In early September, the public will finally be able to step inside the doors of the iconic Gothenburg building Dicksonska Palatset. That’s when Oliver Ingrosso and Louise Johansson will open the Italian restaurant Umarell, which will stretch across the grand entrance floor with its dining room and two bars.
Umarell – an Italian word referring to an older man who stands and watches construction sites – is a fitting name for the restaurant soon to open inside Dicksonska Palatset. During the building’s two-year renovation, many curious Gothenburg locals have peered over the fences to catch a glimpse of what’s happening inside. Soon, there will be no need to guess – they’ll be able to visit Umarell, created by Louise Johansson and Oliver Ingrosso.
“Umarell is one of the most beautiful places in all of Gothenburg. Dicksonska Palatset truly shines, and the thought of people soon sitting here and eating fills my heart with joy. Our atmosphere should feel warm and truly Gothenburg, and we want guests to feel genuinely cared for. Umarell is a place for everyone. And the food on our Italian menu should be so good it nearly knocks people off their chairs – and makes them want to come back the very next day,” says Louise Johansson.
The goal is to create a warm and welcoming space inside these grand neo-Renaissance interiors – a place where everyone can feel at home. And when it comes to striking the right balance between the majestic and the familiar, the Italian menu will play a key role.
“Serving genuine Italian food is a given, but the menu also has to reflect the space. Even if we’re not serving tweezer food, the dishes should still have finesse. At the same time, the food should help tone down the formality of the space, because it really is quite grand. Umarell should be a place where you can drop in spontaneously for a simple bite, go on a nice date, or celebrate something special,” says Oliver Ingrosso.
Umarell will open in early September 2025 in Dicksonska Palatset on Parkgatan 2 in Gothenburg.
About Oliver Ingrosso
Since 2022, Oliver Ingrosso has run and owned the Italian restaurant Olli in Stockholm and has recently opened Olli’s Deli. In 2024, he launched the food brand Mino together with his siblings. Oliver was born into Italian food culture and has a deep passion for authentic Italian cooking.
About Louise Johansson
Louise Johansson won the first season of Swedish MasterChef in 2011 and has since worked in restaurants such as Upper House, vRÅ, and Salt & Sill. She was a finalist in Chef of the Year in 2019 and 2021, and in 2022 she won the competition Kockarnas kamp (The Chefs’ Battle). With Umarell, Louise – whose culinary philosophy is rooted in the west coast and inspired by the sea, vegetables, and seasonal produce – opens her very first own restaurant.
