Blå Porten - Restaurang & Café

Blå Porten is a historic restaurant and café at Djurgårdsvägen 64 on Stockholm’s Djurgården, directly beside Liljevalchs konsthall and near the Djurgårdsbron. The present establishment opened in 1916, when restaurateur Agnar Meurling created a summer restaurant with an Italian-inspired courtyard garden; the same site’s older name dates back to an inn recorded in 1692. Its distinctive blue-painted gate was built into the surrounding wall to connect the new restaurant with the historic name, while architect Carl Bergsten designed the building in conjunction with Liljevalchs. Today the menu combines rustic Swedish cooking with southern European influences, and the garden, courtyard setting, pastries, and proximity to Liljevalchs make it especially suited to a coffee break or lunch between exhibitions. Blå Porten is open daily from 11:00 to 20:00, with the kitchen closing at 19:30; reservations are sensible for lunch and weekends, while weekday afternoons are generally calmer.