our guests had a wonderful time here and loved the venue. I will definitely recommend to family/friends and book again for future events!

This review is for the Swedish Club and not the pancake breakfast. I've been to numerous events over the past few years and I have grown to love this place more and more. The staff here have been nothing but welcoming since the first day I walked in. The building is located on Queen Anne and over looks Lake Union. There are some really spectacular views from the 3 Crowns room and the balcony around it. There is ample parking and the building is easily accessible. There seems to be something going on everyday here and the building is open even if you just want to look around. The Swedish Club knows how to throw a party. I highly recommend going to ABBA night once in your lifetime. These people know how to throw a party. There are people of all ages and all walks of life who attend these events so don't be scared. My personal favorite is Eurovision night. They watch Eurovision on the big screen upstairs and open the bar for drinks and snacks. They offer svensk classes for those wanting to learn a little Swedish. They also have weaving classes and a bunch of choirs to join as well. I think I can say that there's something for everyone here. Tusen tack!

After hearing about the Swedish Cultural Center's Sunday breakfast a few times, we finally made it over to Seattle to check it out the first Sunday of this month. Overall, it was a really enjoyable event! Parking is either in the lot at the Swedish Cultural Center or across the street in another lot. We arrived probably around 10:30 or so and felt lucky to find a spot... when we were leaving, someone was already waiting for our spot behind us too! It appears there is also street parking around the place, but I honestly didn't look at any special parking permit required or anything like that. When you get inside after a nice greeting by a gentleman in a kilt, you join a line to pay for the breakfast (CASH ONLY, be prepared!). Several people were also enrolling to become members which will give you a free breakfast that morning too. We picked up a flyer with events sponsored by the Center and it looked like there were several fun activities including a Viking Happy Hour, a Christmas gift shopping event, movie nights, etc. After paying - in cash ($9/person) - and getting 2 tickets, you enter the dining area and follow the ropes to the food service area. There are several large circular communal tables with people enjoying their Swedish pancakes and having conversations with one another. Coffee is provided on the tables (and it's good coffee too!), orange juice is also available near where you pick up the food. You get 3 folded up Swedish pancakes, lingonberry or strawberry sauce (lingonberry was delish!) and some fresh whipped cream on top. You also get a big piece of ham with your first serving which really goes well with the sweet breakfast. For seconds, you can have more pancakes, but not more ham. We ended up sitting with some of the cooks and some other members of the Cultural Center. It seemed kind of like a family dinner party and we felt very welcomed there. There's music playing from a band, room to dance if you want to, good food.. fun! This definitely seems like a family friendly event and I think kids would enjoy seeing live music and the food is approachable to little ones as well.

(NOTE: THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE MONTHLY PANCAKE BREAKFAST) Seattle's Swedish Club is truly one of the City's institutions and offers a lot of great programs for all, whether they're of Scandinavian descent or not. One of the neat things they offer is the monthly Swedish pancake breakfast, which takes place on the first Sunday of every month. THE ROSES: The breakfast itself is very tasty. You get some Swedish pancakes, dressed with your choice of strawberries, lingonberry sauce, and whipped cream, and a slice of ham. You can go back for seconds on the pancakes if you like. Orange juice and coffee are included as well. The all-volunteer staff is very friendly. Entertainment comes in the form of various musical groups playing Scandinavian folk music, as well as traditional folk dancing where you can join in if you feel so inclined. THE THORNS: At $9 a plate for non-members ($7 if you're a member), this is just a bit spendy for you're getting, especially since it's served 'cafeteria style', and it's communal seating at one of their big round tables. This breakfast can be very popular, and you may encounter some pretty big lines (members have a separate line: it pays to belong). If you come with a big group, prepare to break yourselves up, because unless you come early, you'll probably not find seating for all of you at one table. NEITHER ROSE NOR THORN: Interesting cross-section of people who come to this make for great people-watching and grist for your social commentary. You have your Scandihoovian seniors rubbing elbows with Young Upscale Families from Queen Anne and Seattle's other trendy, close-in nabes. You also have the hipsters and brogrammers that are increasingly calling the apartment towers in the SLU area 'home' coming (probably because it's become the hip/ironic thing to do; kind of like 20somethings playing bingo at the Senior Center). There is definitely a "Portlandia" sketch buried in here somewhere, but I haven't quite figured it out yet. THE VERDICT: Fun thing to do on a Sunday for a change of pace from the usual 'Brunch Village' (another reference to one of "Portlandia"s most hilarious sketches) thing. Basic bfast fare spiced up with a heapin' helpin' of the Scandihoovian culture was emblematic of Seattle back when it was a sleepy little burg on the bay in the days before it became a tech and hipster mecca. By all means check it out. TOP TIP: Membership for a family is only $85/year. It give you access to a lot of great programs; they have a nifty bar, and you can 'jump the line' at the monthly breakfast. And you don't have to be Swedish or even Scandinavian to join!

