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Dining and Wining in Stockholm

Last Updated (Friday, 11 July 2008 18:00) Written by Sigurd Allern Wednesday, 02 July 2008 16:10

When going out for a meal in Stockholm, the alternatives are many concerning both types of food, quality – and price levels. The restaurants are numerous and in the central districts you will find cafés and coffee bars anywhere you go.

The proposals you will find listed here represent some of the alternatives concerning restaurants and inns. A few are ‘budget’ places, (at least looked upon with Nordic eyes), others are more expensive, especially some of the prestige alternatives. People in Stockholm enjoy dining out, and if you plan to visit a well-known and popular place, it is wise to call the restaurant and book a table. Come in time, Scandinavians eat relatively early and most kitchens close at 10.30 or 11.00 pm.

Different price levels

The recommendations are based on several independent guides about Stockholm’s best restaurants in different categories – and on our own experience. According to their Internet information all these restaurants should be open in July. Where we know about it, price levels for a ‘normal’ warm, main course is indicated in Euro (€), or – if the prices are vary varied we indicate the range (like € 15 – 35). However, we take no responsibility for sudden changes in the menu – or the prices! A general advice: the starters at good restaurants can be very tasty, but are often small and overpriced. Save your money to the dessert! Some restaurants have a menu you can study on their Internet page. Service is included in the bill; however, it is quite common to tip on top (as much as ten per cent if the service has been excellent).

Budget lunch

Sweden is a country with a ‘lunch culture’, meaning that – at least in the cities – it is quite normal to leave the workplace and visit a café or a restaurant during lunchtime. Even quality restaurants often offer lunch meals at reasonable prices. Normally you will get a warm lunch for around half the price of a standard evening meal, at least if you avoid the tourist traps. If you see at lot of national flags indicating ‘tourism’, be aware! A standard price for a good lunch meal is € 7-9; bread, salad and coffee included.

Concerning prices it is also worth mentioning that wine (at least good wine) is more expensive than beer. The prices for a special bottle of wine will, like in other countries, vary between the restaurants, normally the price level follow the price level for food. However, in most places you can get a decent or good bottle of wine for € 22-35. A large glass (0,5 l) of strong beer (Starköl) will cost you around €4-5, sometimes more, sometimes less. Beer with less alcohol is cheaper. If you prefer water, it is unnecessary to buy an expensive bottle; the ‘ordinary’ tap water is of good quality.

Budget in the list below means that you can get a warm evening meal for around €7 – 15, Medium indicates that you have to pay €16 – 26 and Expensive means that that price will be €27 – 37. For most restaurants the nearest tube station is indicated (like T: Hötorget).

City and Norrmalm districts

(T: Centralen, Hötorget, Kungsträdgården)

If you stay at a hotel in the City or Norrmalm and the weather is fine, you may prefer an outdoor place nearby; at Kungsträdgården (li terally; The Kings Garden) you will find a lot of cafés serving food, wine and beer. The prices are ‘medium’ and so is sometimes the quality of the food, but it is a nice place for a simple meal and a glass of wine or beer.

Restaurang Prinsen
Mäster Samuelsgaten 4, teleph: +46- 8- 6111331
www.restaurangprinsen.se
Prinsen has been around for more than a hundred years. It is a traditional and high class Swedish restaurant with a classic dining room at the street level (avoid the tables in the basement). Price level: Medium to very expensive (€ 20 – 37).

Östermalm district

(T: Östermalmstorg, Stadion, Tekniske Högskolan)

Halv grek plus turk
Jungfrugatan 33 (T: Stadion), teleph:+46-8-6659422
www.halvgrekplusturk.se
The restaurant’s name in English is Half Greek plus Turkish. It is a very popular spot serving a large variety of Mediterranean meze dishes. Price level: Budget (€ 6 – 9,5), but you need at least two dishes if you are hungry. Normally it is necessary to book a table.

Beirut Café
Engelbrektsgatan 37 (T: Tekniska Högskolan), teleph: +46-8-212025
www.beirutcafe.nu
A sober place for Middle East food, with a variety of small and large dishes. A lot of good wines from Lebanon.
Price level: Budget to medium (€8 – 24)

Brasserie Bobonne
Storgatan 12 (T: Östermalmstorg), teleph: +46-8-6600318
www.brasseriebobonne.gastrogate.com
A neighbourhood place with classical French dishes of high quality. Price level: Medium to expensive (€ 15 – 32)

Sturehof
Stureplan 2 (T: Östermalmstorg), telephone: +46-8-4405730
www.sturehof.com
A more than hundred years old, but still trendy restaurant with classic Swedish food (especially fish and shellfish) with a French touch. A huge outdoor seating during the summer, however, it can still be difficult to find a seat.
Price level: Budget to very expensive (€14 – 44)

Vasastan district
(T: Rådmannsgatan, Odénplan)

La Habana
Sveavägen 108 (T: Rådmansgatan), teleph: +46-8-166465
www.lahabana.se
Cuban-inspired kitchen. A small place with a large bar downstairs, salsa music several nights a week.
Price level: Budget (€14 – 20)

Den gamle och havet
Tulegatan 27 (T: Rådmansgatan), teleph: +46-8-6615300
www.visomkanmat.se
In English the name of this Italian family restaurant is ‘The Old and the Sea’. However, it has nothing to do with Hemingway, may be more with the restaurant’s elegant seafood dishes. The pasta is one of the best in town and the wine list includes a lot of nice Italian wines.
Price level: Medium to expensive (€15 – 28)

Gamla Stan

(T: Gamla Stan)

The Old City (near the Royal Castle and Riksdagen, the Swedish parliament) is a nice place to stroll and you will find a lot of restaurants and cafés, including some famous Swedish restaurants of high quality. However, it is also one of the most popular tourist spots in Stockholm, and some places serve mediocre food to high prices.

