Plate With A View: Eriks Gondolen, Stockholm

The Plate

The Plate

Eriks Gondolen has been a Stockholm institution for more than 60 years and many smart couples like to come here, if only for a drink in the bar. The name means "gondola", and the dining-room suspended beneath the Katarinahissen walkway does indeed resemble the gondola of a Zeppelin. You can reach Gondolen by the bridge from Mosebacke Torg or take the lift from the waterfront. The food is mostly Swedish with occasional French specialties (the menu is in English and Swedish and the staff, and it seems the city's entire population, speak excellent English).

The standard of cuisine is good, rather than outstanding. Starters are items such as smoked salmon on a spring salad. Main courses include fish-and-shellfish casserole.

The View

The best views over the city are from the long, narrow, pale-wood-panelled dining-room and bar beneath the walkway, though there are also good views from the private dining-room and a simpler restaurant in the adjoining building. Stockholm is built on an archipelago of islands and inlets - the views over Gamla Stan (the Old Town) and Skeppsholmen is a beautiful mixture of water, sky, trees and handsome 18th- and 19th-century buildings. Go at lunchtime and admire the cityscape; or go at night and watch the city lights.

The Bill

At lunch, starters cost around 85 kronor (£6), main courses Skr175 (£12.50). At dinner, starters are Skr110 (£8), main courses Skr250 (£18). Wine is expensive, starting at Skr300 (£21.50) a bottle, but beer is relatively cheap.

The restaurant is open 11.30am-2pm, 5pm-11pm Mon-Fri; 1pm-11pm Sat. The bar opens 11.30-1am Mon-Fri; 1pm-1am Sat.

Eriks Gondolen, Stadsgarden 6, Stockholm (00 46 8641 7090, www.eriks.se)