Totally Stockholm 1
Behind the bar at Afterglow you’ll find two of th
e best bartenders in Sweden, in the form of Josephine Sondlo and Jack Parker. We dropped by for a visit just as things were starting to take shape. What is the vision for Afterglow? Jack: To create a nice bar, one that we would like to hang out at ourselves, nothing too conceptual. A neighbourhood bar, where you can both come and have a quick beer, as well as somewhere you can spend the whole evening with good cocktails. Josephine: Or even somewhere you could go on the way to ICA, as a little pit stop along the way. It’s more for the people from the area, than a place for all the cool club bartenders. Jack: The area is growing. Södermalm is always getting more attention. But a good cocktail-focused bar has been missing. Hopefully we will fill that gap. You both have a lot of experience. If you look back on all the various places you have worked, what was it that they did well? Jack: The service! I really appreciate a good, lovely atmosphere. I don’t care if your cocktails are poor, as long the service is good and there’s a nice atmosphere. You can always just have a beer. Josephine: Or a gin and tonic. Jack: I don’t go to places where the cocktails are fantastic, I think that’s a really expensive thing right now. I cannot afford to drink 200 kronor cocktails right now. I’m broke because I’m opening a bar. Josephine: I think we’re all different when it comes to food and drink, but there is one thing that is universal. That’s that if you enter a place and it feels welcoming and relaxing, and you don’t have to worry about whether you’re dressed correctly, or if you socialize with the right kind of people, or if the waiter will be unpleasant – then that’s the recipe for a good place. And that’s what service is about. But to be able to figure out how to do it, and then do it night after night, that’s really difficult. That’s why we have so few good bars in Stockholm. Josephine also means that it is incredibly important to feel secure. Josephine: Not necessarily secure in that I’m not going to get robbed, but just to feel that I can sit and relax some place on my own, or together with friends, and not have to worry about anything. Jack: Yes, like being able to scroll through your phone, and not feel that you are being rude to the bartender or that people look at you like you’re weird just for scrolling on your phone. I mean, I sit here by myself, it’s my little world, my experience, I should be able to do whatever the fuck I want. It’s really nice being able to scroll without worrying about people around you. Jack: If you fill a room with good atmosphere, everything will happen. I think there are many bars out there, that seem to have forgotten that you have to be nice all of the time. Josephine: Especially when it comes to cocktails, when they just focus on the cocktail, or the famous bartender or the techniques, but they forget the service and that you always have to be nice. I was involved in a wine bar some ten years ago. We didn’t have the best wine, it was a bit expensive, the food was better than you expected - but we knew our area. It was a bit like Cheers. Josephine: Yeah, where everybody knows your name! Jack: Cheers is a perfect example of what a great bar should be. It’s not that hard if you are a nice person who believes in service. What’s your favourite bar experience? Josephine: Satan’s Whiskers, East London. Jack: Yes, Satan’s Whiskers, absolutely! That bar is so good. Why? Jack: The service, the cocktails, the atmosphere. Josephine: And they only do classics, which is a bit unusual nowadays. And the interior is so perfect, everyone who’s there is there because of the bar and the cocktails, but not necessarily to idolise the bartender. 13 Everyone seems to know each other. A really nice and friendly neighbourhood bar. If I was to name only one inspiration for Afterglow, it would be Satan’s Whiskers. Jack: My second favourite experience is probably Cambridge in Paris. When I first came there, I was inspired to open a bar with a little kitchen. Of course, that never happened but we’ll get close. And that was the first time I saw someone carbonate something in a way that I loved and tried to learn. That place really inspired me. The guys who work there don’t take themselves too seriously, but everything is perfect. Josephine: And I have to say, and this was a long time ago, like ten years ago, but Eleven Madison in New York. I was there with my best friend, and we were flying back to Sweden the same day. Someone recommended the place, and we just wanted a couple of cocktails before our flight. It was before they renovated, so it didn’t look as exclusive as it does today. We sat down by the bar and the service was fantastic, so were the cocktails, and the bartenders were curious about us for real. We decided to stay, booked new flights but had nowhere to stay. One of the bartenders said we could stay at his place. That must be the definition of a good bar - it makes you skip your flight home. Jack: In Stockholm I think we both have the same favourite. Josephine: Yes, I think it’s Gemma. Jack: I haven’t been here in Sweden very long, maybe four or five years, and I don’t think I have been to another bar in Stockholm with such good service. How many times have we gone there for just one beer, and then suddenly realised we are five beers in? Josephine: Aren’t we going there today? Jack: Yes, At eight.