The best restaurants in the Old Town

This popular gastro district in the Old Town has a lot to offer foodies. It includes the restaurants Leijontornet and Flickan x La Ragazza, Tweed cocktail bar and the all-weather courtyard Vingården, which serves dishes using fine ingredients and a huge selection of wines from the extensive wine cellar.

This light, airy restaurant on Österlånggatan serves top-notch Swedish and Scandinavian dishes. Simple, quality ingredients are transformed into pukka Swedish homecooking favourites every day of the week. Choose between typical Swedish classics and modern interpretations of favourites, such as meatballs with traditional accompaniments, Toast Skagen and kroppkakor - potato dumplings filled with pork.

This contemporary concept boasts generous opening hours and relaxed atmosphere - just like its siblings Nytorget 6 and Nybrogatan 38. The à la Carte menu offers delectable moderately priced dishes, all under the 200 mark. The sophisticated decor and charming cobblestone alleyway outside enhances the ambiance.

This quaint, highly ambitious cubbyhole is one of the best French restaurants in Stockholm. The classic, seasonal bistro menu and fine assortment of wine appeals to sommeliers from all over town. The atmosphere is intimate as only twenty seats are available.

Mister French has transformed the historic customs house in Gamla Stan into a modern brasserie with style cues from 1920's Paris blended with glamorous Great Gatsby vibes. The menu offers a seasonal mix featuring seafood and char-grilled meat. The outdoor terrace with its shorefront location is a popular destination during summer months.

You'll find this explosion of colours, scents and flavours from both Scandinavia and the Mediterranean on the Skeppsbron quayside. The menu consists of various sizes of dishes, with plenty of pasta dishes, and the interiors add to the vibrant Mediterranean feel. During the summer months, the sunny outdoor seating area is popular.

Bistro Zissou is a family-run restaurant run by the couple Kalle Lindborg and Emma Skerfe. They focus on delicious food and drink with a menu that varies according to the seasons and ingredients, as well as a wine list with sustainable and personally chosen options. There's room for both hanging out over a glass of wine and long, leisurely dinners, accommodating both reservations and spontaneous visits.

Järnet, formerly Cultur, has a welcoming neighbourhood restaurant feel. Despite the relaxed approach, they invest in really good cooking and dishes that are as tasty as they are beautiful to look at, made with seasonal ingredients. "Rustic elegance" is the watchword - you're just as welcome to come by for a drink at the bar as a full dinner with friends. During the summer months, the outdoor terrace on Österlånggatan is a popular sunny spot.

Hungry, thirsty and lively guests gather at this Old Town institution every day of the week, for lunch, dinner, drinks and live music. The restaurant serves classic à la carte dishes such as meatballs, salads, burgers and pasta. After dinner, just slip over to the bar and listen to the live music that plays every night.

Formosa is often listed as one of the city's best and most authentic Chinese restaurants. They call themselves Sweden's oldest Chinese restaurant, dating back to 1968. Lunch, dinner, à la carte, hotpot - they have several strings to their bow, and if you want a real Chinese experience, just relinquish control and let the chefs serve you their favourites from the menu.

Hop on a time machine and head back to the Dark Ages. Sjätte Tunnan serves traditional Swedish fare à la 1435 with rustic dishes and mead. The restaurant offers entertainment in the form of fire-eaters, belly dancers and magicians. The venue can also be booked for special occasions.

Den Gyldene Freden has been serving Swedish classics in historic cellar premises on Österlånggatan since 1722. Famous Swedish cultural figures such as Carl Bellman, Anders Zorn och Evert Taube have wet their whistles here over the years and the restaurant continues to draw in the crowds. 

Modern streetfood meets Old Town historic charm at Cong restaurant, which serves crispy, sweet, sour and spicy dishes in authentic Vietnamese fashion. At lunchtime they serve a daily lunch special; simple dishes with a choice of vegetarian or meat, while the dinner menu consists of slightly more advanced dishes perfect for sharing. During the summer months guests throng to the outdoor dining area with views over Kornhamnstorg and the water, but the interior - with its pared-back Nordic/Asian design - is nothing to sneeze at either.

If meat's your thing, you may well already be familiar with Sovel – if not, it's high time to book a visit to this restaurant on Mälartorget. In charming surroundings with muted colours, they serve high-quality grilled meat cuts, accompanied by sides made from selected ingredients. If you want to start with a drink, there's a wine bar and a cocktail bar, and if you're looking for inspiration for something to cook for dinner, you can buy something tasty from the deli to take home with you.

Hang out over interpretations of French, Italian, American and Swedish dishes at Bistro Marie on Stora Nygatan. In addition to the dining room there's a wine and cocktail bar where you can enjoy a drink, as well as an outdoor dining area for sunny days.  

If you've fallen for the cocktails at Pharmarium you shouldn't miss their slightly more classic sister restaurant Ebenist, housed in a former furniture factory next door. A snug restaurant with fine woodwork, Nordic/Southern European flavours and a wine cellar that first came into use some 500 years ago. Ebenist flirts with both the past and the present.

Agaton serves pizza, pasta and other Italian classics in cosy, welcoming surroundings. The historic premises oozes Italian vibes, with red and white checked tablecloths and candlelight. Round off your meal with a glass of grappa if you want to add to the Italian feel.

On the site of Sweden's first apothecary, you'll now find this award-winning cocktail bar. Immerse yourself in the world of mixology and combine fabulous cocktails with perfectly-paired small dishes to create a complete taste experience. It's a good idea to book a table.

Krypin means a little hole in the wall in Swedish - and that's exactly what this restaurant with the same name is. The venue is historically old, and the menu serves typical Nordic flavours and Swedish ingredients such as plenty of fish, root vegetables, and seasonal vegetables.

This tucked-away neighbourhood in Dångerska huset in Skeppsbron serves typical Danish smørrebrød open sandwiches - with a Swedish twist. This charming little restaurant has red and white checked tablecloths à la Lady and the Tramp. The atmosphere is welcoming, laid-back and cosy and is ideal for groups of friends and families.

This inviting restaurant is tucked away within the Hotell Reisen and welcomes overnight guests and hungry diners alike. Restaurant Reiss serves Swedish dishes and international cocktails in relaxed and sophisticated surroundings, right on Skeppsbron.

Could these be the best burgers in the Old Town? Barrels' goal is to serve the best burgers in town, made with locally baked bread and meat that's freshly ground on site in the restaurant every day. All burgers are served medium to medium well and can be ordered served in gluten-free buns or in a lettuce leaf, or with vegetarian patties made from scratch.

Bistro Ruby has been a popular melting pot since the 80's. The menu is predominantly French with Swedish undertones, the slightly rustic decor adds to the relaxed atmosphere. The Grill, located just next door invites guests to partake on a culinary journey from the streets of Paris, across the Atlantic to Texas. Southern influences dominate the kitchen; they are famous for their burgers, scallops and Mexican flavours.

Portofino is constantly striving to offer as authentic an Italian experience as possible, with food that's prepared and served according to traditional Italian food culture, by staff who are passionate about it. The head chef serves up a taste of Italy to all guests, in the form of pasta, pizza, meat and fish dishes.

Fast, quality sushi is the name of the game at Mogge. The menu includes fresh rolls, nigiri and bowls at this popular Old Town spot. They have very limited seating, so takeaway is usually the best idea. 

With its origins in the 15th century, Zum Franziskaner is one of the world's oldest restaurants. The restaurant has been at the same address since 1622, and you can still eat Swedish and German homecooking here as well drink beer from independent breweries in Sweden and Germany.