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, brunch and dinner and at lunchtime you can choose from a daily 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. 

You'll find this modern version of British gastropubs close to Västerbron. Stop by for lunch or satisfy your hunger with ambitious pub dishes such as fish & chips. Just take a seat and make yourself at home.

Just by the underground exit, you'll find Babel Bazaar, formerly known as Babel Deli, which serves popular wraps and dishes including freshly fried falafel. Flavours come from bustling food markets in the Middle East. Dine in or take away.

The Japanese charcoal grill restaurant Enkai focuses on ramen during lunch. Choose from steaming hot bowls and settle into the stylish izakaya environment for a warming lunch. In the evening, the menu expands with small plates, skewers, and cocktails.

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.

Small, trendy and tasty: three words that describe Skålen on Mariatorget. As the name suggests, they serve bowls of various kinds. The focus is on vegetarian options and fish/seafood, but if you prefer chicken, you'll also find plenty to fill you up here. The bowls are generously topped with seeds, fresh herbs, sauces and other delicious ingredients.

German Liebling serves lunch a few days a week. You can tuck into dishes like schnitzel, döner, and hearty sausages. On weekdays they serve both a daily lunch special and à la carte, while on weekends the à la carte menu is the name of the game.

Are we in Södermalm or Italy? It's hard to tell at Il Merlo, which is a cosy little spot on Mariatorget where you can enjoy substantial sandwiches, lasagne, and soup. Sit in the restaurant, which has been furnished with second-hand finds, or outside on the terrace when the weather allows, or grab your food as takeaway.

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.

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.

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 or something more substantial such as fish or steak. Round off lunch with an Italian pastry and an espresso.

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.

Pepe's fik lights up the whole neighbourhood with its colourful café in all the pastel colours of the world. The specialities are really good coffee, waffles, and ice cream, which you can of course have for lunch if you wish; salads and sandwiches are also served. The waffles include ones with savoury toppings, such as Skagen waffles.

Bistroteket Maria describes itself as a Swedish brasserie, unlike its sister restaurant on Nytorget which has a French-American focus. The aim is to offer a warm and welcoming experience, no matter who you are, when you come, or what draws you to the restaurant. At lunchtime, they serve both a daily lunch special and à la carte, so there's plenty to choose from.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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 a down-to-earth philosophy with a preference for locally sourced ingredients, with a choice of two main courses and a salad buffet. Lunch also includes coffee and cookies.

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.

Colourful Lykke Nytorget has many strings to its bow. Their raison d'être is really good coffee, but guests also flock here to eat breakfast, lunch, have a coffee break, a post-work drink or to eat dinner. They serve seasonal dishes at lunchtime, in the form of seasonal salads and hearty sandwiches.

Indio Kitchen on Kocksgatan is known for its Nikkei cuisine where Japanese flavours meet Peruvian. Enjoy Japanese-Peruvian lunch dishes with fish, seafood, meat or vegetarian options. On the lunch menu, you can find donburi, a bowl of rice topped with various flavours.

Intill restaurangtäta Nytorget ligger Bistroteket som beskrivs som ett klassiskt brasserie med en twist. Här kan man umgås från morgon till kväll och den omfattade lunchmenyn har mycket att erbjuda. Välj mellan dagens två alternativ eller satsa på klassikerna som har permanent plats på sedeln. Slå dig ner på uteserveringen om vädret tillåter.

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.

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 vibrant atmosphere and Southern European cuisine on the menu. You can also meet up for lunch here. Choose from a daily lunch special and a weekly vegetarian option.

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. 

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 lunch specials, 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.

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.

China serves traditional dishes from various provinces of China, including at lunchtime. They offer a selection of the restaurant's popular dishes, featuring poultry, pork or seafood, and of course, several vegetarian options. The atmosphere is classic Chinese restaurant style, suitable for most kinds of gatherings and occasions.

“We make fried chicken great again” declares Monster Chicken, where the main focus is precisely that: fried chicken. At lunchtime, the menu consists of burgers, bibimbap, and small plates such as kimchi and fried potatoes. Vegetarian options are available.

Falloumi serves top quality falafel in the form of wraps and bowls in the heart of Skanstull. Everything on the menu is vegetarian and features falafel, halloumi or vegan kebab as the base, accompanied by sauces, pickled vegetables, cheese and other tasty and filling items. During the busiest lunch hours, it can be difficult to grab a seat, but takeaway is always an option.

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.

Sakae Sushi is not only a local favourite when it comes to sushi, it also attracts visitors from all over Södermalm. The sushi is praised for being fresh, healthy, and well-made, which makes the small sushi bar popular at lunchtime. Takeaway may be preferable.

Bun Bun serves quick and easy Vietnamese dishes at both lunch and dinner. Choose from banh mi, bowls, and tacos filled with marinated meat, crispy vegetables, fresh herbs, sauces, and other tasty ingredients. Seats are limited, so during the lunch rush it can be a good idea to grab your food as takeaway. During the summer months, there are a few more seats as they open up their outdoor seating on Rosenlundsgatan.