Lund
In a quiet, leafy cobbled courtyard, vegetarian Govindas is a hit with kronor-conscious students and anyone craving a spicy curry and cool raita. Much of…
Must-see restaurants in Sweden
Gamla Stan
Not your average pub – Michelin-starred chef Björn Frantzén has added contemporary vigour and polish to the traditional pub experience. The menu is all…
Stockholm
Competition for the title of 'Stockholm's Best Taqueria' is not fierce, but La Neta wins hands down. Fast-food pseudo-Mexican eateries are all over town,…
Södermalm
All hail the mighty meatball, the expected star turn at this neighbourhood favourite serving a variety of meatballs daily, from moose and deer, to wild…
Södermalm
Fresh, colourful Mahalo celebrates all things vegan with a short, scrumptious selection of ecofriendly dishes. Top choices include the Buddha bowl, a…
Stockholm
The small, casual ‘hip pocket’ of Operakällaren, this comfy restaurant is crammed with opera photographs and deco lampshades. Dexterous old-school waiters…
Stockholm
Step into the lavish art-deco interior here and you are transported to the grand cafes of Vienna and Paris. Pastry chef Per Bäckström has ensured that…
Gamla Stan
Open since 1722, this venerable barrel-vaulted restaurant is run by the Swedish Academy, where (rumour has it) its members meet to decide the winners of…
Södermalm
A stone’s throw from Gamla Stan, Blå Dörren (The Blue Door) occupies the site of a 17th-century pub. Vaulted ceilings and warm timber panelling set an…
Gamla Stan
Fem Små Hus offers the perfect combination of authentic historical setting with traditional cuisine, just a short walk from the Royal Palace in the heart…
Södermalm
Sitting among a string of three inviting cafes along this block, Chutney is one of Stockholm’s many well-established vegetarian restaurants, offering…
Stockholm
Superb for late-night sipping and supping, this convivial brasserie sparkles with gracious staff, celebrity regulars and fabulous seafood-centric dishes …
Vaxholm
Featuring a commanding terrace with water and fortress views, laid-back Bistro Magasinet is as good for a vino as it is for a feed. The produce is mainly…
Södermalm
Perched above Slussen atop the antique lift Katarinahissen, this place is known for top-notch Swedish food, refined service, perfect cocktails and endless…
Stockholm
Lisa Elmqvist is somewhat of an institution in Stockholm, famed for its fresh, gorgeous seafood dishes. Classics include shrimp sandwiches and a gravadlax…
Södermalm
The quintessential Swedish kvarterskrog (neighbourhood tavern), humble, old-school Söders Hjärta has no shortage of VIP fans: Abba reputedly headed here…
Stockholm
One of celebrity chef Mathias Dahlgren's restaurants at the Grand Hôtel (the other is Rutabaga), the bistro-style Matbaren (‘Food Bar’) boasts a Michelin…
Vasastan
A white-neon rooster welcomes you to Babette, a friendly, compact, boisterous bistro with lipstick-red banquettes, curbside tables and a tiny open kitchen…
Stockholm
Green velvet curtains and suspended terracotta planters set a theatrical scene at this slinky, spacious bistro-bar. While the lunch menu includes a good…
Stockholm
Östermalms Saluhall is a gourmet food hall that inhabits a delightful many-spired brick building. It's a sophisticated take on the traditional market,…
Visby
It's hard to resist a good-looking Italian, even in Visby. Urbane Italianaren keeps things uncomplicated: pizzas, pasta dishes and two mains, which might…
Stockholm
Located inside the Scandic Continental hotel, minimalist, light-filled The Market is notable for its expansive buffet breakfast and focus on sustainable,…
Gothenburg
The perfect downtown lunch pit stop and a magnet for caffeine connoisseurs, this cafe and award-winning microroastery serves ethically sourced speciality…
The Bothnian Coast
This popular upmarket bistro, bar and nightclub (at weekends) has northern Swedish cuisine meeting international brasserie in a convincing explosion of…
Vaxholm
After running a Parisian bakery, Kerstin Lekander decided to bring a little Gallic flair to Vaxholm. Decorated with rustic floorboards and a communal…
Lund
This laid-back stop, with its handful of tables and stripped-back decor, produces superb galettes with an imaginative combo of ingredients including…
Östersund
This glorious cafe has been sweet-toothing its customers since 1924. Sink your teeth into classic Swedish treats like Princess layer cake, topped with…
Malmö
A polished neighbourhood bistro with outdoor tables in the warmer months, Atmosfär serves good-value, flavourful combinations such as red cabbage with…
Vasastan
Locals pack this former beer hall, now a comfy but classy neighbourhood bistro with a seafood-heavy menu and chequered tablecloths. The food combines…
Gothenburg
Ever-fashionable Magnus & Magnus serves inspired and beautifully presented modern European dishes in an appropriately chic setting. It’s an unpretentious…
Vasastan
Had there been a Swedish version of Cheers, it would’ve been filmed here. Oil paintings, gilded mirrors and winter candlelight set the scene for a…
Stockholm
This crisp, friendly cafe serves huge, healthful bowls of greens, grains and superfoods at good prices – try the Laxokado, with baked salmon, black rice,…
Visby
Strung with light bulbs and great for people watching, this fabulous deli-cum-eatery is run by three affable brothers. Daily specials generally include…
Gothenburg
Appealing to refined rockers and metalheads, this upmarket joint serves only burgers and beer. But what burgers! These masterpieces range from the…
Lund
Located over medieval ruins and co-run by an affable Roman chef, this breezy cafe-restaurant serves a tasty slice of dolce vita. Guzzle down proper…
Kungsholmen
The very cool French chefs in this kitchen don’t simply whip up to-die-for French-Italian dishes, they’ll probably deliver them to your table, talk you…
Vasastan
Tiny, herbivorous Lao Wai does great things to tofu and vegetables, hence the faithful regulars. Everything here is gluten-free and vegan. A different…
Stockholm
Inside Stockholm’s show-off opera house, the century-old Operakällaren is a major gastronomic event. Decadent chandeliers, golden mirrors and exquisitely…
Stockholm
For velvety caffè latte, Gallic-inspired baguettes and perfect pastries, saunter into this casually chic bakery-cafe. Sporting a stunning mosaic floor,…
Stockholm Archipelago
In a red-timber cottage just up from the harbour, this adorable bakery serves a smashing cardamom bulle (bun) that is one of the best in Sweden. Sweet,…
