The best lunch restaurants in Vasastan

This well-established restaurant in the middle of Odenplan is a long standing favourite where the classic Swedish homecooking is as famous as the red and white-checked tablecloths. Butter-fried herring, steak tartare, off-menu meatballs and other traditional dishes are the order of the day. Beyond the usual lunch budget but perfect for special occasions.

At Villa Dahlia, right next to leafy Tegnérlunden park, you can enjoy lunch in an elegant boutique hotel setting. The hotel's restaurant serves lunch influenced by Italy and France, prepared with sustainable and local ingredients. The menu changes every week and always includes a meat dish, a fish dish, and a vegetarian option.

Take a taste trip to south Saigon in your lunch hour. This Vietnamese restaurant serves fast but well-made dishes such as spring rolls, noodle salads and noodle soups inspired by the owner's grandmother's recipes. The restaurant has stylish interiors, with exposed-brick walls and patterned tile floors, and you order your meal at the counter.

Sustainability is key at Delibaren inside Brygghuset, with dishes made from organic, honest ingredients, such as responsibly grown vegetables and ethically raised animals. The menu varies according to the season (and the chefs' mood), but often consists of warming soups, hearty grilled sandwiches, fresh salads and omelettes. If you and your colleagues would rather eat lunch in the office you can also pre-order your lunch here. 

Fancy some fish? Lennart & Bror Fish can satisfy your cravings. In a sleek environment with white-tiled walls and fun maritime details, you can indulge in both bubbles and oysters, or enjoy street food featuring fish.

Villa Romana isn't afraid to combine Swedish and Italian flavours and, particularly at lunchtime, Italian dishes share space with traditional Swedish cuisine here. The lunch menu always features a selection of staple dishes, as well as a daily special that changes each day.

This charming gastropub on Luntmakargatan is run by two dedicated owners. Tuck into delicious European dishes with strong influences from both England and Sweden. The lunch menu includes everything from ambitious British pub dishes to Swedish homecooking.

Mowglis Kök just off Odenplan serves Bengali streetfood with a a modern twist. The lunch menu varies daily and includes vegan dishes as well as meat and chicken dishes accompanied by typical sides. Lunch is reasonably priced and you can either eat in or take your food away.

This Italian-influenced ice cream bar isn't just about gelato, they also serve focaccia and pasta made Italian-style with Italian ingredients. Owner Kenneth and his partner Cinzia ensure no one leaves here hungry. Round off your meal with a gelato or an espresso for an authentic Italian experience. 

Cucina Povera can be found in a lively and simple setting on the hill up to Odenplan. Pop in for some pasta or a salad for lunch; hearty food at reasonable prices is the name of the game here.

MGL Sushi has branches in several places around the city and is a slightly kitsch restaurant near Odenplan with plastic cherry trees and a large aquarium. Choose from traditional varieties and rolls of different kinds, or hot dishes such as bibimbap and dumplings.

Hard Rock Cafe is perhaps best known for being a music-loving restaurant with its roots in the USA. And sure, you can feel those vibes at lunchtime, but in addition to their signature burgers and sandwiches they also serve Swedish homecooking and other dishes with flavours from all over the world. A salad buffet, bread and coffee are included with all lunch dishes. 

Tennstopet was founded back in 1867 and since then it's been a classic watering hole in Vasastan, despite changing both its address and name over the years. Classic Swedish food is the order of the day at both lunch and dinner, and a few years ago they expanded with an additional restaurant in the next-door premises, Tennstopet Grill. There, both European and international flavours make their way onto the menu.

If you're in the mood for a light Italian lunch, head to Caffè L'antico on the corner of Karlbergsvägen and Dalagatan. This coffee bar serves hot sandwiches, fresh pasta, salads and other tasty snacks. Naturally they also serve espresso and Italian cakes and pastries.

The wilderness meets Vasastan at this Norrland-inspired restaurant. The menu includes Swedish classics that change every day, as well as obligatory northern Swedish elements such as flat bread with mountain-inspired fillings. Perfect for work lunches and other lunch dates.

This restaurant institution alongside Drottninggatan maintains its high standards. They serve classic, simple food with no unnecessary frills or flounces at both lunch and dinner. The lunch menu includes traditional Swedish homecooking dishes and European influences. Buzzy and always busy so get here in good time.

Espresso bar Sosta is bustling from morning until afternoon. At lunchtime, they serve various types of Italian pizza, such as margherita and napoletana, and the counter's also stocked with pizza slices, focaccia, and other treats that are perfect to accompany your coffee.

Sue Ellen is the slightly more refined sister restaurant to Cliff Barnes on Tulegatan, which is open for both lunch and dinner. The lunch menu features modern European flavours that change daily and are also available for take away.

