Stockholm's hottest restaurants right now

After nearly 14 years lying dormant, restaurateur Daniel Crespi has breathed new life into the classic Old Town restaurant, Leijontornet. The emphasis here is on perfectly pairing wine and food with its roots in southern European cuisines, served in hedonistic surroundings spread over four floors and with a drop-in-friendly wine bar on the ground floor. The restaurant's extensive wine cellar has been built up over almost 20 years and holds around 30,000 bottles.

With star chef Mathias Dahlgren at the helm, Seafood Gastro invites guests to enjoy a marine flavour journey where fish, shellfish, seabirds, algae and coastal plants make up a carefully-composed tasting menu. The menu can be combined with a perfectly-paired drinks package, as well as a couple of other options with or without alcohol

The team who run the popular sandwich joint, Sandhäxan, have now set up shop in classic surroundings in Dramaten, the Royal Dramatic theatre. Frippe's new guise is a Spanish-flavoured food bar with "a long bar counter, lots of fun guests, plenty of food and wine". Dishes are served in small and larger formats, and in addition to wine by the glass, you can sip carajillos, cocktails, sherry, ice-cold beer – and, naturally, oodles of cava.

Duvan is a neighbourhood pub from veteran restaurateur Micke Ljungberg. Naturally, they serve beer, but the food is a cut above the average local pub. The menu consists of pub-grub favourites such as fish & chips, bangers & mash and other rustic dishes, but made with a whole lot of love and skill.

Fine dining, but louder and edgier - that's Persona. Two former Frantzén chefs, Louis Cespedes and Jonatan Nyström, are behind the helm here. The restaurant serves a maximum of 25 diners per evening, who are treated to a varying tasting menu paired with perfect wines.  

When Michelin-starred restaurant Agrikultur closed down, chef Joel Aronsson took over the premises. Under the name Bord (which means “table” in Swedish), he serves up the kind of ingredients and wines you'd normally find in a fine dining restaurant, but in laid-back bistro-style surroundings, which turns out to be a very successful concept. He uses classic techniques combined with a large dose of French cuisine.  

Bambi describe themselves as a "timeless French restaurant", with classic cooking, rustic dishes and French wines. They serve a classic starter-main course-dessert menu where the ingredients do the talking. Sometimes, when the mood strikes, they open up the cinema in the basement showing (French) films.

Swedish Chef of the Year winners Tom Sjöstedt's and Daniel Räms' unpretentious restaurant is universally adored by both the press and guests. Roughly framed by exposed brick, simple chairs and industrial lamps, the menu consisting of pure, Swedish flavours is scribbled up on the walls. Getting a table here is an achievement in itself, but all good things come to those who wait...

Hus 26 in the Slakthusområdet will soon be getting a new addition in the form of this restaurant from chef duo Adam Dahlberg and Albin Wessman, who already run the much-lauded restaurant Adam/Albin. Solen serves up flavours from foodie hotspots such as Tel Aviv, Santa Fe, Oaxaca and Naples.

The Svenska Brasserier restaurant group, which runs restaurants such as Sturehof and Riche, has taken over the classic Gondolen premises, which have been a restaurant since 1994. Expect classic elegance, Swedish gastronomy and incomparable views of Stockholm.

The focus in the Clarion Hotel Sign's restaurant and bar is on modern versions of bistro favourites, served in a sociable setting with a living-room feel. A big night out with a three-course dinner, lunch or a post-work drink with a few snacks in the bar - everyone's welcome at The Social Sign whatever the occasion.

When Bar Central moved out of their premises on Birger Jarlsgatan, many wondered where the restaurant would turn up next. In autumn 2023, they moved into the former Folkbaren, where they're continuing with their concept that revolves around Eastern European food and beer.

Leave any control freak tendencies at the door when you enter Triton, as a set three-course menu is the order of the day here - and it can change daily. What doesn't change is that their food is made from top quality ingredients and given the unique Triton treatment. The restaurant is run by a trio who have previously worked at top restaurants such as Ekstedt, Oaxen Slip and Gastrologik.

Restaurateurs Max, Lars and John have taken their inspiration from Japanese culinary traditions. Miyakadori, whose name is taken from an izakaya in Tokyo, welcomes guests into a relaxed space to hang out and enjoy good food and drinks. The menu consists of grilled skewers, small plates, sake, cocktails, beer and a wine list.

