Sea Lodge

The nighttime entrance is what ruined it for us. It slams hard, and everyone coming in passes several rooms, ours included. People kept returning from parties through the night, banging the door and thudding over the noisy wooden floor. I probably got only a couple of hours of sleep. It's a small, charming, cozy hotel, but I won't come back until they do something about that hallway noise.

We liked the setting, but the food was disappointing enough that we won't return while the same kitchen staff are there. Sea Lodge sits on the water in a little harbor on Smögen, away from the bustle of Smögenbryggan, beside the sea rescue station. You can even arrive by boat. There are lots of outdoor tables and large wooden tubs for groups or company events. Inside, it's quaint and pretty, with a lovely view of Hållö. The staff were friendly, though they didn't seem especially knowledgeable, including about wine. We came near the end of the season, when the wine list was very short. We tried lobster soup, löjromstoast, kummel, a vegetarian artichoke dish, and rhubarb pie. Maybe the löjromstoast met expectations, though it was the sort of thing anyone could make. The soup was ordinary and not worth the price. The fish came with potato wedges, but sat in watery broth that left the potatoes and croquette soggy and unappetizing. It was bland, and the fish wasn't hot. The artichoke was okay, though the pairing and flavors felt odd. Dessert had little flavor, and the rhubarb was very sour. The view was the best part, but it couldn't make up for the meal. View: 5/5. Ambience: 4/5. Staff: 3/5. Food: 2/5.

The room felt stuffy and hot all night, even though it wasn't hot outside. Opening the window alone did nothing, and with the door open to get a breeze, both kept banging in the wind all night. A basic latch to hold the window open would help. The room was so tiny it was hard to move around, let alone open a suitcase. At least it was clean, with nice towels and robes. If I came back, I'd try to stay somewhere else.

The food was great, and the location is beautiful and hard to beat. The kids' menu was an especially nice bonus.