Restaurants worth a detour

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.

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.

The much talked-about restaurant Aloë has tempted gourmet guests out to a residential area in Älvsjö to try their famous tasting menu. The restaurant is run by Niklas Jönsson and Daniel Höglander, two chefs who have previously worked at fine dining restaurants including Esperanto and Lux.

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. 

A short trip on the tube or cross-rail takes you to this authentic Chinese restaurant in Solna Centrum. They serve a buffet full of favourite pan-Asian dishes, and in the evenings the selection expands with Chinese à la carte. If you want an out-of-the-ordinary experience, you can gather a group of friends and book R Asia's chambre séparée, where you can join the chefs on a multi-course gastronomic journey.

You'll find this boutique hotel 30 minutes north of the city, in scenic surroundings next to Lake Mälaren. Come for dinner or weekend lunch in an elegant setting, as well as for a weekend with an overnight stay and hotel breakfast. The restaurant revolves around their "Clean Eating by us" philosophy, where the focus is on pure ingredients from the surrounding Mälardalen area, seasoned with international culinary influences.

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.

Out on Jungfrusund bay on the island of Ekerö just outside the city centre, Restaurang Jungfrusund is open all year round for lunch, dinner and brunch in intimate, inviting surroundings. Take a pew and enjoy the views over the harbour in summer and winter. Enjoy a cocktail, listen to live music, take part in a quiz - or play a game of mini golf.

Erssons has been in Fruängen since 1974 and specialises in fish and shellfish. Over the years, the family-owned store and restaurant has transformed into a modern deli-bistro with a food-hall feel. Stop by for lunch or dinner, have a glass of wine or buy some goodies to take home with you from the deli counter.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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 with friends as well as a nice Friday lunch or dinner with the family.

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.

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.

The grills glow hot at Blackstone Steakhouse in Sundbyberg. Anything that can be grilled – vegetables, fish, seafood, meat – faces the fire before being served on a steaming hot lava stone. You compose your main course yourself with protein, sides and sauces and then sit back while the staff take care of you.

The neighbourhood restaurant Matateljén in Gamla Enskede doesn't just draw in local guests - the restaurant has become a talking point among foodies all over town. Ambitious cooking combines with cosy surroundings and chilled soul music a short distance from the city centre.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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. 

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

Esplanaden 3, in the heart of Sundbyberg, is a wine bar and bistro that welcomes all guests, whether they're local or have travelled from the other side of town. They aim to provide a warm, inviting meeting place where you can come and enjoy good food and drink in the form of tapas and quality wines. The menu includes Spanish-influenced favourites such as jumbo prawns, tuna tataki, charcuterie and cheeses.

Feast on Greek food and drinks like souvlaki, gyros, ouzo, and Greek wines. The menu here offers a variety of dishes in both larger and smaller portions, making it easy to order a table full of Greek delicacies to share with your group. The restaurant is part of the chain with the same name, which started back in the Nineties and has since spread throughout Sweden.

Like countless families with small children, Urban Deli Nytorget 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 brunch buffet. Cool industrial style and great ingredients  

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.

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.

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?

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.

The fact that one of Stockholm's most unique restaurant experiences can be found in Vaxholm makes it well worth a little visit. The restaurant Husmor Lisa is in chef's own seafront home, where she serves organic slow food made from local and own-grown produce. A luxurious and relaxed mixture of old-fashioned smallholding techniques and imaginative dishes for the whole family, with dry-aged local meat a speciality. Opening hours vary according to the season.