Gastronomy and culinary specialities in Stockholm

Automatic translation

The gastronomic scene in Stockholm is a melting pot of flavors: on the one hand, traditional Swedish cuisine is of course in the spotlight but you will also find a wide range of flavors from around the world as the city is so rich in influences!

The traditional restaurants offer meat, fish and shellfish specialties as well as the best ingredients from Swedish farms from north to south of the country. As a main course, the famous Swedish meatballs, herring, salmon and potatoes are a must. Desserts often incorporate the traditional blueberries, cranberries and blackberries that Swedes enjoy.

A surprising culinary adventure awaits you in Stockholm! We have concocted a selection of emblematic flavors of local cuisine that you absolutely must taste during your stay.

sponsored content

Fika

In Stockholm, you can't escape it! This word in daily use among Swedes actually designates "take a coffee break", a kind of mini brunch that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. This well-established custom is an integral part of the local culture and no one deviates from the rule! The Swedes are the second largest consumers of coffee in the world. You will find warm establishments all over the place with tea room atmospheres, with a wide choice of delicacies and cakes. Take the time to sit down, enjoy your snack while sipping your coffee while soaking up the effervescence that reigns in these places of life very frequented by locals.

Breakfast - Frukost

A good start to the day is essential in Sweden! Many cafes offer hearty Frukost in Stockholm. A full breakfast with sweet, of course, but also salty. The Swedes like to devour a few good slices of cold meats or marinated fish, accompanied by slices of cheese, cucumber slices and tomatoes in the morning. For breakfast purists, pastries and pastries of all kinds including the traditional snail-shaped Kanelbulle will delight your taste buds!

Smörgasbord

Here is another characteristic element of the culinary culture in Stockholm. It is a complete buffet made up of a multitude of varied dishes. The idea is to take a large plate and serve yourself small portions of each specialty offered: rolls, marinated herring, mustard herring, shrimp, mussels, oysters, egg yolk with Swedish caviar (the Löjrom, which comes from the so-called Baltic Sea lavaret), potatoes, salmon, smoked eel, sausages, roast beef, pickled leeks, red beets, applesauce, meatballs, mushrooms, asparagus, cucumber, radish , cheese… fruit salad and cakes. All washed down with beer, schnapps or fresh fruit juice. A real feast!

Swedish meatballs - köttbullar

Probably the most famous Swedish dish in the world! It is the staple dish of most households. You will find this essential specialty in many restaurants with a creamy meat sauce, mashed potatoes, pickles and lingonberries. A unique taste experience!

Yellow pea and bacon soup (Ärtsoppa)

The national dish is widely eaten on Thursday evenings, a tradition in Sweden since the Middle Ages. It stems from the fast observed historically on Friday by the Roman Catholic Church in remembrance of the suffering and death of Jesus on Good Friday. In the past, Thursday was festive and peas considered a luxury product. The pork allowed the peasants to hold the day of the fast.

Crayfish

They have been consumed in Sweden since the Middle Ages, originally by royal families, but the dish has largely democratized to become a classic of Swedish cuisine! Served in restaurants, crayfish usually herald the start of summer in Stockholm. A party is also dedicated to them: Kräftskiva, the crayfish party! Enjoy them in the most traditional way possible, savoring them crumbled on a piece of knäckebröd, with a slice of Västerbotten. An essential address in Stockholm to feast on crayfish and seafood: the BAR (Blasieholmsgatan 4A) offers a unique taste experience.

Marinated salmon - Gravelax

For fish lovers, salmon marinated in dill is simply a Stockholm delight. His secret? Its marinade, of course. The fresh salmon marinates for 6 days in salt, sugar, pepper and dill. A real treat!

Herring - sill

Herring, caught in the Atlantic or the Baltic, is an integral part of Nordic culture and cuisine. They are known as sill in Swedish. Herring is often eaten as a main dish in Swedish homes. It comes marinated, smoked, salted, fried, grilled, marinated, sautéed or baked. It is present on most restaurant menus and you can taste assortments of preparations like herring with mustard, herring with onion, herring with dill, herring in wine sauce, herring with beets and herring with blackcurrant etc...

sponsored content

Fermented herring - Surströmming

This culinary specialty made from fermented herrings is one of the most famous Swedish dishes. These are ordinary herrings, caught in the Baltic Sea, salted and then packaged in a tin that will be left to age. For this dish, no middle ground: either we love it or we hate it! Its smell is quite deterrent but its flavor is incredibly divine. Traditionally, it is placed on buttered bread with chopped potatoes and onions. The fermented herring season begins on the third Thursday in August. From that moment on, Surströmming becomes available in stores and some restaurants in Stockholm.

The Toast Skagen

This cold appetizer consists of a piece of crispy toast topped with a mixture of shrimp, mayonnaise, dill and lemon, topped with a dome of fish roe: löjrom, Swedish caviar.

The Smörgas

Literally meaning “buttered bread”, it is a true cultural phenomenon in Stockholm. It is black buttered bread on which are placed shrimps, smoked salmon, marinated herring in various sauces, smoked eel, breaded fish fillets, all kinds of cold cuts and meats, yellow peppers, cucumber slices, hard-boiled eggs, Cold cooked potatoes… Smörgas is eaten with a fork and a knife and is ideally accompanied by a cold beer. Perfect for a healthy and complete snack!

The Reindeer - Renstek

A typical dish from Swedish Lapland, reindeer meat is commonly eaten as a steak (renstek), roast, sliced into strips, or sautéed (renskav). Meat with character, usually served with mushrooms, potatoes… and lingonberry jam. Notice to amateurs!