Farang has long been known for its luxurious Southeast Asian flavours served in an old industrial premises on Tulegatan. Their lunch menu changes weekly and features both small and large dishes with modern influences from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Franky's is considered by many to be among the best when it comes to burgers – something that is often noticeable during the lunch rush, as everyone from Vasastan office workers to tourists and other passers-by make their way to the restaurant on Tegnérgatan. Choose from a couple of different burgers, all made with Swedish meat (unless you're going for the veggie burger, of course), and complement it with some kind of fries. Really hungry? Go for a double!

Visit Wäng Izakaya on Sveavägen for an ambitious Asian lunch served in relaxed surroundings. Choose from popular dishes such as sushi, pad thai and curries.

A popular healthfood concept for sensitive stomachs - at Kale & Crave they serve IBS-friendly food with kale taking centre stage. Hot dishes and hearty salads are the order of the day, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

Keemchi can be found at several locations around the city, including Tegnérgatan on Vasastan. Enjoy a fresh and healthy Korean-style lunch, often featuring fermented ingredients and plenty of greens. Although the time from ordering to serving is quick, this is far from your typical fast food. Instead, think fresh ingredients that are both tasty and good for you. Dine in the bright, slightly minimalist restaurant, or take your food with you on the go.

Portal, which is run by award-winning chef Klas Lindberg, puts a major emphasis on lunch and makes food from the same ingredients as in the evening, to order. Choose from the blackboard or the à la carte menu. Perfect for a stylish, ambitious lunch on Sankt Eriksplan.

Inspiration from the bustling streets of Bangladesh flows at Shanti Touch of Bengal. In fact, they were the first in Stockholm to serve Bengali comfort food, at both lunch and dinner. A shorter version of the dinner menu is served then, featuring both meat dishes, vegetarian options and fish dishes.

M.O.A.S opened to great fanfare in 2016 and they've been next-level kebabs in various forms ever since. Choose between lamb, chicken or falafel with various vegetables and sauces, all served in freshly-baked pita bread or as a bowl. Come early, it fills up quickly.

Restaurang Torsgatan in the Bonnierhuset building makes food from scratch using the best seasonal ingredients. In the bright, airy restaurant you can enjoy lunch with international flavours, both with and without meat or fish. If you're in the mood for street food instead, you can order via a screen and pick it up at the counter and the deli sells simpler snacks like smoothies and baked goods.

A legendary sausage kiosk that has been serving quality sausages since the 1980s. You'll find an impressive selection of sausages, from classic bratwursts to more unusual varieties, all grilled to perfection and served in crispy baguettes with traditional accompaniments like sauerkraut, ketchup, and mustard. The kiosk is small but popular, and there's often a long queue – but most people think it's worth it.

Traditional interiors combine with a modern feel at Systrarna Andersson. Order everything from omelettes to bowls from the à la carte menu or choose one of their daily lunch specials. Round off your meal with a sweet cake or pastry and a creamy coffee.

Totemo is one of the hottest ramen spots in town, and as the small restaurant is only open during the daytime, the queue of hungry noodle enthusiasts often stretches far around lunchtime. Any potential wait is well worth it – and rewarded with a bowl of steaming hot broth with handmade noodles and carefully selected toppings, which are often organic. With a bit of luck, you might snag a seat; otherwise, it's just take away.

This neighbourhood restaurant in Birkastan serves substantial lunch dishes such as fried schnitzel, pea soup and fish stew at decent prices. The menu changes every day, but there are also regular dishes such as hamburgers and a daily vegetarian dish to choose from.

This vegan healthfood café on Odengatan is popular at lunchtime and you'll often find a queue for the counter. The menu is completely plant-based and includes substantial salads, wraps and some hot dishes. During the summer months you can eat outside.

This large Parisian-style brasserie serves a French plat du jour, as well as slightly smaller dishes (hors d'oeuvres) and other classic continental main courses. Perfect when you want to take a lunch break while taking in the international Paris-meets-New York vibes.

Fosch Artisan Pâtisserie serves simple lunch dishes in the form of rustic grilled sandwiches, hearty salads and a daily soup option. Dishes work well as takeaway if you're in a rush, otherwise take a seat in the cosy café and enjoy the fragrance of freshly-baked buns.

This light, airy restaurant just a stone's throw from Torsplan aims to serve Sweden's best tray lunch - without an actual tray. They serve a colourful lunch buffet with the emphasis on vegetables and your choice of protein, including fish, shellfish, meat, chicken or vegetarian alternatives.

Café Vólta in Hagastaden serves everything from specially roasted coffee to freshly baked breakfast rolls and homemade lunch dishes such as hearty salads, soup and pasta. The menu changes with the seasons. Take a seat in their bright, modern premises or order your lunch to take away.

Escape to Italy over lunch and enjoy something delicious at Panza, a vibrant restaurant in Vasastan. They serve seasonal dishes with both traditional Italian flavours and modern twists.

This modern Italian restaurant concept in Hagastaden serves a "lunch table", where you choose from a range of vegetable dishes and order a main vegetarian, fish or meat dish directly from the kitchen to go with your selection. You can also order from the à la carte menu. Eat in or order your food to take away.