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The doors of Café Svenskt Tenn open on Friday November 18. Just like Svenskt Tenn’s other activities, the focus is on quality, longevity and sustainability – something that is reflected in a menu largely influenced by vegetarian options with touches of animal-based ingredients. The café serves small dishes for breakfast and lunch, as well as afternoon coffee and early dinner.
“Café Svenskt Tenn is a way for us to provide an additional experience for our visitors at Strandvägen 5, the iconic address where the store has been located since 1927. Reflecting our world in taste experiences takes us one step further in our efforts to enrich all the senses,” says Maria Veerasamy, CEO, Svenskt Tenn.
Interior design concept
The café’s interior was designed by Svenskt Tenn’s creative team, using Josef Frank’s Italian Dinner print (designed in 1943-1945) as a common theme. An open glass cabinet filled with antique shells and coral serves as a room divider between Café Svenskt Tenn and the store’s newly opened lighting department.
Seasonal menu
The café serves small dishes combining sweet, salty and tart flavours for breakfast and lunch, as well as afternoon coffee and early dinner (store opening hours apply). The food is accompanied by craft beverages: Fairtrade coffee, tea and wine by the glass. Non-alcoholic options are also available. The café is run together with Petter Nilsson, founder and owner of Stockholm’s Petri restaurant.
“We think that a dish can be quite complete with different kinds of vegetables in season. The plant kingdom is so much bigger than the animal kingdom so it’s easy to find inspiration. By fermenting and storing, we expand the horizon even further. Here, the meal can be served in December with something delicate that we’ve saved from the spring,” says Petter Nilsson, adding:
“There’s a reason why it is called Café and not Restaurant. Historically, Svenskt Tenn has had a long tea tradition. It was founder Estrid Ericson’s favourite drink, and this was apparent both in private life and in the store. The café offers a wealth of teas with desserts and biscuits. You can also have a traditional cup of coffee and cake.”
Opening hours and new entrance on Väpnargatan
Café Svenskt Tenn is located on the main floor and can be reached from both Strandvägen and from the store’s new entrance on Väpnargatan. Since the café has limited seating, there are no advance table bookings. We want to be able to accommodate as many people as possible who pop in to visit the store and café. For more information on opening hours and how to book Café Svenskt Tenn for events outside the shop’s opening hours, please visit our website: svenskttenn.com
Christmas is traditionally inaugurated at Svenskt Tenn in the beginning of November. This year’s exhibition concept, Atlantis, is based on Josef Frank’s Aristidia print, which is being relaunched in a green colour palette. Luke Edward Hall has been commissioned by Svenskt Tenn to create Christmas decorations inspired by the sea, and Maja Steen has designed, among other things, a brass bottle opener shaped like a mermaid.
It was through his Swedish wife Anna Frank (born Sebenius) that Josef Frank first came in contact with Sweden. The couple spent several summers in the seaside town of Falsterbo, and it was there that Josef Frank found his inspiration for the Aristidia print. Like many of Josef Frank’s other designs, Aristidia is made up of elements inspired by nature: starfish, seaweed and coral all appear here. Aristidia, in a green colour scheme, comes from Svenskt Tenn’s archive and was last produced in the early 2000s. It has been the inspiration for Christmas 2022.
Commissioned by Svenskt Tenn, British designer Luke Edward Hall has created fanciful Christmas decorations, including coral-shaped candle rings, Christmas tree ornaments and glass baubles that are hand-painted and hand-blown. As part of the collection, he has also created a fabric pattern that is made in France, on Svenskt Tenn’s linen.
“I came across an interesting trellis wallpaper design featuring a coral-like motif in a museum’s collection. This gave me the idea to draw branches of coral, and to experiment with weaving them together to create the design. I wanted to add a graphic geometric element, which is why I included the square shapes, with the starfish in the middle. I love the idea of using this design for napkins, perhaps, or a Christmas tablecloth. It feels festive and celebratory without being overtly wintery,” says Luke Edward Hall.
“The Atlantis Christmas collection has several playful elements. The idea is to offer visitors Christmas inspiration with a balance of playfulness and seriousness,” says Karin Södergren, Head Curator.
Textile-covered walls in the Vegetable Tree pattern create a cosy and eclectic feel while magnificent chandeliers hang from the ceiling, their crystals replaced by glass Christmas baubles. The exhibition also includes Josef Frank’s classic glass cabinet, filled with shells styled according to Estrid Ericson’s aesthetic. Three pewter jars from Svenskt Tenn’s archive are among the new items presented this Christmas. The moulds from Estrid Ericson’s time are being used once again to produce the new jars. Designer Maja Steen has created key rings and a brass bottle opener.
“Svenskt Tenn has a long tradition of collaborating with different designers that dates back to 1924. The choice of partners is based on long-term trust and a common understanding when it comes to quality and craftsmanship. We like to see a well-established collaboration extend over several projects and over a longer period of time, and this applies to both Maja Steen and Luke Edward Hall,” says Thommy Bindefeld, Senior Advisor.
Svenskt Tenn’s Christmas exhibition runs from November 3, 2022 - January 8, 2023. The Atlantis collection is available both in the store and online.
