Restaurant of the Month, Sweden
Enjoy a taste of Stockholm’s history Plenty has changed since the time when Tranan first opened its doors in 1929, but almost a century later, this historic restaurant and bar is as popular with Stockholmers as ever. By Liz Longden | Photos: Tobias Regell
Situated in the heart of the city in Vasastan, Tranan must be one of the capital’s few establishments that can claim to have been continuously open for over 90 years. It’s an astonishing record, even if the clientele has changed a little since then. Beginning its life as a ‘beer café’, with exclusively female waitresses, Tranan originally catered to labourers and served beer from six o’clock in the morning through to midnight. ‘Breakfast’ came in the form of hot beer and sandwiches, and lunch began as early as nine o’clock. Fast-forward to 2020, 92 | Issue 133 | February 2020
and Tranan is a vibrant restaurant and bar, renowned for its classic cuisine and laid-back vibe. Tranan’s rich history was one of the reasons that prompted owner Macdonald Lundgren to purchase the restaurant in 2005, and his mission since then has been to upgrade the establishment’s facilities and offering to contemporary standards, while preserving its essence and unique atmosphere. “Tranan is a part of Stockholm’s history, and if you take over such a place, then you have a responsibility to take care of it,” he says. “We also
have regulars who’ve been coming here for years, and in some sense, you have a responsibility to them, too. So our idea has always been not to change things, but to improve on what’s already here.” This philosophy is evident in Tranan’s interior, which has been sensitively renovated with the help of renowned interior designer Jonas Bohlin, to retain the premises’ original look and feel. Original features that remain include the floor, some chairs, and the tables, originally donated by the local brewery. The large windows, so attractive today, were originally installed to meet the demands of police, who wanted to be able to easily see what was going on inside. “The place has a timeless feel, and how it looks today is a reflection of what it has been in the past,” says Lundgren.