The guide to romantic restaurants in Stockholm

This small Italian neighbourhood restaurant is passionate about good wine, pasta and other Italian dishes. Come for an authentic Lady and the Tramp experience, complete with white tablecloths, candlelight and warm, welcoming service.

Red and pink are often considered the colours of love - and who are we to argue? Tegelbacken's walls, furniture and floors are liberally adorned with these loving colours. Popular chef and Swedish chef of the year winner Markus Aujalay runs the place, and they serve simple and tasty snacks here.

If you want to go large and enjoy excellent gastronomy, Operakällaren is a safe bet. The historic dining room is famous for its classically beautiful interior with wood paneling on the walls, white tablecloths and soft lighting, and the food has received numerous awards for its innovation and tradition.

The wine bar and restaurant E&G focuses on carefully selected wines and rustic dishes to share with your companions. In winter, the open fireplace enhances the cosiness in the charming venue with black brick, wooden floors, and minimalist furnishings. The menu offers seasonal dishes for both vegetarians and meat-eaters, while the wine list features own-imported European gems.

The street outside may be lively, but inside Napolyon you'll find an intimate, buzzy atmosphere. This French bistro serves French homecooking with a modern twist, with influences from other countries in Southern Europe and Sweden. There's also an extensive wine list which the staff are happy to guide you through.

Fancy a one way ticket to Rome? Spend a special evening in one of the world's most romantic countries, Italy. L'Avventura's impressive interiors create an amorous atmosphere from the moment you walk through the doors until the moment you leave to go home. An extensive Italian menu, good wines and that extra little something await.

This refurbished fire station with high vaulted ceilings and bistro-style decor exudes boho-chic Parisian vibes. The kitchen prepares rustic French classics to compliment the extensive wine menu. Enjoy a glass of pastis at Bar Hommage next door.

This charming little cubbyhole is hidden amongst the cobblestone alleyways in Gamla Stan. Candlelight sets the tone for romantic intimacy. The restaurant serves classic French fare, finish off with dessert - the crème brûlée is perfect for sharing.

Founded in 1922, Stadshuskällaren is one of Stockholm's oldest restaurants, with spectacular original interiors. Food inspired by the Nordic forest, with Swedish flavours and ingredients and a modern touch, is served under the ornately decorated arches.

Enjoy excellent food in natural surroundings with views over the sea. You can check into Vår Gård in Saltsjöbaden for the night or choose to pop by for lunch or dinner. They serve food based on seasonal ingedients from local producers as well as ingredients from their own kitchen gardens.

Take a culinary trip to France without leaving the comfort of Östermalm. This classic brasserie presents seasonal fare on a chalkboard menu that is updated bi-weekly. The open kitchen enhances the intimate ambiance.

The interiors of Brasserie Balzac ooze New York and Paris grand brasserie vibes and the bistro feel is heightened with mosaic floors, red leather sofas, elegant stucco ceilings and mirrors. You and your party can enjoy authentic, seasonal food from small-scale French producers in unpretentious surroundings. Or why not enjoy a glass of wine from the extensive wine list?

One floor down from street level, you'll find the Italian grand eatery Capannone, which invites romance with its dim lighting, velvet furnishings and white tablecloths. The romantic vibes meet genuine Italian flavours here, inspired by the Little Italy neighbourhood of New York. Besides seasonal dishes, you can enjoy all the delights offered on the restaurant's dessert trolley. You can also pop into Capannone for a negroni or another classic cocktail in the bar area.

Flor Matbar is an intimate dining bar on Surbrunnsgatan with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The menu features small and larger dishes influenced by both the Mediterranean and Sweden, perfect for a dinner for two. You'll be well looked after by knowledgeable staff who guide guests through the menu with finesse.

Add something extra with your dining experience and book Dine & Spa at the Welcome Hotel in Barkarby. Three hours of spa time are included before or after dinner. The restaurant serves a seasonal menu with a choice of either fish, meat or vegetarian dishes.

Café Facile is housed in a small glasshouse on Luntmakargatan. It wasn't a given that it would be a French restaurant, but after the team who run it fell in love with Paris as a food city, the choice was clear.  Eat French dishes and toast in champagne while you look out at the passers-by peeking into the cosy dining room.

A magnificent 1920s building on Sankt Eriksplan houses both a cinema and bistro that ooze historic Art Deco vibes. Cinema guests and hungry or thirsty guests alike are welcome here to share snacks, slightly larger dishes and pizza or drink a glass of carefully selected wine in atmospheric surroundings. 

The Glenn Miller Café is one of Stockholm's most legendary jazz clubs, where candlelight and white tablecloths set the mood in the small, intimate venue. Enjoy French cuisine and live jazz several times a week, perfect for a cosy date. Tables are reserved for dinner guests, but if you just want to stop by the bar and have something to drink while listening to the music, that's also fine.

If you're looking to seriously impress your date, Noi at the Nobis Hotel is a top tip. The menu consists of dishes inspired by European cuisine using the very best seasonal produce. The restaurant's food and interiors ooze luxury and elegance.

Distinctly French À la Crêpe is an unpretentious neighbourhood restaurant with a romantic feel. The reasonably priced menu features savoury buckwheat pancakes, saccharine crepes with a dose of Parisian charm.

This popular neighbourhood restaurant has been attracting a steady stream of regulars since it opened in the Nineties. Its intimate yet relaxed atmosphere makes it perfect for romantic couples who want to enjoy a candlelit dinner à deux. Romantic but never stiff and formal.