The famous fine-dining restaurant Frantzén has moved from the Old Town to a completely renovated 19th century house in the heart of the city, and the result is something completely extraordinary. The restaurant has three floors, with a dining room, terrace and a lounge in the old loft apartment - but only 23 covers. Take the lift going up and prepare yourself for a gastronomic journey in Sweden's first three Michelin-starred restaurant.

The restaurant scene around Hornsbruksgatan has a new addition in the form of Forma, which is run by the restaurateur duo behind the Östermalm restaurant Napolyon Bistro & Bar. Here in Hornstull they've created a slightly louder, edgier establishment that's open until 3am, but is still passionate about food. They serve French/Asian medium-sized dishes, often with Swedish influences, made from sustainable ingredients in season. 

Ever since Spanjorskan opened just a few steps away from its sister restaurant Nybrogatan 38, this part of Östermalm has felt a little more continental. Meet up with friends over a few plates of tapas and a glass of wine or order some pintxos in the bar after work - this place just oozes hot Madrid backstreet vibes.

The former Astoria cinema on Nybrogatan has been transformed into an international brasserie with an elegant, relaxed style and star chef Björn Frantzén at the reins. Open all week for lunch, dinner or drinks, with a focus on cocktails and wine.

On the corner of Ringvägen and Katarina Bangata, Ring Katarina, from the team behind Racamaca, aims to be a place where both guests and staff feel happy and right at home, a place to enjoy a glass of wine and a few snacks, or stay for a slap-up dinner. The emphasis is on natural wine from both larger and smaller producers.

Award-winning bartender Hampus Thunholm is behind yet another new bar concept, this time in the middle of Sergels torg. Together with the Stureplansgruppen restaurant group, he has created a cocktail bar and restaurant called Röda Huset. Sip exciting cocktails wth Swedish ingredients and eat pizza late into the evening.

Hernö Gin Bar garnered a great deal of attention when they opened in 2021, and the hype continues. As well as ambitious cocktails made using the various kinds of Hernö Gin, they also serve small plates with Swedish influences. They've created an intimate and relaxed space in historic premises next to Slussen, with a restaurant and cocktail bar on the ground floor and a cosy living room downstairs.

When restaurateurs Robin Moderato and Christopher Ellertsson open a restaurant, the result is establishments such as  Vassa Eggen and Boqueria, and now Rummel. A beautifully designed pavilion in Hagastaden houses the restaurant. It's described as a neighbourhood restaurant, although in the duo's own special style, with ambitious food that's hard to pinpoint on a map. 

This brewery restaurant was founded by Hedda Spendrup with the aim of creating a meeting place for everyone who enjoys good food, drinks and experiences. Exciting beers from their own brewery are served, with food that pairs perfectly to enjoy alongside.

Although Aira doesn't actually open until March 20th, this new restaurant opening has been creating a huge buzz among Stockholm's foodies. Tommy Myllymäki, star chef and winner of countless culinary competitions, is behind the Djurgården resturant. Go all-in with a 12 course tasting menu for 2500 SEK or order good value dishes from the à la carte menu.

Béatrice Becher and Jonas Sandberg, the restaurateurs behind the acclaimed Folii, also run Voisine, right next door. Their aim is to be the city's best neighbourhood restaurant, serving authentic French-inspired cuisine made from the best ingredients and at decent prices.

Well-known restaurateur Christian Hellberg opened this new restaurant in autumn 2021, with a vision of guests gathered around a table filled to bursting with food and drink and enjoying a complete experience from start to finish. With head chef Mattias Dahlström at the helm, Latin American dishes - with an emphasis on fish and shellfish - are the order of the day and the bar mixes up colourful cocktails.

Riche Fenix is the Södermalm sister restaurant to well-known Östermalm institution, Riche. Drop by for a drink or something to eat and take in the atmosphere in creative surroundings full of food, drinks, music and art.   

Gin distillery Stockholm Bränneri's own bar and restaurant, Brännerian, has been a popular spot since it opened in autumn 2022. Locals and tourists alike come here to drink gin cocktails and enjoy delicious small dishes composed by chef Joel Åhlin.

Inside Story Hotel near Stureplan, Ling Long serves Asian flavours and innovative cocktails among a backdrop of concrete and exotic plants. They serve an extremely popular completely vegan lunch menu. The restaurant, which takes its name from a Chinese fashion magazine from the Thirties, also has a tucked-away inner courtyard that shouldn't be missed...

