Restaurants worth a detour

Just outside Lidingö you'll find the island of Storholmen and this delightful waterfront inn. They serve dishes inspired by the archipelago and the cuisine of southern Europe from spring until autumn. Eat al fresco and enjoy the views from the jetty in the summer, or warm up in front of the fire in the winter months.

The stresses of big city life disappear when you arrive at Bockholmen archipelago restaurant. Enjoy the beautiful 19th century villa where Scandinavian food like grandma used to make combines with fresh Meditterannean influences. There's a beautiful view over the water and into the open kitchen and on cold evenings the old tile stoves are lit. Summer visits are particularly idyllic though.

Såstaholm manor house is beautifully located next to Lake Vallentuna in Täby kyrkby and was formerly a retirement home for film stars. These days, it's a hotel with a restaurant where the menu revolves around seasonal produce, a concept they themselves call "Season = now". They don't restrict themselves to any particular country in terms of flavours, but experiment freely to create memorable experiences for their guests.

If you're looking for a complete day out with lunch or brunch, Steninge Bruk is well worth a visit. In the old stone barn, in the grounds of Steninge Castle by lake Mälaren, you'll find Sweden's largest wood-fired barbeque, on which chefs grill Nordic lunch dishes and South American weekend brunches. Combine your visit with a walk and maybe a browse in the interiors shop under the same roof.

Located in Mall of Scandinavia, Basilica is a welcoming restaurant that aims to serve something to suit all tastes and occasions. Come by with the family and tuck into burgers and kids' meals, grab a colleague and enjoy an after-work beer and something to eat, or have dinner with a group of friends – there's time and space for all kinds of get-togethers here.

You'll find this Mediterranean-influenced neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of the square in Gamla Råsunda, Solna, serving up warm, welcoming vibes, ambitious cooking and selected wines. Everyone's welcome here, from families to post-work drinkers. During the summer months the restaurant moves out onto the square and transforms into a leafy alfresco dining spot.

The Bishops Arms gastropub in Sundbyberg centre is a cosy meeting place for anyone who wants to eat or have a drink. They serve pub grub dishes such as burgers and fish & chips, as well as a large selection of beer and whisky. It's also close to transport links.

Lyrical guests make the pilgrimage all the way across town to Delibruket Flatbread in Sundbyberg for their environmentally-conscious "flatbread" pizzas and beer from local breweries. The restaurant is located in an old water tower which has been done up in industrial chic style, and in the summer months the outdoor seating area is worth an extra detour.

Italian Piatti started out in Östermalm but these days you'll find them just north of the city in Sundbyberg. The menu includes bruschetta, carpaccio, a large range of pasta dishes, risottos and pizzas, all made using authentic Italian ingredients and techniques. Why not round off the meal with an indulgent gino dessert and an espresso?

Thoresta Herrgård is situated in beautiful natural and private surroundings in Bro, north of the city. Come for brunch, lunch, coffee or dinner in the award-winning restaurant which uses produce from nearby farms. Swedish flavours take centre stage, with a creative twist.

Right by the water in Jungfrusund, you'll find this bright brasserie that's open from morning to evening all year round. Enjoy classic dishes and sip cocktails in a relaxed environment with views over Lake Mälaren. Stop by spontaneously or book a table for dinner.

Take a trip out to Bromma if you want to experience beautiful castle surroundings and eat sustainable food close to nature. The castle restaurant at Åkeshofs Slott serves up green gastronomy with an emphasis on top-quality ingredients. The menu includes vegetarian medium-sized dishes and you can choose to add on fish and meat if you like. Don't miss the castle terrace with views over the gardens.

Bun Meat Bun in Mariehäll, Bromma, serves quick smash burgers in a relaxed environment, perfect for an easy lunch. Burgers are made from fresh, coarsely ground beef and served with freshly baked bread. The menu also includes thin fries, milkshakes, and vegetarian options.

Next to Stora torget in Barkarby is Vår Pizza, where you can enjoy top notch Italian pizzas in cosy surroundings with board games available to borrow during your meal. They also serve pasta and bowls for those looking for something different. In the summer, the restaurant expands with an outdoor seating area and, naturally, they offer takeaway as well.

Solen, run by chef duo Adam Dahlberg and Albin Wessman, who are also behind Adam/Albin in the city centre, is in the Slakthusområdet - Stockholm's former meatpacking district. In Hus 26, the area's new food and cultural hub, they serve up exciting flavours from Tel Aviv, Santa Fe, Oaxaca and Naples. Come by for a memorable meal, or just a fabulus cocktail. 

The Årsta restaurant Två små svin has been spreading its continental vibes outside the city centre since 2014. With influences from Denmark and the Czech Republic, they serve masses of smörrebröd (Danish open sandwiches) as well as Czech beer and Swedish snaps. The cosiness factor is high with a contemporary beer hall feel. Just get yourself down south.

A stone's throw from where the Sickla canal flows into Lake Hammarby, you'll find Nya Carnegiebryggeriet, in former lamp factory in Luma.  American and European comfort food combines with beer from their own brewery. Suitable for after work drinks or lunch with friends as well as a nice dinner with the family.

In Slakthusområdet, Stockholm's former meatpacking district, you'll find Matateljén, which was previously located in Gamla Enskede. This is a popular restaurant that is worth a little trip just south of the city. The menu focuses on quality ingredients and playful dishes for both lunch and dinner, served in a light industrial setting.

