Deplaning at T2 made it that bit more annoying to try and get to SkyCity for the train. And when I got there, I realized you need the special Arlanda ticket to open the barrier when leaving the airport too (I thought it was only on arrival for some reason).
Not to worry, I had time, so I utilized a trick that was mentioned to me previously – you can take a local bus to Marsta, and take the commuter train from there without the extra payment. Takes some extra time, but not that much, all things considered. And you save 120SEK…

So a bus, a train and a metro it was. I arrived a bit later than expected but plenty of time still.
My accommodation for the night is the Radisson Collection hotel Strand, a beautiful historic building right on the waterfront of Nybroviken. And lucky me, I have been upgraded to a Premium room with “sea view”, right over it. The room itself was a bit on the small side, but nicely appointed, and that view! Most excellent.


The room was small and simply, but nicely appointed. I got some macarons to welcome me, nice

The real star was the view. Some of the local public transport ships also docked here, so I always had something to look at.


The main event of the evening, however, was the dinner. For sake of the old days, I first took a Bolt scooter (on the third try, the first two would just not work!) to The Beefeater Inn for a glass of beer, but I moved in time for my reservation at Woodstockholm.

It appears that the place has become more notorious since I was last in Stockholm, not only it was packed, but it’s reserved weeks in advance, and it takes a bit of art and luck to get last minute seating. Nonetheless, I did, and was seated at the bar between two groups of two for my trouble. Not that I mind, bar seating allows for a great interaction with the staff, and the staff here are lovely. I remember several of them for being here since at least when I first ate here a couple years ago.

The concept of the restaurant is very interesting – they have a changing theme every couple of months. The menu is then built to jive with said theme. The theme could be anything – the last time I was here, it was the 90s, before that it was famous train journeys, now it is Mashup.
Mashup of course meant that the menu was full of unusual combinations of cuisines and flavors, as you can see in the following pictures


Short and simple, but inspired menu. Our good friend offerendum will be happy to see there are pescatarian alternatives available, and there is also a decent selection of mocktails

I started off-menu, with an oyster shooter. Served in a shot glass, it was oyster with some spicy thai flavors on top. I don’t usually go for shellfish, but this was delicious.

Nikkei is supposed to mean a Japanese emigrant also. This is Tiradito, a Japanese Peruvian dish, a cross between sashimi and ceviche, with a bit of Scandi caviar on top.

This combination pot-au-feu and pho with oxtail was served with probably the best broth I have ever tasted. When I praised it to the server saying that I could drink it straight. He confided that that’s exactly what they do with leftover broth after closing.

I could say my hands were shaking with anticipation, but I was just careless. The K-mex mashed up Korean and Mexican cuisine, delivering a “Korean taco” experience with salad leafs commonly used in Korea, piquant tartare of beef, kimchi and guacamole with nachos.

“French cuisine has a lot of rules, for example, that you are not allowed to mix dairy fat with olive oil. So that’s what we did.” Excellent cod with brown butter, topped with olive oil mashed potatoes. A mash up on two levels, and one of the best individual dishes I’ve had this year.

I began with this nice Portuguese Verde as the first, light wine

And continued with this interesting red, which I was suprised found its way from Slovakia all the way to Sweden


I have to say, Woodstockholm has been my favorite restaurant in Stockholm since the first time I’ve been here, and for a good reason. The expectations I had this time were high, and the restaurant managed to exceed them with a meal which easily topped my recent Michelin-starred experiences (Woodstockholm is currently “recommended” by the guide, previously, it held a Bib Gourmand).
It’s hard to believe that this excellent meal just about made it into under-100EUR category, even with the wine… let no-one tell you eating out in Stockholm is expensive. I strongly recommend you try and visit if you can.

After a great night of sleep, finally not cut short by an impending flight departure, I went and got breakfast. As usual with Radisson in Stockholm, it was very good, with a broad selection of vegetables and fish in particular, although, for some reason, I was missing sausages though. Still, very good.


You could have the trio at breakfast in this hotel. Unfortunately, I had to work later, so I didn’t do it.

Part of the cold selection. Note two kinds of pickled fish.

Eggs benedict on order, some of the better ones I had lately.


And after that, it was time for a very productive couple hours in a certain Stockholm office, which included a lunch meeting in their excellent canteen (this trip has certainly turned into bit of a gastronomy travel experience for me), I took a commuter train back to Arlanda.

First time departing T5 in a while, I just found out there is a new security control. The kind that deposits you for a seemingly never ending rat run through duty free hell. Oh, how I miss the days where you would exit security to find yourself face to face with an airplane straight away….

Oh well, there are some things you just have to deal with I guess.
The new American Express lounge is not one of those things, luckily. It’s the first time I was able to visit the new location, last time was a while ago, as the lady at the reception noted, and operations at the temporary pop-up lounge were in full swing then.
The new lounge is situated between piers F and E, on a level higher than the public passage. Decorated mostly in dark tones, it’s not a bad ambiance, but if you crave some daylight, you have to hope you catechism a seat at one of the few tables with apron views.


The lounge had a nice area for storage next to entrance

Behind the screen to the left is a service zone. A bit of a shame to use the prime space overlooking apron for an off-limits use.

Some more seating along the back wall, with more variance of seating options.


The lounge is ran with table service in a restaurant manner. You can get a soup of the day, choice of mains, some snacks, or pay for a premium option. Same with drinks, soft drinks and beer is free, with wine you have a choice of 2 whites, 2 reds and a rose, or you can select from some premium options for extra payment, including a vintage champagne.


Current menu for reference

And the veal menu I went with. I am in a beer mood today, so no comment on wine quality.


5 minutes before scheduled boarding, the app advised it has already started. Time to pack up and go.