Ah, the Swedes. Advocates of education, innovation, and coffee. Stockholm has long been the epicenter of history and art–and now one of the very first Portal Cafes.
Look at those orange smocks! Starbucks ain’t got nothing on them! Everything in the cafe is downright reminiscent of clinical and futuristic setting of Aperture Science, as well as the overgrown, jungle-urban it took on in the second game. The baristas sport a look similar to Chell in her orange jump suit, though admittedly less disheveled and enslaved looking.
For a long time, Sweden has had a famous love affair with coffee. Swedes are infamous for coffee breaks, which is lovely called “Fika” an entire span of time dedicated to sitting down in solitary with usually baked snack. So why not mix both fika and science together for one delicious, Aperture treat?
Above: “That’s why we offer all our customers coffee and a treat today.” -Webhallen Laboratories.
The pictures were leaked today on Reddit via redditor Soccorritori, and since have been circulating in reposts and tumblr like rabid wildfire.
A few people are concerned that the cafe will come under fire from Valve studios in the form of a lawsuit, ultimately shutting down the trendy new destination for gamers. However, noting Sweden’s pirating history (ie: The Vikings and Pirate’s Bay, pretty much the modern incarnation of the Vikings) and loose copyright laws, it will be difficult at best for Valve to pursue any legal action–presently, at least. And who knows? Valve themselves are known people pleasers, and have always shown a well-maintained fan friendly attitude. The future of the cafe and Valve’s reaction are yet to be seen. Meanwhile, some are more concerned on the existence of cake, for obvious reasons.
Whether or not the cafe’s doors remain open, it stands currently as a cheeky testament to the quiet comfort we all, despite our borders and nationalities, derive from games.