Stockholm

Aifur

A Viking restaurant, branding itself as the only of its kind. Live Viking Age music.

Blå Porten [bloːˈpuʈən]

Blå porten, hidden in the back yard of Liljevalchs konsthall, is the one exception. Delicious food in a lush garden makes the long queues worth it. The excellent cakes and pies also makes this a good choice for a coffee break.

Mon-Fri 11:00-23:00, Sat Sun 11:00-19:00

Byn Creperie & Ciderie

Galettes, crêpes, moules and cider in an authentic atmosphere with chansons on the stereo. Mains 89-169 kr.

Cafe Panorama

Kulturhuset's 5th floor (T T-Centralen). A large café with large windows and a nice open terrace overlooking the lively Sergels torg.

Cafe Ritorno

Nice café with personal service. Small outdoor service in the summer.

Cafe Rival

A nice café, which like the hotel next door is owned by Benny Andersson of ABBA fame. (You won't find any traces of ABBA in the place, though.)

Café Eurobar

Russian cuisine and a meetup point for Stockholm's Slavic community.

Café Fix

Stockholm's oldest coffee shop. 25 kr for coffee, 5 kr for refill. Nice food.

Café Opera and Operakällaren

In the building of the Royal Opera, Café Opera has for long been the place if you want to be seen with celebrities. Offers good food and drinks. Dress code applies, entrance fee 220 kr. In the same building you'll find a beautiful dining room of the formal and extremely expensive Operakällaren. If you want a less costly option, consider the other two restaurants at the Opera: Operabaren and Backfickan (see Mid-range above). Mains: Café Opera 195-325 kr, Operakällaren 210-450 kr.

Café Sten Sture

A café in a 14th century cellar vault. The building used to be a monastery, until it was dismantled following the Protestant Reformation. It was used as a prison; the most famous inmate was Johan Jacob Anckarström, who assassinated King Gustav III.

Chez Jolie

A stylish and spacious French cuisine restaurant in Östermalm.

11:00 to 23:00 mostly, closed Sun·Main courses around 200 to 300 SEK

Chokladkoppen & Kaffekoppen

Kaffekoppen and Chokladkoppen (literally, the Coffee Cup and the Chocolate Cup) are two LGBT-friendly sister cafes situated on the Stortorget in Gamla stan, just off the touristy Västerlånggatan. If one is full you can just walk over to the other one. The interior in both of them is small but cosy, probably not for the claustrophobic! Gigantic sandwiches if you're hungry, and if you're looking for something sweet try their chocolate cake!

Winter: Mon–Thu 10:00–22:00, Fri 10:00–23:00, Sat 09:00–23:00, Sun 09:00–22:00; Summer: daily 09:00–23:00

Chutney Bar & Matsal

Offers a choice of vegan dishes for 88 kr. Self-service salad, water, fruit tea and chutneys are free. Often quite packed but it's normal to share a table with strangers here.

Claes på hörnet

Tracing its history back to 1731, the inn Claes på Hörnet (in literal translation "Claes on the Corner") serves traditional Swedish food in more or less modern forms. The 18th century-inspired dining environment adds to the enjoyment. The inn also has 10 hotel rooms in 18th century style. Mains 145-265 kr.

Copacabana

Copacabana brands itself a queer feminist café and draws a LGBT crowd from all over the city, as well as locals both gay and straight. Friendly atmosphere and afternoon sun on a few outdoor tables.

Mon-Thu 10:00-21:00, Fri-Sun 10:00-19:00

Creperie fyra knop

Authentic French-speaking crêpes/galettes place. The place is often crowded and the service can be very French, in all senses of the word, but the food is excellent. Booking recommended. Mains 70-92 kr.

Open 17:00-23:00

Den Gyldene Freden

The members of the Swedish Academy (famous as the jury for the Nobel Prize in Literature) eat here every Thursday. Old traditions (traced back to 1722) in the old town. The reputation allows "The Golden Peace" to charge high prices.

Open Mon-Fri 17:00-23:00, Sat 13:00-23:00 (closed Mon in July and early August)·Mains 165-335 kr, three-course menus 565-675 kr

Döden i grytan

Like a neighbourhood Italian restaurant, but with great chefs that really know what they are doing. The winner of Dagens Nyheter's Gulddraken award 2006 in the medium-priced restaurant category.

Mains 95-295 kr

Eataly

An Italian market hall and food court inside the Röda Kvarn cinema.

Esperanto

Just a notch below F12 on the White Guide ranking, Esperanto offers innovative tasting menus featuring many examples of advanced cooking. Some of the best value for money in the top class niche.

Tue-Sat 18:00-01:00 (closed July and early August)·Tasting menus 745 or 1075 kr

F12

The stylish F12 (short for the centrally located address) is regarded as one of the best fine dining experiences in Stockholm by most critics, including White Guide, the most ambitious Swedish restaurant guide. Mains 270-520 kr, 7-course tasting menus 1095 kr.

Mon-Fri 11:30-02:00, 17-22:30, Sat 17:00-22:30

Fattoush / Roppongi / Panini

A small three-restaurant food court in a central location between the Gallerian shopping center and the NK department store. Fattoush has tasty Lebanese fast food, Roppongi has decent sushi, and Panini offers a selection of sandwiches and salads.

Folkets kebab

A kebab diner. The buffet (open 11:00-19:00) is great, 69 kr.

Frantzén

Only restaurant in Stockholm awarded with three Guide Michelin stars.

Freyja

A rooftop restaurant with an outdoor bar, providing an astounding view of Stockholm. Established 2023.

Fåfängan

[ˈfoːˈfɛŋan]

A café and restaurant close to the eastern tip of Södermalm with a good view of the city. Music some days during lunchtime.

Galleria Slussen

Just across the bridge from Gamla Stan, has several cheap dining options, though the only one open late is McDonald's.

Gastrologik

While lunches are 135 kr, dining menus are costly. One Guide Michelin star.

Glashuset

A waterfront restaurant with a bar, on the walk between Norrmalm and Djurgården. Less of a tourist trap than one could expect from the location.

Gondolen

[gɔnˈdoːlən]

A fancy and expensive restaurant run by the famous chef Erik Lallerstedt, in the peculiar 1930s elevator building Katarinahissen. There is an inexpensive branch named Köket in the same premises where you can eat the best of Swedish cuisine for considerably less than in the main dining room, although you'll miss out on the fabulous view of the city. Dress code may apply! Mains in main dining room 185-300 kr, tasting menu 650 kr.