Spend the evening at Stortorgskällaren in the Old Town. This restaurant is housed in a former furniture workshop from the 1700s, with a rustic atmosphere and a cellar vault filled with wine. There's been a restaurant here under various names since 1938 and over the years it's become a well-known watering hole for Stockholmers and tourists alike.Enjoy classic flavours with a modern twist, made from organic and locally-produced ingredients. 

What could be more romantic than pasta, candelight and white tablecloths? At Den gamle och havet ("The old man and the sea") pasta dishes with marine delicacies, such as tortiglioni with clams and scampi, are the order of the day, but they also have main courses such as grilled meat. During the summer months the outdoor dining area fills up quickly with loved-up couples.

Start the evening with a walk through the alleyways of the Old Town. Maybe you'll drop in somewhere for a pre-dinner drink, and then continue on to Österlånggatan 17. Enjoy a relaxed dining experience that revolves around dishes with culinary inspiration from all over Europe, made with local ingredients

At Gigis, conditions are ideal for a relaxed yet truly cosy date. The restaurant is small and intimate with a view into the open kitchen where the chefs prepare sushi and ambitious small dishes. However, the menu differs quite a bit from your average sushi joint on the corner – they've drawn inspiration from the city's wide variety of food cultures and serve what's called “Stockholm sushi”. Choose for yourselves from the à la carte menu or go for the tasting menu featuring the kitchen's favourites.

Prinsen is one of Stockholm's oldest restaurant institutions and has been around since 1897. Step into the historic surroundings complete with patina, bistro menus and white tablecloths. People come to eat and socialise in a classic setting that has played host to couples in love, friends, families, regulars, and businesspeople for over a century. The food and drink philosophy is based on Swedish culinary traditions, with a touch of French flair, and meals are prepared from scratch. There is always at least one sommelier on hand to assist in pairing food with beverages.

Leijontornet describe themselves as as “ultra oenophilic” restaurant, created for hedonists and wine lovers. If that's you, head down to the winding alleyways of the Old Town and grab a table at this restaurant that serves up classic southern European cooking and has a gigantic wine cellar with more than 3000 bottles. 

Meet your date for dinner at the bistro in Villa Dahlia, in an atmosphere that exudes relaxed elegance. The menu features well-crafted dishes in Italian style, which can be paired with a cocktail or something from the wine list. During the summer months, the hotel's rooftop bar is a must-visit for an aperitif with a view over Stockholm's rooftops. 

Interiors inspired by the dark moss and mirror-like waters of Nordic nature create the perfect cosy atmosphere at NÒR, located right by Skanstull. Scandinavia, along with influences from other parts of Europe, also forms the basis of the menu, which features brasserie dishes in a modern format. A hot tip is to start with a cocktail at the bar, before settling down for a three-course dinner in the restaurant.

A father and son duo run this French hangout serving small and medium dishes and good - mainly French - wines. The menu varies from night to night depending on the season and the chef's mood, so keep an eye on their Instagram to see what's being served when you're in the mood for a date. It's almost worth going here just for the special room, which is a rounded room where one of the walls consists of windows facing the street.

Make your way up to the twenty-third floor of the DN skyscraper building where Pontus Frithiof's fine dining restaurant La Tour reigns supreme. He prefers to use the expression "power dining", as a visit here is an extremely exclusive experience from start to finish. From the highest floor in the building, there are striking views of the city, regardless of whether you grab a seat in Le Bar or book a table in the restaurant.

Luxury hotel Ett Hem has taken up residence in a former private residence in exclusive Lärkstan. It feels just like being at home - if you happen to have the kind of home that regularly features in design magazines. The hotel has a popular restaurant where skilled chefs prepare dishes using seasonal ingredients.

Always a safe bet if you're after a really luxurious experience. The building houses several restaurants and bars, so you can stay here for a long time and enjoy each other's company.

At chef duo Jim & Jacobs' French bistro and wine bar, you can enjoy a taste of Paris in Östermalm. French bistro dishes and wines are served in an elegant yet relaxed manner. Sit in the dining room or at the bar for a glass of wine or a complete lunch or dinner.

Agaton, in the heart of the Old Town, is a really classic Italian of the kind you only usually see in movies. Candles in old wine bottles, red-and-white chequered tablecloths, a well-stocked bar and paintings reflecting the old country adorn the restaurant, which focuses on noble Italian dishes. The menu includes homemade pasta dishes, fish and meat, risotto and pizzas made the Italian way with tipo 00 flour and San Marzano tomatoes.

Café Cuvée calls itself "your neighbourhood bistro in Södermalm" and aims to be a gastronomic living room with classic and modern flavours, and culinary influences from all over the world. But with a special place in their hearts for French and Swedish cuisine. The food is in the form of appetisers that are shared around the table - pick and choose yourself or take a look at the set menus.

This Södermalm restaurant feels like it's been here forever, but it probably hasn't been that long. New owners took over in 2012, but the same cozy Little Italy atmosphere remains. Rustic ingredients alternate with gastronomic influences from major international cities.

Take a trip to Görväln's castle in Järfälla and eat like kings and queens. Eat in modern castle surroundings, with picture walls and only a few tables, which contributes to the romantic feeling. The kitchen team likes to create new, exciting dishes with global influences, while also making the most of Swedish cuisine and ingredients from the surrounding Mälaren valley. After dinner you can go upstairs and have a drink in the lounge.