I was standing near the dock along the side of the water just watching the boats and the people pass by.

It was only a couple of minutes, but the extended seconds were a few moments of swift tranquility. It was mid-day and I interrupted the calmness of the area with a single sound of a click. Once, twice, and then a third time. The noise came from within my camera as I was taking photos of the restaurant I was about to step into. I had taken the subway, the bus, and walked down a few streets to make my way to Spritmuseum. Now standing outside of the restaurant housed within the museum that curates the history and narrative of alcoholic beverages, I was excited.

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Stepping into the restaurant the bar welcomed me in. Bottles of all colors sat against mirrors reflecting the glowing nature of the alcohol. To the right of the bar was a small store with merchandise and trinkets showcasing the story and major players involved in the alcohol industry. Directly next to that was a casual dining area which led to a second and larger dining area parallel to the kitchen. The space was designed in such a way that it not only portrayed a gorgeous design aesthetic, but that it also engaged with guests for them to find their place in the space and stay awhile.

That’s exactly what I intended to do.

Looking over the menu I sat across from Matilda who was quite possibly, the best company for a lunch on this day. Working with the restaurant directly, she guided me through the menu to some of the best dishes to order. I didn’t need to steer far from her suggestions and went with exactly what she pointed out. In between conversations about Stockholm, travel, and the culinary world our plates arrived.

The first was the Vreta Gula Ärtor Med Färsk Vitl ö k Och Tomater (145 SEK, $17).Without truly practicing the Swedish language, I had no idea what half of the menu said. Thankfully, the other half was translated into English for people like me. This dish took Swedish yellow peas and topped them yellow and red cherry tomatoes, butter lettuce, and garlic. With a focused gaze across the beautiful color I grabbed my spoon with my right hand and gave the dish a try. The peas were delightful and came with a texture that was unexpected. Too gentle to be considered gritty and too textured to be considered smooth, it fell somewhere just between the two making it enjoyable on its own. What made it a dish that would be essential for any visit to the restaurant was the garlic. Smooth and rich the garlic was perfect when paired with the peas and even greater as a whole with the tomatoes and lettuce.

Following the Swedish peas was the Torsk Med Stenbitsrom, Färskpotatis Och Syrad Grädde (145 SEK, $17). Cod sat underneath an arrangement of greens topped with lumpfish roe, potatoes, and sour cream. What I liked so much about this dish wasn’t just the look of the creative arrangement of all the components, but the way they tasted together. The gentle burst from the roe across the silky cod gave the simple fish a new taste to be discovered. Not to be overlooked, the greens and the sour cream added into each forkful and enhanced the flavor throughout the plate.

To bring the lunch to a close in the best way possible was dessert. Blodapelsin Semi-Freddo Med Svart Kardemumma Maräng (85 SEK, $10). A blood orange semi-freddo with black cardamom meringue was such a nice dessert. My taste buds darted back and forth between the frosty and sweet attributes of the dish until it disappeared completely. At this point, I put my utensils down feeling as if I had the best dishes at such a well respected restaurant. I was thoroughly satisfied and couldn’t help but think I had just received the perfect taste of Stockholm.

Leaving the restaurant I took a second to stand outside along the same water that welcomed me upon my arrival.

This time around there were different boats and different people, but the familiar feeling from before remained. It was just as tranquil as it was when I was taking pictures, but the difference was it felt a bit more beautiful. There was a greater degree of happiness within me that I couldn’t properly place. It was only when I looked back at the burgundy restaurant that I found the reason: it was the food. An hour of lunch at Spritmuseum in Stockholm instilled a great level of satisfaction within me that I happily accepted. My only hope is soon you’ll get the chance to visit Spritmuseum and let the restaurant do that for you too.

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Address: Djurgårdsvägen 38 – 40, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
Hours: Monday and Tuesday – 10:00am to 5:00pm, Wednesday through Saturday – 10:00am to 7:00pm, and Sunday 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Phone: +46 8 121 313 00
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