Most locals fondly remember the old Lydmar Hotel which was close to Stureplan, across the street from Humlegården and the Scandic Anglais hotel - a place which was always bustling, with good bar staff and great live music. Today, that Lydmar has been converted into energy company Vattenfall’s head office and there is a new Lydmar located between the Grand Hotel and the National Museum. It’s a beautiful elegant building from the outside and inside it’s fresh, modern and chic with a combined bar and restaurant looking like a scene out of a living room with library.
We checked it out last night for a drink and I have to say that the service and bar menu was anything but special. We sat at the bar (which resembles a kitchen table) and waited 10 minutes before getting served. When I asked for a bar menu as I wanted to choose a cocktail, the bar girl told me they had no bar menu (imagine a top-class bar without a wine and cocktail menu) so I opted for a Gin & Tonic while my friend had a Tom Collins. The G&T was fine but the Tom Collins tasted more of lemon juice and soda than an alcoholic beverage. Behind the bar, a DJ rummaged around in a box looking for music with his back to everyone and a bartender shook cocktails looking like he would prefer to be anywhere else rather than standing there that night.
We sat with empty glasses for 15 minutes trying to catch the bartenders’ eye to order a new drink. In the end we gave up and spent another 10 minutes trying to pay. Wanting to leave, we headed out towards the door which finally provoked a response and the bargirl came running after us to tell us that “It’s illegal to leave a bar in Sweden without paying.” Oh really! Of course, we paid up. SEK 220 for two drinks which were less than impressive, service that sucked …definitely not worth it! If I am going to pay that kind of money for two drinks (and yes, of course, cocktails and drinks in Sweden are always pricey) and decide to go to a nice place for a nice drink, I am prepared to pay that price for a nice atmosphere and experience. But, unfortunately, our drinks last night at Lydmar were anything but an experience …albeit a bad one! If I go five-star, I expect five-star service and treatment, not 2.5 stars.
My plan was to go back sometime for dinner but I don’t think that’s going to happen now. If anyone as dined there, please share your experiences with me!
