It was an afternoon in Stockholm, I have just arrived a couple of hours before, and I was walking around Gamla Stan, looking for a good place to grab something to eat. I was drawn to the runic script above the door, spelling out Aifur. The signage on the board next to it proclaimed it as a viking restaurant/bar in several languages.
The atmosphere is established as soon as you enter the bar, with the hostess announcing your name and where you are from as you walk in. Although it is scripted, it still feels like an honour, as if everybody was expecting you.
I was a bit vary of going in alone, but the hostess actually matched me up with another loner, and we ended up having a great conversation together. The way the tables are laid out means that you will always be sitting near someone.
The decor is exactly what you would expect from a Viking-themed bar, complete with a longship hanging from the ceiling, tapestries, and long tables that seat several groups together. Everything has a rough texture, and the staff are dressed in the appropriate outfits. The light is muted, with plenty of candles. Even the cutlery is appropriate, with strange two-tinged forks on the table.
The atmosphere is very jovial, and most of the clientele consists of overseas tourists. There is a steady hum of conversation, just loud enough to provide a lively background, without actually getting loud enough to get in the way of conversation.
I started of the meal as I must: with a glass of mead. They have a large variety of meads on the menu, but I just asked the waitress to surprise me. She came back with a Polish mead, which was very tasty, and which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Since the mead had worked out so well, I asked for a surprise for the meal as well, and ended up with a portion of Tore Hjort´s Venison Tenderloin, which consisted of venison, lingonberries, a creamy sauce, and vegetable pie. The meat was cooked to perfection, with a lovely soft texture, and the lingonberry sauce set it off perfectly. The portion size was generous, and enough for even my appetite. It really felt like something I imagine the Vikings may have eaten in times of yore.
Aifur was one of the best restaurants I have ever had the pleasure of visiting, and if you are ever in Copenhagen, you really need to check it out.