What say you? There are bits and bobs on various threads but would love to consolidate one running list here!
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I agree. We will be in Stockholm for the first time for a week in July staying at the Hotel Reisen before a cruise.
Having grown up there but not lived there for 25+ years, I can only touch upon the classics - I’m not up to date on the absolute newest. But these are unmissable:
THE CLASSICS:
1. PA&Co - a local unassuming eat that has excellent food and very loyal customer base. Simple, but amazing. The meatballs are legendary, but don’t miss the "stuck-in-the-90’s” dessert Gino they invented (think melted white oven baked chocolate on top of fruit).
2. Tennstopet - a classic bistro that has barely changed in 100+ years. Excellent staples and vibes.
3. Ulla Winbladh - an old patrician villa at DjurgĂĄrden turned restaurant. Always good quality and great ambience. See pic of their cod with clarified butter and brackish shrimps - amazingly delicious in its simplicity.
4. Prinsen - a classic bistro right in town. This is the place to try Wallenbergare or Biff Rydberg. A great place to people watch when you sit outside as well.
5. Operakällaren - legendary higher end dining that’s been a staple since the beginning of last century. Think white linen service and Tour D’Argent.
6. Den Gyldene Freden - another absolute classic in the old town, there since 1700’s. Amazing high end dining.
7. Wedholms Fisk - Bengt Wedholm was a Michelin star fish legend in Sweden, sadly passed since many years, but the new owner Nisse Molinder is a very accomplished chef who’s carried on his excellence. They simply do high end classic fish in a Scandinavian/French way that no other restaurant does, and if there’s one I would really recommend, it’s this one. Their turbot in champagnesauce is the stuff of legend, but all their seafood dishes are to die for.
8. Stallmästaregården - perfect gästhus after a long walk at Djurgården.
9. Pelikan - and old beerhall that’s been there for hundreds of years. Great atmosphere and good food and not too expensive.
10. Rolfs Kök - a legendary bistro. I’ve had some of my best meals there ever.
11. Sturehof - where the people watchers go to be seen, but the food is surprisingly good and it’s been a staple for 40 years already.
12. Grodan - an old bistro right in town with a great interior that dates back to turn of last century, food always solid although it sometimes suffers from being watering hole for playboy back-slick types.
NEW PLAYERS (as in new since I moved away, which might not be that new at all;):
- Le Hibou - rooftop bar with views to die for. Have not eaten there, but cocktails are great.
- Brasserie Astoria - one of the newer players, great chef and high in demand.
- Dersch - new legendary schnitzel place, kicking ass and taking names from what I hear.
- Stockholms Stadshotell - both hotel and fine dining, one of the new hotspots that I hear great things about. The setting is an old building to die for.
- Ett Hem - this is mainly a super high end boutique hotel (I can easily nominate this as one of the best hotels in the world bar none), but you can just come for dinner at the small restaurant even if you’re not staying at hotel.
Ulla Winbladh - cod with brackish shrimps, clarified butter and shaved horseradish and dill summer potatoes. Few things I’d rather have in this world.
Legendary chef Bengt Wedholm (RIP), who didn’t suffer fools lightly, struck fear into the hearts of his servers and cursed like a sailor, left a fantastic legacy at Wedholms Fisk. To this day an unmissable restaurant for fish lovers who want something in the very classic tradition, cooked to perfection.
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Incredible thank you Adam!
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Great list and details. Thanks.
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And one extra thing: don’t miss the Vasa museum. It’s touristy, but amazing and totally worth it.
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Our favorite places in Stockholm:
Rolfs Kök - mentioned by Adam above
Främmat - bare bones basement restaurant that serves great French small to mid size sharable plates. Decent wine list that I remember being mostly French
Nomad - love their meatballs, not much of a wine place
VingĂĄrden - Open May through August. Rooftop restaurant which is open air but has a retractable cover and heaters if the weather requires it. Fantastic food and wine! The inside restaurant is Leijontornet which we have not been to but have heard similar good things if you are not there in the summer.
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Like Adam, I’ve been away for a long time now and when I’m back home most of our time is about seeing family friends.