Scandinavian potato gratin - Janssons Frestelse

This traditional Swedish culinary specialty, literally 'Jansson's Temptation', is made with potatoes, onions, fish, breadcrumbs and cream. Usually eaten during the Swedish Julebord, that is to say the Christmas buffet, this dish is served throughout the year in some restaurants.

Lingonberries - lingonsylt

These little red berries accompany almost every dish on Stockholm menus. This popular fruit tastes and looks like lingonberry and grows throughout Scandinavia. Swedes generally prefer lingonberries in jam paired with meatballs, steaks, potatoes and porridge. They go well with everything from sweet to savory. To be enjoyed in the restaurant but also available in a jar in any grocery store.

Raggmunk

Typical of Swedish cuisine, raggmunk is a kind of grated potato pancake served with slices of salted pork and lingonberry jam. Rather consumed in winter as a main course, they can also complement a slice of sweet jam or with traditional sour cream and apple compote.

Elk fricassee - Älggryta

Typical of Sweden, the meat is low in fat and has a tender flesh. It is eaten pink like duck and has a less pronounced taste than beef. Chanterelles as well as a homemade lingonberry jam often accompany this delicate meat.

Swedish hot dog

If the smell of fast food comes to your nostrils, chances are you are near a hot dog vendor. Across town, you'll see hot dog stalls on every corner, many of which stay open until late at night on weekends to satiate revelers before they get home. Sold street food, eaten on the go, these tasty hot dogs are often garnished with condiments such as ketchup, mustard, pickles and grilled onions. Another version is the Tunbrödsrulle, which simply means "thin bun". This is one of the most popular versions of the Swedish hot dog, served in a flatbread with mashed potatoes, shrimp salad and grilled onions.

Knäckebröd

Sweden has amazing crispy breads and crackers made from rye flour.

Small cinnamon brioche - Kanelbulle

These small snail-shaped pastries are emblematic of breakfasts but also serve as sweet snacks throughout the day. Impossible to miss this tasty treat. A variant flavored with vanilla, the Vanilj Bulle is just as delicious!

Princess Cake - Princess Tarta

It is the traditional holiday cake in Sweden. The first recipe that appeared in 1948 was a hit with the Swedish princesses of the time, which earned it its current name. The bakers layer sponge cake, whipped cream and berries on top of each other, then cover them with bright green marzipan paste. A must!

The Glögg

A must-try hot drink to warm up! The main ingredients are mulled red wine, sugar, cardamom, ginger, cloves and bitter orange. The glögg is available in several versions with or without alcohol!

Aquavit

It is the national alcohol made from potatoes, flavored with caraway and / or dill or other herbs such as anise, fennel, cinnamon, bitter orange, etc. Very strong, it is drunk ice-cold and goes well with crayfish and herring.

Find our article on the best traditional restaurants in Stockholm

sponsored content

• Den Gyldene Freden is located in a basement of Gamla Stan, in an unusual and medieval setting, this classic restaurant belongs to the Swedish Academy which awards the Nobel Prize for Literature. The menu features big names in traditional Swedish cuisine with contemporary touches.

• Hasselbacken is located on the central island of Djurgården, this historic restaurant dating back to 1748, serves delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners with typical Swedish dishes.

• Meatballs for the People is at the same time a restaurant, a bar and a shop with the famous Swedish meatball as its flagship recipe. At least 14 kinds of meatballs are available: elk, beef and salmon...
  

• The Pelikan offers a journey into the past of the Stockholm of yesteryear. Classic Swedish dishes are served in a rustic beer hall with high ceilings in a friendly atmosphere.

• Sollidens restaurang is the restaurant of the Skansen Open Air Museum. It offers spectacular panoramic views over Stockholm. In summer, the Swedish smörgåsbord is served daily from noon to 4 p.m.

• Sturehof is a classic brasserie and a staple of social life in Stockholm, serving local cuisine and dishes with international influences.
  

• Tennstopet is an institution for enjoying Swedish home cooking in a neighborhood restaurant.
  

• The Grand Hotel's Veranda is a must-see in cosmopolitan life in Stockholm for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 365 days a year. It is one of the few restaurants in town to offer an authentic smörgåsbord with a breathtaking view of Gamla Stan.
  

• Tranan has been serving the great classics of Swedish cuisine since 1929. Fried herring with mashed potatoes is an integral part of the menu as well as the traditional meatballs in sauce.
  

• Ulla Winbladh, centrally located on the beautiful island of Djurgården, this establishment serves traditional Swedish dishes all year round.

• Villa Godthem, located in the center of the island of Djurgården dates back to 1874. Originally the private residence of opera singer Carl Johan Uddman, it was transformed into an inn in 1897. An establishment renowned for its classic Swedish cuisine served in a cozy atmosphere. historical.
  

• Kvarnen, located in the old working-class district of Södermalm, is a historic restaurant for enjoying classic Swedish cuisine in a beautiful setting.
  

• Kagges Sillkafé is a traditional Swedish cuisine restaurant serving the staple smörgåsbord, meatballs, gravlax and a variety of pickled herring.
  
  
• Lisa Elmqvist is a family address specializing in cuisine based on fish and seafood, but also cold meats. The seafood is of excellent quality and even served at the royal court. 4 generations of a family of sea lovers, to be found at the Östermalm covered market. Lisa Elmqvist is also a shop with seafood and seasonal products.