The historic part of Stockholm, Gamla Stan, is not short of fancy restaurants to match its picturesque streets. Pop into any of them and you’ll have a great gastronomical experience. But if you are looking for something totally unique in Stockholm, you should go the the quirky Pharmarium bar and restaurant.
What to Expect at Pharmarium Bar/Restaurant in Stockholm
Pharmarium is a mixology bar and restaurant at Stortorget, a small public square in Gamla Stan, the old town of Stockholm. The restaurant occupies the same building where once stood Stockholm’s first pharmacy, opened in 1575.
Inspired by this historic place, Erik Nissen Johansen – the founder of Pharmarium – incorporated the healing and magic associated with early Stockholm pharmacies into the concept and interior design of the restaurant.
The place is relatively small, but with a lively atmosphere and plenty of cozy seating for sharing a great cocktail, or even dinner. The restaurant also features a small but beautiful terrace overlooking the square and its bright red and yellow painted town houses.
Parmarium is decorated to the theme of an 18th century apothecary in Stockholm. There is even a scent of herbs and spices in the air. Since opening in 2013, Pharmarium has become one of the favorite drinking spots for locals and tourists alike.
Pharmarium – Not Only a Quirky Bar
What makes Pharmarium Stockholm’s most unique restaurant is that it specializes in pairing cocktails with food. The choice of cocktails determines the choice of food.
The menu features a number of signature cocktails crafted with exotic, medicinal ingredients and pared up with very fine dishes.
The emphasis is clearly on the drinks, but the food is also good, fresh and well prepared, composed of medium sized tapas style dishes.
The cocktails contain ingredients used in natural medicines, like herbs and spices that complement the liquor, creating bold flavors with a fun twist. The perfect food and drink pairing brings up very unusual yet great flavors in in your mouth.
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There is an impressive list of quirky cocktails, with strange names like Opium, Cloud nine, Raven’s Nest and Dream Catcher, all of them with very exotic tastes.
Our waiter recommended that we try their house specialty, the Delirium and I’m glad we listened. This drink was out of this world, like nothing that I ever tried before. It was a combination of Whiskey, Bourbon, some sort of syrup, citric acid and birch bark smoke.
Hard to describe the delicate aromas and surely hard to replicate this at home! Pharmarium also serves some carefully selected dishes, prepared with fresh herbs, spices and other ingredients grown in its own garden in Stockholm. And of course the real magic happens when you combine the food with the right drink.
The desserts are also paired up with funky cocktails. We tried the chocolate soufflé with rose salt which was to die for!
A Final Word
If you are ever in Stockholm, don’t miss Pharmarium. Having dinner dinner or at least a cocktail there is one of the best things to do in Stockholm. Although a little expensive, the experience is totally worth it!
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ERIC BRIGHT
My name is Eric Bright, I am having my party in MAY, and I want it to
be held at your venue on the 4th of MAY, with 30 guests invited. I’m
flexible with the date. Before we proceed with our request, please
answer the following question below;
1. Do you accept credit cards, ?
2. Can you work with our official band performing for the event
regarding payment to them?
Await your quick response.
Regards
Eric Bright
Anda
Hi Eric,
I’m sorry for the confusion, but I am not affiliated in any way with Pharmarium, in Stockholm. I just wrote about this place. If you plan to have a party there, you should contact the cocktail bar directly. Hope this helps.
Sushmita
Lovely food! I’m already salivating the Town as well as the place seems a place worth visiting, thank you for sharing! Will be sharing it ahead 🙂
Sally@Toddlers on Tour
What a dun idea pairing the cocktails with food and all in such a pretty setting. A nice change from wine with food.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
I’ve very intrigued. I usually think of picking the food first and then pairing a drink with it, not the other way around. I can’t taste the food via my internet connection, so I’ll have to take your word for it that it’s delicious. However, I can tell from your photos that they are very creative with the presentation and plating. I’ll have to keep this in mind when I finally get to visit Stockholm.
Elaine J Masters
How I’d love to sit and drink through the night here! What an innovative approach. That smokey cocktail piques my tastebuds and nose especially.
Anda Galffy
You must try the Pharmarium if you ever go to Stockholm, Elaine. You’ll surely love it.
Different Shores
This place sounds really interesting. It seems to be trendy to turn old apothecaries into bars/restaurants or to give them pharmaceutical names so I’m sure it’ll do really well. That chocolate soufflé with rose salt sounds lush! I love the botanical drawings in the menu. Great food pics and I’d love to visit Gamla Stan, looks lovely.
Rhonda Albom
This is a very interesting concept in bars. I wonder if they pair the anti-hangover herbs with their cocktails. 🙂
Anda Galffy
Ha,ha,ha, they may. To tell you the truth I am not a cocktail drinker and still I had no issues after drinking three of their cocktails.
Ruth
I like the vibe on this restaurant! The drinks and food look incredible. I cannot imagine the flavors (since it looks very innovative) but I would try to think about them. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Lara Dunning
The food looks too beautiful to eat…almost. 🙂 From your photos and description, I can tell the owners/chefs are really making a statement and care about what goes out of their kitchen and bar and onto your taste buds. I’m putting this on my list when I make it that way. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net)
We love restaurants/bars like this! There is an art and science to pairing foods and drinks, and those who do it well create astonishing flavors. We had not heard of Pharmarium, so thanks for putting it on our radar! We’re off to learn more…and scheme ways to get there!
Anda Galffy
I agree with you Rob, it’s a real art and science in pairing foods and drinks and these guys just do it perfectly.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
I am about to go to sleep and now I feel hungry and thirsty. I love unique places like this. Those ingredients are all interesting and definitely makes for memorable meals. Those food photos are so great.
Anda Galffy
Pharmarium is definitely a place to check out if you are in Stockholm, Mary.
annette charlton
What interesting cocktails, especially with birch bark smoke. I must admit I don’t make cocktails at home… all those ingredients! So I do enjoy drinking them when dining out
Anda Galffy
I wish we would have a similar bar/restaurant here in L.A.
Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats
Looks like a fun quirky find! Reminds me a little of a former hospital and psychiatric facility turned hotel and terrace bar in New Mexico. I love historical buildings like this!
Anda Galffy
I would like to see that. It must be fun.
Lolo
Great recommendation! I’ll certainly keep this in mind! Love unique, up beat restaurants!
Sand In My Suitcase
Wow! Those meals and drinks at the Pharmarium look really pretty! We were in Gamla Stan recently, but never sat down for a meal (just had “fika”). The chocolate souffle with rose salt sounds divine – sorry we missed that!
Anda Galffy
We would have missed it also, Janice, but for a friend of ours who told us about it.
Linda Bibb
Count me in, I’m intrigued! I am such a lover of herbal concoctions. And by the way, your colorful photos made my mouth begin to water. I would have a lot of fun reading through the menu.
Does each cocktail give details on what the paired meal will be? I’m guessing so, else people with dietary limitations might be taking a risk. What entree did you end up with?
Anda Galffy
Of course, Linda. You are being explained what dish goes with what cocktail and why. It’s a very interesting experience. I am not a cocktail drinker, but these cocktails were very special.
Annalise
This looks incredible! I’d love to eat at a restaurant like this one day!
Anda Galffy
You are not so far from it, Annalise, I see you are from UK.