Do you know the ship af Chapman? If you’ve ever visited Stockholm, you do. The classic full-rigged steel ship, which was built in 1888 in England, was meant to sail to Australia but was instead picked up by Norwegian Leif Gundersen. After him, she changed owners multiple times, and was taken out of activity in the 1940s, after which she began her second career: as a youth hostel, moored on the western shore of the islet Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm.

“Most Stockholmers know of af Chapman, but few have been here,” says Aron Almerén, bar manager at Urban Deli. That might change this summer, when the restaurant Urban Deli moves onboard, offering food and party all summer long.
“Every Saturday, our house band will entertain the brunch guests with soul music,” Almerén explains. “Sometimes accompanied by a guest artist. Fridays, we will have a club special, to which we are inviting up and coming artists. We will also follow events around the city and offer a little extra during, for instance, the Stockholm Pride Festival (July 30 to August 3). On Urban Deli Social Club’s Facebook page, a full calendar will soon be posted.” Almerén promises great food and drink at decent prices, live music, great personnel and a hard to beat view. “The youth hostel will remain open as usual,” he says. “The great thing with having a bar onboard a boat is that the sea makes people happy in the summertime, it’s as simple as that. It’s the perfect mixture of being in the city, on the water, in a park.” Some of the dishes you’ll be able to order are: Toast Skagen and the Swedish favorite “matjessill” (soused herring). Almerén hopes all kinds of people will stop by af Chapman this summer. “If you want to be a tourist in your own city, then I think you’ll like it a lot, just come and let a few hours drift by here. Since the ship is so big, we have the possibility to create several atmospheres at the same time. And of course we hope to be the obvious choice both when it comes to brunch, after work, pre-party, or for a romantic dinner in the sunset.”
For more information: www.svenskaturistforeningen.se