Slakthusområdet, the city's former meatpacking district, has begun to seethe with life in recent years, not least thanks to Bar Montan, which combines exciting wines with snacks and small dishes. The restaurant, housed inside Förbindelsehallen, a former industrial locale, has a drop-in only policy - they don't take table reservations here.

Alongside Lake Långsjön you'll find this historic house, part of which was built in the 17th century. On Tuesdays-Sundays their café serves breakfast bowls, a daily lunch dish or coffee and cake in the leafy surroundings. Round off the day with a walk in the beautiful natural surroundings.

Bun Meat Bun put Farsta firmly on the burger map in 2014 with their smash burgers, a popular technique from the USA that's taken Sweden by storm. They now have branches all over Stockholm and if you're in the mood for a top-notch burger it's definitely worth making the trip out to Farsta, or seeking out one of their other locations. Their burgers are served in fluffy potato burger buns and you can enjoy with one of their homemade milkshakes made from ice cream from Lejonet & Björnen. There are also vegetarian options.

A former printworks in Liljeholmen has been transformed into a leafy indoor park complete with restaurant, bar and boules lanes. They serve French classic dishes for lunch, dinner and brunch, along with cider and other French drinks. Combine your meal with a round or two of boules.

This renowned and popular food and wine bar lives up to the hype. Bar Libertin serves food they want to eat themselves, made with respect for nature and the seasons. The drinks list focuses on craftsmanship and small-scale production. The dining room is small and intimate. Book a table for dinner or drop by for a spontaneous drink and something to eat. If you're a larger group you can book the large table, where a set menu is served. 

Sin Ramen Slaughterhouse is in Tokyo-inspired premises in the gastronomic Slathusområdet district, Stockholm's former meatpacking area. The menu focuses on “kikanbo ramen", a type of ramen designed to stimulate all five senses, but there's also fried chicken and other snacks if you're in the mood for that. Artisanal craftsmanship is the basis of everything they do, and everything served is made from scratch. 

Enjoy top quality pizza inspired by New York and Naples at the neighbourhood restaurant Vår Pizza. Everyone's welcome here to eat with friends and family in cosy surroundings and the pizzas are made for both children and adults. Choose from both classic and slightly more modern flavours.

With silky-smooth hummus and crispy falafel, Amo draws guests from all corners of Stockholm to Rågsved in the southern suburbs. The deep-fried chickpea balls have made this simple restaurant widely renowned, but many regulars mention Amo's foul and fatteh as their favourites. All food is made with a lot of love and according to Syrian tradition, and is served with both pickled and fresh vegetables as well as bread. 

There's a guaranteed feeling of living in a city idyll when you can enjoy your beer on a jetty in the sunshine, at a restaurant like Göteborg by Sickla canal in Hammarby. And it does indeed feel a little as though Sweden's second city (Göteborg/Gothenburg) has come to the capital. The atmosphere is friendly and the journey here is by tram or boat. Take a trip here for a cold beer in the summer or a bowl of warm stew in the winter. 

Tolv Stockholm is a full-on entertainment concept, you just need to choose between restaurants, sports bars and other popular entertainment. Boston Grill is one of the offerings, serving craft beer and grilled dishes à la New England, and O'Learys which provides various activities in a sports bar setting. The cosy Bambino's, with its Fifities nostalgic feel, is also under the Tolv roof. If you can't face the thought of getting home later, just check in to Bo Hotel.

Combine carefully prepared food with exhibitions and modern, architect-designed archipelago surroundings at Artipelago art gallery out on the island of Värmdö. Bådan serves brunch and a lunch buffet worth a detour on the light, airy ground floor and on the third floor you'll find ambitious an à la carte menu at Restaurang Artipelag. You can count on a gorgeous view over the water and forests too.

If you want to enjoy locally produced ingredients and culinary craftsmanship in harmonious surroundings close to the sea, visit Vår Gård in Saltsjöbaden. Lean back and relax, indoors or out on the terrace, on weekdays or weekends.

Nacka's best archipelago restaurant, Restaurant J in Nacka Strand, doesn't just provide marine vibes with its Newport-inspired decor and piscine menu. The journey here is part of the experience if you come by boat via the entrance to Stockholm harbour (from Slussen or Nybrokajen). There's masses of fish and shellfish on the menu in a cosy setting right next to the water, just a few minutes from town by car.

Like countless families with small children, Urban Deli moved out of the city centre. In Sickla Köpkvarter shopping centre you'll find their large sister restaurant with a food hall and restaurant that suits all ages. You can buy fine foods, have a glass of fizz or eat breakfast, lunch, dinner or a weekend brunch. Cool industrial style and great ingredients  

In Nacka, just a stone's throw across the canal from Södermalm, you will find Grand Palace. They serve authentic Chinese cuisine, made with fresh ingredients. The menu includes various rice and noodle dishes as well as several vegan options. The dining hall, set in a magnificent courtyard with generous ceiling height and lush plants, adds a little extra to the experience.

An hour's boat ride from the city, Idöborg is a privately owned island that you can visit for the day or spend the night on. Enjoy activities such as kayaking, relaxing in the sauna and eating in the summer restaurant which serves seasonal food with Mediterranean influences. There are regular performances from various live bands and artists. Waxholmsbolaget ferries service the island several times a day, and anyone with their own boat can dock in the guest harbour.

Beautifully situated in relaxing archipelago surroundings, Fågelbro Säteri serves classic dishes made from locally-produced ingredients in season. Flavours come from northern Italy. Take a walk and enjoy the natural surroundings before or after your meal.