Royal Swedish Opera

Royal Swedish Opera is Sweden’s national venue for opera and ballet, not primarily a bar; its Opera Bar serves drinks before selected performances. King Gustav III founded the institution in 1773, the first performance taking place on January 18 that year, while today’s building was designed by architect Axel Anderberg and inaugurated by King Oscar II on September 19, 1898. The opera house stands at Strömgatan 14 on the eastern side of Gustav Adolfs torg, directly opposite the Royal Palace and Parliament House. Its grand late-19th-century auditorium, ongoing opera and ballet program, and central waterfront setting make it distinctive, while Restaurant Grodan operates on weekdays from 11:30 a.m. and the Opera Bar generally opens two hours before Main Stage performances. The bar may be closed for matinee performances, dance performances, and premieres, so checking the specific performance schedule and reserving a table at Grodan is sensible.