Restaurant Konstnärsbaren — Restaurant in Stockholm

One of Stockholm’s historical restaurants is Konstnärsbaren (KB for short), residing in one of Stockholm’s most magnificent buildings called Konstnärshuset (the house of artists). The house was built in the late 1800s and was meant to be the centrepoint for all artists living in the capitol. Originally, there was a small beer hall in the house where artists could gather, but the discontent of the venue was so harsh that it soon gained the somewhat unflattering epithet “Konstnärshuset’s shame and the artist’s own personal horror”. This all changed in 1931 when a new owner took over and opened a new establishment: Konstnärsbaren. KB quickly became a hotspot for the contemporary celebrity elite and still today you might run into some well known faces.

The walls of KB are filled with art, both murals, paintings and statues. Not to sound too pretentious, but you kind of feel like a decadent wannabe philosopher circa 1940, when you strut into this place. Yet, it doesn’t feel dated or old. The mixture of people is great and while you may find an old man in the corner reading Le Figaro, you also meet young people who stopped by for an afterwork.

KB has been mentioned in Guide Michelin as a Bib Gourmand (high quality food at reasonable prices) and though they’ve lost their one star, they still serve wonderful food. Try the Wallenbergare with green peas, lingonberries, mashed potatoes and butter. You won’t be sorry. KB really is a dining experience you don’t want to miss.

Konstnärsbaren | Art & culture, Bars, Restaurants (Swedish, French) | Wallenbergare SEK 255 Smålandsgatan 7 Mon – Tue 11:30 – 23:00, Wed – Fri 11:30 – 00:00, Sat...

The restaurant is centrally located in an upscale area and close to many attractions. The entrance is narrow and cozy furnished.

The entire restaurant is divided into three different parts; To the left of the entrance hall there are two clearly distinct table settings, one is a darker one with low ceiling height and is furnished with red chairs and benches and there are mirrors around the walls. The other part is brighter with higher ceiling height near windows with light gray green walls and many paintings hanging on the walls. To the right of the entrance hall is the third part, a small area which can be seen as the bar of the restaurant.

I got a table in the darker area. The tables were quite close to each others and I could easily hear what the couples sitting at the tables close to me were talking about.

The service was outstanding and excellent. My Toast Skagen was ok while the RyggBiff tasted excellent. The tomato salad was slightly sweeter for me but...

If you’ve ever wanted to feel invisible while spending your money, this is the place. The staff barely spoke to us (unless you count the intense staring contest they initiated until we finally ordered). Funny enough, they seemed to find their voices just fine for the other tables, where they were suddenly all smiles and conversation. The restaurant was empty, yet we were forced to wait for a table because we didn’t have a reservation… only to be seated right next to the service station. Nothing says “welcome” like the sound of clattering trays and salt/pepper shakers. Yes, the food was decent…but who cares when the service makes you feel like an unwelcome intruder? If you enjoy rude silence, fake exclusivity, and staff who act like they’re doing you a favor by letting you sit down, then congratulations…you’ve found your spot. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and go literally...