#69 | Lucy's Flower Shop, Stockholm, Sweden
Last Visit: Spring 2025
Third time might be the charm when it comes to our Stockholm articles about bars. One highlight, one less so, and with Lucy's something that falls somewhere in the middle. A modern bar, with a lot going for itself and, as far as I can see, potential for further visits, that just didn't quite catch my attention during this particular evening.
Lucy's Flower Shop is a speakeasy bar, but far from unknown. It is getting plenty of attention both in the bar world (with two spots in the World's 50 back in 2021 & 2022) and Stockholm night life, so getting a reservation is the smart choice here. At first glance, and also by checking Google Maps, the bar seems to be on the ground floor of an impressive, if a bit run down, building on Birger Jarlsgatan. On that street you also find fancy flagship stores and other trendy bistros, not a bad neighborhood at all. Turns out that the establishment on the ground floor is just another, more basic bar. There is also a club upstairs, and while the actual Lucys Flower Shop is in the basement, there seems to be a connection between all these properties, but that isn't our focus here.
The entire concept of 'the abandonded flower shop' is a bit misleading, as the entrance is behind a modern sliding door, where guests wait and 'announce' themselves. Smartly done, as I thought, because if it is too full inside the first doors aren't supposed to even open. It is mainly a dimly lit basement, decorated with some flowers and a minimalistic bar counter in the second room.
The purple branding is tastefully sprinkled throughout and also reappears on the menu and the coasters. I personally love how strong of an identity it still communicates, but compared to some of the other Stockholm bars, I was perhaps expecting a bit more from a 'speakeasy flower shop'. One good example of that aesthetic and how to do it right would be Floreria Atlantico, which we visited in Barcelona. Once again, the brightly lit pictures give you a much better look at many details that sometimes remain hidden in the darker space in reality.
Service, in terms of friendliness, as I have learned anywhere in Stockholm, was on point. Not too pushy, but polite, active and well practiced. I was offered a table in the second room, away from the bar and the one-page menu with the signatures, all named after their ingredients, that you see at the bottom of this article. A clean design that also fits the coasters and colors. There was no mention during my reservation of different menus, and I wasn't told about it either when I entered, more on that later. Many of the cocktails are also available at a competitively priced very low ABV version, which might tell you that this is a modern bar for a modern audience and also something that fits a city, where often food is more important, and worth going out for, rather than alcohol.
After asking which of the signatures was closest to an Old Fashioned and also which had the most spirit-forward flavors, I went for Rye & Apple, which features promising local ingredients. I only later learned (from another bar on another day) that Lucy's specializes in fermentations, and thus vinegars, so it was an unintentional good choice.
Rye & Apple
| Michter's Rye
| Cox Orange Apple
| Apple & Malt Vinegar
First things first. The quality of the ice is unparalled and, same as in other Stockholm bars, world class. Does that help the cocktail? Not really. The nose offers a lot of acidity and little else. After trying, the, in my opinion, worst sides of Michter's dominate, which is unfortunate with such a quality spirit. There is little flavorful apple. The drink reaches a more pleasant sweet spot after a little while, but never reaches the potential of any of the ingredients. Looking back it is comparable to the similarly themed drink at Röda Huset (the article about that visit is here), but a little more balanced and drinkable. It is already quite low ABV, so I can not imagine how it would work in its lesser version and retain any worthwhile flavor intensity or balance.
Sea Buckthorn & Coconut
| Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva & Planas Rum
| Planteray Cut & Dry
| Sea Buckthorn
| Coconut
I was staying with the idea to ask for strong and flavorful drinks, and switching from Rye to Rum with this 'Pina Colada'-ish twist. The texture was what surprised me most, somewhat creamy despite the crushed ice, another sign of the ice quality. There was a decent spiciness via the blend of rums. After asking I was told that both coconut water and milk are first infused with sea buckthorn and then mixed with the spirits. The result is reminiscent of a milk punch, just without the zesty notes. A pleasant drink that doesn't do much wrong and doesn't challenge anyone, but that also doesn't fully highlight its natural ingredients.
So I had my two drinks from the 'signature menu', the only one that I knew of and that I was told about, when a spot at the bar counter opened up and I was seated there. That finally gave me an opportunity to briefly talk to a bartender (who told me about the seabuckthorn infusion for example), but also to spot an entire booklet of drinks that was sitting on the counter. It is filled with at least curious drinks and decent spirits. Is this simply a version of the menu from the ground floor bar above Lucy's? Is this for the tourists who don't want the signatures? It does clash somewhat with the minimalist aesthetic and concept, but still, I would have liked to have known about it when I sat down.
With already two drinks ordered and the next stops waiting, I wasn't entirely convinced to try anything from the slightly more classic menu, but I think this is where maybe the next guest or our next visit will help paint the full picture. The seasonal signatures were alright, they were smooth (when dilluted in the case of the first one) and well-crafted, just a little too clean and overly polished. Knowing that apparently fermentations (which is also a big topic in Röda Huset and Gemma) are important to them, I would have liked to learn or see more about that, none of which is part of either the presentation or the menu. Maybe the real serious drinks are tailormade? This is where the great level of service often seems to fail in Stockholm, communicating the concept.
I understand that modern guests at bars are picky and most simply want an 'easy vibe' for a night out, maybe a place for a chat after work, or a date, with drinks that don't overload the senses. I believe the signature menu and solid, but somewhat average experience at Lucy's does exactly that, with a high level of service and quality craft behind it.
Cheers,
/jf
Excerpts from the menu during the visit (click for original size):
