Swedish restaurants in Europe
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A
Pelikan
High ceilings, wood-panelling and no-nonsense waiters in waistcoats set the scene for classic husmanskost (traditional Swedish fare) at this century-old beer hall. The superb menu includes an assortment of herring and cheeses and expertly roasted spare-ribs served with red cabbage and apple purée. Add huge beer glasses and you’re set for an epic toast to Sverige.
reviewed
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B
Fredsgatan 12
Chef Melker Andersson’s award-winning baby, Fredsgatan 12 (F12) is a culinary adventure – think squid and sea buckthorn with oyster emulsion, shredded black bread and cucumber, veal tenderloin with lobster and tarragon, and pear fudge with ginger and cardamom. It’s all served in one of the city’s slinkiest dining spaces, so book ahead. Alternatively, settle for rare Danish beers at the bar or summertime mojitos on the hugely popular outdoor terrasen (terrace).
reviewed
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C
Glas
A favourite when it was in Borough Market, Glas remains a mecca in its new location perched above Upper St in Islington. It's still the best Swedish restaurant in town and its 'grazing' portions (from around £4 to £8) allow you to try a number of specialities, including the phenomenal herring three ways and salmon pudding with horseradish sauce. The three-course set lunch is around £15. The welcome here is always warm and the service friendly.
reviewed
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D
Grands Veranda
Located inside the venerable Grand Hôtel, the smörgåsbord here is Stockholm’s best. Get in early for a window seat and feast away on old-school favourites like gravadlax (cured salmon) with a moreish mustard sauce. The hotel’s newest dining spot, Restaurant Mathias Dahlgren, named after its Bocuse d’Or-winning chef, has garnered a second Michelin star as well as top marks for comfort and service.
reviewed
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Salt och Brygga
Overlooking the Öresund bridge, this stylish, contemporary Slow Food restaurant presents updated Swedish cuisine with a clear conscience. Everything is organic (including the staff’s uniforms), waste is turned into biogas, and the interior is allergy-free. Flavours are clean and strictly seasonal – think rhubarb soup with lemon verbena, Tahitian vanilla ice cream and Tonka beans. You’ll need to book ahead.
reviewed
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E
Den Gyldene Freden
Simmering and stirring since 1722, this venerable barrel-vaulted restaurant is run by the Swedish Academy, where (rumour has it) its members meet to decide who will win the Nobel prize. Personally, we think it should go to the chefs, whose sublime offerings include civilised husmanskost (traditional Swedish fare) such as smoked salmon with avocado crème, figs and raisin dressing. Book ahead and dress to impress.
reviewed
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F
Bakfickan
Set in the opera house and appropriately crammed with opera photographs and deco-style lampshades, this buzzing counter restaurant is famed for its savvy old-school waiters and top-notch husmanskost (traditional Swedish fare); Bakfickan shares a kitchen with Operakällaren. A great place for solo supping, it’s best late at night, when you’re bound to stumble across a bitching soprano.
reviewed
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G
Leijontornet
Award-winning Leijontornet boasts the ruins of a 14th-century defence tower in its uberelegant dining room. But that’s where the history ends, with culinary creations like squid with burnt leek or fried Mutzu apple with spruce-tree jelly and tar ice cream pushing the culinary envelope. The trendy in-house bar serves up fab midpriced fare and smooth DJ-spun tunes on Friday and Saturday.
reviewed
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H
Trädgår'n
This cool and spacious restaurant, bar and nightclub (until 05:00 Friday and Saturday) has a summer terrace backing onto the lovely Trädgårdsföreningen park. Lunch here is a treat, with salads, hotplate dishes and four-course meal deals, depending on how hungry you are. In the evening, the restaurant's award-winning chefs rustle up excellent fish and seafood buffets.
reviewed
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I
Lux Stockholm
Lux by name, luxe by nature, this Michelin-star hotspot is run by Bocuse d’Or silver medal winner Henrik Norström. Expect obscenely original creations like spiced lobster with almond milk and duck with pistachio and ginger, all served in what was once the Electrolux factory canteen. Needless to say, book ahead (by the window in winter, on the terrace in summer).
reviewed
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J
Thotts Restaurang
Traditional dishes like grilled rack of wild boar with lingonberries, or cod with langoustine and lobster coulis are served at Thotts; or you can pick at a small selection of tapas (around around Sk35) if you're feeling dainty. The restaurant is in a lovely half-timbered house dating from the 16th century. Enter via the SAS Radisson Hotel.
