"The now-iconic Ikea food court has become a destination in its own right, never mind the accompanying store's flat-pack furniture and neverending storage solutions. So much so, that there's one location that's a standalone Ikea restaurant, and that's on King Street in Hammersmith, London. The neighborhood restaurant, which opened in October 2024, may be located next-door to the Ikea Hammersmith store, but it's also perfect for people who want to enjoy hot Swedish meatballs without having to navigate crowds of shoppers."
"Ikea opened its first in-store restaurant in 1960, originally only serving coffee and cold dishes but quickly expanding its menu to hot snacks and hamburgers. Its original purpose was to keep customers full and happy so they could spend more time shopping. The restaurant's menu was dedicated to elevated Swedish and Småland specialties that were still affordable for the average shopper. It was such a success that the restaurants now attract people who visit just to enjoy the delicious Ikea menu items."
Ikea's food court reputation has grown into a dining destination distinct from its furniture retail. A standalone neighborhood restaurant opened on King Street in Hammersmith in October 2024, adjacent to the Ikea Hammersmith location, offering hot Swedish meatballs without navigating the main store. Ikea launched in-store restaurants in 1960, starting with coffee and cold dishes before adding hot snacks and hamburgers to keep customers fed and shopping longer. Menus focused on elevated Swedish and Småland specialties at accessible prices, and frozen versions of signature items remain available in Swedish Food Markets. Hammersmith operates as a micro city store and the U.K.'s first cashless Ikea, reflecting a city-centre retail strategy.
Read at Tasting Table
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]