I'm a member of the SCC. Awesome Awesome Awesome organization and venue for a variety of reasons. A) The Three Crowns Dining Room and Lounge is at the top floor of the Center and has dynamic views of Lake Union and beyond. It's a nice-sized space with a lovely wrap-around balcony, commercial kitchen area, and full-service bar. I married a Swedish fellow here. The rental price for the Three Crowns Room is SO reasonable and R.W. (the Executive Director) is terrifically friendly to deal with. There are also other rooms available for rental purposes. B) As You Like It Catering does all the catering for the SCC and they are wonderful. In working together with them, they prepared a Creole, Soul Food, Swedish spread for my wedding reception that made everyone squeal with piggly delight. SERIOUSLY, the chef in charge was an ethnic woman who knew how to throw down AND present her spread elegantly. C) And then there's the Swedish Pancake Breakfast or Svenska Pannkakor as we call it. Hours are between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month except for July and August. Current price is $6 for members, $8 for non-member adults, $4 for kids 5 - 12, and love sprouts under 5 eat for free. Do you goofy Swedish dancing if you want to or just go for the hearty breakfast that consists of pancakes with lingonberry or strawberry topping (and whipped cream if you want), ham, coffee, milk, and OJ. Ticket price also includes seconds on the pancakes but usually not the ham. Oh, and the Door Man, he's swell :) D) Swedish language classes. Haven't taken them yet but it's on the To Do list.

This place makes me happy. They offer Swedish language classes, a gorgeous pancake breakfast on the first Sunday of each month, and a killer view of the city. I'm half Swedish and love the fact that there's a place where I can get in touch with my roots or catch a subtitled Scandinavian film! Parking can be headachy but plan ahead and you should be fine. There's space behind their building and on the street. Or you can carpool or take the bus.

Love the view from the Swedish Cultural Center. It is absolutely amazing!!! Whether it's day or night, they have one of the best views of the city, Space Needle and Lake Union. I'd say the only view that can compare to this is the Columbia Tower Club. Although I am not a member, nor Swedish, I have attended as a guest of various members. Some of the members are super friendly and inviting. Others are reserved and keep to their cliques. Pretty normal for any place in Seattle. There are people young and old here, straight or gay. The bar here is pretty much the main place I've hung out when I've been here and they do have a nice bar. Sometimes they give out free samples of pastries and cheese. Not impressed with the pastries but love the Swedish cheese ;)

I would never have found this place if there wasn't a UYE (breakfast club). The Swedish pancakes are great! CASH ONLY! It's $9 per adult and you can get two plates: first plate pancakes with meat and second plate just pancakes. You have choice of orange juice, milk, coffee and tea. The first plate comes with 3 rolls of Swedish pancakes with either strawberry topping or raspberry with whipped cream and a piece of ham. I didn't get to have the second plate because I was already filled up with the first plate. There were a lot of people. It's more like family style. Since all the Yelpers arrived different time, we had two or three different tables with others. It was actually pretty fun. The table two other Yelpers and I sat was shared with a family. The wife was next to me and she was really interested in food as well. We had conversation about food and where to grab good food. In front of the breakfast room, there's a space that people can dance with Swedish music. A lot of the members of Swedish Cultural, they also wore traditional clothes to the breakfast. There's parking lot behind the building and across street. Or, you can find parking on the street. Thanks Food Ninja for finding this great breakfast place! It was awesome.

