Stockholm, Sweden — Food and Dining
Restaurants in Stockholm, Sweden
Restaurants
Expensive
Edsbacka Krog
Edsbacka Krog was opened by Christer Lingström in 1983 in a building where there used to be an inn serving food and drink as early as 1626. The Michelin-starred restaurant has an inventive menu with dishes characterized by creative combinations of ingredients and immaculate taste. This is continental cooking at its best, with a Swedish twist. The restaurant is not very conveniently located for tourists, however - all the way up in Sollentuna to the north of the city, some 30 minutes by taxi.
Sollentunavägen 220
Tel: (08) 963 300.
Website: www.edsbackakrog.se
Mathias Dahlgren
Having won a Michelin star at his last restaurant, Bon Lloc, Mathias Dahlgren, one of Sweden's most acclaimed chefs and the only one to win the prestigious Bocuse d'Or prize, has now moved on to the Grand Hôtel where his name and presence grace the hotel's new gourmet restaurant. The cuisine is Swedish and Baltic, but with global as well as local elements, and the food is delicious - based on natural produce and natural flavors, what Dahlgren himself calls ‘the natural cuisine'.
Grand Hôtel, Bolinderska Palatset, Södra Blasieholmshamnen
Tel: (08) 679 3584.
Website: www.mathiasdahlgren.se
Operakällaren
The dining room at Operakällaren is one of the most beautiful in the whole of Sweden, with its classic late 19th-century décor and wall paneling of carved oak. It is a lush and spacious hall with a classic, yet warm atmosphere. The cuisine is French with Italian and Swedish elements, and the food is consistently of the highest order. The wine list is also very impressive.
Operahuset, Karl XII's torg
Tel: (08) 676 5801.
Website: www.operakallaren.se
Moderate
Aquavit Grill & Raw Bar
Located in the impressive new Clarion Hotel Sign near Stockholm’s main train station, Aquavit Grill & Raw Bar is an excellent choice for a laid-back, yet stylish, lunch or dinner. The emphasis here is more on fun than fine dining, although the food, from steaks to seafood, is of the highest quality. Tuck into a Swedish dry-aged ribeye or opt for one of the Scandinavian seafood platters – oysters, shrimps, gravlax as well as some original touches like espresso mustard herrings and tandoori-style smoked salmon. A good wine list and professional service round off a very pleasant meal.
Östra Järnvägsgatan 35
Tel: (08) 676 9850.
Website: www.aquavitgrillrawbar.com
Grodan
With a mix of French and Swedish dishes on the menu, Grodan ('the Frog') is a popular and trendy place in the center of town. The fish casserole is a Grodan classic and comes highly recommended. Outdoors the restaurant has one of the most attractive spaces for al fresco dining (in Stockholm. Grodan Cocktail Club, one of the city's best techno and house clubs, is located downstairs. There is also a bar on the top floor.
Grev Turegatan 16
Tel: (08) 5067 8300.
Website: www.grodan.se
Hotellet
The largest restaurant on Östermalm, located just a stone's throw away from Stureplan, Hotellet is stylish, flashy and trendy. This is not just a place to eat - this is a social scene where the bars, dance floor and lounge areas are as important as the restaurant. Still, the food, wine list and service are all very good. The cuisine is French and continental with a few Swedish touches. When the weather permits, food is served at the tables outdoors.
Linnégatan 18
Tel: (08) 442 8900.
Website: www.hotellet.info
Prinsen
This restaurant first opened its doors in 1897, and it has been a second home for the city's artists and writers ever since. It still has a bohemian and fun feel to it, and nowadays it is a rather trendy place, attracting lots of people who appreciate the special atmosphere - as well as the excellent food. The menu consists of dishes from the Swedish and Continental kitchen, and more often than not they are cooked to perfection. Prinsen serves seriously good food, and gourmets with a bohemian streak should definitely consider a visit.
Mäster Samuelsgatan 4
Tel: (08) 611 1331.
Website: www.restaurangprinsen.com
Restaurang GQ
The French-inspired cuisine on offer at Restaurang GQ, brainchild of top chef Jürgen Grossman, has proved irresistible to the people of Stockholm, so booking is essential here. GQ is the gastronomic equivalent to IQ and so deals with gastronomic intelligence, for instance such issues as nutrition, food provenance and the way ingredients have been produced. Happily, the restaurant is not all about intelligence but also very much about the senses - and the tastebuds in particular. The food is exceptional, and so is the wine selection.
Kommendörsgatan 23
Tel: (08) 5456 7430.
Website: www.gqrestaurang.se
Rolfs Kök
One of the trendiest places to eat in Stockholm, Rolfs Kök is where the local cognoscenti head. The sparse interior veers towards minimalism and the food tends towards the style (and often small portions) of nouvelle cuisine. The open kitchen allows guests to inspect the preparation of the food. The menu is a collage of Swedish and international influences, which are given innovative reinventions in the Rolfs Kök style.
Tegnergatan 41
Tel: (08) 101 696.
Website: www.rolfskok.se
Cheap
Indian Curry House
Among the cheaper Indian restaurants in town, this tiny but fun place serves up tasty Indian staples, such as samosas and a good range of curries, in typically rich Indian interior. During the summer months, the Indian Curry House also has a few tables outside.
Scheelegatan 6
Tel: (08) 650 2024.