After a controversial guest appearnce at Kåken, the chef duo Jocke Almvist and Kalle Nilsson opened this rather cheeky luxury restaurant on Södermalm. The flavours are as much of a talking-point as the wildly creative presentations and the prices are relatively benevolent. Very popular. 

Challenge each other to a game of boules and tuck into everything from moules to Pastis. Boulebar has recreated a southern French park feel, complete with boules, a bar and food, both indoor and out. Combine boules with French bistro food, brunch and bubbles and get help with your game from a resident boules geek. .

Animo is run by chef duo Daniel Haynes and Anders Karlsson, who have both been part of the Swedish national chef team. With Animo they aim to blur the lines between kitchen, bar and dining room, with an emphasis on the innovative cocktail bar. The menu is unpredictable, with plenty of room for pace, flair and creativity. 

When the Stureplan group of restaurants makes their debut in Södermalm, they do it in style. Rooftop restaurant Freyja has views over the whole of Stockholm, a dining room that smells of browned butter and a nurturing atmosphere. 

Two of Stockholm's best-established spots on the restaurant scene: Pharmarium, one of Stockholm's most unique and talked-about cocktail bars, and its sister restaurant next door, Stortorgskällaren (formerly Ebenist). Expect innovative drinks, loose interpretations of Nordic dishes and top-notch quality throughout.

What used to be Le Nom on Roslagsgatan became Las Brasas in 2018, a modern restaurant influenced by South America and Spain. The owners are the same, but the concept is completely new. Eat grilled dishes and tapas in warm, stylish interiors including green-tiled walls, photographic art and quirky curios.

If you're in the mood for cocktails, bar snacks and a great atmosphere long into the night, get down to this bar and restaurant in the middle of Stureplan, right next door to Spy Bar. Coquetal Social is run by the team behind Calle P and the atmosphere is both lively and elegant.

The highly experienced team behind French-inspired Brasserie Balzac have experience from restaurants including Boqueria, Kommendören, Bistroteket and Mäster Anders. Authentic, seasonal dishes from small-scale French producers are served in unpretentious, friendly surroundings. The drinks menu impresses, as does the eye-catching zinc cocktail bar.

Sip on a luxurious cocktail or enjoy a full dinner with sharing dishes at Mister French - all with a view of Stockholm harbour, in a glam environment with Great Gatsby vibes. Since 2018, the brasserie has had a "dinner club" concept, with live music and social dining. The menu features creative variations on French dishes, charcoal-grilled meat and fresh seafood, which the chefs prepare in front of their guests in the open kitchen. If you want an extra hot experience, you can grill your own meat and fish on small charcoal grills and lava stones at the table.

Walking into Sin Ramen is like entering a restaurant in Tokyo. Slurp ramen made from homemade noodles or sip sake in the bar. All their ingredients are carefully selected to create the perfect flavour experience, whether you choose ramen, bao or gyoza - all served in colourful surroundings with moody lighting and graffitied walls. Don't miss the arcade game by the entrance.

Woodstockholm on Mosebacke Torg ticks all the hot boxes right now. The owners previously ran a pop-up restaurant in a garage in Svedmyra and they now serve a sustainable mix of gastronomic dishes, natural wines and micro-brewed beer surrounded by blonde wood interiors designed by Lars Stensö. Yep, they also run a design agency/furniture manufacturers. Madly stylish, according to a unanimous group of restaurant goers.

When Farang restaurateur Kim Öhman opens something new it's in the form of Bar Nîmes, an ambitious neighbourhood restaurant with flavours from Italian and southern French cuisine. Book a table or drop by for a few drinks and snacks in the large bar, which has plenty of space for spontaneous guests. 

Pom Friterie presents a well thought-out concept - from the design of the restaurant down to the smallest grain of salt. The menu revolves around hand-cut, fresh, organic French fries that the duo behind the restaurant have spent years developing to perfection. Fries are served topped with all kinds of sauces and toppings, and combined with various kinds of fried croquettes. Lunch-hungry guests and cocktail-thirsty guests alike flock here, as cocktails are shaken and stirred in the bar.

At Essence the exclusive tasting menu is served directly by the chefs themselves to the heart of the restaurant – the large counter dining table. A total of 16 guests per sitting partake of eight unique dishes, some of which are well-crafted signature dishes, joined by a couple of surprises that can vary daily. The elegant restaurant has a relaxed living-room feel with muted colours and dark wood interiors.