I’ll think about what I can add to the thread, but one place I have very high on my list for enjoying wines is Bar Nacka. When you see the wine list you’ll know why.
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We were there in October 2024. I thought Den Glydene Freden was good not great. Our meal was a bit up and down. I detailed my experiences here.
I absolutely loved the Vasa Museum. Stunning how well done the museum is considering it’s all about a warship that sank less than an hour into its maiden voyage.
We also enjoyed Ambar detailed in the post I linked.
Looking at the Vasa, I had no idea how people ever thought it would float
I highly recommend checking the world of mouth app for some ideas. They are very strong with recommendations in this area of the world.
Top three recommendations are Frantzen (three star), Babette Pizza and Ekstedt.
In all there are reviews of ~200 restaurants.
I’ll throw my hat in the ring for Ett Hem, just an amazing hotel with a really great food and wine program.
Beer at Akkurat Bar & restaurang på Södermalm, Stockholm has to be a given. Their cellar has to be top 10 in the world.
100% try Frantzen if you can get in. We dined before they move to their new location and sat at the chef bar - amazing meal and experience.
Den Gyldene Freden was just ok - historic building - I’d pass on the Swedish meatballs with potatoes and lingonberry.
Anyplace by Matthias Dahlgren - we dined at Matbaren - his more casual restaurant.
The markets are great for casual meals. Lots of fun places in the old town. Not sure what’s still around.
Definitely don’t miss the Vasa Museum - and if you want some fun and dancing the ABBA museum.
I should add that I’ve heard good things about the one-dish-beef-only Teuf modeled slightly after the Parisian L’Entrecote restaurant. Might be worth a try. It’s great to see more new restaurants open up in Gamla Stan (the old city). It’s such a beautiful place, but for too long has been a bit of an open air museum for tourists only.
Speaking of Gamla Stan, if you like history and costume, the Livrustkammaren (Royal Armory) museum in the bowels of the castle is great. It has guns, cannons, swords and carriages but also beautiful costumes and trinkets from that era, so tends to be a hit with all families and diverse interests.
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Awesome, thanks again. Bringing the fam so much appreciated. Scores of options here as well. Hive mind for the win(e)!
Stockholm was buzzing! Maybe the last throes of late summer before real fall comes to pass.
Dining highlight was definitely Babette. In addition to the notes above, a colleague is connected to the ownership which made it a no brainer. Pretty much the archetypal restaurant I want to visit: great energy, lots of industry people, an archetypal wonderful wine list (it expresses personality, it’s varied but not deep…small joint and basically the concept is 2 bottles for each wine listed so catch em while you can). Tons of interesting things to drink (we drank Ganevat Grand Teppes). Bistro fair that isn’t pretentious and the pricing isn’t offensive. I would gladly go back often. I would love to find the London equivalent!
For a family outing, we made it to Astoria (thanks Adam). Sceney but not pretentious, good vibes, some celebs. All of the dishes were satisfying and well crafted but not trying to be frou frou. We drank Rousset-Martin cheaper than one would find it in France nowadays (very good list mixing trophies and gems).
For a business lunch we were steered first to Sturehof but with a complication on availability ended up at Teatergrillen. A bit of a sceney power lunch place for tycoons and masters of the universe. Everything was solid and beautiful but very much so suited for suits.
Can’t wait to come back. I though may wait for the spring.
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A few spots in addition to Nacka Bar:
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Leijontornet: think this has to be on the list, in the old town and a few different wine focused restaurants with the same wine cellar
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Rolfskök: An institution and a place that delivers, in a delightful, skilled manner. Dishes are not fancy, just proper solid meals. Good winelist even if last time I was there the super burgundy bargains were slightly less so.
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Restaurant AG: if you’re in to steaks. Been some years since I was there, like the food, a very good wine list then. A bit showy crowd but that’s Stockholm when a places is hot
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Stockholm Stadshotell: heard good things and they have a an excellent winelist.
The latter is on Södermalm which I guess sees a lot less tourist, it’s more bohemian trendy. Anyway, this is my local tip - go enjoy the most scenic pretty view of Stockholm at Ivar Los park (sunset). It’s a short walk from Stadshotell.
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