Attended a celebration of life in the evening at the Swedish Club. Wonderful venue and the food was excellent. Vegetarian and meat appetizers.The staff was attentive and supportive. Parking was very easy. Highly recommend this venue

Only a couple of things keep me from giving the SCC 5-stars. Everything about the service we received at the business event I hosted at the SCC last week was just what we needed and more. Doug, who worked with us to schedule the event, was always responsive and helpful. More important, he was flexible in moving us from the larger Crown Room to the more intimate room when we realized we would have fewer guests. I imagine this was in part because rooms are more available in January. However, he wasn't a stickler about it, which made it much easier and less stressful for us. He was also there the evening of the event to make sure we had everything we needed. Doug (yes another one), our SCC bartender, was fantastic. He made us feel like we were in our own private club. Very attentive, efficient and charming. What you expect in a great bartender, and essential for the mood we were trying to create. We brought our own caterer, so I have no comments about the food. But the SCC was helpful in providing what we needed to make that work as well. The only reason I'm giving a 4 instead of a 5 is more about the condition of the SCC. That is, it's a little dated. My guests barely noticed it with the beautiful view of South Lake Union at night. I understand they're working on upgrades, like the new acoustic ceiling, which makes it great for networking. Unlike other venues, you can actually hear what people are saying. This amazing location will be a stunning property when it's completed. As for their technology, there's free Wi-Fi -- always nice -- but the sound system connection is in an awkward place. It would have been nice if they had longer cords. Yes, a small yet critical thing. I should have brought my own. Next time absolutely. I look forward to holding another event at the SCC.

Friday nights anyone (non-members) can drop by for cocktails, Swedish meatballs, and live jazz. The decor is mid century Scandinavian modern (quelle suprise) looking out on dramatic views of Lake Union and the center of town. The band and the meatballs are always good (if you like jazz and meatballs, respectively). It's a fun crowd and the cocktails are really good. Drop in for one of the still extant last bits of old Seattle.

Me and a friend came here for the Swedish pancake breakfast. We arrived around 8:15 so the wait was very minimal. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. They really make you feel at home. The pancakes are amazing! We each had the Swedish pancakes with lingonberries and strawberries along with a slice of ham on the side.

Finally made it over to Seattle Cultural Center for their Swedish pancake breakfast, held on the first Sunday of each month. It is exactly as described. Either you like Swedish pancakes (pannkakor) or you don't. If you haven't had them, Swedish pancakes are basically crepes but maybe slightly thicker and sort of folded into threes. They are not stuffed but rather covered in lingonberry or strawberry compote/preserve and fresh whipping cream. When you arrive at Swedish Cultural Center you are greeted by someone in traditional Swedish costume who opens the door for you. This is on the first floor which is slightly below street level. Then you walk up to pay for the meal (cash only). It is currently $9, which is quite a bargain for what you get. They will give you two tickets, usually one red and one white. Take the red ticket to the line immediately to your left upon entering. Don't worry about finding a table (dining is family style in circular tables, you share the table with others); there are always people coming and going, a table will open for you. When you get to the front of the line just drop the red ticket in the basket. The first server will give you piece of ham, then you get 3 Swedish pancakes, then you decide what kind of preserve you want (either lingonberry or strawberry), finally you get a heaping pile of fresh whipped cream. To your right you may grab an orange juice, served in little Dixie cups. Then just try to find a table. At your table you will find a coffee cup and silverware. The crowd is pretty diverse, lots of older people but also younger groups, families, etc. Try talking to some of your tablemates and listen to the excellent band that plays traditional songs. Some people get up and dance. If you are still hungry (a big if) you can use your white ticket to get seconds only on pancakes. This is a separate line, and it seems they give you 2 pancakes for seconds. If you are still hungry after seconds then you have a problem. You may also want to ask for less preserve and whipped cream, they really use quite a lot. Are these the best Swedish pancakes you are ever going to find? I seriously doubt it. Patty's Egg Nest for one has a much tastier option, which you can also add eggs to. They also use much higher quality ham. Their lingonberry preserve is also a bit tarter which I feel tastes better.But for $9 this in an excellent option and a good way to meet some new people and listen to some nice music. Tax is included. Gratuity is optional, there are jars on the tables if you would like to tip. Afterward, walk around the grounds to view the displays. They have some paintings, dolls showing the different national dress (based on region), a gallery of Swedish kings/queens and more. On the upper floor (3rd floor up from where you eat) there is a great view of the surrounding water and neighborhood. Also a library to research Swedish/Finnish geneology, free second-hand books in Swedish language, and various newsletters that cater to people with an interest in Scandinavia. If you become a member of the Center ($55) you can get one free breakfast ($9 value), one free dinner ($18 value), and all the future pancake breakfasts are only $6 for you.