Aroydee
Stora Nygatan 3 (T: Gamla stan), teleph: +46-8-212560
A popular Thai/Chinese restaurant with dim sum (served to 8.30 pm) as the big attraction.
Price level: Budget to medium (€13 – 26)

Den gyldene freden
Österlångatan51 (T: Gamla stan), teleph: +46-8-249760
www.gyldenefreden.se
One of the most famous, old restaurants in Stokholm. High class, Swedish kitchen.
Price level: Expensive (€17-35)

Södermalm district

This district, shortened to Söder (South) in the daily language, is a city in the city; around 100 000 people live on this island south of Stockholm City. Former it was a working class part of the capital; today it is more known as the area where you will find the highest concentration of intellectuals, journalists, artists – and students. If you take the tube to Medborgarplatsen you will find a lot of outdoor places to eat – or drink. If you go down Götgatan to Slussen you will find restaurants and pubs on every corner. Other popular areas with a lot of restaurants and cafés at Söder are Mariatorget (also a T-station) and Nytorget.

Eriks Gondolen
Stadsgården 6 (T: Slussen), telephone: +46-8-6417090
www.eriks.se
A restaurant and bar with an excellent view; the guest may overlook the sea and the central parts of Stockholm. When you come out of the tube’s main entrance, turn right, and you will see the restaurant ’hanging in the sky’. Find the lift! Gondolen is a popular (but expensive) place to eat, and even more popular is the bar (also serving smaller dishes).
Price level: Medium to expensive (€20 – 32)

Soldaten Svejk
Östgötagatan 35 (T: Medborgarplatsen), telephone: + 46-8-6413366
www.svejk.se
The Soldier Svejk is an old type of ‘bierstube’ and serves solid central-European food. It is not a gourmet place, but you will not go away hungry. And as a place for a good glass (or three) of Czeck beer Svejk is excellent. You cannot book a table, so if you want to eat, may be as a starter you must cool down with a beer in the bar.
Price level: Budget (€7-13)

Sjögräs
Timmermansgatan 24 (T: Mariatorget), telephone: + 46-8-841200
www.sjogras.com
A modern, informal and innovative neighbourhood restaurant. French inspired food of very good quality. And the best assortment of rum in Northern Europe!
Price level: Medium to expensive (€19 – 29)

Roxy
Nytorget 6 (T: Medborgarplatsen or Skanstull), telephone: +46-8-6409655
www.roxysofo.se
An informal and popular neighbourhood restaurant – included a bar with a cosy atmosphere. Spanish-inspired food.
Price level: Medium (€16 – 26)

Pelikan
Blekingegatan 40 (T: Skanstull), telephone: +46-8-55609090
www.pelikan.se
A genuine Swedish neighbourhood restaurant and beer hall, serving classical Swedish dishes (like meatballs with lingonberries). High noise level!
Price level: Budget to medium (€ 15-22)

Bistro Street
Hornstulls strand 4 (T: Hornstull), telephone: +46-8-6693921
www.streetinstockholm.se
Street is during weekends a market place by the canal on the southwest end of Söder. Here you will find Bistro Street, a new, modern restaurant, serving ecological food from local farmers - and a bar with outdoor tables. A relaxed atmosphere! Closed Sunday evening.
Price level: Medium to expensive (€15 – 32)

Restaurang Bauer
Götgatan 15 (T: Slussen), telephone: +46-8-6400820
A new Berlin-inspired bar and restaurant in the Bauhaus-style, just beside the T-entrance in Götgatan. Spanish-inspired kitchen, serving a lot of small (tiny) dishes (€4,5) as well as larger plates. The bar is especially popular among younger people.
Price level: Budget (for the small plates) to medium/expensive.

Mosebacke etablissement
Mosebacke torg 3 (T: Slussen)
Mosebacke is not a place to visit because of the food, but it is a nice outdoor place to stay during the light summer evenings and nights. Wonderful views over the central parts of Stockholm, the lake Mälaren and the sea.
Price level: Budget

Och Himlen Därtill
Götgatan 78 (T: Medborgarplatsen)
The main reason to visit this relatively expensive bar is the fantastic views: Take the lift as far as you can and walk the last steps up to the bar on the 26th floor.  You will see the most of Stockholm in all directions. No entrance fee.

Djurgården

Djurgården is a green island south of Östermalm with museums, restaurants, a Tiergarten and a Swedish outdoor museum (Skansen) and an entertainment park (Gröna lund). The area is excellent for walking and – if you want – jogging, especially along the canal. You can walk to Djurgården (by Strandvägen), you can a street tram from Norrmalsmstorg or take bus 47 from Sergels torg – or reach the island by a ferry from Slussen (near Gamla Stan and Söder).

Blå porten
Djurgårdsvägen 64, telephone +46-8-6638759
www.blaporten.com
A popular café with an outdoor garden atrium, serving lunches (every day) and evening meals (Monday to Friday).
Price level: Budget

Wärdshuset Ulla Winbladh
Rosendalsvägen 8 (Telephone: +46-8-6630571)
www.ullawinbladh.se
An old, famous, pastoral inn of high quality, originally an exhibit of the 1897 Stockholm Exposition. Interior with a touch of art nouveau. Pleasant outdoor area. Swedish specialities of high quality.
Price level: Budget (‘Today’s menu’) to very expensive (€ 11 – 41)

Carl Michael
Allmänna grand 6 (telephone: +46-8-6674596)
www.carlmichael.se
A modern and modernized inn of gourmet quality, nearby the entertaiment park, Gröna Lund.
Price level: expensive (€19 – 28)