8 iconic restaurants in Stockholm

With forward-thinking chefs, sustainable food systems and a considerable amount of foodies, Stockholm is one of Europe’s leading gastronomic destinations. No respectable Stockholm restaurant can afford to compromise on quality, taste or climate. No wonder it was named the European Capital of Gastronomy 2023.

But let’s go back to where it all began. Stockholm is home to some of the oldest restaurants in the world. Institutions that have been around for over 100 years, some even 300 years. They’ve acted as living rooms for world-famous celebrities, introduced dishes that have transformed the food scene and managed to evolve with the times, yet still staying true to their heritage.

Several of the restaurants on this list wouldn’t be the same or even exist today if it wasn’t for Tore Wretman. Tore Wretman (1916-2003) was a Stockholmer who worked his way up from a kitchen porter to one of the most acclaimed chefs and restauranteurs in Sweden. He introduced cooking for all and cherished Swedish comfort food (‘husmanskost’). It is often said that Tore Wretman was the one who put Sweden on the gastronomical world map.

The following restaurants are all located in central Stockholm and will serve you tasty Swedish food with an inevitable and irresistible side of history.

Den Gyldene Freden

Den Gyldene Freden is one of the oldest restaurants in the world and has been at the same address since 1722. The restaurant attracted legendary Swedes right from the start – botanist Carl Linnaeus and musician Carl Michael Bellman were regulars during the 1700s. But at the beginning of the 1900s, Den Gyldene Freden lost its rights to serve liquor and was heading for bankruptcy. It was saved by artist (and regular) Anders Zorn, who bought the whole building and willed it to The Swedish Academy, which is known to the world as choosing the Nobel Prize laureates in literature. Still today, the members of The Swedish Academy gather here for dinner every Thursday. Traditional Swedish comfort food, like pea soup and meatballs, made of quality ingredients is on the menu which changes weekly.

Operakällaren

Operakällaren has gone through a transformation few restaurants can match. Dating back to 1787, it started as a cellar tavern with juniper on its earthy floor, located underneath King Gustaf III’s opera house. In 1792, the king was shot during a masquerade ball at the opera and 100 years later the building was so dilapidated that it was demolished. Operakällaren reopened just a stone’s throw away, now as an international restaurant with tablecloths. But by the 1950s, Operakällaren was declining once again and the before-mentioned Tore Wretman was asked to take over. He closed and renovated the restaurant for six years. Operakällaren opened again in 1961, with the mission to overshine everything that had ever existed in the Scandinavian restaurant business. Looking back at it today, one could say he succeeded. Operakällaren is appointed Purveyor to H.M. the King, it has one star in Guide Michelin and is a member of Les Grandes Tables du Monde/Traditions & Qualité, an association for the world’s finest restaurants.

Operakällaren is considered one of the most beautiful dining rooms in Sweden and is especially appreciated for its traditional tasting menu and sumptuous Christmas buffet with eight servings. In the present building, you’ll also find The Opera Bar, counter restaurant Backfickan, nightclub Café Opera – and the Royal Opera.

Tennstopet

Tennstopet has served as a meeting point for culture workers ever since its opening in 1867. Even though the restaurant has changed its name and address several times over the centuries, it lives and breathes tradition. The interior is akin an English pub, with dartboards, red plush furniture, tartan on walls and floor and many regulars. The menu is strictly classic, following a seasonal food calendar making sure you won’t miss any traditional Swedish culinary highlights like the fermented herring premiere, the crayfish party – and craw. Eating craw is an old phenomenon from the harsh Swedish winters when the bird was seen as a good source of protein. In fact, parts of both the interiors and the menu at Tennstopet have been the same for the last 60 years.

In 2020, Tennstopet got a slightly more modern and luxurious – yet with tartan floor – sister bistro around the corner, Tennstopet Grill.

Sturehof

Sturehof started as a beer hall called Malta in 1887 and has been located at the same address ever since. In 1905 it changed its name to Sturehof and it has been a seafood institution since the 1990s. Their luxurious seafood platter is widely known and during the summer months, people flock to the outdoor area to see and be seen. Sturehof is keen on tradition – the fermented herring premiere, crayfish parties and Midsummer are all celebrated here, as well as their own-invented annual “Assiette Days” in early June when 30 traditional meals are served as small dishes on silver plates.

Sturehof also offers a food market, where you can buy everything from sauces to prepared food bags to cook at home. And you never have to wonder if the restaurant is closed. Sturehof is open until late 365 days a year – even on Christmas Eve.

Riche

This social hub opened in 1893, with Café Riche in Paris as a role model. The Stockholm version profiled itself as a brasserie with Swedish influences. By the second world war, Riche struggled and Tore Wretman came to its rescue. In the kitchen of Riche, he created the Toast Skagen which became an iconic Swedish dish and hasn’t gone off the otherwise seasonal menu since. Stars like Ingmar Bergman and Greta Garbo were regulars at Riche back then, today it’s the go-to place for Stockholm’s media people. The peculiar entrance resembles a circus tent, and the connecting Lilla baren is an eclectic mix of different people, live music and art exhibitions.

In 2022, Rich spun off a sister restaurant, Riche Fenix, which is among the top trendy restaurants and bars in Stockholm at the moment.

Prinsen

Prinsen, originally Café du Prince, opened as a beer hall in 1897. Today, it’s one of the oldest restaurants in Stockholm that has remained open at the same address. Prinsen went through an extensive renovation in the early 1900s, and the interiors still carry the feel of a turn-of-the-century restaurant with its art-filled wood panels, large mirrors and intimate alcoves. In the 1960s, Prinsen was the first restaurant to introduce the Steak on a plank (‘plankstek’) in Sweden which became its signature dish for years. Prinsen has always been a hotspot for authors and even instituted an annual literature prize, ‘Guldprinsen’, for young writers with the best poetry collection during 1990-2007.

Today, the menu consists of Swedish classics like ‘Wallenbergare’ and meatballs mixed up with modern influences and has become especially appreciated for family celebrations, Sunday dinners and business meetings.

Kvarnen

While many of Stockholm’s iconic restaurants may be on the pricier side, Kvarnen has always been a restaurant for the working class. It opened in 1908 and has served Swedish comfort food ever since. In the late 1980s, new owners tried to transform Kvarnen into a trendy fine dining restaurant, but the attempt turned into a fiasco and they had to close within a year. When Kvarnen reopened it was back to basics. Its location and a large selection of beer have also made it a popular meeting point for supporters of the local football team Hammarby before and after games.

The menu at Kvarnen is traditional with dishes such as meatballs and herring. On Monday evenings they offer a priceworthy two-course tasting menu with a variety of Swedish classics to choose from. And while many other Stockholm restaurants have gone from beer halls to fine dining, Kvarnen has gone the opposite way. 2013 was the opening year for their new Czech beer hall in the rear part of the premises.

Gondolen

After undergoing several years of renovation, Gondolen made its triumphant return in October 2023 under new management. The updated menu seamlessly combines exclusive and elegant ingredients with beloved comfort dishes such as ratatouille, as well as more sophisticated options like braised ox cheek.

The restaurant's breathtaking view, encompassing Old Town (Gamla Stan), Djurgården, and the serene waters of Saltsjön, remains unparalleled and ranks among the finest in all of Stockholm.

Enhance your visit by taking the iconic Katarina Lift (Katarinahissen) to access the restaurant. The 38-meter-high elevator, which reopened in the autumn of 2023 after a 13-year hiatus, is q-marked – the highest form of cultural heritage marking in Sweden.