Guide to cosy restaurants in Östermalm

Aubergine is a sure thing for anyone looking for a warm, unpretentious atmosphere and food well made from top notch Swedish ingredients. The restaurant is dark and intimate and lit by candlelight in the evenings, making it the perfect spot for a cosy dinner with friends, or a date with someone special.

This neighbourhood restaurant is on one of Östermalm's busiest streets, and it serves French homecooking-style cuisine served with a modern twist. It's often busy and bustling, but still cosy and welcoming, with a relaxed, elegant feel.

This classic restaurant has been serving French cuisine, traditional Swedish homecooking and excellent meat dishes for three decades. The restaurant decor, particularly the painted ceiling in the "church" section, makes for an intimate atmosphere ideal for a romantic date.

Hotel Kung Carl serves up charming vibes on Stureplan with influences from 19th century France. Eat delicious dishes, sip champagne or cocktails and listen to live jazz. Don't miss their tucked-away wine bar and colourful cocktail bar.

Thanks to the fact that Stockholm is built on water, it's not particularly hard to find cosy waterfront restaurants and bars with a nice view in summer - but in winter it's a bit trickier. Regardless of the season, Glashuset sits snugly next to the quayside on Strandvägen and offers lunch, dinner and drinks with a view. The menu consists of smaller and larger dishes made from locally grown and Swedish ingredients, with international and European flavours.

Giorgio's feels like 1960s Milan or Florence, with a delightful brown colour palette, fantastic patterns, and a relaxed environment where conversations can flow freely. The menu features Italian classics with Giorgio's own twist, and the drinks list includes Italian wines and cocktails.

Cucolo is housed in the premises that used to be home to Östergök. The legacy of the famed bistro continues, albeit with a slightly more polished twist. The old decor has given way to retro lamps, leather sofas and round wooden tables where Italian flavours with a twist are served to both families and groups of friends.

Parken, located right next to Ellen Key's park on Birger Jarlsgatan, offers both a leafy outdoor seating area and a nicely decorated restaurant section – in other words, you can enjoy a cosy experience both inside and out (at least when the weather allows for the latter). The menu features sunny flavours from the Mediterranean and the Middle East, served in slightly smaller portions that work perfectly for a sharing dinner with friends, but can also be enjoyed as a three-course meal.

Chef duo Jim & Jacob are behind this French bistro and wine bar near Karlaplan. Bistro food and wine are served here in elegant bistro surroundings with green wall panels, vintage lamps, wooden furniture, and marble. You can also enjoy a cosy dinner at the bar.

E&G:s Continental sister bistro on Sibyllegatan serves as a second living room with a relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy lunch or dinner here, or meet up over a glass of wine. Teddy's simple bistro furniture, yellow walls, and Italian posters evoke thoughts of the Mediterranean.

Head down the steps from Norrmalmstorg to Noi, an elegant hotel restaurant inside the Nobis Hotel. The restaurant suits most occasions, from birthdays with friends to a romantic date. The menu features well-prepared dishes in European style, which can be paired with a good wine that staff are happy to recommend.

Hankering after modern Asian food, made from the very best Nordic ingredients? Then Ling Long's the perfect spot for you. The restaurant menu is based on Asian-inspired medium sized dishes in creative flavour combinations, divided into the following categories "Cold and raw", "Grilled and crispy", "Steamed" and "Fried". The atmosphere is intimate and the cocktails are creative.

Zink is a welcoming neighbourhood restaurant serving its own interpretations of Italian classics. The menu consists of antipasti, primi, secondi and dolci and takes inspiration from all over Italy, such as the family trattorias of Rome, the food markets of Naples and sunny seaside towns along the Amalfi Coast. Even the decor reflects the boot-shaped country, with colourful artwork, wine bottles and glass jars of olives here and there.

Lisa Elmqvist's elegant dining room is tucked away at the far end of Östermalms Saluhall indoor food market. The interiors are as elegant as they are comfortable, with soft sofas, muted lighting and classic details. Pick and choose from dishes such as fish soup, seafood platters and shellfish risotto - all made from the very freshest ingredients the sea has to offer. 

Paraden, part of the ever-popular Bockholmengruppen stable of restaurants, is an unpretentious, relaxed neighbourhood restaurant that makes for a great value evening out. Eat on the stairs, in the bar or dining room. O why not climb up to the top floor and grab a pew on the balcony? The menu includes a selection of small dishes, inspired by Mediterannean cuisine.

Not surprisingly, Spanish cuisine is the order of the day at Spanjorskan ("the Spanish lady"). The restaurant, part of the Bockholmen group, serves up ingredients from more southerly climes and you'll find plenty of tapas and other traditional dishes on the menu. The Spanish feel extends to the decor, with dramatic red walls and simple wooden tables.

The gang behind Kommendören and Vassa Eggen serve their favourite dishes here. The menu focuses on flavours from the USA served in New York-inspired bistro surroundings. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the intimate cocktail bar with someone you like.