Chef Marcus Samuelsson and his partner Hakan Swahn have achieved a very unique dining experience in midtown Manhattan with the introduction of fine Scandinavian cuisine. Swahn opened the restaurant in 1987. Chef Samuelsson met Swahn in 1991, when he was selected for an eight-month apprenticeship at Aquavit. Swahn later brought Samuelsson back to work with the then Executive Chef, who unfortunately passed away several weeks later. It was then that Swahn gave the young Samuelsson an exceptional break and named him the Executive Chef of Aquavit. Chef Samuelsson is certainly no stranger to Scandinavia either, for, while born in Ethiopia, he and his sister were adopted by a Swedish family after their parents passed away. He spent many hours in the kitchen with his grandmother, a professional cook, who taught him the many wonderful flavors of Scandinavian cuisine. Given the background of the partnership behind Aquavit, it's no wonder that this Scandinavian restaurant is truly authentic and promises a wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of midtown Manhattan. The name Aquavit derives from the Latin aqua vitae – meaning "water of life". If you've never had a sip of aquavit, take it slow – it's not just water – it's usually made from distilled potato or grain spirits combined with other flavors, and is alternatively spelled akvavit.

Dining Room
Lunch: 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday
Dinner: 5:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday
Lunch: 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Dinner: 5:15 p.m. – 10:45 p.m. Saturday
Brunch: 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Sunday
Dinner 5:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Sunday

Cafe
Lunch: 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday
Dinner: 5:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday
Lunch: 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Dinner: 5:15 p.m. – 10:45 p.m. Saturday
Dinner 5:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Sunday

Dress Code: Jacket is suggested for the main dining room.