Five Stars for the gentleman who danced his heart out with the ladies, the entire time i was there. Five Stars for being a place where young and old can come to eat, converse, laugh, and learn. Five Stars for the tasty crepes, covered in lingonberries and/ or strawberries, ham, coffee, and OJ. Five Stars for it all being $7. And finally Five Stars for two tickets. Yes, when you've cleaned your first plate, you're encouraged to grab another. So.. 25 stars.. We'll just take the average.. which would be.. Duh.

We cannot begin to express our disappointment with our experience at the SCC. Early in 2012, we contracted with SCC for a wedding reception, excited to give SCC our business as members. We met with the facilities manager, who was friendly, helpful, personable, and explained very well all that was expected of us, and the ways the SCC could be of service. It was a very pleasant and optimistic meeting, and we felt our event would be positive and fun. When he left the SCC, there was absolutely no notice to us, the clients/members with whom he had been working. It took three emails, getting very close to our event date, to finally get an answer that he had left. In these cases, it is good practice to inform current contract holders that a new facilities manager would be helping them, not leave them to discover it for themselves. A good practice is also to ask if there is anything that the new manager can do, and to ask questions about the understanding of the upcoming event. It is terrible business practice to attempt to deny what the agreements had been prior to the management change, or to add charges to a verbal agreement that was communicated during discussion. If agreements such as these are not to your liking, then future contracts should reflect that, not current ones. When the former manager was replaced we had very little and very terse communication. All the grey areas that we were assured would be no problem, were suddenly a problem. We felt that the SCC was now interested only in charging us more, and for every little detail that could be found. For example, we'd been told that if we engaged caterers who actually cooked their food in the kitchen, they said we would be charged the kitchen fee, but if they just laid the food out, no charge. When we explained that we had purposely searched for caterers to serve only room temp finger food, eliminating the need to prep in a kitchen, we were still asked to pay an extra $100 for the kitchen counter space they needed. Our main infuriating experience is with the bar. The bartenders, who were retained to serve the beverages WE provided, did not display, promote, or clarify to our guests the three kinds of wine, sparkling water, punch, coffee, and tea that we brought in for our event. Rather, they SOLD their liquor and soft drinks to our guests. This was NOT the agreement or understanding when we contracted servers. The goal was not to enrich the SCC, but to engage servers to serve OUR beverages to OUR guests. We took home nearly all the wine and sparkling water we brought. I witnessed my guests ask for water, be served from a Pellegrino bottle that we provided, and be vaguely told, "no charge," when they should have been told, "this is from your hosts" at the very least. This is not how a professional organization operates. We may as well have had college students stand behind a table and hand out drinks; that would have been of higher caliber. The bartenders were not polite to our guests or our caterers. I had multiple reports of rudeness. There was much miscommunication, and our caterers, who were there only to serve the food they provided, were angrily and publicly coerced by the bartenders to clean the bar tables. We cleaned the rooms ourselves, leaving them almost exactly as we found them. We, including the bride in her wedding gown, and the groom in his wedding suit, worked to clear tables, discard food, collect boxes, stack chairs. A nice SCC employee took our garbage bags and our cardboard recycling at the end, but we did everything else except break down tables. Other facilities we have given business to in the past have provided tables, linens, wait staff, candles, and clean up, included in the rental fee. Often there is a minimum food charge included in the rental fee and no kitchen charges. Basically, we paid $2000 for an empty room. No linens, no services, no ability to access kitchen closest to us, no service, no wait staff, nothing came with this. I do NOT recommend for an event.

The most delicious pancakes ever. Little old Swedish ladies are awesome. Parking's atrocious and it's a little expensive, but the pancakes are amazing. They're like crepes, but better. If you don't try the lingonberry syrup you're missing out. The ham is good as well. Breakfast comes with coffee and/or orange juice, and I think coffee is unlimited. If you look even remotely Swedish (I'm a lot Norwegian), they'll try to recruit you, which is kind of awkward. But it's okay because the pancakes and lingonberries are totally worth it.

Luckily for me, my non-pancake eating husband (seriously, what is WRONG with him) was busy yesterday, so I endulged in the tasty flour, egg, milk, butter, and salt concoction known as Swedish pancakes. Good food, cool music and dancing. They even have a little lobby area where you can buy swedish food to go. Oddly enough, they bought it at Ikea. Kudos too, to the doorman, who I think just got off the boat from Sweden. Awesome.

