From a gay-owned bistro to a sleek Michelin-starred institution, these contemporary restaurants are steadily shaping Stockholm into one of Europe’s most exciting food capitals. We return to the Open City to see what’s plating up in its ever-evolving kitchens.
For far too long, Stockholm barely registered on Europe’s culinary radar, overshadowed by quintessential foodie destinations like Paris, Rome, and its Nordic neighbour, Copenhagen. It was never that the city lacked good food – far from it – but for most outsiders, Swedish cuisine started and ended with cinnamon buns, pickled herring, and meatballs from IKEA. Delicious? Absolutely. But hardly the makings of a gastronomic mecca. That perception, however, has shifted. In recent years, restaurants in Stockholm have been forging a bold, boundary-pushing food culture that is as innovative as it is rooted in tradition. A new generation of chefs is redefining what Swedish cuisine can be, merging seasonality, sustainability, and diverse global influences with fearless creativity, so much so that the city was awarded the title of the European Capital of Gastronomy in 2023.
Today, the cobblestone streets and waterfront promenades of Stockholm are home to an abundance of contemporary restaurants, each adding a layer of richness to the city’s expanding food scene. For travellers visiting the Scandinavian capital in 2025, the real challenge isn’t finding somewhere to dine but narrowing down the options. Luckily, we’ve done the legwork for you – so all you have to do is show up hungry.
AIRA
Fine dining isn’t an everyday affair – well, at least not for most of us – but for those moments in life that call for something a little extravagant, be it an anniversary or random urge to treat yourself after a busy week, it’s always wise to have a restaurant or two in your arsenal that can rise to the occasion. AIRA fits the bill perfectly.
Conveniently positioned on the waterfront of Stockholm’s ‘green lung’, not too far from some of the city’s most popular cultural institutions like Vasa Museum and ABBA The Museum (for all you dancing queens who’d like a little boogie after lunch), this two-Michelin-starred restaurant is a masterclass in modern Nordic cuisine. Expert chefs Tommy Myllymäki and Pi Le head up the kitchen, and they’re all about honouring simple, seasonal ingredients with creative cooking techniques and carefully chosen herbs and spices. Their tasting menu comprises dishes like dill croustade with langoustine tartar and a lemon and browned butter emulsion or Roe deer with chestnut, bergamot and kombu; exacting yet never fussy, in a way that feels classically Swedish and reflective of the restaurant’s contemporary design scheme.
Restaurant NOI at Nobis Hotel
Since opening in 2018, NOI has firmly established itself as a mainstay in Stockholm’s foodie scene, all thanks to its buzzing ambience, sophisticated interiors, and menu that reads like an ode to European gastronomy with a distinctly Nordic inflection. Each dish is beautifully plated and packed full of flavour: try the seared albacore tuna served on a salt stone with chimichurri, or fried Swedish red deer with potatoes and caramelised onions, then pair it with one of the restaurant’s signature cocktails like ‘Above The Clouds’ – a fitting name for how you’ll feel by the time dinner is over.
Beyond the food, NOI benefits from its home inside the Nobis Hotel, one of the city’s most prestigious addresses. Once a 19th-century bank – infamously tied to the origins of the term ‘Stockholm syndrome’ (but that’s a tale for another time) – this hotel is an exercise in contemporary design, courtesy of acclaimed Swedish architectural firm Claesson Koivisto Rune. After a long evening of fine food and booze, few things feel more satisfying than taking the elevator up to one of the sumptuous suites instead of waiting for a taxi.
Riche
The grand dame of restaurants in Stockholm, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that most residents of the Open City have passed through Riche’s doors at some point in their lives, including silver screen icon Greta Garbo (need we say more?).
The restaurant in Östermalm takes its name and design cues from its Parisian counterpart, the historic Café Riche, and in the post-war era was helmed by renowned Swedish restaurateur Tore Wretman, the creator of the signature Swedish dish, Toast Skagen. We love that it doubles up as both an eatery and social hub, where it is easy to get entangled with the city’s art and fashion crowd whilst you tuck into Swedish-French fusion style dishes like steak tartare with cured egg yolk, baked arctic char with beurre blanc, and of course, Meatballs with lingonberries.
The Hills
Many travellers who frequent a particular city will inevitably establish that one go-to restaurant they can always count on. It’s comfortable, the food never disappoints, and the staff greet you like an old friend – because that’s exactly what you are. For us, that restaurant has to be The Hills.
Charming and decidedly intimate, this gay-owned establishment has been a favourite of ours since it opened in Götgatsbacken. Its menu is a showcase of French bistro classics, interpreted with a modern Swedish sensibility, with dishes like chèvre chaud, steak frites (always a great choice!), and escargot with garlic butter for adventurous souls. Its wine list is just as compelling, featuring a well-curated mix of French classics and standout discoveries from around the world, alongside a thoughtful selection of no- and low-alcohol options.
Photography courtesy of AIRA
This article is in partnership with StockholmLGBT.