Florentine invites you to to a 1970s Italian disco right next to Medborgarplatsen. Take a seat in glamorous surroundings consisting of Roman statues, beautiful chandeliers and colourful interiors details. The menu includes Italian classics such as homemade pasta, Neapolitan pizzas and salads, many of them with Florentine's own twist. The bar serves up fabulous signature cocktails, seasonal drinks and non-alcoholic alternatives. 

Stortorgskällaren, sister restaurant to Pharmarium cocktail bar, serves modern interpretations of classic flavours in a historic setting in the Old Town. The building used to house a furniture workshop, and this heritage has inspired the cosy premises where a restaurant has been run for almost a hundred years.

Chez Jolie means "at home with Jolie" in French and it's the name of one of the biggest talking points on the Stockholm restaurant scene right now. In Bardot's former premises, Astoria's former head chef, restaurateur Mikael Einarsson, has started a restaurant with an emphasis on French food and drink traditions.

The award-winning chef duo Adam Dahlberg and Albin Wessman created a huge buzz with their restaurant Adam/Albin. You can now visit their Tokyo-influenced concept Misshumasshu in the historic Birger Jarlspassagen shopping arcade too. Count on finding everything from noodles to whiskey and sake on the mishmash menu.

One-star Etoile on Norra Stationsgatan serves up a serious gastronomic experience.The restaurant is run by two experienced chefs, Jonas Lagerström and Danny Falkeman. They serve a set tasting menu consisting of modern, international seasonal food. In early 2021 the restaurant expanded to 200 square metres, although the number of seats is still just 26.

LYKKE, within the Nordic Light Hotel, takes guests on an exciting taste trip combining innovative elements with a traditional Nordic flavour palette. You'll find everything from venison to baba ganoush on the menu.

The Wahlgren-Ingrosso-family continue to make their mark on the Stockholm restaurant scene. Olli is Oliver Ingrosso's lively restaurant, where authentic Italian food is the order of the day and the funky cocktail lounge bar serves wine and cocktails. If there's one place in the city you've got a good chance of spotting influencers and Swedish celebrities, it's here.   

This little ramen bar is a stone's throw from Sankt Eriksbron and is a popular watering hole for hungry Stockholmers craving Totemo's homemade noodles. Take a seat around the bar counter to eat lunch; come early to get a seat or be prepared to grab your food to go.

Right next to Tegnérlunden Park you'll find Nabo, a Nordic neighbourhood restaurant that has raised the area's gastronomic game. The menu includes both modern and slightly more traditional dishes made from sustainable ingredients, while the bar serves grown-up cocktails with unexpected flavourings.

A Borasco is a Mediterranean storm wind accompanied by thunder and lightning, and this particular storm is sweeping in over Södermalm. The restaurant is divided into two, the dining room and the bodega. The dining room is a spot for special occasions and spontaneous gastronomic experiences, while the bodega is a slightly more relaxed hangout where you can enjoy drinks and eat dinner. 

This Östermalm restaurant is inspired by Little Italy in New York, serving American/Italian cuisine and with a passion for food, drink and good company. Forget trendy concept restaurants, think timeless meeting place for pleasure seekers who enjoy the good things in life.

Right at the top of this popular museum, the prize-winning restaurant has become a story unto itself. The star chef Paul Svensson is in the kitchen, the focus is on the green and organic - and it's food you really don't want to miss. The view over Stockholm harbour can also be admired through the restaurant's panorama windows.

Combine minigolf with playful and creative streetfood in 1930s-inspired premises on Surbrunnsgatan. Minigolf grew in popularity during the Prohibition Era and the craze now has a home at Swing by Golfbaren. After a round of minigolf you can take a seat in the restaurant under the glass roof and enjoy a cocktail before tucking into a delicious three-course dinner.

On the top floor of the Åhlens department store Basta has created an Italian oasis with influences from the sunny Amalfi coast with patterned sofas, wicker, plants and ceramics reminiscent of warmer countries in the south. This is verdant oasis ideal for hanging out, whether it's for a glass of something in the bar, a long lunch or an Italian dinner made with locally grown ingredients. During the summer months, guests flock to the al fresco dining area. Basta is run by the same owners as Södermalm restaurant Florentine, which is equally authentically Italian but with more of a focus on disco culture.