Kan du passa min hund ett gonblick? Holy Moly! Once you go you will be back for more. You really cant go wrong with this one. Do yourself a favor and plan to eat here on the first Sunday of next month. For only 8$ you get delicious thin pancakes with berries, whip creme, ham, OJ, and coffee. Did I mention the seconds on pancakes? Oh ya believe it. If that wasn't enough they also provide entertainment. A band all dressed up in their Swedish outfits, presumably playing Swedish music. If its a rowdy crowd people will tear up the dance floor. Do not argue with me! GO.

To me, this place is a total hole-in-the-wall, but apparently not now that I see so many Yelp raves about this Cultural Center and the stellar view of Lake Union/Seattle its got! My co-workers and I came here on a Friday night for Sommarfest. We had a blast dancing the night away thanks to the cute dance floor and awesome Swedish DJ. We also met several friendly folks celebrating their birthday, how awesome! Oh, and we scored the Swedish meatballs happy hour plate. Way better than Ikea, for suresies. I'll have to come back for pancake breakfast!! Last but not least, they have have MAD MEN showings in their Library!!

Made it this month for the Swedish pancakes. First off, bring cash and if you are on the shy side bring a friend or 2. You will probably share a table with other people. It has the atmosphere of attending a reception for a Swedish party. It gets crowed as this is a once a month event. As for the food, you get a Swedish pancake topped with some berries and fresh whipped cream and a slice of ham. Yum...and if you are lucky someone may come around and let you lick the whipped cream bowl. Today was my lucky day! You have coffee and juice for beverages. Very family friendly environment. Overall, if you are looking for a family fun and cheap breakfast to the tune of accordion music playing in the background, this is an event not to be missed.

So I've driven by this place a zillion times and finally decided to go in on a random Sunday morning. Most everyone was sleeping, but I was up at the crack of dawn, so I figured why not. All in all, the Swedish pancakes are quite the tasty morsel. Do note that this place is CASH ONLY! It's $9 per adult and I think I remember them putting a bracelet on you. but I could be mistaken. That might have been the night before. Anyhow, As you walk in, the check-in table is manned by a nice old Swedish lady and if you were lucky, you would have been greeted by an elderly gentleman outside that is wearing a kilt. So after you pay your $9, you are given two tickets for two plates of pancakes. You walk in and the line snakes around to the left. Note that the first plate of pancakes comes with ham and the second plate is just pancakes. Though with the UNLIMITED orange juice, milk, coffee and tea, you can drink till your gut busts. So odds are that you'll give up your second plate. Actually, if you just hang around, people will give you their extra tickets and you'll easily wind up with like six or seven extra tickets. That's what happened to me. Too bad I don't eat that much anymore....

I went here today for Sunday morning breakfast. I was welcomed (even though I wasn't Swedish). The breakfast line moved quickly. I got crepes (Swedish pancakes), a slice of ham, a choice of strawberry or lingonberry topping, and whipped cream. Drinks included orange juice and unlimited coffee (including decaf). You join others at big round tables and while you enjoy your meal, you watch a band play Swedish music (awesome accordion playing!) and some people dancing. Staff were friendly and on-hand to take dirty plates and offer you coffee refills. And you can go back for seconds! Price $9, cash only I think. There were two lots for parking - I didn't have a problem finding a spot. If you were wondering, there was no mention of IKEA. In fact, their coffee cups were made in China! Definitely worth the experience.

The first Sunday of every month is Swedish Pancake at the Cultural Center! Swedish pancakes with Lingonberry Sauce and Whipped Cream, and a slice of ham...what could be better. This is a great fun family event, and it's a way to connect with friends and share a meal. Come early, and expect lines!!

Love the Friday Kafé: Svedala Bakery prepares smörgås sandwiches, with fresh bakery-style bread, homemade lox and other tasty toppings. Lunch (starting at 12 noon) . For dinner/happy hour: smörgås sandwiches, Swedish entrees and desserts, all with gracious bartenders, low key atmosphere with a lovely view of Lake Union. Membership is affordable, and you can bring guests to check the place out. Only complaint is that sometime folks working the door/checking membership status are a little unclear on expressing the membership policy. Be sure to keep and eye on the calendar for ABBA night so you can dust off your euro-disco outfit, or just come enjoy the fun as you are.

