Tanums Gestgifveri

We called weeks ahead to ask if they could put together a vegan Christmas table. They gladly said, “Absolutely, no problem!” For more than 700 SEK per person, we expected the chef to know what she was doing. Instead, dinner was red cabbage, kale, rice, and ratatouille. The supposed highlight was a slice of oven-baked cauliflower with no seasoning, oil, or anything else, alongside two broken-up cocktail tomatoes. And the whole meal was almost ice cold. I can’t tell whether it was meant as a joke or the chef was serious. Either way, if you don’t want to eat only meat, we strongly recommend avoiding this restaurant.

The building and its interior are really in a class of their own. We also got a private room with a table for four, which was a relief for me as someone with hearing loss. It made the Christmas buffet feel much more like a proper home cooked Christmas meal. Great experience! My only small deduction is the beer: 99:- for a 0.3 l bottle feels pricey to me.

I loved the creamy, delicate fish soup, especially with its boiled rice and a good glass of Riesling. The fish was so tender it practically melted in my mouth, and the woman serving us also gave me helpful advice about grappa, Swedish schnapps. The place has a distinctly old fashioned feel, with original details like the stoves and fireplaces still there. It dates back to 1663 and is said to be Sweden's oldest restaurant. No complaints, I'll come back as soon as I can.

The hotel was much nicer, and I would have recommended staying there. The seafood buffet, though, cost around 800 per person and really didn't feel worth it. The staff were polite, but that was about it. It's a lovely old place, but I wouldn't return just to eat there.