The guide to lunch spots in Södermalm

Head to Forma on Hornbruksgatan if you appreciate good food with Asian, French and Swedish influences. They serve both lunch and dinner and at lunchtime you can choose from a daily fish dish, a weekly meat and vegetarian dish, or why not Forma's classic: tonkatsu with Kewpie butter and crispy potatoes. The menu is steered by the seasons and the ingredients available. 

Drop in to Bar Schiacciate for a quick and tasty lunch in the form of a hearty sandwich with flavours from Italy. Warm schiacciata bread is filled to order with tasty ingredients such as cheese, charcuterie and vegetables, and is served either as takeaway or on site in the small premises in the heart of Hornstull.

Right next to the underground entrance, this Middle Eastern spot serves popular wraps and dishes with freshly-fried falafel and other delights. Flavours are inspired by the colourful food markets of the Middle East. Eat in or take away.

In the mood for a Hawaiian poké bowl? This poké bar on Bergsunds Strand has several different variations, with fish, chicken or vegetarian toppings. The premises are small, so get your food to go if there's no space

Drop by Hornsgatan Kvarterskrog & Barservering, right next to Zinkensdamm underground station. They serve a plat du jour, but you can also choose from their generous à la carte menu. Culinary inspiration comes mainly from the Mediterranean, as well as Scandinavian and Swedish influences.

Skörden consists of several different sections, so you can pick and choose here. Lunch made from seasonal ingredients is served in Framfickan, while Matbaren offers street food with flavours from around the world. If you'd rather hang out in Orangeriet, you can enjoy some small dishes and snacks.

Does one person in your group want to tuck into freshly baked pizza for lunch, while another craves a fresh salad? Then head to Tony's, which is as much a pizzeria as a salad bar. Regardless of which dish you choose, you can expect good quality ingredients and careful preparation. The restaurant has plenty of seating if you want to take a pew, otherwise, you can just grab a takeaway.

Finding truly authentic Thai food outside of Thailand is easier said than done, but this little hole-in-the-wall spot is a popular choice among Stockholm's Thai residents. For a reasonable price, you can choose between the two lunch specials of the day, along with a few other regular options. Vegetarians can have their dishes served with tofu.

Tavernan, on the ground floor of Rival, is a social, cultural meeting place with a menu that oozes Scandinavian autumn and Italian late summer vibes. Order in something light, such as toast with prawns and warm-smoked salmon, or something more substantial such as pasta or steak. Round off lunch with an Italian pastry and an espresso.

This healthfood café serves vegan food made from scratch from local and organic ingredients. You'll find substantial salads with exciting flavours, as well as smoothie bowls, juices and other healthy treats. Round off with a rawfood cake or pastry if you fancy something sweet.

Falafelbaren serves up a reliable budget lunch in the form of falafel. On a plate, as a salad, in pita or tannour bread, it's up to you how you want to eat it but whichever way, you can count on crispy falafel, fresh vegetables and tasty sauces.

Lao Lao opened on Hornsgatan in autumn 2018 and quickly became a local hot spot. The light, airy little restaurant serves authentic Chinese food such as jiangbing, Chinese crepes. At lunchtime you can choose three small dishes for a good value lunch.

Enjoy an Italian-style lunch at colourful Florentine, which serves three different lunch options daily with and without meat. Pasta, risotto, and salad are a few of the regular dishes on the menu.

In a small alleyway on the way up to Mosebacke, you'll find Södermalm's own smokehouse, Brisket & Friends. They serve freshly smoked meat alongside optional side dishes such as mac 'n' cheese and coleslaw. Perfect for anyone craving protein and American flavours.

This famous old beer hall next to Björns trädgård park serves up a selection of traditional Swedish dishes for lunch. Choose from dishes such as meatballs and fried herring, served with bread, salad, tea or coffee. The atmosphere is as classic as the menu.

Right at the top of Hornsgatan 18 is Freyja, where the philosophy is to serve uncomplicated food of the highest quality. For Freyja, that means a menu based on ingredients in season, with an emphasis on vegetables and a Swedish foundation, spiced with influences from international cuisines. Lunch is of the more luxurious kind, with various small and large dishes from which to choose all your favourites. As well as the à la carte they serve weekly lunch dishes.

Nem Nem Quan was one of Stockholm's first, if not the very first, Vietnamese restaurants. Every weekday, a lunch menu is served that offers everything from stir-fries to noodle soup. Some dishes are permanent features, such as spring rolls, noodle salad and wok with duck fillet.

In magnificent premises on Medborgarplatsen, the old library has been converted into a restaurant, bar and concert venue. Lunch is also served here in the form of a traditional Swedish homecooking-style dish of the week, a weekly fish dish, a weekly vegetarian and a weekly à la carte with classic flavours. 

Hawaii Poké was early to jump on the poké trend in Stockholm, and you'll now find their branches all over town. The menu includes poké bowls with a choice of protein, ensuring there's always something for everyone. They also serve smoothies and other fresh options.

This beer and whisky institution near Slussen serves home-cooked meals with European influences for lunch from Monday to Friday. Dishes change daily, and the menu also includes a weekly vegetarian option and salad. Perfect for local workers who want to take a break in cosy beerhall surroundings.