What a great event. There is a gentleman at the door dressed in traditional clothing greeting everyone very warmly. Parking was a pain for us as all the lots were full but we did find some parking on the street and enjoyed a nice stroll past some amazing rose gardens to the place. The pancakes were true sweedish pancakes not some watered down buckwheat varieties you tend to get at most places. Lots of fruit and whip cream on top with a side of ham. NOM NOM NOM. Lots of great people sharing yummy food together family style. The staff was very friendly to us clearing off our dishes and making sure we had enough coffee. I really enjoyed the shared seating as we had some good conversations with people that joined us and met some nice people. The live music and dancing made it really fun. Also they have a pretty good view East from their dining area. Will definitely go again.

My very first time - Heart! And it was quite tasty. It's super popular - today they had a little fair going on too, so I guess it was even more busy than usual as a result. Line was out the door - and we waited as our hungry tummies rumbled for about 40-45 minutes. $9/person - cash You get 3 Swedish pancakes with your choice of fruit topping and whip cream + a side of ham. Each person can get a second helping of pancakes. They give you little dixie cups of orange juice. Communal dining experience definitely makes it very friendly, community-oriented, and wholesome. Really enjoyed it. Heart!

Swedish Panckes with Berries and Ham. Outstanding. Outstanding Location and Eastern View from Queen Anne of Lake Union... ;) Great for my Swedish Heritage & Scandanavian Culture. Tuk :)

We had a fun evening here listening to Paundy play in the Crown Room on the top floor, and there is an excellent view of Lake Union at night. Drinks were priced okay; David had 4 beers and I had 3 Moscow mules; total came out to $41. Bartender was nice and pleasant, and made some decent drinks. The crowd was...interesting. I think my group was the youngest in the entire place, and we're in our late twenties. While we were in line for the bar, some lady proceeded to comment on everyone's attire and how we needed to grow up. Apparently shorts and a t-shirt in the summer is not okay, or maybe this place has a dress code we didn't know about? Either way, glad to have discovered a new funky band and we even got to chat with them and get their CD. The place felt small and intimate but there was enough room for tables and dancing (which was super entertaining to watch). Everyone had a good time for sure.

--This is a review for the monthly Swedish Pancake Breakfast-- We finally ventured over to the Swedish Cultural Center this month after seeing the banner for the monthly breakfast. I went on their website to make sure I had all the right info and read almost all the reviews on Yelp before heading there with the husband after a short walk up the street. I am so glad we didn't have to worry about parking because there is limited parking. The entrance is through a door in the lower parking lot where there was a man dressed up in cool cultural swag. There wasn't a line outside when we arrived (10:30am) but we waited in a short line to get our food. They only accept cash ($9), so be sure to hit up the ATM! While waiting in line we checked out the communal tables and didn't see many open spots. But just as others have said, as soon as we got our food some spots opened up and Swedish-dressed servers appeared to clear the table, brought coffee and fresh silverware. Ok, now for the food. You might recognize the pancakes as "crepes" which are rolled pancakes. They were warm and cooked to perfection then topped with your choice of fruit toppings and unbelievably creamy whipped topping. The side of ham is a nice addition. You get two tickets each so you can go to the "seconds" table but we were both so full we didn't get seconds. While we won't be going every month, my husband and I agree that it is a nice change of pace from the other breakfast spots around town. The Swedish dancing/singing and community feel make it a unique experience and you will feel right at home.

Whereas I had driven by the Swedish Cultural Center probably 500 times, I'd never been inside until last weekend. A friend and I thought we'd give a go to the famed Swedish Pancake Breakfast, and we were not disappointed! The SCC is perched on the east side of Dexter with a grand view of Lake Union. The scenery was good from the first floor, but I can only imagine that the upper levels have an even more impressive viewpoint. Be warned - the Swedish Pancake Breakfast is POPULAR! Trust me, you are not stumbling upon a hidden gem. People know about it. Find a spot at one of the many communal tables decked in blue-and-white checked vinyl, toss your coat over your chair, and get in line for the grub. Some people describe Swedish pancakes as being "crepe-like". I don't. I find crepes to be overtly eggy, whereas Swedish pancakes are just really thin pancakes. I will attest that the SCC serves their pancakes rolled, which at first glance might look like a crepe. You'll have a choice of strawberries and lingonberries - get the lingonberries. You can get strawberries at any Safeway. Be Swedish for the morning. The plate's piece of ham gets the tastebuds ready for something sweet, and the tasty pancakes hit the spot. I'm a good eater, but I was too stuffed to use my "seconds" ticket. During our visit a youth fiddling group and adult Swedish folk dancers performed--if you pick a seat not facing the stage, you might have a hard time watching the entertainment. Coffee thermoses are available on the tables and I do wish that they'd add pitchers of water as well. Orange juice and water are available only in small Dixie cups, meaning at least one trip back to the beverage table for those who aren't into java.

