Bars and restaurants
Sturehof, Östermalm
Though it started as a German beer hall in 1897, Sturehof now specialises in fresh seafood. Don’t be overwhelmed by the extensive menu: we suggest that you start with some knäckebröd (crispbread) and half a dozen oysters followed by butter-fried perch caught in Lake Mälaren.
Bakfickan, Norrmalm
You’ll be shoulder to shoulder with regulars and opera-goers at this intimate restaurant, all of whom come for the curated wine list and classics such as pickled herring and crayfish served with trout roe and toast. Bakfickan doesn’t take reservations but there’s usually space at the U-shaped bar if it’s busy.
Krog Agrikultur, Slussen
After closing in 2022, this beloved neighbourhood restaurant has returned in a spot right under Slussen’s Golden Bridge, where the Baltic Sea meets Lake Mälaren. Krog Agrikultur serves Michelin-starred chef Filip Fastén’s elevated Nordic-inspired comfort food: try the seafood cannelloni and the poached skrei (cod).
Rolfs Hav, Vasastan
There’s no better place to unwind after a day of shopping in central Stockholm than Rolfs Hav. Perch at the 18-seat bar where you can sample restaurateur Klas Ljungqvist and chef Johan Jureskog’s brilliant menu of seafood. Take your pick from goose barnacles, lobster rolls and scallop chowder, and wash it all down with a bubbly alvarinho.
Babette, Vasastan
This neighbourhood haunt, named after the protagonist of Babette’s Feast, is a magnet for Vasastan residents who flock here for the marriage of Italian, French and Swedish cuisine. Start with the lemon almonds and a glass of wine from the sizeable cellar before moving on to the pizzas, which rival those in Naples. The tomato stracciatella is a must.
Gat, Norrmalm
Joel Söderbäck, Andreas Bergman and Simon Åhnberg transformed this 1896 bank building into a New York-style bistro. Order a cocktail – our favourite is the midori sour – and the potato latkes with caviar, and take in architect Andreas Martin-Löf’s sophisticated dark-wood interiors, complete with art deco-inspired detailing.
Nytorget 6, Södermalm
Open from 11.00 until late night, Nytorget 6 is as good for brunch and lunch as it is for dinner and a late-night drink. There’s a lively atmosphere and great dishes inspired by Mediterranean and Nordic cuisines, including manchego croquettes and butter-fried char.
Teatergrillen, Östermalm
After a show at Dramaten, a historic theatre in Nybroplan that opened in 1908, pop into Teatergrillen for a drink at the marble bar. You might have to jostle to find space but the elbow-to-elbow action is part of the experience. Here you can take your pick from one of Stockholm’s best and most extensive wine cellars.
Le Bar, Kungsholmen
This rooftop bar offers incredible views over Stockholm. Tuck in to French-inspired snacks, such as the beef tartare, and order a glass of the 2015 Henriot Millésimé.
Tyge & Sessil, Östermalm
With more than 300 natural wines, chef Niklas Ekstedt’s Tyge & Sessil is the place to find one-off sensations from small producers such as Domaine Singla in Roussillon, France.