reviewed
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K
Vassa Eggen
Featuring a domed dining room sitting beyond a glassed birch forest, this stylish dining pad is named after Somerset Maugham’s novel The Razor’s Edge. With sharply executed dishes like oxtail tortellini with mascarpone cheese and a long and luscious wine list, it all makes perfect sense. Book ahead.
reviewed
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Rådhus Källaren
The town hall’s atmospheric 17th-century cellars are another good spot for upmarket dining – better yet is the garden upstairs, open for dining in summer. Dishes are a Swedish-world fusion, focusing on meaty mains. The bar next door is the place to be seen, and stays open until 2am on Friday and Saturday.
reviewed
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L
28+
Stylish, award-winning 28+ is another fine-dining darling, wowing palates with intriguing dishes like duck terrine with fresh berries, roasted brioche and sweet-and-sour strawberries. For the ultimate indulgence, succumb to the seven-course degustation menu (Skr975). The restaurant closes in summer.
reviewed
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M
Sturehof
An empty table is just as rare as a mediocre meal at this crisp, Jonas Bohlin–designed brasserie. Slap bang on Stureplan, Sturehof is the perfect place to enjoy seafood, champagne sessions and gratuitous people-watching. Full and fulfilled, pop into tiny Obaren for a post-meal martini.
reviewed
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N
Fiskmagasinet
Housed in a recently converted 19th-century snus (snuff) factory, urbane Fiskmagasinet combines an intimate bar with a casually chic dining room serving savvy seafood dishes like grilled scampi with mashed potato, truffle and port wine reduction, as well as cheaper Swedish classics.
reviewed
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Tranan
Stockholmers swear by this bistro-style eatery, with technicolour brush strokes pimping up the walls. Food combines Swedish husmanskost with savvy Gallic touches. On weekends DJs hit the decks in the pumping, 30-something basement bar (except in summer, when the bar is closed).
reviewed
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P
Brunkullans
A local favourite for its outdoor patio, Brunkullans also has a wonderfully atmospheric, candlelit 19th-century interior space. The menu features Swedish classics and upscale versions of basic bar food, like a decadent bacon-cheese burger or a quesadilla made with crème fraiche.
reviewed
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Q
Smaka
This lively, down-to-earth restaurant-bar cooks up brilliant, old-school Swedish husmanskost (home cooking) like the specialty meatballs with mashed potato and lingonberries. Mod-Swedish options might include a goat’s cheese soup with roasted beetroot and asparagus.
reviewed
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R
Dunker Bar & Matsalar
At the Kulturhus, svelte, contemporary, light-filled Dunker combines harbour views with great grub such as homemade pizzas and king crab–stuffed ravioli served with lobster bisque. There’s a great weekend brunch (August to June) and live music on Thursdays in July.
reviewed
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Fiskekrogen
Another high achiever, Fiskekrogen serves superlative fish and seafood creations in former Swedish East India Company buildings. Slip into the chic circular dining room, Blåskajsa, choose your drop from the 500-plus wine list, and prepare to toast the chefs. Book ahead.
reviewed
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Lilla Torg
Lilla Torg is a picturesque cobbled square lined with restaurant-bars, all offering great food at similar prices. Their outdoor tables fairly heave in summer with alfresco diners and drinkers: almost like the Mediterranean, if you blank out the blankets and space heaters!
reviewed
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A Hereford Beefstouw
If you're feeling anaemic, this upmarket steakhouse is the answer, offering all manner of meat, including T-bone steaks, veal sirloin and rack of lamb. Solid meals are served on solid African oak tables, and you get a good view of busy Linnégatan as you eat.
reviewed
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Årstiderna
If you’re out to impress, book a candle-lit table at A-list Årstiderna. Located in the vaulted cellar of Kockska Huset, its soft, elegant atmosphere is seamlessly paired with luxe creations like cognac-infused lobster soup with shellfish spring roll.
reviewed
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Stångs PM&Co
In a 200-year-old warehouse down near the Kinda Canal docks, this is a splendid restaurant with a location to match. The dinner menu is impressive, with old Swedish favourites given snappy new interpretations, and there are frequent evening barbecues in summer.
reviewed