I was curious about this place since I have lived in Stockholm, Sweden. I went for their Happy Hour, it seems like a place an older crowd enjoys, and has great view, reminded me of being in Stockholm, since the weather was grey and gloomy as well. If you are interested they also offer Swedish classes.

It is always exciting to go the Swedish Cultural Center for the pancake breakfast, you never know what you are going to see, what you will hear or who you will meet. For example, today I saw children delightfully dancing along side elderly couples showing all their dance skills on the floor, perfectly in sync to the live music. Seeing children wearing the traditional Swedish garments is a cuteness explosion! I am calling for a mandate, Swedish babies and children should dress traditionally until it is no longer cute to do so; which I do not foresee ever happening, because grandma and grandpa look just as awesome in their colorful folkdräkt! The seating is community style. There are large round tables that sit about eight. I enjoy sharing a table with others, and meeting new people. The conversations are always fun. And if I want a change, I can just go to a different table on my way back from pancake round two. The pancake breakfast is only the first Sunday of the month. Expect a long line after 10am.

Great event space. Was there for a friend's birthday party. Drink prices are fair. With their view of Lake Union, this would make for a great happy hour spot with some friends. Thinking about becoming a member... Parking is gonna be tricky.

We rented the Stockholm Room for our wedding reception. They have had some recent staff changes and during the time that we were making the arrangements there were some missed connections and slight miscommunication. The staff were, however, very eager to make amends where they were remiss and over all very accommodating and flexible. In the end, our evening was great, the staff were helpful and professional and we were super happy with the outcome. I would definitely recommend Th Swedish Cultural Center for your next event! A word to the wise: If you plan on using their projector make sure you have some adaptors- we have a mac and tried three different cords from three different people with no luck. Our own fault for assuming it would work though...

I go here on Friday for lunch on occasion. I have the salmon open faced sandwich which is very nice and the princess cake. I see most people have the meatballs which I've not tried.

This review is for the monthly pancake breakfast. We try to make it in for the pancake breakfast every few months, and it's always so much fun. The food is delicious, and they always have live music, and many people dance.

The monthly pancake breakfast is amazing: one of the best breakfast deals in Seattle! Where else can you get live music, two rounds of Swedish pancakes and super friendly Scandinavian service?! Short answer: nowhere, but here! Go early for shorter lines. Come later and have a great conversation while waiting for a tasty breakfast and hot coffee.

The breakfast is wonderful - however only go if you are prepared to wait in line for an hour and a half. we showed up at 10am (which is probably when a lot of people arrive) and didn't get food until 11:40. the line might not seem long, but members get to skip the long pay line and file right into the food line, making the wait for non members longer.

Throwing back beers in a sleek lounge, surrounded by sharp distinct accents, and gazing out on across an ancient lake to snow-capped mountains, I could almost convince myself I was huddled in a stylish resort somewhere in Scandinavia. To read the rest of Sihanouk Mariona's review of the Swedish Cultural Center, visit the Seattle Globalist's website.

