Restaurant Operakällaren

The main dining room

Operakällaren... one of the most well known, exclusive and historic restaurants in Sweden! The name means "opera cellar", which can be a little misleading. While it is located in the Royal Opera House, it is not in the cellar but rather on the ground floor. There was an Operakällaren, which opened in 1787, in the original opera house and when the opera house was rebuilt in the late 1800's, the Operakällaren continued its existence in the new building.

The Opera House on a warm summer evening...

I was invited this past week, along with my colleagues from other hotels, to a celebration of the start of the summer season. It was a great party (thank you!) and it was fun to be able to see of all their locales and sample the great food & drink... even their own brand of champagne. You see, Operakällaren is one of several restaurants & bars in the building... all with the same owner. Operkällaren itself is an award winning restaurant, serving classic haute cuisine and the main dining room is breathtaking with original wall paintings from the late 1800s. Stefano Catenacci, the Chef des Cuisines, has the royal stamp of approval and was even responsible for the wedding dinner of the Crown Princess two years ago. The restaurant itself has been responsible for the dinners and banquets at the Royal Palace since 1961. But if you are looking for something a bit more casual but also steeped in history, there is the Bakfickan (literally "the back pocket") around the corner. A small dining room with no more than 28 seats, this is one of the best places to sample traditional Swedish cuisine. But be aware... they don't accept reservations, just drop-in guests! Other locales in the building include the Veranda Bar on the second floor (with great views of the Palace), the classic Opera Bar and the popular nightclub Café Opera. So, something for every taste... but all with classic style.
The Opera House is located just on the other side of the Old Town from the Rival Hotel... about 5 minutes by taxi or a 20-25 minute walk.

At the party... canapés and their own brand of champagne!

Click here for more restaurant tips and recommendations!