Seduced by Summer

The warm weather’s got us all hooked. The lively (but way too short) season is here and it’s hard not to be swept away by its euphoric vibe. Seems like every summer, the locals do their best to jam a whole year of social life into a mere two, three months as Stockholm springs to life. Hungry for adventure, we make the most of the long, sunny days and the luke warm waters, and crowds of people come together at the sunny patios. Just look outside, there’s no doubt - the summer craze is here, and at Downtown Camper, we’re going with the flow. Here to tell us more about what the summer has to offer is Daniel Zettervall, Acting Food & Beverage Manager.

Hi Daniel, the summer looks promising, doesn’t it? In what way have you and your colleagues prepared for the new season?

I love this time of year, there’s activity everywhere you look. At Downtown Camper, summer arrives with fun activities on the calendar and loads of exciting new treats on the menu. Campfire, our main restaurant, is a relaxed and laid-back place to be, especially during summer: Inside, outside, who can tell, as we open the windows to the outdoor seating area to let the summer breeze in.

Food-wise, what does summer bring this year?

We are gearing up to meet the crazed summer vibe, with grilled seasonal favourites and snack-friendly street food. My colleagues in the kitchen have done a superb job in creating an exciting menu with several easy-to-grab dishes that you can easily eat with your hands, if you want to. You can drop in for something light, maybe a Salmon Tostada or a Salade Niçoise, or sit down for a full three-course dinner. Go for a timeless favourite like the Steak Minute, or why not try our own plant-based No-Meat Burger. As always, there’s a wide selection of local beer and biodynamic wines to go with your meal.

Sounds delicious. As for the cocktails, what’s cooking in the rooftop lounge?

This season, the cocktail menu in The Nest draws inspiration from the green, lush valleys of Colombia. Using in-season berries and fruits, we create a fusion in our own, local way. Our syrups and infusions are home made and influenced by tastes from both worlds. If you’re hungry, there’s always something good to nibble on, like charcuteries, flatbread pizzas, and more. Oh, and another great thing about summer up here is that the rooftop terrace is open for drinking guests from 20.00, so you can now enjoy a cocktail outside in the sun.

What do people drink this time of year?

Our big sellers are fresh, fizzy, and spritzy cocktails with bubbles and exotic fruits, proper vacay-style. In The Nest, we’re adding some extra love to our low-ABV cocktails, so that’s a tip if you want to go easy on the booze.

You know your way around the cocktail game. What’s trending there at the moment?

The big thing right now is embracing the simple and clean taste. The liquor itself takes center stage and the idea is to use only one, or maybe two other ingredients in your cocktail.

Sustainability is another focus area that is driving innovation on the bar scene. It’s inspiring and fun to see the surge of ideas and solutions for how we can use, preserve, and repurpose ingredients.

How does your team work with sustainability?

Sustainable thinking is in our DNA as we are a part of the Scandic family. At Downtown Camper, we have been working actively with this since day one, starting with the climate compensation for all the meat we buy. Our sustainability work is an ongoing thing for us, and it’s a process that will never really end. You constantly have to adapt, create, and find new ways – at many levels - to minimize your footprint. For many years, we have been working on the repurposing of ingredients, in order to make them relevant for a longer period of time. For example, the fruit that has passed its ”peachy fresh” period, can be dried and used as garniture. Although we have a ”zero waste” ambition, some food will eventually be discarded - but with our waste management program, it can be turned into biofuel.

Thanks for the chat, Daniel. Anything else you look especially forward to this summer?

I’m really looking forward to working. The summer is an awesome time - the vibe is great in the city and at the hotel. This season can be busy at times, but the guests are in a good mood, and that gives you a lot of energy. It’ll be fun.

There’s also...

Downtown Camper Café is a social hotspot to add to your list. As usual at Downtown Camper, sustainability, wellbeing, and togetherness are important focal points and the offering has been carefully selected accordingly. Filled to the brim with goodies, the menu is largely plant-based and vegetarian, with nutritious, healthy, and beautiful food that encourages an all-together sustainable lifestyle. Even the furniture and utensils have been hand picked and are made of recycled or rescued materials. Just the way we like it.

Located on one of Stockholm’s most happening walking streets, Drottninggatan, the café is a perfect pitstop on your city expedition, offering everything from all-day breakfast and tasty lunch grub to coffee, awesome ice cream, locally produced beer, biodynamic wines, and organic soft drinks.

Downtown Camper Café is a given hangout for the local coworking community and travellers that come from near and far. Get there by taking the lifts to floor -2, or do the walk around the corner outside.