This little coffee bar not only serves delicious Italian coffee and pastries from the same country, it also combines this with international street food throughout the day. The menu includes everything from baguettes with sausage and sauerkraut to Vietnamese noodle dishes. Seating is limited, so takeaway is recommended.

Eatnam is many Stockholmers' favourite spot for a quick and tasty lunch. Vietnamese food is the order of the day, with a menu consisting of both daily lunch dishes and à la carte options such as tasty soups, baguettes and noodles.

Uncomplicated lunch favourite serving tacos and quesadillas which are ordered at the counter. La Neta works however hungry you are or how long you want to sit and eat. Put in your order and grab a spot to sit: table reservations are not a thing at La Neta.

The founder of this kebab place is a true kebab expert - he has eaten over 10,000 kebabs all over the world. His travels have inspired the menu, which includes kebabs made with meat from the same supplier that some of the city's top restaurants use, and the spit is built by hand every day. The menu includes chicken, lamb, pork and falafel in different varieties, either served in a freshly baked pita bread or as a bowl.

While it's wonderful to enjoy food influences from all over the world, sometimes nothing beats a hearty portion of Swedish meatballs with mash, cream sauce and lingonberries. At Meatballs, they're passionate about meatballs in all different varieties, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Eat on site in the rustic restaurant, or get take away.

At Baladi Grill, grilled delicacies such as chicken, halloumi and vegetables are accompanied by various accompaniments and served in pita bread or on a plate. Enjoy an affordable lunch cooked from scratch, on the spot or to pick up on the go. If your tummy's really rumbling, you can supplement your meal with fries or grilled vegetables, or perhaps a sundae on homemade soft-serve ice cream?

Ersta terrass serves a lunch buffet with international flavours, framed by breathtaking views of Stockholm's inlet, the Old Town, and Djurgården. The kitchen has an earthy philosophy with a preference for locally sourced ingredients, creating two main courses and a salad buffet. Lunch also includes coffee and cake.

Colourful Lykke Nytorget has many strings to its bow. Their raison d'être is really good coffee, but since their renovation they also have a kitchen where they prepare both lunch and dinner. They serve seasonal dishes at lunchtime, in the form of seasonal salads and hearty sandwiches.

Red and green curry, noodles, Thai basil, chilli and stir-fries are regulars on the menu at Elefantpojken, where you can choose from various proteins such as fish and shellfish, meat, chicken and vegetarian. They call their food Asian crossover.

Stella's roots lie in the Swedish pizza tradition, seasoned with Neapolitan heritage and with an emphasis on sustainability. They're passionate about finding the right ingredients for the right pizza here. The menu is made up of classics you're sure to recognise, mixed with inspiring new combinations and a guest pizza of the month.

Mormors Dumplings' premises may be simple, but their food is something special. Good-value dumplings, stir-fries and soups are the order of the day, and everything is made from scratch with authentic ingredients and techniques. 

Nytorget 6 is a popular meeting place with a buzzy atmosphere and southern European gastronomy on the menu. Meet up over lunch; a daily lunch special, daily vegetarian dish and their popular hamburger are always on the menu.

Pat's Place have made a name for themselves for their unique concept that consists of exciting tapas dishes with flavours from Thailand, a concept that won them a prestigious award for best budget restaurant in Stockholm in 2020. At lunchtime they serve larger dishes, but still with Thai flavours. 

One of Södermalm's most popular meeting places is a mix of restaurant, bar and deli. Lunch is international and includes everything from hearty sandwiches and oysters to fish and meat dishes. You can even order a three-course meal if you're having a long business lunch.

Chutney has long been a well-known, filling option for anyone looking for homemade, organic, vegetarian/vegan food. They serve international stews, vegan patties and other meat-free dishes for lunch, and salad, bread, coffee and tea are included.

Shanti Gossip close to Nytorget is inspired by the pulse and Bengali cuisine of Brick Lane, London's "Little Bangladesh". They serve authentic, good-value lunch dishes from their colourful little premises on Skånegatan.

This ambitious "food stage" inside the Ringen shopping centre has gathered some of the hottest chefs in the country in one place. You'll find good-value streetfood of all kinds, from pizza to ramen.

The menu at NÒR reflects the season's range of ingredients, with a varied selection of brasserie dishes in a modern format. Have lunch in an urban environment inspired by the muted tones of the Nordics, ideal for both business lunches and casual meals with friends. Choose between the weekly meat, fish, or vegetarian option, or opt for one of the restaurant's signature lunch dishes.

What started out as a small hole-in-the-wall is now a fully-fledged (well, with a couple of seats anyway) restaurant where you can drop by for lunch inspired by Asian street food. Choose from bowls, soups, spring rolls, and other dishes. Most of them can be made plant-based if you prefer to eat vegetarian.

This restaurant and bar with a modern lounge feel is centrally located on the corner of Folkungagatan and Götgatan. During the day they serve lunch dishes and tapas with European flavours. Choose from the daily lunch menu, mix and match from the tapas menu or order in one of their classic dishes that are always on the menu.  

This classic Stockholm restaurant transports guests back to a bygone era, with its large arched windows, dark wooden interiors and patterned tile floors. The menu is equally classic, with Swedish homecooking dishes made the traditional way. 

Tuck into a proper Asian lunch buffet. At Ri Cora you can choose between everything from sushi to Asian grilled and hot dishes. The restaurant is on Götgatan, in what used to be a former cinema.