i grew up on queen anne, just a few blocks up the hill from this joint, and it only took me, oh, 20 years to convince someone to hit up the monthly swedish pancake breakfast with me. people will be like "but i'm not swedish!" neither am i, but i finally found a jewish boy and a irish girl this morning who were game. first of all, it was a mob scene. the parking lot was like playing jenga. with saabs and volvos. (that sounds like a dumb comedy exaggeration, but it really was all saabs and volvos.) the soup's on at 8am and is served until 1:30--we got there around 11 and still had to wait in line to get in the door. once we were seated, a kindly old man next to me who looked like garry shandling in a vest embroidered with daisies told me me that they'd had a thousand people last month, and that it was even more packed today. we hadn't been talking or anything--he just decided to pipe up with a mouth full of pancakes and let me know. so you pay your eight bucks (or six, if you're a member of the swedish cultural center, which you're not), and they give you two tickets--a blue one for firsts and a white for seconds. firsties gets you three swedish crepe-style pancakes all folded up in a row with lingon- or strawberries and whipped cream, a small slice of ham, and coffee, tea, milk, and/or orange juice; secondsies is the same without the ham. you line up while old ladies in swedish-flag aprons stand before a giant wooden carvingmural of a viking ship and fix your plate. the seating is communal--a sign tells you to get your food first and promises that there will a be a seat for you when you're ready to eat. (it's true! that totally happened.) it's mostly 80-year-old couples, but we saw a few kids in our 18-35 range. my "you can tell a swede, but you can't tell him much" sweatshirt was a hit with the oldsters. the cakes are great. they're not all flopsy-mopsy like the ones you've had at IHOP; the edges are nice and crispy. we all got lingonberries, since the strawberries were looking kind of goopy, and they were fine. whipped cream was very fresh. ham was whatever. a good deal for the price, for defs, especially since you get two meals. i couldn't go back for seconds, mostly because of the sweet factor, but i was hungry again in an hour and regretted it. i spent most of the meal reading the calendar of events aloud to my pals: guys, icelandic film night! swedish sandwich happy hour! a free weekly lecture about vikings! it's a new lecture every friday! guys! after we ate, we sneaked upstairs to poke around in the rest of the building like criminals, where we found: 1. a pile of free swedish-language books--i scored a 1949 copy of an almanac titled "nar var hur?" replete with crazy maps, and then we all photographed one another reading it and looking confused (http://www.hotpot.se/Bild1/salu3/10-nar-var-hur.jpg) b. a hall of the kings of sweden, all of whom were apparently named carl gustav 4. the booze-stocked, village crest-wallpapered "crown room" on the top floor, where they have ABBA dance parties VII. several weird low tables that turned out to secretly be pianos then we went back downstairs and watched all the old scandos dance medieval jigs in matching costumes before a live band. pretty adorbs. it's weird when old ladies have really long hair. anyway, it's nothing fancy, just good food, good folks, good times. i promise you won't find a more sincere, unpretentious brunch in seattle.

DISCLAIMER: This is a review of the Swedish Cultural Center Pancake Breakfast only. Hate to say it but it's overrated. No one on Yelp seems to agree with me but my boyfriend would back me up. We used to live on Dexter so naturally one Sunday we sauntered over to partake of this famous pancake extravaganza. Even for $7 or $8 I still felt slightly ripped off. The pancakes weren't that good and the toppings all seemed super cheap and store bought. I hate that fake gooey strawberry stuff, makes me think of cake from like Walmart. Also, the communal tables lend a bit of a hectic and defensive air to the whole thing. It's annoying to have to look for a table once you already have your food. And maybe there's a time when Swedish dancing gets really crazy, but I was kinda um, bored. Nothing about the whole affair excited me and we never went back. We probably shoulda looked at some of the other goods for sale -- though another review points out they're from Ikea anyways. I am sure the Swedish Cultural Center does many other wonderful things, but breakfast isn't one of them. Sorry.

This is a fabulous and magical place! It is the home of the Swedish Consulate, so important types work here. The first Sunday of each month (but not July or August) they have a breakfast open to the public- they have Swedish Pancakes, music and Swedish folk dancing. Price for Breakfast [includes pancakes with lingon or strawberries, ham, milk, coffee, orange juice, and seconds]: Adults: $9. Children 5-12: $5. Children under 5: FREE. The breakfast happens between 8:30am and 1:30pm. There is a huge crowd of happy Swedes and non-Swedes. The pancakes are awesome. The Swedish Cultural Center also hosts dancing lessons through http://www.nwdance.net/ so you can take swing and polka and waltz! With an amazing view of the lake. They also have periodic dances there, a party on the 4th of July, Saturday night bands, and garage sales. The Swedish Cultural Center is a vital part of the downtown Seattle community and help makes Seattle Great. Who doesn't love a Swede! I have seen Norwegians their sometimes, and others of Danish descent. People from Ballard like it. I have seen people from Capitol Hill here! I even bought a troll here once. You will like it. Check it out.

My mom is from Motala, Sverige, so I suppose this review might be a bit bias. I love this place. First thing you notice is that the center is multi-cultural and the members and volunteers VERY hospitable. I used to go to the pancake breakfast some years ago but stopped for some reason. Now that I've been going off and on over the past two years, I mark in on my calendar so I never forget! Between the SCC and Ikea, I can get my Lingonberry on whenever I get the cravings.