Kungshallen
Located right in the heart of downtown Stockholm, Kungshallen food hall is a great place to fill up, whether you choose to sit down or take meals away. It offers a range of international foodstuffs, from Tex-Mex and Indian to Greek, Lebanese and sushi, as well as a range of more esoteric Swedish specialties.
Kungsgatan 44
Tel: (070) 8655 620.
Website: www.kungshallen.nu
Lao Wai
This Chinese vegetarian restaurant is trendy not because it is hip or funky but rather because it offers healthy, clean and pure food that is also wonderfully flavorsome. No microwave ovens, canned foods or pre-packaged powder-based sauces here; instead, the freshest ingredients are used, the spices are home ground, and the result is delicious, genuine Chinese food of the very best quality.
Luntmakargatan 74
Tel: (08) 673 7800.
Website: www.laowai.se
Örtagården
Örtagården (‘the Herb Garden') opened in 1980 and is Stockholm's oldest vegetarian restaurant. With its high ceilings and old-fashioned, stylish interior it doesn't really look like a veggie place, but it serves a good selection of excellent vegetarian dishes in an abundant buffet. For meat lovers, Bakfickan (‘the Back Pocket'), which is part of the same establishment, serves a number of meat dishes. Prices are very reasonable, and the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming.
Nybrogatan 31
Tel: (08) 662 1728.
Website: www.ortagarden.gastrogate.com
Suzuki
Sushi restaurants have been popping up all over Stockholm for the past few years, and Suzuki (formerly known as Sandai-Me Kato), although far from being the priciest, is regarded by many locals as one of the best. Don’t be put off by the unassuming exterior – inside, the décor and the food are genuine, and if one in your party is not a raw fish lover, there are plenty of other Japanese dishes to choose from.
St Paulsgatan 22
Tel: (08) 714 9316.
Vapiano
A top budget option in the Old Town, offering a good selection of thin crust pizzas and home-made pasta dishes in light, modern surrounds. The food is fresh and tasty, and prepared in front of your eyes in the open kitchen. It might be a chain, but with potted herbs on the tables, trendy furniture and even cool bathrooms, there is little wonder this place’s been a hit with locals and tourists alike since opening in early 2009. Also at Sturegatan 12.
Munkbrogatan 8
Tel: (08) 222 940.
Website: www.vapiano.se
Nightlife
The late evening summer sun in Stockholm combined with the long winter nights means there is plenty of nightlife action in Stockholm. Expect strong jazz traditions, smart bars and a thriving club scene (often Spanish in flavor). The area around Stureplan is the most happening place for night owls.
The official Stockholm tourism website, www.stockholmtown.com, is an excellent source for information on nightlife.
Bars
Café Opera
This spot draws an eclectic crowd of all ages and tastes to its fabulous interior, plying mainstream partygoers with cutting-edge sounds.
Kungsträdgården
Tel: (08) 676 5807.
Website: www.cafeopera.se
Gondolen
This restaurant features a popular cocktail lounge and serves drinks to match its unbeatable views.
Stadsgården 6
Tel: (08) 641 7090.
Website: www.eriks.se
Kvarnen
This is a beer hall with a typically rootsy Södermalm charm, open until 0300 and hugely popular.
Tjärhovsgatan 4
Tel: (08) 643 0380.
Website: www.kvarnen.com
The Spy Bar
The highly trendy Spy Bar is an intimate and stylish place with excellent DJ entertainment.
Birger Jarlsgatan 20
Tel: (08) 5450 3701.
Website: www.thespybar.com
Clubs
Absolut Ice Bar
This renowned drinking hole in the Nordic Sea Hotel while not unique, is still a special place, with its year-round temperature of -5°C (23°F). Drinks are served in hollowed-out ice cubes from a bar also made of ice. Even the walls and tables are made of ice taken from the Torne River on the border between Sweden and Finland.
Vastaplan 7
Tel: (08) 5056 3520.
Website: www.absoluticebar.com
Berns Salonger
Stylish Berns has for years been one of the best places to party in Stockholm, and makes for a memorable night out. A landmark since 1863, it features not only bars, but a restaurant, hotel, concert venue and nightclub. Everybody wants to see and be seen there.
Berzeli Park
Tel: (08) 5663 2222.
Website: www.berns.se/en
Blue Moon
A lively clubbing venue that draws the crowds.
Kungsgatan 18
Website: www.bluemoonbar.se
White Room
This is a trendy, stylish nightclub closed to the vibrant Stureplan where the dancing goes on until the early hours.
Jakobsbergsgatan 29
Tel: (08) 545 076 00.
Website: www.whiteroom.se
Live Music
Debaser
Debaser has two venues in the city, which are among Stockholm's main places for top-notch Swedish and international live pop and rock music.
Karl Johans Torg 1 and Medborgarplatsen 8
Tel: (08) 305 620 and 694 7900.
Website: www.debaser.se
Globen
This is the place where Britney Spears recently performed and is the venue for large-scale bands and stadium rock.
Globentorget 2
Tel: 077 131 0000.
Website: www.globearenas.se
Nalen
Nalen is run by the Swedish Artists and Musicians Interest Organization in a wonderful old building with four concert venues where you can hear pop, rock and jazz from big international stars as well as obscure Swedish bands.
Regeringsgatan 74
Tel: (08) 5052 9200.
Website: www.nalen.com
Pet Sounds Bar
This is a trendy, but friendly restaurant and bar with a fun party atmosphere in the basement.
Skånegatan 80
Tel: (08) 643 8225.
Website: www.petsoundsbar.se
