Normally, I always share nice places and tips for Stockholm and the rest of Sweden, but sometimes you need a touch of “Sweden” while, unfortunately, you are not able to go there for the time being. Because there are also a lot of Swedish hotspots in the rest of the world, I decided to start with a series of articles “A touch of Sweden in the world”.
A long time ago I discovered the new Scandinavian restaurant Aquavit in London on Instagram. I put the address on my must visit list for my next trip to London. The restaurant has Swedish owners and also most of the staff turned out to be Swedish. So I was able to speak a little bit of Swedish during my week in London. I visited the restaurant 2 times in the same week, so you can bet I liked the place!
Scandinavian breakfast
Aquavit already opens quite early in the morning for a healthy (or less healthy) Scandinavian breakfast. On the menu you will find a lot of Swedish breakfast dishes such as cinnamon buns (which were really heavenly, probably especially because I was longing to have one) and gröt or oatmeal.
Lunch & diner
Because breakfast was so nice, I returned for dinner again later that week. As an appetizer I chose Toast Skagen. A big portion! The bread they serve with it is so delicious I actually overate a little. And my main course still had to come!
As a main course, I let the staff advice me. I had never eaten potato dumplings before but I can definitely recommend them. The desserts on the menu looked fantastic too but there was really no more room in my belly. Something for the next time!
The interior of Aquavit is very designy and contemporary. Nevertheless, it also feels cozy. There is a lot of outdoor light coming through the large windows and it is clearly the place to be for Swedish expats.
Aquavit – Practical
Yes, Aquavit in London belongs to the same group as Aquavit in New York known for their Michelin stars. I expect the one in London to follow soon in the Michelin charts. The interior of Aquavit London is by the hand of Martin Brudnizki. The textile is designed by Olafur Eliasson, the silver work by Georg Jensen and the furniture comes from Svenskt Tenn. In the kitchen we find star chef Emma Bengtsson and Henrik Ritzén.
Aquavit opens at 7:30 am, during weekends at 11 am. Reservations are definitely recommended, especially in the evenings. Aquavit London is in the chic neighborhood of St. James Market, within walking distance of Piccadilly Circus.